CHAPTER 11

11

**POV Aidan – Flashback**

Right after Kaylee fell asleep, I quietly slipped out of the room to grab her things.

I walked briskly down the hotel hallway, my mind still foggy from the night's events. Kaylee… I'd seen her in many states before, but never like this. I knew she drank sometimes at parties, but this…

When I reached her room, I knocked three times.

A few seconds later, the door opened to reveal Taylor.

She gave me a once-over, a smirk tugging at her overly painted lips.

**Taylor**: "Hey there, my Aidan."

I rolled my eyes, already annoyed.

**Me**: "Don't call me that. I'm just here to get Kaylee's things."

She crossed her arms beneath her chest, feigning innocence.

**Taylor**: "Come in."

She stepped aside slightly to let me in, then shut the door behind me.

**Taylor**: "You're lucky. She didn't even unpack her suitcase."

She motioned toward the suitcase with her head. Then, with a mocking smile, added:

**Taylor**: "Oh, and don't forget her precious teddy bear."

I frowned.

**Taylor**: "She got it at one of those dumb K-pop concerts."

She rolled her eyes, clearly irritated.

**Taylor**: "She really cares about it…"

I grabbed the suitcase and the beloved teddy bear, biting back a retort.

**Me**: "Thanks."

I turned to leave, but Taylor suddenly stepped in front of the door, blocking my way.

I exhaled sharply, growing more annoyed.

**Me**: "Move, Taylor. Let me through."

She didn't budge, her gaze locked on mine with a strange gleam in her eyes.

**Taylor**: "What if we talked for a few minutes?"

**Me**: "I don't want to talk to you. I'm in a hurry. Now move."

She let out a bitter smile.

**Taylor**: "Well, I have a lot to say."

My jaw clenched.

**Taylor**: "You know, Kaylee used to be my friend… before."

Her voice softened slightly, her eyes flickering.

**Taylor**: "And I did something…"

A pause.

**Taylor**: "Something that's been weighing on my conscience for a while. And I'm tired of carrying it alone."

I gritted my teeth.

**Me**: "I don't give a damn."

I tried to ignore her drama and placed my hand on the doorknob.

Nothing.

It wouldn't open.

I pulled again. Still nothing.

I turned slowly to face her, my expression dark.

**Me**: "Taylor… give me the key."

**Taylor**: "Do you know Malcolm?"

Of course, I knew Malcolm. He was a major reason why Kaylee and I even got close. I knew exactly what he did to her, how he broke her, and I saw the damage he left behind.

**Me**: "I don't see why you're bringing him up."

She seemed eerily calm, like she had rehearsed this conversation for ages.

**Taylor**: "Tell her that the photo she got of Malcolm with that girl… it wasn't what it looked like."

I frowned, still not understanding her point.

**Me**: "I still don't get why you're telling me this. Give me the key. I'm in a rush."

But she wasn't in a rush. She turned to me with a sly smile, something dark behind her expression.

**Taylor**: "Just listen to me for two minutes, okay? What I'm trying to say is… that girl in the photo? That was me. And I didn't actually sleep with Malcolm. I drugged him, put him in that bed, and took the picture."

A cold shiver ran down my spine. I stood frozen, shocked by what she just confessed.

**Taylor**: "I wanted to ruin their relationship. She kept going on and on about that perfect guy, Malcolm. So I had to do something to shut her up."

A cold, cruel laugh escaped her lips as she talked about Kaylee, and it chilled me to the core.

**Taylor**: "And make sure you tell her. Because honestly, I don't regret it. Watching her cry was pretty entertaining."

I was speechless. My heart pounded, a black storm of rage brewing inside me. I couldn't believe what I was hearing.

**Me**: "Are you actually insane?"

She opened the door like nothing had happened. Her eyes glinted with something twisted.

**Taylor**: "You're only just figuring that out? Ciao, Aidan!"

She slammed the door shut, leaving me standing there, stunned. I stood frozen for a moment, reeling from everything I'd just learned.

I took a deep breath and turned around. All I wanted was to leave that room, leave that place. So, without another word, I headed back to my room, my mind spinning with what Taylor had just revealed.

---

**POV Kaylee**

The school vacation week with the whole class went pretty well—aside from that little incident with Aidan, as I like to call it. Well, that "incident" allowed Aidan to discover all the little beauty marks I had in… let's say, *very private* places. And of course, he used that to tease me the entire time we stayed at the village. So, to get back at him, I gave him the cold shoulder and refused to talk to him. No way I'd give him the satisfaction.

This morning, we took the train back home. I was sitting right next to Aidan, while Lisa and Austin were seated in front of us. From what I saw and heard, there's no doubt they're a couple now.

**Lisa**: "Tell me, is Aidan mad at her or what?"

**Aidan**: "Yeah, but don't worry. A little kiss here, a gentle touch there, and she'll be calm and sweet again."

He punctuated each word with a kiss.

**Me**: "That's not even true! And get off!"

I pushed him gently, though I couldn't help but smile despite my pout.

**Aidan**: "I'm sorry, kitten, alright? I won't do it again, I promise. You know, I just love joking around—actually, it's my biggest, and only, flaw."

He gave me that mischievous smile, like I was his favorite joke.

**Me**: "If you say so…"

I sighed, pretending not to be convinced.

**Aidan**: "So you forgive me?"

Without waiting for my answer, he pulled me into his arms—a move he knew I couldn't resist. Even if I still wanted to be mad, his touch made me melt. And of course, he took full advantage of that. The little perv.

**Austin**: "Is this what public love looks like?"

**Lisa**: "Yeah, looks like it, babe."

She wore a mock-disgusted expression, clearly unimpressed.

**Austin**: "Wow. I feel bad for everyone else. Love is gross in real life."

**Aidan & Me**: "HEY!"

We both turned at the same time, reacting in perfect sync.

The rest of the trip passed with me in Aidan's arms. Even though I was trying to stay mad, he always knew how to crack my walls. And deep down, I couldn't really stay mad at him.

---

Two weeks later, Aidan invited me to attend a concert where Austin was performing. Turns out, besides being a star football player, Austin is also a pianist. The moment Aidan mentioned it, I was excited—but convincing my parents wasn't easy. The concert was all the way across town, and my parents, always a bit overprotective, initially said no. After several discussions and a good bit of begging, they finally agreed.

That morning, Aidan picked me up from my house, looking all relaxed, with that signature smirk that always made me melt. We got in his car, and once I was settled in the passenger seat, he started the engine. Time seemed to fly, filled with upbeat music and light conversations. We drove for nearly two hours, the city slowly giving way to wide avenues and bustling streets, as if the noise of our daily lives was fading behind us.

Aidan shared funny stories about Austin—his quirky habits as a pianist and his clear passion for music. I listened, genuinely curious to learn more about someone close to Aidan, while watching the scenery fly by. The ride felt both long and short, like the perfect prelude to what was coming.

When we arrived, I couldn't hide my excitement. It was my first time at such an intimate concert, and I was eager to see what it would be like. The atmosphere in the car was relaxed but charged with anticipation. Aidan parked, casting a playful look my way before stepping out and offering his hand to help me down.

**Aidan**: "You'll see, he's a real talent. Austin's going to blow your mind."

His smile was sincere, like he was proud of his friend.

I followed him through the crowd, my heart beating faster, waiting for the music that would soon fill the room and wrap around us. I could already feel it—this night would be unforgettable.

---

After the performance, the evening seemed to wind down, but a soft breeze still lingered in the air. Austin approached us—me, Aidan, Brody, and Gavin—with a glowing smile. He looked truly happy the show was over and proud of how he'd played.

**Aidan**: "We all thought it was amazing."

**Gavin**: "Dude, it was so intense, I almost fell asleep from the emotion."

Austin laughed, recognizing Gavin's humor, and gave us a grateful look.

**Austin**: "Thanks, you guys. You're the best."

I smiled, seeing how fulfilled he seemed. I turned to him, genuinely curious.

**Me**: "I didn't know you had such an artistic side! That was really impressive."

**Austin**: "Yeah… I'm hoping to get a scholarship in London. It'd be a dream come true."

The mention of London caught me off guard for a moment, but curiosity got the better of me.

**Me**: "And football? What about your career in that?"

**Austin**: "Football's just a hobby. I do it for fun, but I'm not pursuing it in college."

I raised my eyebrows, surprised. I didn't expect that. It was refreshing to see someone so passionate about something completely different.

**Me**: "Wow, I didn't know that! And you guys? What are your future plans?"

Brody replied first, his tone serious but thoughtful.

**Brody**: "I'm going into film production. That's what really interests me."

Gavin, looking chill as always, added:

**Gavin**: "I've moved so many times, I picked up some real estate knowledge along the way. It feels natural."

I smiled, listening to everyone's dreams, then turned to Aidan.

**Me**: "And you, Aidan? What do you want to do?"

He raised an eyebrow, a teasing smile playing on his lips.

**Aidan**: "Lawyer."

I stared at him, surprised. That was *not* what I expected.

**Me**: "Why a lawyer?"

He laughed, a glint in his eyes, but his voice turned more serious.

**Aidan**: "Because it pays well, right?" *laughs* "No, really—it's because I love engaging, debating, having deep discussions. That's what drives me."

I couldn't help but smile at him, then let slip a thought that had been poking at the back of my mind.

**Me**: "Well, I hope you make a fortune then, because you still owe me three thousand dollars."

Brody raised a curious brow and turned to Aidan.

**Brody**: "Wait, why does he owe you that much?"

I shrugged, feigning innocence, though a mischievous smile crept across my face.

**Me**: "You really think I don't know about the bet?"

Gavin looked surprised, blurting out in disbelief:

**Gavin**: "You *know*? Wait—are you guys actually together?"

I was just about to explain the truth, to pull back the curtain on our fake relationship, but before I could get a word out, Aidan cut me off with a sly smile, like he knew exactly where I was headed.

**Aidan**: "I'm in love with her. We're in love. That's it. Now hand me your phone so I can send you the money."

His declaration caught me completely off guard. Not only had he taken control of the narrative, but he did it so confidently that I had no choice but to go along with it. And as I looked at him in disbelief, I realized he wasn't just taking charge—he was enjoying it.

I stared at him, confused. Why had he lied? His eyes avoided mine as he took my phone without a word. I was about to call him out, to ask why he was stirring up even more confusion—when suddenly a breaking news alert on the TV stole the breath from my lungs. They were reporting a massive storm hitting the area and completely blocking the roads. "The roads are impassable, and they'll likely remain that way until tomorrow—hopefully—if the weather clears," the anchor said in a flat voice.

**Aidan**: "Looks like we're spending the night here, babe."

I glared at him, annoyed by the way he called me *babe*, but even more so by the smug confidence in his voice. If he seriously thought we'd be sharing a bed tonight, he was *very* mistaken. There was no way I was sleeping next to him under these circumstances.

We left the auditorium and set out to find a hotel, but luck was definitely not on our side. Every hotel we tried was fully booked. After running through the pouring rain from one place to another, my hopes of getting *two* rooms were dashed. Eventually, we found a small hotel at the end of the street, but they had only one room left. The choice was clear: either I slept in the same room with him, or I spent the night in the car. Given the storm and the cold, the decision came quickly. I was soaked to the bone, and the car wasn't even an option.

**In the room**, the tension was thick in the air. Aidan looked at me with a slight smile, but there was also a flicker of concern in his eyes.

**Aidan**: "You should get dry, you'll catch a cold."

I nodded without replying, then began to unbutton my dress.

**Aidan**: "Wait—what are you doing?"

**Me**: "Taking off my dress, like you said, so I don't catch a cold."

He stared at me, his expression darkening slightly.

**Aidan**: "You know there's a bathroom, right?"

**Me**: "I'm aware. But you've already seen me naked."

I stepped closer to him with a playful smile, leaning in to whisper in his ear.

**Me**: "Remember?"

His eyes locked on mine, the intensity between us thickening. Then, in a low voice, he replied:

**Aidan**: "You shouldn't play with fire, Kaylee."

**Me**: "Or what?"

Suddenly, he pulled me toward him, his lips crashing onto mine in a powerful, consuming kiss. I responded instinctively, my hands sliding up his chest as I melted into the moment. He gently pushed me back against the wall, his lips leaving mine to trace down my neck. A soft moan escaped me before I could stop it.

My heart pounded wildly—every touch, every movement was electric. The tension between us was unbearable now, thick with desire.

**Aidan**: "You want this too."

**Me**: "Yes."

And then it happened. A cascade of instinctual, fiery movements that left no room for logic or restraint. But later that night, as silence settled over the room, questions began to swirl in my mind.

What *are* we, Aidan and me? Friends? Lovers? Friends with benefits? The lines had blurred, tangled beyond recognition. All I knew was that we needed to talk. A real, honest conversation was long overdue.

But right now, all I felt was uncertainty.

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