I woke up to that beautiful painting staring me in the face. A constant reminder that I'm an idiot and I make poor choices. I eyed the dancing couple inside, imagining that they were alive and actually moving. It could have been.

The image of their dance was stuck inside my mind for the remainder of my day. At work, I kept to myself, reliving past moments in my head over and over.

If there was a fork in the road, splitting it in half and separating off into different directions, I'd be faced with a choice. One direction would be a clear sign to walk down, while the other would be terrifyingly threatening to stay away... And I'd still walk down the wrong road.

I suppose it was a good thing that I have always been quiet. It made things easier for other people. They didn't have to ask what was going on because they'd be too scared to ask or just used to the silence. It was a perk to be a "loose cannon."

I prepared myself for most things.

I wasn't prepared to see her sitting in my living room with a glass of wine, ranting to Lacey a thousand miles per second.

I closed the front door behind me and walked cautiously into the fire.

Lacey lifted her head up slightly to acknowledge me while Aria twisted her neck around to face me. Pinging my heart.

She didn't say hi unlike Lacey. Instead, she turned back towards her friend and continued on with her rant as if I wasn't even here. I guess I should expect that but it still bothered me.

"-And he completely over reacted and ruined everything."

I frowned. Her father again, perhaps?

"What happened?" I asked, clutching my keys in my hand forcefully as a security blanket.

"Surprise, surprise, her dad spoiled her whole time with her brother with his constant nagging and instigating." Lacey chimed in when Aria remained silent.

She was still faced towards Lacey but I could see her side profile. She didn't look thrilled.

She sighed and glared at her friend.

"Are you okay?" I asked. I felt bad.

Aria's glare turned to me. Then sweetly said, "I don't think you really care to know, do you?"

I suppose anger was better than not having emotion at all.

"I do care."

Aria rolled her eyes and sipped on her wine, finishing off the glass.

She was a lot more angry than when I left her. I suppose she's had some time to think.

I stood there in place, standing my ground at my statement. I did care, a lot more than she could believe. She was clearly upset with me and she had every right but it wasn't going to stop me from the truth.

Lacey poured her another glass of white wine while topping off her own glass. The bottle emptied with every last drop. Lacey took a large gulp of her wine and stood up suddenly, swift motion.

"Enough of that, we should go out tonight!" Lacey exclaimed, a large grin formed on her tipsy face. It was her subtle hint to change the direction of our conversation.

I internally sighed.

Aria nodded dramatically and tipped a large amount of liquid into her mouth before slamming the glass on the table. "Agreed!" She said and began walking towards the back of the house. "Tyler!" She called around the corner. "Put some clothes on, I'm coming up! We're going out tonight and I need to borrow an outfit!" With that, Aria disappeared to the other side of the house.

I turned to Lacey, alone. "Is everything okay?" I asked, low.

Lacey tilted her head, then shrugged. "She's pissed off, E." She paused, debating on her words. "She's just frustrated at her parents. She's hurt by what you did, honestly. And I'm not very impressed either."

"You should stay out of my personal business," I muttered.

I haven't seen Billy for a week, or at least the man he hired to follow me.

I sighed and threw my keys on the living room table. "I didn't mean to cause her to feel that way."

I was frustrated.

"I know," She touched my arm. "She's more mad about her parents," She offered a smile. I knew she was trying to soften the blow, but it wasn't working.

I felt awful.

Tyler jumped down the stairs and rounded the corner. He had a large smile. "We're going out tonight?" He asked, excitement barely contained.

Lacey nodded happily. "All of us." She turned to me. "Including you."

I raised an eyebrow. "I'm not sure I'm invited."

"Nonsense, Eli," Lacey said. "You're more than invited."

I stared at Tyler, and he raised his hands. "Looks like you're coming, bud," he grinned. "It'll be fun."

Lacey pushed me lightly towards my room with a smile on her tipsy face. "Go shower, you're coming out tonight."

I was stuck in the middle. I realistically should stay home, read a self help book and stay out of Aria's way. But at the same time, I wanted to piss her off with my presence just a little bit because the sadist in my enjoyed the chaos.

I needed an excuse to be near her.

I walked out of my room, vigorously rubbing a towel on my head to dry my hair. By the time I was finished showering and getting ready for the rest of this awkward night, my friends were already finished getting ready and sharing a drink.

Tyler was fixing sleeves on his grey button up shirt, folding them at his wrists to fit properly. At least this time, I wasn't completely out of place by my attire; Black everything as usual. Black jeans, black boots, a black shirt and a black leather jacket.

The girls on the other hand, looked like they just walked out of a magazine cover shoot. Lacey was dressed in a sequenced, lace long sleeve shirt that tucked inside her baby pink shorts, so short that she was almost exposed. She had heels to match her shirt, playing off a very flirtatious look. Tyler was a lucky man to have that to walk beside.

Aria was wearing one of Lacey's outfits, and it was evident. Even though it wasn't something Aria normally wore, I had to admit that she pulled it off better than Lacey ever did. A black lace bralette tank top - I hated that Lacey drilled that word in my brain so often that I had to learn what it actually was. I hated even more that I knew the bralette was in a sweetheart neckline. I'd never admit my knowledge on clothes to anyone. There were strings or laces that wrapped around her toned stomach and tied in the back in a flimsy bow. It was an odd fashion that pulled off a sexy look. Her short black skirt hugged her skin tight, her curves formed perfectly with them. Her ass looked great.

She had see-through nylons on that stopped short in the middle of her thighs. She tied the beige laces of her wedge, suede ankle boots and poked one of the many silver studs that were on the edge of her shoe before standing up. I suppressed a comment.

Fuck, I wanted to take her right then and there.

She glanced at me for a moment, then bit her lip and looked away.

Hm.

"Everyone ready?" Lacey asked.

"We can take my truck," I offered and pointed to my keys.

"Absolutely not." Tyler asserted. "I called a cab."

I tilted my lips and bobbed my head. He had a point. I'd need a lot of booze to get through the night with Aria looking like that, ignoring me.

The cab directed us outside of town and led us further than I expected to go. We ended up downtown about forty minutes away, where the night was young and the bodies were desperate. Clubs and bars were on every corner, as well as various people drunk or high, living life and partying.

You're fine.

The cab ride wasn't too awkward considering Tyler requested a twelve seater jeep and we grabbed booze for our journey. She sat as far away from me as the jeep would allow her.

We entered a bar that didn't seem to be as bumping as we'd expected. It was probably better off so we could ease ourselves into the beginning of our night. We all sat at a round table, perfect for us all to see each other clearly.

Just peachy.

Tyler ordered a pitcher of beer and a martini for lacey. "What do you like, Aria?"

"Vodka cranberry," I answered instinctively.

Aria glanced at me for a moment before turning back to Tyler. She offered a warm smile towards him and nodded. "He's right." She didn't seem pleased that I remembered her preferred drink.

I grabbed the beer when it arrived and listened to my friends talk about random nonsense. I had too much on my mind. Like the line of blow in the bathroom. Or the pretty girl next to me. Or that guy trying to get frisky with someone much older than him.

I finished the drink quick, feeling a need to catch up to the girls. Tyler was close behind me.

She was talking, just not to me.

Were we really going back to the beginning? Of her giving me glances but turning away from me as soon as I caught her. I hated this.

"There's a lot of sleazeballs in here, I find," Lacey extended her neck to scope out the crowd.

I finished my beer along with Tyler, this time I ordered something stronger, a whiskey. "That's because they're all looking to score," I muttered, sipping my drink. This was a hole in the wall.

"Smells of desperation," Lacey laughed. "I want to go dancing."

"That sounds fun!" Aria nodded.

I smirked. I knew it wouldn't take long until Lacey would want to go somewhere more suited for her drunk tastes. This was routine. Lacey and booze always equaled dancing.

"We will after these drinks, babe," Tyler pecked her lips. "The night is young."

Aria smiled at the two of them being cute together, then looked away and gave off a distraught face.

I sighed. I wanted to talk to her.

Our drinks were droplets at this point, ice melting at the bottom of the glass. Tyler was looking over the bill momentarily.

"I'll be back, I just need to pee!" Lacey scooted off her chair and walked off to the bathroom.

"I'll come," Aria hopped off her chair and followed closely behind, both of them walking with confidence.

I eyed the two of them as they walked away. They were looking too good to be in a place like this.

"Cold as ice tonight, isn't it?" Tyler said while he was fishing out his wallet.

"It's pretty mild."

He laughed. "I was talking about the tension."

"Oh."

"Fucked that one up, did you?" He said, closing the book with the bills inside.

I remained silent but narrowed my eyes.

"I don't know why you put yourself through these situations, E. Either way, just breathe. She'll get over it eventually and once we all get real drinks in us, the night will be more fun. Don't sweat it too much."

"Hm."

"She'll eventually forgive you. I don't think Aria is capable of holding a grudge." He winked.

"I don't know," I mumbled.

I shouldn't be surprised that my friends knew of what I did to Aria after the fair. I was just thankful that Tyler was on my side even when he shouldn't be.

I glanced over to the bathrooms. Lacey was standing outside of the bathroom alone, talking to a man. Did she know him? I eyed them suspiciously, only to see the conversation getting heated.

"What's going on there?" I asked Tyler but kept my focus on her.

Where was Aria?

Tyler looked where I was looking at the same time Lacey pushed the man away from her. He walked back over to her cornered her into the wall, one hand propping himself off of the wall while the other pet the side of her face.

Lacey pushed him again and he pushed her back, letting her hit the wall close behind her. I could hear her telling him to get the fuck off of her from the table.

My fingernails dug into the palm of my hands and I stood up abruptly. I didn't even look to Tyler before I stormed over to the two of them and grabbed the guy by the shoulder. He turned around and before he had a chance to speak, I punched him straight in the corner of his face. Instead of letting him stagger back, I held him by the collar of his shirt and pinned him against the wall with my forearm at his neck.

"That was a wrong fucking move," I spat out and slammed him into the wall again. Sweat dripped down his temple. "Apologize to her."

"Wh-"

I slammed him again.

"I'm, okay fuck. I'm sorry!" He panicked. Coward. "Is that your girl?"

"No and it doesn't matter," I muttered, scrunching his collar tighter.

The man let out a low squeal from the back of his throat.

I released the man and let him stumble down to the ground before he picked himself up. He straightened his clothes and gave us one last look before he scurried off. I turned around to Lacey who had a shocked expression on her face but a smile was creeping up on her. Aria was standing beside her, holding her hand. Her blue eyes were widened, surprised.

I didn't know what she was thinking, but I desperately wanted to know. I didn't even know how long she was standing there, and how much she's seen.

Tyler was standing beside me, a dark expression on his face. He was staring down the man who tried to assault his girlfriend. I had no idea how long he was with me, I only saw red. He wasn't as heated as I got, but he was angry - it was evident in his face. He just didn't know how to handle a situation like this.

He wrapped his arms around Lacey from behind and she held his forearms and sank into his chest.

A bouncer approached us, so large that I could swear I felt a thump with every step. "You four, get the fuck out. You're done."

I squinted. What about the other guy? Is he not going to be kicked out too for trying to assault a woman?

"What?" Lacey objected but the man snapped his fingers and told us to leave. "Well fuck you too then," She muttered and began walking away.

I let the girls walk in front of me and Tyler, us walking closely behind them. I shook my hand out, trying to relieve some of the pain.

We stepped outside and Lacey turned around to face me. "Holy fuck, Eli. Thank you," Lacey sloppily wrapped her arms around me. I placed my hand on her back momentarily before releasing her. I wasn't expecting her to be releaved at my actions.

I lit a smoke.

Tyler patted my shoulder and shook his head. "Thanks for having my back, man."

I nodded, but my eyes were drifted towards the girl who was quiet.

She bit her lip, eyeing me with an expression I couldn't make of. Disgust? Desire? Fear? What was going on in there?

I was thankful for nicotine.

Instead of asking her, I remained silent.

Somehow, we made our way to a club. We walked in, to a large space that looked like a warehouse. There was an upstairs that you could see visibly with rails all along the sides to protect the partiers. The place was packed, the bodies were sweaty, the music was loud, and the lights were scattered.

Lacey and Aria had a heavy buzz on, smiling and giggling with each other about who knew what. Lacey started to dance to the music a little by the door, which had Aria joining in happily. It made my dead heart light up ever so slightly. At least she was having a good time, I just wished it was with me.

A man walked up to Aria, his eyes as tweaked as his spiked hair was. "Party favors!" He announced and grabbed her hand. Her face was uncertain and I immediately tensed, annoyed that I was going to have to fight another person. The man dumped something in her hand and then disappeared into the crowd.

Aria turned around to our group and opened her hand to reveal six pills. "What are these?" She asked.

Tyler looked at me and I took them out of her hand. I lifted one up closer to my face to inspect it. "MDMA," I said nodding. "They're pure." I only knew that because they were in the shape of an alien with an eyepatch and I used to buy these exact pills from a supplier. They were reliable dealers.

"Eli," Tyler warned.

I stared at the pill in my hand.

Lacey remained silent, quizzing Aria's face. I was surprised that Aria was looking to me for approval on what to do.

I frowned. I used to take these all the time to party. The memory of them was fun, the hangover wasn't. "You shouldn't take these."

I couldn't take them, I'd spiral right back where I started if I did. Even Tyler knew of this. I was surprised to be so calm while holding one - by now it'd already be in my stomach.

I glanced at the many eyes looking her way and sighed. She was looking damn good tonight. I leaned closer to her and placed my hand on the middle of her back. "I know you're going through a hard time, Aria. But you don't need to take anything to fix that. Let me help you have a good night." I pleaded.

She stepped away from me. "You're being a hypocrite." Tispy tongue.

I winced, staring at her.

Her eyes flickered from her previous expression and softened. "Eli, I'm-"

"Take them all then." I muttered and shoved the pills back into her hands. I walked away from her, frustrated.

I shook my head and leaned against the bar counter top.

"What do you want, boss?" The bartender rolled up his sleeves.

"Whiskey," I muttered. "Keep them coming."

"You got it."

I watched as the girls glided into the crowd, dancing together to the beat of the music. Tyler snuck up behind me and grabbed one of the drinks the bartender brought me. I suppressed the urge to flinch.

"Oh, Eli." He grinned and grabbed me by the shoulders, shaking me. "You can be such an idiot sometimes."

I kept my cold expression, but turned to him and clinked our cups together. "She can make her own decisions." I muttered. "She's just pissed off at me."

"With good reason," He pointed out with a laugh.

"Hm."

"Don't worry about it, buddy. Let loose, enjoy the night! All will blow over." He grinned and downed his whiskey drink. I motioned the bartender over. "Now give me the pill."

I glanced at him.

Tyler extended his palm. "The one you kept, give it," he ordered and waved his fingers.

"I can't focus right now," I told Tyler, then grumbled as I handed him the alien eyepatch pill. "Why am I the idiot?"

"Buddy," Tyler said and flung the pill into the crowd of dancing people, letting whoever have any opportunity to crush it under their shoe. "You led her on. Can't blame her for being a little hesitant to talk to you."

I sighed. "Bring a variety of shots," I instructed the bartender when he approached. "Fuck, I hate what she's thinking of me."

"Well, what the fuck happened then? Why'd you push her away?" Tyler asked, staring out at the girls dancing and grabbing the attention of other men, even other women.

I couldn't tell him the true reasons. Fucking Billy. But I felt like it wasn't even him anymore. I could take Billy on no problem and he didn't scare me.

"I don't fucking know," I admit. I sipped on my drink, observing the girls. "Does it not bother you that men are staring at Lace like a piece of meat?" It sure as fuck bothered me that men were looking at Aria that way.

"Nah man. I know she's my girl, so they can look and beg all they want but it's me she's coming home with at the end of the night. None of those losers."

Aria wouldn't be coming home with me, and that's what pissed me off so much. I took the rest of my drink, angry. She wasn't mine.