chapter 23

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Aubrey POV

I didn't run into Ian the rest of the day and he didn't respond to my message. Hypocritical. But lucky for me.

I am currently packing up my bag at my locker when just as I take my last book, my door is slam shut. 

"Ready to go loser?" Riley smirks, and I give her a stunned expression.

I clear my throat and say "Uhm mmhhmm, yep!"

She chuckles and starts walking away. "Well hurry up"

I zip up my bag then jog to catch up with her. Is it weird I think of her like the female version of Ian? Shit, he is the last person I want to be thinking about.

As my mind is burdened with thoughts of Ian, Riley stops in front of a sleek black car. She gets in the driver's seat and motions for me to get in the front. I nod and get into the car. She even has a similar car to Ian I think but then immediately scold myself.

"I can literally see you overthinking." she says starting up the car.

"Hmm?" I say refocusing my attention to her from my thoughts.

"Your face scrunches up when you think of something you don't like and it's like I can hear the cogs turning in that brain of yours" she snickers.

"Oh sorry" I say not knowing how else to respond and looking out the window.

"No" she snaps and then pauses before adding quietly "It's cute" and I look to see her trying to avoid my eye contact. 

I pretend I didn't hear that and look out the window as she pulls out of the car space.

"So where is this ice cream place?" I ask wanting to change the subject and needing a distraction from my own thoughts.

"About ten minutes away, it's called Sinners and Saints" she says maintaining her gaze on the road.

"Oh cool" I say and she looks at me making me pause before I say "Thank you for this!"

"Yeah" she says quickly diverting her attention back to the road. 

Ten minutes later we arrive. It's a cute little place on the corner and the decor inside is so nostalgic. Riley and I walk up to the display of all the flavours, I am amazed at how many colours there are. But it really doesn't matter as long as there is chocolate, I never get anything else. 

"Want do you want?" Riley says turning to look at me.

"I think I'll get chocolate, what about you?" I ask.

"Choc mint, now go find us a seat over there" she says pointing to the booths on the other side of the ice cream parlour. Choc mint though, I don't wanna judge but that shit is disgusting. Each to their own I guess. 

"Ok I'll quickly order then-" she cuts me off by placing her hand on my shoulder.

"No, go sit" she says looking sternly at me. Damn she is so serious.

"Oh but-" I start but she interrupts me.

"Omg leave already" she half chuckles.

I laugh back and walk over to get us a table. I pull out my phone and see tons of missed calls from Ian. He called me 46 times? And he has texted me 50 times. Holy shit. I read some of the messages

                         Ian: WHERE THE FUCK ARE YOU?

                         Ian: AUBREY FUCKING CARTER ANSWER YOUR DAMN PHONE

                         Ian: I SWEAR TO GOD AUBREY

                         Ian: Angel baby please respond I'm worried. 

                         Ian: I told you to always fucking respond to me!

                         Ian:  FUCKING ANSWER ME.

Ok I think that is enough of that. But why the hell is he worried? Just as I am typing out a text to Ian to tell him to 'piss off i'm fine' Riley distracts me and sets down the ice cream on the table before I can hit send.

"I got you a cup, you look like a clumsy one" she says sitting down on the opposite side of the table and licking her green monstrosity from the cone. 

"Hah yeah thanks" I say looking down at my cup. I take spoonful of ice cream and before I put it in my mouth I say "So how much do I owe you?"

"Nothing" she says cooly.

"What no I can't just-" I say before she interrupts my ranting with.

"You can pay for it next time" she says with a smirk.

I take some of my ice cream and say "Yes! If you're sure-"

"Yes" she says looking me in the eyes.

We eat our ice cream and talk, I begin to feel more comfortable and after a little while we are both laughing. I finally forgot why I was so angry and upset. Well that of course was until I heard the door to the ice cream shop slam open making the little bell fall off. I turn around to see the commotion and immediately regret it.

"Damn someone's hangry" Riley muses. 

A very angry Ian stands in the door frame, his chest rising and falling rapidly as he scans the shop. God the anger is practically radiating off him. Maybe he just really does want an ice cream?

He makes eye contact with me and I know I am done for, and that ice cream was not on his agenda. He narrows his eyes on me like a predator has just found his prey. 

Riley puts her hand on mine making me snap my head to look at her. "You ok?"

Before I can respond Ian clears his throat. I shyly turn my eyes to look at him towering over our table.

"You lose your phone or something Angel?" he says coldly looking down at me with darkened eyes. The way he says Angel makes me shudder.

 I don't dare break eye contact or say anything. I hear Riley take a breath to talk but Ian continues "Oh it's right there. You just fucking stupid then? Forgot how to use it?" he says as he picks up my phone.

"Fuck off dude" Riley says.

Ian completely ignores her and sits himself down next to me in the booth. I move over slightly as his body is pressed against mine. But as I try to move her wraps his hand around my body and pulls me back towards him whilst saying "Here let me show you"

"Are you serious? Just leave her alone you idiot" Riley says and you can hear her getting frustrated. I quickly give her an apologetic look before Ian demands my attention again. 

"You see this little red dot on the green icon, yeah that means you have messages." He says condescendingly pointing at my phone screen and then looking at me. "Oh and would you look at that you have a fuck ton!"

I finally gain the courage to talk "Ian please-"

I am cut off completely by Ian saying "So you just wanna press this and then wow! Omg would you look at that a keyboard appears so you can respond! You do know how to write don't you?"

He flashes me a condescending smirk.

"She just wants nothing to do with you dude. Read the room" Riley scoffs.

Ian completely ignores her and roughly grabs my hand, and puts my phone in his back pocket. "Time to go"

"Wait I-" I am cut short my Ian pulling me up with great force. 

Riley stands up too and says whilst walking in front of us to block us. "I said leave her the fuck alone" Riley says matching Ian's cold tone and stare. 

"Move bitch this has nothing to do with you" Ian grits and his grip on my hand becomes tighter.

"Ian please let go of m-" I say trying to pry my hand from his cage like grip, but am cut short by Ian bringing his other hand's finger to my lip.

"Did you just shush me?" I mumble against his pointer finger that is firmly pressed to my lips. 

"Now Rail, Reed? I don't give a fuck. Just move and mind your own damn business." Ian says dropping his finger from my lips and turning his intense stare onto Riley. 

Not wanting to drag Riley into this I mumble "Riley it's fine."

Riley snaps her gaze to me confused. "Are you fucking serious right now?" She scoffs. "This guy has gone all macho man and you feel safe with him? He looks like he is ready to kill-"

"Of course she is fucking safe with me!" Ian shouts back, obviously hitting a nerve.

"Yeah well tell that to her hand that you're currently crushing" Riley says motioning to my hand which is now aching from his grip.

Ian's face softens as he looks at me then down at my hand. He shrugs it off quickly and slightly loosens his grip returning his gaze to Riley.

"Ok well where ever Aubrey goes I go" Riley says maintaining Ian's death glare and crossing her arms over her chest.

"No fucking way" Ian scoffs trying to brush past her, but she just readjusts to block his path again. "I'm not messing around bitch, leave" 

Riley brings her hand to her chin and taps pretending to think about it before saying sarcastically "Hmmmm no!" 

"You are incorrigible"  Ian sighs bring his hand to pinch the bridge of his nose. 

"Look Riley do-" I start but again am cut off but this time by Riley saying "sshhhhh". I am getting real bloody sick of being cut off.

"Don't you fucking sshh her!" Ian says getting angry again.

"You di-" I start but again am cut off causing me to huff as Riley says "You fucking did it"

"Doesn't mean you can!" Ian says clenching his jaw. 

"So where are we going?" Riley asks

"No-" Ian says

"Yes!" Riley snaps back

"NO!"

"Hmmm YES!"

"I'm not about to hit a girl" Ian says his face turning red with anger.

"Well that's awfully misogynistic! I bet I could beat your ass" Riley says

Ian scoffs back "No way"

"Fucking bet" Riley says cracking her knuckles.

 I sigh in defeat. These two are so similar it's kinda funny.

"Guys-" oh and guess what I was cut off again.

"You want to fucking go?" Ian says puffing his chest. Oh my god this is hard to watch.

"Guys" surprise! I was interrupted again! 

"Hit me" Riley says banging her chest.

"GUYS?!" I yell awfully loudly getting both of their attention and the rest of the ice cream parlour's. "Are you actually serious? You are going to have a fist fight in the ice cream parlour!" I roll my eyes.

"Yeah dude you know you wouldn't be able to hold Aubrey's hand while you fight me right" Riley snickers.

"Fuck off" Ian rolls his eyes. After a decent pause with Ian and Riley looking as it they were trying to use mind powers to destroy the other, Ian concedes huffing "You know what I give up! Just drive behind us!" he says pushing past Riley and dragging me along.

Riley follows behind and I turn my head to say "Thank you really but you don't have to worry."

"I'll be here Aubs don't worry" she says with genuine care laced in her voice offering me a smile. 

I'm thankful that she is looking out for me, but despite how much I hate Ian right now I know he would never hurt me. 

"Aubrey is riding with me" Riley announces as soon as we have left the ice cream parlour.

"Nope." Ian says picking me up, throwing me over his shoulder and carrying me to his car.

"Put me-" I start.

"Put her down!" Riley scolds.

"No" Ian says glancing at Riley while gently placing me in his car, buckling my seat belt then slamming the door shut. 

I am just so tired right now and really want to go home, I'm not ready for this shit. 

The car shifts as Ian gets into the driver's seat. He grips the steering wheel so his knuckles go white. 

"Look Ian-" I start.

"No you fucking look" Ian says turning to face me his jaw clenched. "You are in-" But he is cut off by a loud car horn. We both look to see it is Riley in her similar car to Ian honking the horn and waving her hands obviously wanting us to get moving.

"Jesus fucking christ!" Ian says throwing his head back. "I hate that girl" he mutters as he starts the car.

"She is just trying to-" I say but am cut off by Ian.

"No" he says pulling out of the car space

"NO. You have to stop interrupting me I am getting real sick of it Gray!" I say getting frustrated. 

"Don't call me Gray" he says coldly driving down the road, with Riley following behind.

"What?" I question, confused that is all he got out of my comment.

"You call me Gray when you're mad at me, I don't like it" he says, almost pouting, whilst focusing on the road.

"Well maybe don't be a douchebag bastard... hoe and I won't be mad at you " I snap back, I tried to think of as many degrading words as possible but my mind really escaped me. 

"A what?" Ian chuckles and looks briefly over to me. When he sees a stern expression on my face and that I am not willing to laugh back he turns to face the road again and gulps "Why are you mad at me? I'm the one that should be mad at you!" he scoffs returning to his angry state.

"Are you serious? Did you get a hit to the head?" I scoff back and he turns to look at me, his jaw clenched.

"You're the one who is dating fucking Danny and leading me on!" he says turning his gaze back to the road.

I laugh. "Well did you think to maybe... I don't know.... ask me?!"

Ian turns to look at me with wide eyes like the possibility just dawned on him "Well I-"

"Oh my god!" I scoff "Even so, what the hell gives you the right beat up Dan?"

"Are you with him?" he says glancing between me and the road.

"Seriously?" I roll my eyes.

"Seriously!!" he says frustrated.

"No Ian I am not and don't want to be!" I snap back.

"Good. Well he seems to have thing for you" he mutters

I laugh "Wait what? No way!" 

"Yes way!" Ian snaps. "Those flowers, he said they were for you!"

No those flowers were not for me. Jay told me a few days ago what he was planning and I encouraged him to do it.

"Ian you said you trusted me! If I tell you that there is more to this than you think, will you just leave it please" I say.

"I do. But Angel he-" he says.

"No Ian please. No buts. He is not interested in me and I am not interested in him. And that's it" I say. I don't even know why I am telling him this. 

"Ok" he sighs.

I am slightly shocked by this. "Ok?"

"Yes Angel, I trust you" he says bringing his hand to rest on mine.

I pull it away. "Ok"

"What?" he says. "We're ok now?" he states but it comes out more like a question.

I scoff "Far from it" and turn to look back out the window.

"Wait what?" he says glancing at me and I can feel him staring into the side of the head.

"Oh well just because you're not mad at me anymore doesn't mean we are just ok Ian! You hurt my friend. You humiliated my friend! I just..." I say and trail off frustrated. 

He pulls into his absurdly long driveway. Rich people and their long ass driveways.

"Angel I am so sorry. I just get fucking- I don't know. But just the thought of another guy with you makes my blood boil." he says clenching his jaw and tightening his grip on the steering wheel and he turns off the car.

"It's not me you should be apologising to" I say not making eye contact and not wanting to respond to the last part of what he said and I step out of the car before more can happen. 

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this chapter is so long!!! (2700 words) :O

anyway hope you enjoyed it, exciting shit will happen next chapter (well at least in my opinion it's exciting lol). the next chapter should be out in a few days! 

you are all amazing and i am grateful for each and every one of my readers. and my commenters, thank you sm, i love reading your comments <3

<3 AND TO THE PEOPLE THAT VOTE YOU ARE LEGENDS! <3 


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