The next few school days went by so fast, I barely had the chance to blink. Thankfully, I didn't have any run-ins with Austin since the last time. I wasn't exactly sure how I would act around him after what we said to each other.

It was clear as day. We both had feelings for each other. And we were both too stupid to do anything about it.

''Hey, how about we have a girls' night or something? Maybe go drinking by the beach?'' Tara asked from the passenger seat as I drove us home from school.

''That sounds fun, sure!'' I thought about it, smiling. Tara and I used to drive to the beach a lot after leaving the clinic. We would sit on the sand, laughing about all the crazy things that happened there. No alcohol was involved, though. So this would be interesting. ''My place after? Mother and her 'perfect fam' will only be home in a week anyway'' I made a point.

''Yeah, yours. I'll text Sasha to come too!'' She fetched her phone from her purse, tapping away as she composed her text message.

I lip-synched along to the music. An early 2000s R&B song was softly playing, as I let my mind drift to someplace else, yet I was still focused on the road ahead of me.''I can't have what I want''.The same sentence rang in my ears every day, every time I spaced out. Why do I care about what he said? 

''She'll be at your house in about 30minutes'' Tara broke me out of my thoughts.

I nodded, still vaguely hearing his words in my head.

''You haven't been yourself lately'' She noticed my expression and sighed.

''What are you talking about?'' I wondered.

I was pretty sure I hid everything very well.

''Ever since that idiot ditched you after your panic attack. That's when it all started. And then the talk you two had at the underground fight was intense. Plus, I heard rumors about you guys having a full-on screaming match in the library'' She rambled on furiously.''I just don't like that he comes along and messes with you. It's good that you're finally allowing yourself to like someone that way, but I don't want you to lose yourself because of that someone!''

I huffed, stopping at a red light.''Tara, I'm fine. I'm just not happy, bubbly, and whatever else I was before this. But I'm fine.'' I shrugged.

''Are the rumors true?'' She ignored my blatant lie, sighing. I nodded, just as the light turned green and I was back to driving.''What did he say?'' She asked, frowning.

''Nothing'' I lied, glancing at her.

''Fine. Don't tell me then...it's not like I share absolutely everything with you, always...'' She pouted, offended. She's right...

''He lectured me about being friendly with Sam, you know, after the whole ordeal at that party'' I rolled my eyes at the memory.''And then he just played his mind-games, confusing me even more than I already was. It didn't end well, anyway''

''He's so...'' Tara groaned, throwing her head back against the seat as she struggled to find the right words. I felt that, in the depths of my soul.

''Annoying? Yeah, tell me about it...'' I finished her sentence for her, nodding.

''No. I was going to say 'idiotic'. Like, c'mon! Everyone knows you two have something going on, we're not blind. Why can't either of you just get it together? You two are like middle-schoolers, I swear!'' She shook her head, staring out through the car window.

I cocked my head to the side. Huh? I guess we are a pair of stupid middle-schoolers.

***

''Right, Sasha, you grab these solo cups'' Tara handed her the cups as she raked through her mother's kitchen cabinets in a frenzy.''Tina, take these two bottles'' She pushed the bottles of wine into my arms quickly, before moving onto the bottom cabinets eagerly.

Her parents were coming home soon, which meant that she had to be quick. That's if she didn't want her police officer father to catch her in the act. To say that she was rushing, was an understatement. But it sure was hilarious, watching her be so stressed. At least it's not me being a crazy overthinker, for once...

Sasha and I looked at each other, cracking up immediately.

''What?!'' Tara stopped, crazy-eyed.''It won't be funny at all if my Dad comes in here!'' She scolded us and went right back to frantically searching through the cabinets.

''Hey, girls! Whatcha doin'?'' Aaron greeted us as he walked into the kitchen, wearing only sweatpants. My eyes darted from his bare torso to his messy bed hair. Dear God, when did he get so good-looking? Still not as good looking as Austin, though.

What?!

No.

Just no.

Stop that, Tina.

Tara jumped from the sound of Aaron's voice, hitting her head on the cabinet door. ''Fukcing-fuckers!'' She hissed, immediately rubbing her head to ease the pain.''You little...walking inconvenience!'' She glared at him, ready to rip his head off.

''Ohhh,'' He smirked with realization as he eyed the wine bottles and the solo cups.''You guys are robbing us'' A mischievous glint appeared in his eyes just before he turned on his heels and made a run for it. ''I'm calling Dad!'' He let out an evil laugh as he ran down the hallway.

''He's fucking dead'' Tara got up off the tiled floor, wearing a fuming glare on her tanned face. ''I'll be an only child when I come back, watch me'' She muttered under her breath before bolting out of the kitchen to chase him down.

''They are definitely...'' Sasha began, not sure what to say.

''Insane? Overwhelming?'' I offered, staring at the scene in front of us.

Aaron was on the floor, right outside the living room, desperately trying to dial his father's number as Tara sat on his back and choked him.

''Yeah,'' Sasha nodded, staring at them with shock.''One of those describes them perfectly''

***

''I'm not driving'' Tara hissed, glaring daggers at Aaron.''If I don't get drunk immediately, I'm afraid I'll murder someone''

Sasha laughed as she carried our things to Tara's jeep.

''Relax!'' Aaron pinched her nose, purposefully annoying her some more. She swatted his hand away, growling. ''I'll be the designated driver'' He flashed us all a grin.

''Really? I could be sober tonight if you want?'' I offered, as I too, carried our stuff to the car.

''No, no'' He shook his head, plopping into the driver's seat of Tara's car.''I know I kinda ruined girls' night for you gals. So I'll make up for it this way'' He winked.

I smiled at him, appreciating his kindness.

''Or, you know, you could just not come along'' Tara smiled at him with gritted teeth. I laughed, earning a playful glare from Aaron.

''Hey! That was mean, T'' He pouted at her, earning a slap across the forehead.

''Oh, stop that, Tara!'' Sasha laughed, taking a seat in the back. ''He'll be the driver, that way we girls can have fun!''

''I guess...'' Tara mumbled and took the back seat too.

Crap...

''C'mon, TT'' Aaron patted the passenger seat, smirking.

''Don't fucking do that!'' Tara whacked him across the head, from behind.''That was the grossest thing I have ever seen!''

''What did I do?!'' He exclaimed, feigning innocence.

''I know what you did, and so do you...'' She rolled her eyes as he scoffed in reply.''I get that she's hot, but keep it in your pants!'' She commanded.

''That's true. She is hot...'' He smirked, giving me a wink.

I grew red almost immediately.

''Oh my God, I might throw up'' Tara gagged, hitting him again.

''Umm, thanks?'' I blushed at him as I got comfortable in the passenger seat. He grinned at me, before starting the car.

Tara gagged multiple times, pretending to throw up and exaggerating the whole situation.

Sasha laughed from the back seat.''You guys are something else...'' She shook her head, chuckling at all of us.

Yeah, you can say that again.

***

''To girls' night!'' Tara cheered, raising her freshly refilled solo cup.''To girls' night with a side of Aaron!'' Sasha laughed, also raising her cup. I raised mine too and we all took long gulps of our wine as music played loudly from Tara's jeep.

Aaron bowed as we drank, acting a fool.

I chuckled at him as I placed my cup on the sand. ''Sure seems like you're having fun, for a designated driver'' I looked up at him.

''I don't need alcohol to have fun'' He shrugged, giving me a discreet wink.

''Yeah, that's because you're a boring old grandpa!'' Tara slurred, rolling her eyes. She had already downed a whole bottle of wine on the way here. Because of that, we had to stop at Sasha's friend's house to get more alcohol.

''I'm just...'' Aaron thought for a brief moment, before smirking down at us. ''I'm just mature. Sorry, you guys can't relate''

Sasha snorted.

I laughed.

Tara threw sand at him. ''You? Mature? Please!'' She shook her head, a sour look on her face. ''You're just a weirdo, like Dad''

''And you're frickin' insane, like Mom!'' He shot back.

''At least I'm not a loner!'' Tara cackled like a witch.

''Oh yeah? So that was me, rewatching every season of 'Friends', by myself, on a Saturday night?'' He laughed at the memory.

She glared at him

''Well, at least I don't watch the frickin' Notebook! '' She finally came up with a comeback and drunkenly fell backward onto the sand, laughing her head off.

''You guys, calm down!'' Sasha laughed along, sipping on her win.''Do you ever get along?''

''Oh, they sure do!'' I pursed my lips, remembering all the pranks they played on me. Both Tara and Aaron burst into fits of laughter, clearly remembering the same things I was.

''The only time we get along is when we prank Tina'' Aaron explained to Sasha, a sly smirk on his stupid sober face.

''Oh, I see'' Sasha glanced at me, amused.

''Don't ask'' I shook my head, groaning.

''Actually, they're all really funny stories'' Aaron objected.

Oh no...