* * *

"You ready to get this party started?" Drew asked as he playfully rubbed his hands back and forth. I let out a chuckle as I climbed into his Jeep. I hadn't really spoken to him properly since my outburst at the cafe, but it wasn't awkward between us which I appreciated.

"You're a legend for picking me up!"

"What are big brothers for!? Besides, I owe you one for agreeing to come with me as my date to this thing."

"Here's hoping this party is a lot more welcoming, unlike last time." I joked around as I buckled my seat belt.

"Mate. If Nick knows what's good for him, he'll be on his best behaviour tonight. He'll get a shock of his life when he finds out you're my little sister." Drew glanced over at me as he smirked.

"Ease up on the word little. No need to play the big brother card. Put it away cowboy." I managed to form the words in between my laugh.

"I should be entitled to use the big brother card at least once Ave! It's the rules!"

"Says who?!" I asked as my nose creased I'm disbelief.

He waved his hand in a circular motion before shrugging his shoulders.

"You made up the rules!"

"Totally did but I'm the oldest, it's allowed." Drew calmly stated as he kept driving. I let out a chuckle as I rested my head against the headrest.

I would be lying if I said I wasn't a little anxious to see Jaxon again. We didn't exactly end well with our argument, I think we just need time alone to hash out whatever issues we have, because if we have no hope of getting back together then I need closure from this thing we had.

"So, what did you get up to tonight?"

My head turned to the right to look at Drew who still had his eyes on the road. I studied him for a second to see if he was genuinely asking me or if he knew and was testing me.

"I just caught up on homework and then watched some movies. Had the house to myself." I kept my tone calm as I responded.

"You were on your own?!?" He asked as the car came to a stop at a red light, before turning his head to look at me. He moved so fast that his hair tousled slightly, landing just above his eyelashes. It was distracting enough that it made me want to move it away from his eyes, but I didn't want to look like a weirdo to him. 

Something told me to change my story, it was like a gut feeling that I had. So I chuckled lightly before raising my hand to slap it on my leg, "No, I meant I had the house to myself but my friends came over. We just chilled and watched movies. You should have come."

I knew I made the right decision when I saw Drew visibility relax before smiling at me, "Good. If you are ever alone please make sure you call me."

"Sure." I said.

"Where was Isaac tonight?"

It wasn't so much the question but how he asked it. I couldn't tell if he already knew the answer to that and wanted to see my response or if he genuinely didn't know where Isaac was.

All I could do to answer his question was shake my head and shrug my shoulders in denial. I turned my head away to pretend to look out the window, when really my mind was racing about what had just happened. Was he playing a trick on me? Did I pass the examination just now? Or was I in deep trouble?

'Tell him!'

'Tell him? Hell no!'

'He probably already knows.'

'Just like a band-aid. Rip it off!'

"Averyyy"

I snapped out of my thoughts and looked at Drew who now had his eyebrows creased in worry.

"Yes. I'm good. Let's go." I quickly responded before getting out of the car. One look at Drew and you could see the worry on his face, but he had nothing to worry about because I was completely fine and I needed to show that. He waited until I walked around the car to where he was, before he wrapped a protective arm around my shoulders, making me roll my eyes.

He chuckled as he said "If you think I'm letting any one of these fools get near you, think again."

"The last fool that got near me ran away scared." I responded as I let out a sigh.

"Be patient with him, he's going through a lot."

His comment caused me to stop in my tracks, Drew, shocked at the abrupt stop turned to question it but I was one step ahead of him.

"He's going through a lot? He's not the only one going through it Drew!"

Drew let out a sigh as he raised his hands in defeat, "I'm sorry, that's not what I meant. Just take it easy on him. He's trying. Let's not have this particular conversation here though, okay?" He responded in a gentle manner. Making me realise that this was definitely not the place to have this conversation, all of these people were obsessed with Jaxon and his friends, making me realise that I was on enemy territory.

"You're right. I'm sorry" I whispered.

Drew smiled at me just as he placed both hands on my shoulders before shaking me playfully, "Time to let go and have fun tonight sis. Let's go get you a drink seeming I'm designated driver tonight."

* * *

This was definitely not the same house as last time, even though it still had close to a hundred people, it felt cosier than Nick's party. Nick's party felt like the entire school and their dog had been invited. As I looked around, I saw a lot of familiar faces from the race scene but it was refreshing to see other faces who weren't at the races. It helped me blend a lot more and not raise any suspicion about what I was doing there. I have no idea why I was on edge, maybe because Isaac wasn't here keeping an eye out on me. Every party I've been to, Isaac has always been there.

Let's be honest, Drew did not give me the opportunity to blend within the crowd, going unnoticed. Everyone he introduced me to basically knew I was his sister. The girls would get the intro of "Meet my best friend, my sister Avery. So treat her well ladies." Of course that melted a few hearts, you can see it in their eyes. It was enough to make my eyes roll and chuckle at his antics.

The gentlemen however, would get "Mate, my sister Avery. Get too close and I'll punch your dick with a cactus." It was fair to say that I now wanted to die from utter humiliation. It was unfortunate though that most of the people here remembered me from that little scene at Nick's party. I was going to make sure that this time around I was not going to cause a scene. I was just going to have a drink with my brother and enjoy each other's company, unless of course he finds "company".

Drew grabbed onto my hand and walked us through to the kitchen, just as we arrived into the kitchen it was like deja vu. Only this time as I jumped onto the bench top, he grabbed one of the bar stools and placed it directly across the room from me before sitting on it. It was amazing how different the situation was this time around, last time Drew was someone I had just met and I had come to the party with Jaxon. This time around, I was with Drew; my brother and not on talking terms with Jaxon. I looked around the party as my head involuntarily bobbed left to right at the beat of the song. As if on queue Jaxon and Lucas walked in and greeted Drew with their ritual man handshake/hug that was always intriguing to watch.

"Avery! Looking good!" Lucas commented smoothly as he popped up on the bench next to me on my right. He smirked at Jaxon before playfully wrapping an arm around my shoulders to pull me close.

"Hey, Lucas." I responded while rolling my eyes but had to laugh at the situation because Lucas will always be Lucas, there was no changing him and at this point in time I wouldn't want him to change, because he would always genuinely make me laugh with his antics. Besides, I had to be friendly to him seeming my secret persona was rude and arrogant, had to switch it up to keep him on his toes.

I looked over at Jaxon at the same time he raised his eyebrow in challenge to Lucas who; conveniently enough, removed his arm from around my shoulders two seconds later. Before I could look away, Jaxon's gaze moved over to me, I watched him as his jaw clenched, clearly upset over our disagreement earlier. We both knew we had unfinished business, especially now that everything was officially out in the open.

"Hi boys!"

At that greeting, Lucas and I groaned at the same time, I couldn't help but roll my eyes in disgust at the sound of Brittany's voice.

"She just won't fuck off." Lucas whispered in my ear, causing me to laugh in an obnoxious way, much to Jaxon's dismay as he looked at us both. Drew at this point, got up from the stool and sat on the bench to my left and mumbled, "This bitch is nuts." I bit on my lip in an attempt to stop the chuckle from escaping my lips, so to distract myself I got my phone out and started to message Nikki and fill her in on what was happening.

"I can see someone is working the double shift."

"Shut up, Brittany." Jaxon responded within seconds after her comment was made.

Brittany's comment had me looking up at her because I knew instantly that she was referring to me.

"Well that explains the burn marks on your knees then, huh Brittany?" I spat out and watched as her eyes widened in anger. Jaxon's chuckle escaped for a millisecond before he put a closed fist over his mouth to be quiet. Lucas and Drew made no attempts to hide their amusements as they laughed out loud.

"We all know what side business you ran six weeks ago." I added, in reference to her working with Noah. Brittany was very switched on because her face turned white as a ghost and I watched on as sweat started to show on her forehead. I rolled my eyes before I refocused on my phone, hoping that this conversation was going to die soon.

"What business?" Drew asked half heartedly. I could tell they thought I was joking around but none of them except Brittany and I knew exactly what I was talking about.

"I don't know what you're talking about." She said in between gritted teeth, as she shifted her right shoulder up to snob me off, turning to face Jaxon who was now staring at me intently.

"Yeah, you clearly have hit your head too many times, not surprising seeming as though you're so quick to lie on your back with your legs up!" I spat out with enough venom that realisation finally hit the boys. It was now obvious that there was more to our story than we both led on. With that said I hopped off the bench top and walked off into the lounge room, ignoring the call outs from Drew and Lucas. The longer I stared at Jaxon and Brittany, the more angrier I was getting. Escaping that room was exactly what I needed.

Not looking back, I went into the joining room; the lounge room and found a spot on the loveseat, how fitting. I refused to look up because to be frank, I didn't want to see her rubbing it in my face that she was with Jaxon. Just the sight of her brought out the crazy side in me. The sound of my phone was like a ray of light because it allowed me to ignore everyone around me and focus on my messages.

Sat, Apr 30, 11:30 PM
Nikki: That bitch! I swear to God I almost accidentally clawed at Isaac just now! Let me at her! I can make it 10 mins tops.

Sat, Apr 30, 11:32 PM
Me: Lol. You're turning more gangsta by the day. Am I to blame or is Isaac?

Sat, Apr 30, 11:35 PM
Nikki: I think it's both of you. Although Isaac is trying to say it's all you and not him.

Sat, Apr 30, 11:36 PM
Me: YOU'RE SUCH A LIAR ISAAC!!!

"Peace offering?"

I looked up at the voice and there stood Nick. A much sober Nick with a boyish side smile, the last person I'd ever expect to see talk to me considering what happened to between us last time.

I had two options, I could;
A) Tell him to fuck off
or
B) Move over and call a truce between the two of us and steal the beer in his hand.

I looked into his eyes for a second before shrugging my shoulders, moving over for him. I crossed my right leg over my left and turned slightly to put as much space as possible between the two of us.

I eyed him out carefully as he sat back in the same chair but to my left, hand me the beer before crossing his left ankle over his right knee. Still not saying anything, he took a swing at his beer before raising his right arm over the frame of the chair, behind my head.

"I'm not going to bite." He said as he looked me over before drinking from his beer again. He reached out with his beer in hand and waited for me. After a few seconds I raised my beer to clink it with his before taking a sip.

Just as I was taking a sip my eyes looked up and locked with Jaxon who was now staring in obvious anger at the both of us, but mainly at me as he kept alternating his eyes between Nick and I.

* * *

A/N: Enjoy my little bears.

Next Chapter: Nick shows a different side to himself. Jaxon has some unfinished business with Avery