"Where are we?"
Aiden groaned and turned back to go to the car, but it was already gone. The driver had dropped us off at a rural area of some kind. It was freezing and all I had was a scarf to keep me warm. The sight of the greenery wasn't so bad, instead it was pleasing and calming. I glared at Aiden who was rubbing his hands together for warmth. He took out his phone and let out a groan.
"There's no signal here either!" Aiden exclaimed as he shoved his phone in his pocket. I looked around to find a house or a hut or something. At a far distance, there was smoke coming out of a chimney. My eyes widened as I pointed towards the smoke.
"Over there! Let's walk there. Maybe it's a rest stop or something." Aiden gave me a disapproving look, but nodded afterwards since we had no choice.
_____
"What is this place? Like a bar?" I asked. Walking here was a mess. Aiden kept complaining about how cold it was, whereas I just gave him a look of disappointment. The scarf came up till my mouth since it was filled with layers. Every time I spoke I had to bring it down.
"This is dangerous. Maybe we shouldn't go in," I whispered to him. But as cocky as he is, he went in headfirst. I followed behind him quietly. As we entered, my jaw dropped to my floor. The scene in front of my eyes was the most horrifying thing ever. Aiden just smirked as he took a seat on a table.
This place was bar. Maybe thirty men were sitting around or playing pool. They all stared at us angrily, like an ugly painting at an art gallery. I gulped a thousand times when I checked out their appearances. All of them had tattoos all over their body, even their faces!
One of them didn't have an eye so he wore an eyepatch. They all looked like they go to the same gym because they were tall and sturdy. They chugged down huge glasses of beer and wiped their mouths with the back of their hands.
My teeth started cackling in the quiet bar. Everyone eyed each other confusedly as to what I was doing. Aiden just scanned me up and down and scoffed at me. One of them big men stood up and approached our table. I pulled the scarf up till my nose to hide my teeth, you know, because he would break them.
"Little lady," the man's husky voice said. He had a British accent and a tattoo on his face of... a cat? He shadowed over our table because he was so tall. "Is this boy here disturbing you?" He pointed at Aiden who just stared back at him with a cold look and narrow eyes. I shook my head and wiped my hands on my pants due to the sweat.
"Now, now. Why don't you sit down Gerald?" A man's voice spoke from behind. I tilted my head to see who it was. A little gasp left my mouth as Jonathan stood there with his hands in his jeans pocket. I looked at Aiden who's face turned red from anger.
Gerald sat down in his seat and moved his eyes back and forth between Aiden and I. Jonathan took a seat at our table and requested for three beers.
"What's good?" He asked. "How are my favourite duo?" He said looking at Aiden then me.
"Why are you here?" Aiden said with hatred in his voice. Jonathan let out a laugh but then turned serious.
"You, my friend, broke my sister's heart."
I looked away with regret. He was right. After the news of us broke out, Olivia must've been heartbroken. I can't help but think this is my fault, when it's actually his. I gazed at Aiden who just sat there expressionless. This man had no heart.
"I'm sorry Jonathan. On behalf of him as well," I said pursing my lips into a sad smile. He waved it off and smiled back, but rolled his eyes at Aiden. I let out a small laugh which caused Aiden to look our way and mock us.
"Here are your drinks gentlemen," the waitress said as she placed three beers. "And lady." She turned on her heels with sass and walked back to the counter. I narrowed my eyes at her and stared at the big jug in front of me. I could never handle alcohol well, and with Aiden around, who knows what I can do.
"Well go on. Drink up!" Jonathan cheered and chugged down the beer. My mouth was left open as he wiped the back of mouth. Aiden sipped his beer like it was a fine, red wine from his palace. I'm surprised he even drank a beer from a dirty bar. Everyone was looking at us, well mostly Aiden and his drinking technique. I moved my eyes to my beer and gulped nervously. I took it by the handle of the mug and took three big sips of it, finishing it just like Jonathan. I put down the mug and wiped my mouth as well. Everyone was staring at me wide-eyed with their jaws dropped. Aiden just raised an eyebrow and continuing sipping his beer.
"One more round?" Jonathan asked with a cheeky smile. I bit my lip nervously and then nodded in excitement. Jonathan shouted for two more beers as we waited impatiently. The beers arrived quickly and were swallowed down in a minute. By now everyone was crowded around Jonathan and I. I was losing sense of my mind as blurriness covered my eyes. The big men with tattoos cheered us on as I competed with Jonathan by completing my beer first. As I drank down the entire thing, the room erupted into cheers and claps.
"Good job Iris! That was your fifth jug and you be-" I put my finger to his lips and told him to 'shut up'. I cheered along with the other guys and spun my scarf in the air.
"Everyone be quiet!" I said and hiccuped. I pointed at where Aiden was sitting as everyone moved out of my direction. I stood up on the table and narrowed my eyes at him. I had so much to say to his stupid, rich face.
"Aiden whatever your stupid last name is. I, Iris something, will not handle your bratty behaviour!" I yelled. He rolled his eyes and tilted his head to the side as he listened. I looked around at everybody who sat down and listened to what I was saying. "You know, I'm a human too. I have feelings and stuff. With him, I feel like, I feel like shit." Everybody nodded and someone even started crying in the back. I sat down on the table and grabbed an empty alcohol bottle and hugged it. I was facing Aiden, who stared back at me like a cold, hard stone.
"The day you told me we were gonna get married, my world came crashing down. Like an avalanche. I was happy, but also mad. I was angry, but also excited. I was broken, but somehow fixed. And you know who made me feel like that? You. You did-" I looked down at my hands as tears rolled down my face, "- But you being the asshole you are didn't even care. Olivia? Your mom? Your people? You only care about yourself." I got up and took in a deep breath. I felt like throwing up. I sat back down and brought the bottle up to my teary face.
"Only this bottle loves me. This amazingly tasting alcohol bottle. You know why it makes me feel good? It eases my pain. It makes me feel like I'm on cloud nine." Anger was boiling up inside of me as I raised the bottle up. "But you? YOU MAKE ME FEEL LIKE A WORTHLESS HUMAN BEING!" I shut my eyes and brought the bottle down to his head but someone caught my arm mid-air. I opened my eyes slowly and saw Aiden's dark eyes looking at me. I gulped down the giant ball of nervousness and tears and let loose of the bottle, causing it to fall and shatter on the ground.
"Are you done?" Aiden asked coldly. His grip was tight around my arm, almost too tight to leave marks the next day. But I couldn't feel pain, not anymore. Jonathan stood up to help but Gerald asked him to stay down and let us handle it.
Aiden stood up, kicking the chair back. He overshadowed me, owed me with his dark aura. He brought his face closer to mine, his lips only inches away. My eyes traveled from his lips to his eyes, and repeat. Everyone was on the edge of their seats now. Aiden let out a tiny chuckle and grabbed wrist. I came down from the table as he led us outside the bar.
"Where are we going?" I slurred. My eyes were about close their curtain any minute. My head throbbed and I was about to throw up any minute.
"Somewhere far away."
"Like where?"
No reply.
I sighed and gave up. He stopped on top of a hill and let go of my hand. I looked up to the sky full of stars, and closed my eyes. I opened them and looked at Aiden who was staring at me intensely. I rolled my eyes and turned around to walk away from him. He grabbed my wrist and turned me around causing me to crash against his chest.
Aiden snaked his hand around my waist and pulled me close. He put two fingers under my chin and lifted it up so I can look into his eyes. Dry tear stains were still lingering on my face as I stared into his cold ones. My hands were trembling against his chest, but everything seemed to zone out when I am with him. Something was slowly building up inside of me, and it was not good. My eyes went wide. Vomit.
"You know that was quite a show-"
I crouched down in the darkness and put a hand on my mouth. I gagged and eventually removed the hand from my mouth as my vomit surged up and spilled all over Aiden's shoes. My eyes felt heavy and Aiden's whining and anger sounded blurry. I stood up with a stumble and fell back in darkness.
The last thing I saw was Aiden reaching out to me.