New characters in this chapter! Woo! Oh, and sorry for the errors, the whole book will eventually be edited when I can be bothered, haha! Enjoy!
Chapter 24
By the time Sunday morning came, I woke up feeling tired and groggy after few hours of sleep. I didn't know what to think with the whole Aaron thing. I wasn't sure exactly how I felt either. But I did feel like there was a part of me missing, an obvious part.
After breakfast I settled down on my bed to go through my load of homework. History, French, biology.. The never ending list. But of course I was interrupted by my phone buzzing from my bedside cabinet and of course it was Brooke.
"Dude, we have serious shit to talk about. Can I come over? Why am I asking? I'll be there in fifteen minutes." Brooke rambled down the phone.
"Well hello to you, too! I'm rolling my eyes at you by the way. Just because you can't see it."
"Why am I even friends with you if you betray me this way?" she asked sarcastically. "Anyway, get dressed because I know you're not," I looked down at my Minnie Mouse pyjamas, "and I'll be intruding your home very soon."
I quickly jumped into the shower being careful not to wet my hair and pulled on a pair of long black leggings, a plain white strap t-shirt and a black hoody. Can't forget the pink and white fluffy bed socks.
As soon as I stepped into my bedroom, Brooke had made herself comfortable on my bed with my laptop placed on her lap. "Make yourself at home!" I said sarcastically.
She waved a hand at me to tell me to shut up. "Have you heard about Stacy and Luke?"
This didn't sound promising. "What about them?"
"It's all over Facebook that they are 'seeing'. I mean, what is all this seeing business about? Either they're together or they're not together! Ugh, people piss me off!" Her face twisted slightly as if she was disgusted.
"Seeing?"
"Yep! Queer people." Her expression softened a little as she looked at me. "Oh, hey, are you okay with this? I didn't think before blabbing.."
"Yeah, of course, she can have him. They deserve each other." Stacy was such a slut! How could she mess with Aaron so much and then automatically move onto Luke. He was a perfectly nice guy until her, yeah, so what, I'm blaming Stacy for that ignorant boy. She's a vindictive bitch anyway..
I couldn't help but feel a stab of jealousy, though. I didn't want Luke, of course I didn't, but I did want something to happen between us when we were going out on they dates before he turned into a prick. He was such a nice guy to me.. How could he change his whole personality so quickly? That was what was confusing about him. But had he been like this the whole time and I was just too blind to see it? I guess I'll never know...
But none of the puzzle pieces joined together to give me the answer of why I had been dreaming about the guy for so long! I had never met him until he knocked me over a few weeks ago, yet it felt like I had been dreaming about him for years! If I had been dreaming about him then wasn't fate supposed to bring us together? Do I even believe in fate? No.. Yes.. Who cares!? But wouldn't it be more logic if I fell in love with Luke? Yeah. Luke was supposed to be mine! But I didn't want him...
Why couldn't it be Aaron I was dreaming about all this time? It would make so much more sense! Bit then.. Aaron didn't want me. I felt so used between the very first moment at his house with all the hand kissing, the time in his shed, then waking up in his bed (how dirty must that sound?) and then our moment on his couch when my dad walked in yesterday. I knew I liked Aaron even through all the complications and his brother interfering, but Aaron really didn't like me back. He'd proved that last night when he ended whatever was going on - which he brushed of ad nothing.
And then it hit me! I'd been playing them both at the same time! Luke and Aaron. I hadn't meant to but that didn't change the fact that I had. I had moments with Aaron, pretending it was nothing, went out with Luke a few times and wanted something to happen there, found out he was not what he made out to be, dismissed that, and now I expected Aaron to except me when I went crawling to him! What kind of person am I? I didn't stop to think about Aaron's feelings in any of this! To be fair I couldn't care any less about Luke but I cared for Aaron and I can't believe I used him like that and hadn't even though about his feelings. But he's a guy, did he care? Ugh.
I didn't realise I had zoned out until Brooke was standing a foot away from me and snapping her fingers in my face to get my attention. "Eb, what are you thinking about so much that it is more important than my presence?" she laughed lightly but looked at me concerned when I gave her my best 'shut your face' look. "What are you thinking about?" should I tell her? I mean she's my best friend and she would listen but would she understand? She pulled me towards my bed and sat next to me. "Come on, you can talk to me."
What the hell, it was just Brooke. So I told her everything and also what happened last night with Aaron and how I felt towards that whilst she sat patiently and didn't mutter a word until I was finished the whole story. "I see." long pause, "I don't really know what to say to you. I guess you'll have to figure out your feelings by yourself."
I sighed and looked down at my feet which didn't quite reach the ground because I was so small. "I guess. So what's going on in your life? Tell me some good news."
Her face brightened and I smiled to myself because I could see she had some genuine good news to share with me and that made me happy. "Well, I actually have good news to tell you! After me working at that stupid job for a few weeks, we actually got enough money to kind of cover the debt. Not completely, but a couple of my aunts chipped in so I get to quit the job and my mum only needs to do a few more extra shifts until it's completely out of the way! I feel so bad though, if I hadn't been so careless with money we wouldn't be in this mess to begin with."
"It's not your fault." I said honestly. It wasn't! It was her stupid dad's fault. If he hadn't left her with nothing, Patty would have felt the need to give her something and pretend it was from her dad.
"You're just saying that because you feel guilty for not stopping me buying things on every shopping trip we went on." She smirked a little and I could tell she was joking.
Come to think of it, she only ever used that card whenever she was shopping with me. There's another thing I get to feel guilty about. Wooo! Go Ebbs. "True. I do feel sorry about that. I could've stopped you."
"I was kidding, you know." She looked at me sincerely. "It's my fault. But who cares, it's almost over now anyway." She nodded thoughtfully. "Hey, you know, we should have a party soon."
"None of our birthdays are until next year but."
"So? It can be a 'just for' party."
"I don't know about that.." It wasn't such a good idea. My dad would never let me have it here although my mum probably would if my dad wasn't here, but I wasn't saying that. And we couldn't have it at Brooke's - her mum would flip.
"Fine!" she sighed. "What about if we go away for a bit?"
"Did you forget that both of us are skint?" duh.
"True. What about Peyton's uncle's lake house then? We could ask and all go as a big group."
I thought about it for a moment. Going away with all our friends would be a good thing. Hopefully Brooke wouldn't invite all of her snobby cheerleading friends. Too much girly-girls were too much to handle at any one time. "When will we go though?"
"The long weekend in a week? Of course that is if she says yes. Last time we went it was a great break, although you didn't come last time. Were you on holiday?"
"Yeah. Didn't you only go for one night though?"
"Yeah. I'm going to text Peyton and see what she thinks. Hopefully she'll say yes!" She seemed excited and her dark eyes were sparkling.
I flashed her a grin and she pulled out her phone and began tapping on her phone screen fiercely. We waited silently for a few moments and stared at the screen. After about three minutes we got a reply. I crossed my fingers and hoped for a yes.
The text from Peyton said: he said yes and we can have it Friday til Monday. Text the rest and see if they can make it xx
"Yay!" Brooke said. I leaned back a little as I was peering over her shoulder to read the text. "Okay.." she typed out a message and went through her contact list to see who to invite, "Jessica.. Peyton.. Jason.. Lynsey.. Morgyn.. Martin.. Greg.. Sam.. Not Luke! What about Aaron? Do you want him to come?"
I thought about it for a moment. But then I though what the hell. He might as well come, we were inviting his brother and his friends! "Sure. You can ask."
"I deleted his number. But I'll ask his stunning friends Corry and Tyler. God, have you seen them both? I can see me jumping on Corry!"
"Right, you." I laugh half-heartedly. "I'll talk to Aaron."
"Are you sure you're okay with him coming even though you are both just 'friends' when clearly none of you want to be 'just friends'." she made quotation marks in the air with both index and middle fingers.
"Why wouldn't I be?"
"Okay then.." she raised her eyebrows at me but continued to look at her phone. "Sent."
Hopefully everyone could make it. It would be a great weekend!
Brooke stayed for dinner that night and my mum had made her speciality: chicken lasagne. The four of us were sat round the dining table in the kitchen when Brooke suddenly said, "Guys," referring to my parents, "do you mind if I steal Eboni this weekend? We're going to Peyton's uncle's lake house about an hour and a half drive from here with a few friends. Do you mind?"
My mother looked at her husband for approval, I knew my mum would say yes but my dad was tricky. "Who exactly is 'a few friends' miss Michaels?" He asked Brooke, putting a mouthful in his mouth.
"You know, just the gang." Brooke knew my dad well and she could easily sweet talk him in the past, I just hoped it worked when we needed it.
"Is there any male 'friends' going?" He raised an eye brow subconsciously. That was a question he always liked to ask.
"Jason.. And a couple of his friends, of course." She answered with pure confidence in her voice.
"Implying that Aaron will be tagging along as well?" He seemed amused. Trust him.
"We haven't asked him yet."
"I see." I wasn't sure if she has sweet talked him enough, for a moment I thought we lost, but then he answered with a happy tone, "have fun."
Brooke smiled to me and I returned it. One more week to go and then we would be leaving!
"Leave my house now." I said to Brooke teasingly. But I really meant it. She had been here for hours and it was already eight and I needed to see Aaron. Hmm, I saw Aaron at eight last night too..
"Fine, fine." She stood up from the couch, "I'll let myself out!" I flashed her a grin. "Remember and talk to Aaron about the trip, we need to use him for his car!"
"I'll go now then." I followed her out and waved to her as she drove off whilst I made my way out of the gate, two steps along the pavement and into the Cooper's gate. Such a long walk that was.
I chapped on the door and waited until Ronny answered. "Come on in darling! How many times have we told you that you don't need to knock?" He ushered me inside with a smile on his face. "What can I do for you, princess?" Ronny was such a sweet guy. Tall, greying hair, slipper type of man, friendly guy.
"I'm looking for Aaron. Is he home?"
He had a knowing smile in his face. Gosh, our parents were such gossips! "He's in his room. He's grouchy though, so you may want to watch out for him biting your hand off or something." He laughed at himself - finding his own joke hilarious.
"Will do."
I ran up the stairs lightly, being careful not to make much noise. Jason came out of his room looking around baffled. "Dude, what are you doing here?"
"Have you been sleeping mr. Lazy?" I scolded jokingly. "I'm not here to see you, I'm looking for your brother. I need to talk to him."
His eyes narrowed accusingly at me. "And why would you do that?"
"None of your business, sleeping beauty!" I brushed past him and knocking lightly on his door.
"Come in." He said with no emotion in his voice.
"Wow." I took in the surroundings. His room was a tip, much worse than the last time I had been in here. Pizza boxes, beer bottles, dirty socks, empty deodorant cans, shoes dotted here and there. "Where did the tornado go after it was finished here?" I smirked a little. Who could blame me? The place was a riot!
He sat up in his bed, surprised to see me. He was naked from chest up, I couldn't help but stare. He caught onto that though, "Eboni, my eyes are up here." He smirk was prominent on his face which made me roll my eyes. "How can I help?" he patted the space on his bed next to him and without thinking I plopped my butt next to him.
"Well.. Me and the guys are going to Peyton's uncle's lake house next weekend and Brooke wanted you to come." Lies. I wanted him to come.
"Brooke hates me." He said with his smirk getting wider. He knew me so well. "You mean you wanted me to come?"
I felt a blush creeping onto my face. I spoke quietly. "We all do!"
He laughed, clearly seeing straight through me. "Yeah, okay. You know you're cute when you blush?"
"I'm not blushing!" I yelled, taking a magazine from his bedside cabinet and hitting him on the head with it.
"Hey! Stop!" I couldn't help but laugh, seeing big Aaron Cooper all vulnerable. Haha, I win!
I wasn't winning for long though. He took the magazine out of my hands and threw it on the floor. Then he flipped over me so I was underneath him and both of my legs were trapped between his knees which were leaning on the bed and his hands were on either side of my head. His face was merely inches from my own an when he spoke I could smell his minty breath. "Why do you feel the need to bully me, Eboni?"
I couldn't speak. I was trapped so I couldn't move either. I didn't want to move but, its sick, but I liked this position. I had to fight with myself not to stretch up and kiss him or lower his head to mine. He was so alluring. His face, body, smell.
A smirk grew on his face as I stared into his menacing green eyes. Did he know he had this affect on me? Probably. It was Aaron after all.
Why couldn't I have him? Why didn't he want me like I wanted him?
I couldn't help myself, but after staying like that for several moments of just staring at each other I trailed my index finger down his chest starting from his cheek. My eyes didn't leave his so I notice how his eyes would flicker between emotions. Pain, lust?, happiness, cockiness, confusion. They averted to my finger which I continued to trail down his body, cherishing each moment of it.
He was so perfect. Could I lick his chest? Maybe later... Keep in control Eboni!
I continued down to his stomach which was rock hard, mmm! I didn't go any further down, in stead I trailed up his side starting with his hip and up to his shoulder where I left my hand to rest.
He leaned in as if to kiss me but moved his head to the left slightly and bent down to my ear. "Eboni?" his voice was husky and it made me shiver slightly. As he said that the door opened and he rolled off of me slowly.
"I can see that's a lot of talking!" Jason said, his tone annoyed and a little too loud for my liking. I wanted him to leave, I needed Aaron to finish what he was saying.
"Go away, Jason!" I said to him. He was the last person I wanted to see right now. Not in a bad way, I'd much rather see his brother though..
"I don't think so." he sat on the edge of Aaron's bed, waiting for one of us to talk. I turned my head to see Aaron face. He looked pained and it hurt me to see. Maybe Brooke was right, maybe none of us wanted to be just friends. But if that was the case, why hadn't Aaron said so? He wasn't the type to wait for a girl, he'd much rather enjoy chasing her. "So, what was this little party for?" Jason bobbed his shoulders like a little girl and I glared at him.
Aaron spoke up before I hit his brother. "Jason? I have really embarrassing things about you that I could quite easily spill. If you don't want me to, I suggest you be nice to me and leave my room." his voice was calm but deadly serious.
Jason looked confused. "What things." All Aaron had to do was look at him for Jason to narrow his eyes and to say, "oh, you wouldn't dare!"
Aaron nodded as if to confirm but saying he would. "Leave." he was quite scary when he was demanding. But it made him even more sexy.
Jason left with a huff. Obviously whatever Aaron had in him was too big for him to stay and argue. "Big brother power or what?" I asked jokingly. But I was kind of true, Aaron had all the power right now. He smiled but it wasn't a real smile. "What embarrassing things do you have over him? I could so use them!"
He pursed his lips, "I'd tell you but then I'd have to kill you." he laughed a little, but that was only for my benefit. Something was bugging him.
"So," I began, why was I so nervous all of a sudden? Oh, yeah, almost making out, thats why. Call me a stalker, but I wished 'almost' wasn't necessary! "What were you going to tell me before your brother rudely walked in?" I tried to laugh to lighten up the atmosphere but it wasn't for happening.
"What does it matter?" He sighed and stood off the bed, picking up a t-shirt from his floor and putting it over his head. Bummer.. There goes my licking fantasy..
"It matters to me! Finish what you were going to say - no interruptions this time."
"It's not important." before I could protest he spoke again. "I'll come next weekend by the way."
"Okay. Well we're meeting here on Friday at one. So.. I guess you don't need to travel.." Awkward..
He nodded. "Well, I'm going for a shower, so.." he trailed. He was trying not to be rude, but in all fairness, I wanted to leave anyway because of the awkwardness. Ugh! Why did it have to be this way between us two? I didn't like it at all.
I noticed a bandage wrapped around his right hand. "What happened to your hand?" was he fighting? Thinking about that made me anxious.
He looked at his hand and shrugged. "Punched the door."
"Why on earth would you do that?" Did he want to give me a heart attack!?
He rolled his eyes at me. "I got mad at Jason. It's fine now." then he walked away murmuring something like "I'll see you later."
I wondered what Jason could have done to make Aaron punch the door and hurt himself the way he did. I thought about asking him but decided it was best to keep out of it. They were brothers, they could sort their tension theirselves.
I left then and made it back to my own house only twenty minutes after I left. I returned to my studies for an hour and then continued my bedtime routine: shower, pyjamas, brush teeth, early night.