-Laura's POV-

After a few more hours of just hanging around we decided to pack up the gear and head home since the sun was going to set any minute. I did my best trying to avoid contact with Chris. I was sure I kept at least a five feet radius away from him.

"Aaron?"

He jammed the last sleeping bag into the back of the Acura and turned to me once he was sure it wouldn't come out.

"Yeah Laura," he was curious why I called his name.

I wanted to talk about what happened between us today but I wasn't sure this was the time. I didn't know what his intentions were but I knew I had to make it clear. But to be honest that wasn't why I wanted to talk to him.

"I need you to do me a favor."

He crossed his arms over his chest and smirked at me. "Actually you owe me a favor, remember. I didn't push you in the water."

Man he was right. Tommy pushed me in. I bit my lip. "Really?" Maybe if I play the dumb card he'll go easy on me.

He nodded playfully and his adorable dimples showed up. Aww why was he so cute? "Oh yes Laura you promised to do anything."

Please go easy on me. "I guess I did. Alright Aaron what do you want?"

Aaron innocently looked at me with his hazel eyes for a few seconds before turning to shut the trunk and then lean against the car. "I won't tell you right now. I'll save it for later."

What? Why would he do that?

"So what is it you wanted from me Laura?"

Oh right. "I umm I need you to promise me a seat next to you with whatever car you decide to go in." This way I was sure I wouldn't be next to Chris for the next few hours.

Aaron looked at me like he was waiting for an ultimatum. I guess he did have the right to look at me that way since it was a rather weird request.

"I just don't want be next to someone I don't get along with," I gave a pointed stare towards Ren like it was her who was bothering me.

Aaron completely understood where I was coming from and obliged. "I'd love your company Laura."

"Good." It was like a weight lifted off my chest.

Chris wouldn't bother me the rest of the way and that was enough to keep me sane. Aaron didn't take his eyes off me. It felt a bit awkward and I wanted to look away but I felt like I shouldn't.

"Hey Aaron!"

Aaron ended up breaking our locked gaze to answer Michael. "What?"

"Can you drive the Honda? Angelo has to work in the morning so he doesn't want to drive back home."

Aaron looked at me and winked. The Honda was the really packed car that had only room for two people: the driver and passenger.

"Buddy system. I'm riding with Aaron," I yelled at Michael.

I made the mistake of looking around the camp site one last time and saw Chris staring at me with vengeance. I wasn't going to let him control my mood. Aaron started the engine and my anxiety faded. Chris wasn't going to ruin me. Sadly a small part of me couldn't blame him. Ben was the one who corrupted Chris with bad imagines of me. Chris was misguided. Yet that still gave him no right to treat me like a whore.

I couldn't express how happy I was to be on the highway headed home with only Aaron to keep me company. I needed a friend.

The stack of CDs on the side door caught my attention and I started going through them. I popped one in called "summer mix" and started singing along when a song by Justin Timberlake played.

Aaron kept glancing at me every once in a while with a goofy look on his face. He was probably trying his best to keep from laughing out loud. I didn't care though. It was a great song.

"Alright," I said turning down the music. "Do you prefer snickers or reeses?"

He took a moment to answer. "Reeses."

"Night or day?"

"Night."

"T-shirts or Polos?"

"T-shirts."

I sorted through my brain for a harder question. "Team Edward or Jacob?" I wondered if he even knew what I was talking about.

Aaron's eyes left the road and landed on me with a disgusted look. "Really Laura?"

"Whatever. You can deny it but I'm sure you've seen the movies."

He let out a sigh. "I'm not answering."

"Come on. I know you've picked a team." I leaned in closer, barely touching his arm. "It's okay Aaron you can tell me. I promise no one will know."

He shook his head and laughed. "You're ridiculous Laura."

"De-nial is not just a river in Egypt."

His beautiful hazel eyes looked gold in the setting sunlight. "I'm Switzerland."

I busted into fit of laughter. "I totally knew you read the books."

"I just wanted to know what all you girls made a fuss over," Aaron confessed.

"Sure you did." I couldn't keep the smile off my face. He was so adorable and shy about it.

Aaron drove off the exit towards the gas station pumps like the rest of the cars were doing. I hadn't realized we were so low on gas or how far we had driven.

"I'm gonna get something to snack on. Do you want anything?" I asked opening my door.

"Sunflower seeds."

"Got it." I hopped out and rubbed my arms for heat. When did it get so cold?

The gas station was one of those old creepy, dingy places that looked deserted most of the time. It was empty for the most part except for a few guys by the beer section.

I grabbed a couple of packs of sunflower seeds and two Starbucks coffees. I was 100% positive Aaron liked Starbucks. I mean who didn't. As I was walking past the group of guys to get to the front I felt someone grab my arm.

My head jerked around to see who it was. A tall buff guy with dirty blond hair was smiling down at me. He was awfully cute but I didn't like the way his blue eyes were scanning my body and how he was licking his lips.

"Hey there doll face," he said in a southern accent.

"Hi. You mind letting go of my arm?" His grip only tightened as he stepped closer.

"Not until you give me your name."

Was this guy for real? "You already said it."

His other hand came around to my shoulder. I wanted to run but I had to remind myself to calm down. His buddies were also watching us from a distance. I couldn't panic just yet. Maybe I could talk my way out of it.

"Then how about your number doll face?"

His breath reeked of beer. I was betting they were all pretty drunk.

"I don't think so."

His cricked smile was sending chills down my back which was also pinned against the glass fridges. His massive body was blocking my way of escape.

"Now doll face let's play nice. I promise I'll treat you right if you do the same for me."

I tried shoving his chest away but it was a pathetic move on my part. This guy looked like he was born half a bear.

"I'm not a very nice person. So I suggest you let me go and find yourself another girl to harass."

"Mmmm I would but you're just too pretty to let go." His disgusting breath tickled my face as he leaned in.

Was this seriously happening? Where was everyone? I was guessing everyone fell asleep in the cars since it was so late and dark but still was nobody seeing this?

"Let go of me," I growled menacingly.

His blue eyes were glazed and shining. "I don't think so," he repeated my own words.

I jerked my arms around to get his grip loosened but it didn't work. I swear I was going to have bruises in the morning. "Get your hands off me."

The guy didn't listen and his buddies were laughing at my expense. They had to be drunk.

This was not my day.

"Just give me a kiss and I might consider it," he starting to close the space between our lips.

My heart was beating a million times faster as I was slashing around. "No, stop. Please."

His lips were only a few centimeters from mine when the guy was knocked over by someone's fist. I almost fell over myself if it hadn't have been for someone holding me up from behind. I stared up at my savior in awe and surprise. Chris was heaving in furious animosity. His fists were clinched and he looked like he was ready to kill.

Aaron pressed me into his chest. "Are you okay Laura?"

I nodded too stunned to speak. My eyes were still glued to Chris who had his eyes locked on the douchebag that tried to kiss me.

The blond haired guy in the tight leather jacket got up and wiped the blood off his face. Three of his buddies advanced around us. They looked pissed especially blondie who was buffing out his chest like he didn't just get his ego wounded.

"You shouldn't have done that man."

Chris clinched his jaw before speaking. "You shouldn't have forced yourself on a girl who obviously didn't want anything to do with you."

Those words coming out of his mouth sounded oddly ironic if you asked me.

"How do you know she didn't want it?"

This wanna be biker guy had to have been stupid. I told him multiple times to let me go.

He was an arrogant ass that much was evident; cocky too, when he threw me a flirtatious wink. Chris didn't seem to like that. He jerked the guy by his collar and shoved him back into the freezer doors. The guy's posse hovered in but I think they were too stupid drunk or too afraid to get in the middle of Chris' smack down.

"When a girl says stop or no it typically means she doesn't want it." Chris shoved the guy's head against the door. The blond groaned but couldn't get out of Chris' wrath. "Remember that next time a girl says no cause I'm sure it happens often."

Chris released him and Aaron pulled me to the exit. I took a deep breath and wrapped my arms around him just so I could feel somewhat safer. We went to the car and he opened the door for me but he didn't let me go right away. Aaron actually pulled me tighter to his chest while rubbing my back.

"Laura?"

I reluctantly pulled away so I could look into his worried eyes. "I'm fine. Thank you for coming after me."

He surprised me by kissing my forehead ever so gently. "Let's get out of here."

I nodded and got in the car. Once inside I scanned the other cars for Chris. I didn't expect that from him; to come to my defense and all. But then again would I have expected him to stand by and watch. No I guess not. I didn't think he was a bad guy just a really messed up one. Chris had some major problems. I could bet anything his was battling some kind of demons of his own that he was hiding from everyone else.

I gave up once we were on the road again. After another hour of silence I was getting restless. "Are we almost home?"

"Yeah almost."

I hated the quietness that was surrounding us in the car. Aaron and I could always keep a conversation going. I placed my hand over his which was on the shifter. His head dropped to our hands and then up at my face.

"Say something."

But he didn't instead he took my hand and brought it up to his lips and kissed my knuckles. I felt heat crawling up my body. What was happening to me; to us?

"I want to tell you what I want from you now?"

I swallowed because for some reason I knew this was going to change everything about us. "Okay."

He laced our hands together before he spoke. "I want to take you out."

"On a date?" I said biting my lip. Of course on a date.

"Laura we've known each other for a long time now and you can't deny this connection we have. We get each other; we laugh, talk, and open up to each other. I don't do that with other girls but I can with you. All I want is a date, a chance."

What? No, no, no, no. Could I? After everything Chris said to me; after everything Chris and I have done together. I wasn't even sure why I was thinking about Chris or why I cared what he thought. Chris was a stupid, troubled guy that wanted nothing to do with me beside make my life miserable. What would he do if he found out I was seeing Aaron? He would most likely go insane and do everything to stop me from ruining yet another one of his cousins.

"Aaron I..." What was I supposed to say? In some ways I wanted to say yes because I had to admit Aaron and I had great chemistry.

"Laura all I want is a chance. I know things with Ben were really bad but I can't help the way I feel about you. I don't want to let this go without giving us a try."

What Ben and I had was completely different from what Aaron and I have now. My head was spinning and my gut was punching me senseless. Why couldn't I be with him? Why couldn't I be with Aaron and be happy? Don't I deserve to be happy? Well not according to Chris, I don't. Forget him.

"If we do this I don't want anyone to know."

Aaron looked a little sad. "Why?"

"I don't want anyone to know until we are completely sure about the way we feel about each other."

That explanation turned his frown upside-down. "I understand. No one will know."

I pushed myself off the seat so I could kiss his cheek. He was honestly the sweetest guy I have and ever will know. "Thank you."

It was just one date. If it didn't work out we would and could always be friends. A few minutes later Aaron drove up my driveway and I was in complete bliss to finally be back home. That trip seriously drained me of everything. I needed my bed and the comfort of my room.

"Alright well this is it," Aaron said handing me my duffle bag.

I took it from him. "Thank you. I'll call you later." I was half way to the front door when he shouted, "I'll be waiting."

That night sleeping in my bed honestly made me feel so much better. Not that the camping sleeping accommodations weren't the best. I loved having sleepovers with Demi and Aaron made the end of the trip shockingly memorable and special. Chris just had to start it off bad by ranting about nonsense. It made me incredibly mad having him throw accusations in my face.

I didn't expect Ben to tell his family the truth about our breakup but did he seriously have to lie like a sleaze and make me out as the bad guy. I guess he was never going to change.

Dania waited patiently on my bed as I got ready to leave. I had a horrible memory and forgot about our dress fitting for the bridesmaid dresses.

"We're going to be late." She was fiddling with my perfumes to pass time.

"I know. I just need to grab a sweater."

We were supposed to meet at Michael's house. His mom was one of the best seamstresses and she was working extra hard to make our dresses look flawless. It would be my first time trying it on. I hope I didn't gain any weight. That would suck.

We took Dania's Getta since I had no gas in mine. Dania didn't complain she actually liked driving.

"So how's it going with you and Angelo? You guys looked like you were hitting it off the other day."

Her smile was a given. "It was really good. I can't believe I like him so much. It's crazy. But I think we really had something going last weekend."

"That's good. I'm happy for you." He was a good guy even though he didn't always have the reputation of one.

"We click so well but sometimes and I mean lately he's been pulling away from me. I don't feel like we're as open as we can be with each other."

"Well don't give up on him. Everyone has their tough patches." I should know. It was the story of my life actually.

"I won't," she declared. "So you were all cozy with Aaron on our way home."

What do I say to that? I couldn't tell her what really went on between us. "Yeah, he's a good friend."

She scrunched her nose. "He's just a friend? That poor guy has had a crush on you for as long as I can remember."

I threw an accusing glare in her direction. "How the heck does everyone know and not tell me? I have been oblivious to this fact until yesterday."

Dania shrugged. "I guess you're stuck in your own world."

My world consisted of nothing good lately. I was so conscious of Chris being around that I haven't been paying attention to anything else.

"I don't know what to do about it," I whined resting my head on the dashboard.

"Why don't you give it a chance? You know he's a great guy and you deserve to be with someone who makes you laugh."

I understood that but something was off about it. "Isn't it a little weird to go out with him when I have such a horrible past with his cousin? Wouldn't I look like a tramp going out with guys from the same family?"

Wow, did that just come out of my mouth? Chris was getting to me. Ugh.

"No. I don't know what happened between you and Ben but obviously it wasn't meant to be. You can't let that stop you from finding someone else. Who cares what anybody thinks?"

Dania had this gift to make me see reason. Why should I care what people think, what Chris thinks? He was wrong. I wasn't after every guy in his family.

"Alright girls your dresses are upstairs in the play room. Go put them on and come down." Only two minutes into the house and Mrs. Compton was already ordering us around. I guess she just wanted to get done as soon as possible since the wedding was only like a month and a half away.

The dresses were a beautiful royal satin blue. They laced up in the back so basically they had to fit regardless if we put on a few extra pounds. They flared elegantly at the bottom but my dress was too long. I almost tripped down the stairs trying to get to living room where Sarah and Mrs. Compton were waiting for us.

Sarah was glowing with satisfaction. I could tell she was in love with the color and how we looked in the dresses. I was so glad she approved. Mrs. Compton examined every inch of our gowns and pinned my hem higher so I wouldn't trip down the aisle. I was wearing my heels and even with my 5 inch advantage the extra height wasn't enough. My dress was ridiculously long. Maybe I was just a midget.

"You ladies look beautiful," I heard Michael compliment but I couldn't quite turn to look at him.

I didn't want to get pinned with a needle.

"Gorgeous." Mrs. Compton patted my hips, signaling she was finished with me.

She started to tug on Dania's dress and I predicted it had to be taken in some.

"Don't they Chris?" Sarah chimed in.

I should have known he would be here.

For some odd reason Sarah really valued his opinion on particular matters. I was guessing this is one of them.

I didn't want to look at him but somehow I couldn't help it. Chris was staring me up and down but when he spoke he looked at Dania. "They do."

"Laura dear you can go change. I only have a few things to do to Dania's dress now."

I nodded bunching up my full skirts and made a quick pass for the stairs. Chris' presence would always make me uncomfortable I have concluded. The play room was at the very end of the hall and in this constricting dress felt like miles away. Inside the sanctuary of the clean play room I unraveled the knot behind my dress, or at least tried to.

I suddenly got distracted by the starry sky. The moon was so unbelievable bright and the twinkling stars had to have been a part of my imagination. The night sky looked so unreal, it practically calling to me. The room had a spacious balcony and a cute homemade swing, I was guessing for nights like this one.

I began swinging myself back and forth amazed at the magical painting in the sky.

"Aunt Martha used to get so mad at us for swinging on that," Chris' deep voice pulled me out of my trance.

I turned to my left to find him leaning on the post, watching me. "Why?"

He laughed and I got up. Was it broken or something? I went for the couch instead that was also facing the scenery