🎵🎤🎶

It was finally Friday, I still hadn't heard from any of the guys and It was really starting to bother me. I get that Aiden was trying to protect me but that doesn't mean he should completely cut me off.

I had biology last, I hoped that all the boys were here today. Maybe they would talk to Charlie and I in bio. I doubted it but it gave me something to look forward to. My first class was English Lit, I was excited that I had Jordan in that class, but I was also anticipating whether or not Aiden was here today. He didn't know I was in his English class yet, and honestly, I was kind of freaking out. He had made it crystal clear that he had wanted nothing to do with me, so how would he react when he saw that I was in this class as well as bio and calculus.

As soon as the bell goes, I sigh and follow Charlie to English, she was so excited about some new cheer dance or something that she didn't notice how hesitant I was about going into English, and I was glad. I hadn't even told her yet about why the guys were ignoring us.

I sit down and an excited Jordan takes his spot next to me while Charlie heads to the back. The teacher walks in soon after and takes her seat.

She starts talking about romanticism in the book Frankenstein but I can't find it within myself to pay any attention. Aiden wasn't here.

A disappointed feeling settles within my stomach and I try my best to push it away. I lie my head on my arms that were sitting on the desk but lift it quickly when I hear the door opening.

My heart pounds erratically as Aiden walks in, he hasn't noticed I'm here yet but as soon as our eyes meet, my heart stops.

His eyes are cold and blank, similar to the Aiden I first met, there was none of the familiar warmth directed at me that I had grown so used to.

"For fuck sake," he says loudly, rolling his eyes at me before he walks out again. The teacher calls out to him but he sticks up his finger at her and continues walking. The class chats excitedly about what has made Pearlacre highs favorite bad boy mad. Everyone but me, I knew exactly what had happened. I feel eyes on me and turn slightly to meet the familiar eyes of Charlie.

I see her give me a questioning look and I know straight away that she was putting the pieces together. Aiden walked out because of me, and I wasn't looking forward to the inevitable questioning I was going to get.

Class passed relatively quickly, mostly because Jordan chatted excitedly about some new rumor that two of the teachers were having an affair. I couldn't really give my full attention to Jordan throughout his gossip session but I don't think he noticed. Throughout the whole class, the fact that Aiden walked out because of me kept my mind working overtime.

I refuse to believe that what happened on Tuesday was the only reason Aiden walked out on me like that. Did he really change his opinion of me that quickly? I would have thought that was impossible without a valid reason, and I mean more than just getting hurt because we were friends.

I quickly make my way to calculus before Charlie can ask questions and sit down on the seat I'm supposed to share with Aiden. I'm not at all surprised when Aiden doesn't show up for calculus, but still, find myself disappointed.

Before long, it's lunchtime. I knew that I couldn't escape Charlie for much longer so I decide to tell her, I would tell Luke on the pool day. I begin to make my way to the cafeteria, but find myself running in a different direction when I get a quick glimpse at Toby.

"Toby," I call.

I see him turn around to look at me, look around, and then hesitantly wait for me to catch up. I can't ignore how glad I was that he was waiting for me.

"Hey Em." Toby replies miserably. It sounded weird hearing 'Em' from his mouth, I was so used to him calling me Mills.

"Toby, what's happening? None of you guys will talk to me," I beg hopelessly. Wow I was pathetic.

Toby looks physically pained at my words and my heart breaks for him.

"I can't talk now, we'll talk on Saturday when I come over for the vampire marathon," Toby begs.

"You're still coming?" I ask smiling, a new sense of hope washing over me.

"If I'm still invited," Toby replies, the pained expression still clear on his face.

"Of course," I reply immediately, the smile still bright on my face.

Toby looks even more pained at my expression, and my smile falters.

Toby looks like he's debating something but then looks at me; "come here," he says, his arms open for a hug.

I instantly hug him back, he hugs me securely and although it wasn't the same as Aiden, I felt like there was a part of him in the hug. Toby releases me after a few seconds and then gives me one last sad smile before he walks away. It is only then that realization hits me; that was a goodbye hug.

I keep my head down, knowing it was a goodbye hug but not coming to terms with it. I was so focused that I didn't even realize it when I bumped into someone, hard. I brace myself for the fall but it never comes, instead a pair of extremely strong, and familiar arms catch me. I look up and see Aidens brown eyes looking down at me. For a split second, I see an unfamiliar emotion go through his eyes but its quickly replaced with his blank ones.

"Aiden," I breathe, holding my breath as my heartbeat quickens.

He looks at me, and I wait for him to say something, well hope at least but he just takes one look at me and begins to walk the other way.

Anger courses through my veins at his attitude and I find myself running after him.

🎵🎤🎶

"What the hell Aiden?!" I yell.

"Emily, don't," Aiden warns.

"Don't what? Talk to you?" I question angrily.

"Leave it, Emily, it's done," Aiden replies firmly, not raising his voice the way I was.

"So it means nothing to you? Any of it? You're just going to cut me off, just like that?" I demand angrily, daring him to go against me.

"It's for the best Emily," Aiden replies, his tone beginning to match mine.

"I don't believe that for a second," I reply angrily, "I opened up to you about Mad-"

Before I can finish my sentence, Aiden grabs my arm and pulls me into a spare classroom. I was actually glad he did, in my frustration, I was just about to tell the whole school about Maddi and I knew he did it for my sake.

Aiden just watched me expectantly, waiting for me to continue.

"Aiden, I opened up to you about everything, how can you just cut me off after that?" I ask, a lot calmer, but still angrily. I feel my eyes begin to water at the whole situation but I ignore it.

"Emily, for fuck sake. It was your fault for telling me all of that stuff. You had to know it would turn out like this, they call me an asshole for a reason." Aiden yells, surprising me.

His eyes soften when he sees my shock momentarily but he quickly covers it up with the same firm expression.

"You don't mean that," I reply, even to myself I sound more like I'm begging.

"Yes I do," Aiden replies, a smirk suddenly appearing on his face. This smirk was unlike anything I had ever seen from Aiden, instead of his joking smirk, this was the same smirk that Bate's men used at the tracks. "I never meant for it to go this far," Aiden continues.

I look at him cautiously, tears running down my face. Where was this going? This was not the Aiden that I knew.

"I only got close to you to get in your pants, you were never meant to open up to me. I know now that it's never going to happen so I guess this is it," Aiden says, the sickening smirk still making his face look a lot uglier than what it was.

I look at him in shock, the tears streaming down my face quickly. He can't mean that, he just can't.

Aiden sees my expression and rolls his eyes; "Come on Emily, you didn't really think we were friends did you? Why would someone like me hang out with you, I don't hang out with girls, I fuck them. My apologies if you thought you were different, I guess it was all a waste of both our time."

My eyes cloud with tears, through them I see him walk away, turning to look at me one last time before sauntering out of the door and towards the cafeteria. Tears fall hard and fast as I sink down the classroom wall and onto the ground. How could he? I told him everything, about my father, about Maddi, and he just wanted to get in my pants? I don't buy it.

The sobs get louder and suddenly I feel comforting hands on my shoulder, I look up to see Charlie's sympathetic eyes and she instantly pulls me into a hug. I hug her back and cry on her shoulder. We stay like that for a while and soon enough the bell rings.

"Let's go home, we can skip the rest of the day," Charlie suggests.

I nod through my tears and stand up with her help. We make our way back to my car, I pass Charlie my keys and she drives towards my house.

"What about your car," I ask as she begins to drive.

"Luke dropped me off today, I'll text him and let him know what happened when we get home, I'll text Dale as well. He can grab his clothes and come straight away instead of later to get ready," Charlie explains.

I attempt to smile weakly at Luke bringing Charlie but can't manage it; "please don't tell Luke what happened, I'll tell him tomorrow when he comes for the pool thing," I manage. She nods.

After about 10 minutes we pull into my driveway. I feel weak, still in shock, but at least I wasn't crying anymore. How can someone break your heart without any basis of romantic love?

I unlock my door with my keys and we instantly head upstairs to my room.

"Em what happened? One second I was heading to the cafeteria and the next Jordan was running towards me telling me you were upset in that classroom?" Charlie begs.

I sigh, it's time I told her.

***

It was about an hour and a half before we were heading off to the party, I had told Charlie why the guys were ignoring us and she was shocked, about everything. I had to also tell her about Luke racing at the tracks but she promised not to say anything or reveal she knew. By the time I had finished telling her that, Dale had gotten here, apparently, when he got the message from Charlie, he also skipped the rest of the school day, went home to get some clothes, and came here. I was able to tell them at the same time about what had happened in the classroom and instead of feeling broken, I now felt angry and frustrated. How dare he treat me like he did those other girls.

Dale and Charlie were furious, Charlie more so than Dale. It seemed to me like Dale was trying to figure Aiden out because he believed there was more to his side of the story. After I had told them everything, we ended up ordering food and watching Disney movies in an attempt to cheer me up. It worked. I was lucky I had Dale and Charlie, I didn't need Aiden. He was an asshole, I would miss Toby and the guys but Toby was coming tomorrow so I was looking forward to that.

"Okay hotties, we need to start getting ready. Em baby, Charlie, and I are going to make you irresistible for the party tonight. You are going to get smashed, make out with random guys and forget about the bad boy next door," Dale smirked, it was a smirk I much preferred over Aiden's last one.

"Let's do Charlie fist?" I suggest.

"Okay, we'll pick out outfits, then do hair and makeup. Em - Dale and I are choosing your outfit and you have no say," Charlie smirks.

Dale smirks as well, he and Charlie exchange looks and I'd be lying if I didn't say I was a tad scared.

After a while, we pick out Charlie and Dale's clothes. Dale had brought a whole bag of clothes with him for tonight and tomorrow because he was staying the night, and Charlie was wearing something she had left here ages ago that I had always thought looked amazing on her.

I'm sent to go and bother Elijah while Charlie and Dale choose my outfit so I don't get a say and about 20 minutes later I'm called back to my room.

First, we were doing Charlie, I was doing her hair while Dale started on the makeup, the guy was an artist. I decide to straighten Charlie's usually wavy hair and then grab two strands of her hair from the front of her face and pin them to the back so her beautiful face was on display. I curl the ends of the strands and I'm done. Dale takes about 5 more minutes and then her makeup is done as well.

It was now my turn and I was taken away from any mirrors because Dale and Charlie wanted to surprise me.

***

It was now almost time for us to leave, I had no idea what Dale and Charlie had done with my hair and makeup, and although I was excited for the reveal, I was nervous about the outfit I was going to be forced to wear.

"Okay Em, promise to put whatever we give you on?" Charlie asks pointedly.

"I promise," I reply nervously, just wanting to see what it was.

Dale smirks and hands me two pieces of material.

"No way, I may as well go nude," I refuse, as soon as I see what I was expected to wear.

"You promised," Charlie reminds me.

"Just try it on, if you hate it we can figure out something else," Dale rolls his eyes.

I sigh and walk into my wardrobe to get a strapless bra and put on the tiny pieces of material.

I slip them on and walk outside with a 'no way' expression on my face, it seemed like the material covered even less than I thought it did.

"Holy," Charlie begins, eyeing me up and down.

"Fuck," Dale finishes, giving me a wide eye expression.

"You guys are the ones who wanted me to wear it," I roll my eyes at their expressions.

"Babe, you almost turned me straight," Dale says.

"And if you weren't my cousin, almost turned me gay," Charlie smiles.

I blush at their compliments, just wanting to see how I looked.

"Ready for the reveal?" Dale asks smirking.

I nod and Charlie smiles before Dale turns the mirror back around.

I look at the girl before me and I can barely believe it's me, I look hot. I was wearing a tiny creamy colored tube top that sparkled, and an extremely tight high waisted skirt that was the same color. It had horizontal stripes that blended in with the material, and the last strip was clear. It covered my ass by an inch at the absolute most before the clear strip began. My hair had been straightened and then curled at the ends and my makeup was done perfectly. I had sparkly eyeshadow on that was the same color as my outfit, a light pink gloss on, and my eyelashes were smothered in mascara and looked as long as fake eyelashes.

Charlie was wearing a tight dress with an open, strappy back, it was a beigy kind of color with silvery-gold flowers sewed through the material. Her breasts were out, but not too much and it covered a lot more than mine did, but was still short. Her makeup was similar to mine, but her eyeshadow wasn't sparkly and was a slightly different color, blending into a darker one which looked great over her winged eyeliner. Her lips were a similar color to mine.

Dale was wearing a blue button-up with army colored cargo pants that were skinny from his knees. He had a chain connected to one side of his pants, and white shoes on. His curly hair was left the way it was. He looked hot.

I was actually really impressed with all our outfits, even in my tiny outfit I somehow still felt comfortable, and even sexy.

"What do you think?" Dale asks, happy with my reaction.

"You two are miracle workers!" I enthuse.

"No we're not, you have a hot bod, we just encouraged you to show it," Charlie smiles happily. I laugh.

Dale hands me a pair of open-toe stilettos where the straps wrapped around my ankle and I put them on. I had always been pretty good at wearing heels, something I had gotten from my mother who could wear huge heels all day and be fine. He also passed Charlie heels a tiny bit shorter than mine, they just had an ankle strap with an open-toe. I was now about a couple of inches or so shorter than Dale. Charlie who was shorter than me normally still had a while before she caught up to either of us.

We take a few selfies together before its finally time to leave. Dale was deso and therefore was drinking a tiny bit at the start of the night, but not much, which left him the responsible one. We walk downstairs and say goodbye to my mom who gives us the party speech and says how lucky it is that Robert had a late shift because he would never let me and Charlie go out like this.

We get in the car and start chatting excitedly, tonight would be a good night, I would forget all about my troubles with the bad boy and my past and just have fun with my best friends.