"What do you mean you're not going to Alex's party?" Summer stops walking and folds her arms across her chest, displeased with my answer. "Why wouldn't you go? It's practically our New Year party"

"I'm just not in the mood to party"

"But Zack?" Natalie interjects.

"Zack's just a guy"

"And Flynn?" Summer arches an eyebrow at me, falling back in step with us as we saunter through the shopping center.

"He's a guy too. My world does not and never will revolve around a guy"

"Except that Aaron guy" Natalie adds.

I let out a giggle and shake my head. "Aaron's my best friend" I confess and they both almost choke on nothing.

"Best friend?" Summer repeats, checking she heard correctly.

"Yes, best friend. Nothing more." I chuckle. "And before you get any ideas" I glimpse at Natalie, "he has a girlfriend and holly is also a friend of mine"

"You're full of surprises, you know that?" Summer exclaims.

I nod my head. Amused by their reactions. "Speaking of Aaron, I'm actually going to visit him and Holly in Waterford for New Years"

"But you'll be back for the January party in Matty's right?"

I wince at her. "Matty's throwing a party?"

Matty is a bit.. unpredictable, in my opinion. God only knows what could happen at his party, He's nuts, but I guess I'll be considering it.

"Oh I love this dress!" Natalie coos spotting a red halterneck dress in a shop window.

"Leah?" I hear my name being called questionably and turn to face the familiar voice.

"Linda, hey" I chime gleefully. "How are you?"

"Ah up to my eyes, between Wedding planning and Christmas shopping, I don't know what's more stressful"

"I'd say Wedding" Natalie pipes up. "Christmas shopping is so much fun"

"Sorry. Linda, these are my friends Nat and Summer" I introduce, "Girls this is Flynn's mam" I state.

"Hey" they chime simultaneously.

"Nice meeting yous" She smiles kindly. "Well It was lovely running into you, I better get going, tons to do and not enough time to do it in" She says, sounding stressed.

"Do you need help?" I blurt.

"Oh no, I couldn't expect you..."

"Honestly, I insist; besides it's what Christmas is about" I turn around to the girls. "Yous up for it?" I asks Summer and Natalie who just nod in response.

...

Linda places a mug of hot chocolate on the table in front of me and I cradled it in my hands. It's heat, seeping through my fingers, sending a warm feeling through my bones.

"You weren't messing when you said you had a ton to do and little time to do it in" I chuckle.

Natalie and Summer had helped until exhaustion kicked in and they set off home, almost an hour ago. Whereas I, who loves shopping, could go all day.

"Yeah with all the wedding plans, I kind of forgot about Christmas. Now I've had to squeeze it all in three days before Christmas" She sighs. "Are you ready for Christmas?"

"I only buy for my parents so yeah pretty much"

"Oh how I wish it were that simple. Would you believe Flynn is actually the hardest to buy for. I have no idea what I'm going to buy him and he won't even give me a hint"

I feel retract upon hearing her talk about him. The past few hours she hasn't mentioned him, which I was fine with.

"Why not just buy him a box set of Die Hard movies, or a new helmet. Nothing feels better than a new helmet and he could really do with one" I suggest without over thinking it.

"How do you..." She pauses, staring questionably at me.

"I used to have my own bike. My parents took it from me before we moved here" I scrunch my face up. "It was similar to Flynn's but it a different model and it was blue" I smile at the memory of it. Oh how I miss my bike.

Linda beams over her mug at me. "You're like a female version of my son" She chuckles.

"So I've been told" I snicker.

"Would you mind helping me chose one, since you know more about this then me, please"

As much as Flynn irritates me and I hate having to talk about him right now, I couldn't find it in me to say no to Linda, She's too nice.

I nod my head.

...

I hesitantly enter the house behind Linda, my hands full of her shopping bags. I follow her to the kitchen, sure that Flynn wasn't around since she hadn't called out to him.

"You can just put them on the floor there" Linda instructs. "Do you want a hot chocolate before you head home?" She offers.

"I'm fine thanks"

"Are you sure I can't give you a lift"

Linda had offered to drop me home but I declined not wanting to inconvenience her. It's not far from mine and today is one of the few mild and dry days we've had in a while.

I shake my head. "It's fine honestly, I told my friend I'd drop into her on the way" I fib. I don't even know anyone who lives between here and my estate.

"What friend?" His voice shrills, sending a shiver up my spine.

I turn to face him. He has a smug expression, like he knows I'm lying.

"You wouldn't know him" I smile, emphasizing the word him and watching as his jaw twitches slightly.

"Come on, I'll drop you off. I'm sure you've done enough walking in those shoes" He glances down at my platform heel boots.

"I'm fine thanks., besides still plenty of miles left in these boots" I say trying to remain polite for Linda's sake.

"Stop being stubborn and let's go" He says and heads towards the front door with his helmet.

I sigh knowing he's not going to let this slide.

"I'll see you soon" I smile kindly at Linda before following Flynn out.

He sits onto his bike, holding out the spare helmet to me. I snatch it from him and climb on behind him. "So where to?" He asks and I can hear the amusement in his tone.

"Just take me home" I demand dryly.

"What, you're not going to your friend's place?"

"I'd rather walk twice the distance from my house than let you drop me there" I exclaim, gripping onto his sides, deliberately digging my long black glittery nails into his ribs.

His body twitches at the sudden pain but he refrains from yelping.

"Home it is then, Trouble" He says and the bike roars to life.

...

"I suppose I should say thanks" I say coldly, handing him back his spare helmet.

He shakes his head, "You helped my mam so let's call it even" He sounds so genuine that I can't help but feel suspicious. I squint my eyes at him. "Don't look at me like that" He chuckles, "I'm being serious. I can tell she had fun today. She loves shopping, she just hates that she doesn't have a daughter to go shopping with"

I relax my face. "Just because I like your mam doesn't mean we're cool"

"I wouldn't expect us to be" He smirks sarcastically. "anyway, maybe I'll even catch you at Alex's party tomorrow"

I shake my head. "Can't see me if I'm not there" I force a smile and turn, heading into my house, feeling his eyes on me the entire time.

I close the door and stand with my back to it, taking in a deep breath.

Damn you Flynn Murray for messing with my head.