Hard Boy ✔️

4

- Enchanted (Taylor's Version); Taylor Swift - 
- Hard to Believe; Wallows - 
- Don't Stop; 5 Seconds of Summer - 

Aurora Holland

"SO I PUT MY HANDS UP THEY'RE PLAYING MY SONG, THE BUTTERFLIES FLY AWAYYYY!" Paige and Bailey screamed the lyrics, not caring if they were off-key.

I let out a giggle at their carefreeness, wishing I could open up enough to be like that. If it were just me and Paige, I'd be singing along, but I was currently smashed in the backseat next to Paige and Cameron.

I guess Bailey's best friend Layla wanted to carpool as well, and she booted Cameron to the back despite Bailey and Cameron living together and starting the ride together. This left him in the backseat with Paige and me. Despite the fact Paige knew these people better than I did, I still somehow got stuck in the middle.

"They're always like this, trust me," Cameron mumbled next to me. It was hard to hear them due to the mixture of the wind flowing in through the windows and the music, but he leaned in close to me to make sure I heard him.

"I know Paige is," I admitted. "I'm glad to see she has friends just like her."

Cameron just nodded, staring down at his lap. He typed a few texts on his phone before putting his attention back to me. "You excited for the party?"

"Nervous, honestly," I spoke, twirling my ring around my finger.

"You shouldn't be. I'm sure if Paige was able to fit in so quickly you will as well." He smiled softly.

As much as I wanted to tell him he was wrong, that it's never been like that, I didn't. He wouldn't understand, as he was very friendly and open just like everyone else. Even Layla, who I hadn't met until just now, was very kind as if we'd been friends for a lifetime.

Surely it was only because I'm Paige's cousin.

"Okay, bitches we're here!" Layla exclaimed, unclipping her seatbelt.

It was then I took in the giant house we'd approached. We had pretty good parking considering we're here to help set up. I guess we're a few hours early as well, but the main reason we left when we did is so it didn't look suspicious.

Yeah, going to a study group at 8 pm sounds sooooo not suspicious at all.

"Do we know who's here?" Bailey asked from the driver's seat. She checked her flawless makeup in the rearview mirror, wiping the corners of her mouth with her index finger. 

"I think just Logan. Unless Carter's lingering," Cameron said. "He didn't really specify in the text."

"Griffin and the others are coming, right?" Layla asked as we all took turns getting out of the car.

"I believe so," Cameron responded.

"Quinn actually had a tournament out of town so she couldn't make it," Paige said. "I've already asked."

"So Guin and Griffin are coming then?" Bailey asked.

"Sounds like it," Cameron said.

"You think Carter's going to show?" Layla asked, fixing her curly hair.

"It's his own house, surely he'll be here," Paige said.

"He'll probably do like he usually does and stand around for five minutes before going back to his room," Layla said. "The boy doesn't know how to party."

"His problem is he won't give us a chance," Paige told the girl, wrapping her arm in hers. "We're literally party animals, he just needs to stick around for the party to actually start before judging and leaving."