Song for chapter thirty three: Big Plans by Why Don't We

|Skyler|

The faint voices of other students echoed through the hall as I huffed, shaking my mind free of all thoughts about Ava and her words. The hallway was already empty — everyone had already rushed to lunch.

I gasped when a hand clasped around my wrist, pulling me into the janitors closet that I'd passed a split second before. The door slammed shut behind me as I blinked repeatedly, trying to adjust to the darkness. Those attempts were futile though — the closet had no windows and it was easy to notice the stench of the bleach inside.

"What the hell?" I snapped.

"It's just me Clumsy," Aden's voice pierced through the darkness. My eyes had finally adjust to the darkness and I could vaguely make out Aden's silhouette. His cologne drifted up my nose.

"Jeez, what are you doing?" I let out a sigh of relief, glad that I wasn't about to be harassed by some random psycho.

"Getting you alone, of course," I could feel his smirk through the darkness.

"We had Chemistry together and you drove me to school," I pointed out. My cheeks grew warm from his words.

"Yes... but that was not nearly enough," he chuckled. He leaned closer towards me, wrapping an arm around my waist to pull me close. My breath hitched when my chest made contact with his.

"Don't you have a soccer meeting?" my voice wavered slightly.

"They can wait five minutes. I just want to get you alone, so no one can see when I do this," he mumbled, his breath fanning over my cheeks, sending shivers through my veins. Before I could process his words, Aden's lips were on mine.

Without a second thought, I reached up and pulled him down towards me, my fingers gripping his hair. In a swift motion and without breaking the kiss, he pushed me back against the wall with a small thud.

He molded his lips gently against mine, and every square inch of my body melted into his as trailed a hand down my back while he placed the other behind my neck. I trembled, biting back a moan. His mouth left mine momentarily and I felt him smirk at my reaction as he lifted me off the ground. My legs wrapped around his waist and I pressed myself closer to his body.

My mind blanked out and everything that happened yesterday slipped my away at the feeling of Aden's hands around me. His touch warmed me and it sent a sense of security through my brain that I hadn't ever felt with anyone else. I was disappointed when we finally came to some sense, pulling apart.

Aden reached behind me, opening the door and I'd barely recovered when we stumbled out of the closet and into the empty hall.

I straightened out my shirt and ran a hand through my tangled hair. I watched as Aden did the same, his cheeks flushed and his breaths still uneven.

"Okay, now I really gotta go," he reached out, giving my hand a small squeeze. "I'll see you later."

I nodded, not being able to stop the giddy smile that spread over my face as we parted in opposite directions. The cafeteria was just down the hall, and I'd managed to wipe the dazed smile off my face as I walked in.

Act normal. I told myself as I maneuvered past a few tables to get to Josie.

She was already at our table and she looked up from her phone as I sat down, relief spread across her face. "Oh thank god you're here, I had to go on my phone to seem like I wasn't sitting alone today. Where were you?"

"I had a run in with Ava," I explained, specifically leaving out what had happened just a minute before.

My eyes travelled around the cafeteria and they settled on Ava. She was sitting with her group of friends, all of them crowding around someone's phone as they laughed and probably gossiped about someone.

"Oh ew. What did she want?" Josie's nose crinkled.

"Let's just say, it was about five minutes of my life I'll never get back," I kept it vague, pushing all thoughts of her away.

Out of everyone Aden chose me. He wanted me to be his girlfriend. That was all the reassurance I needed. Ava was doing what she did best: bluff.

Both mine and Josie's phone buzzed simultaneously. She picked hers up from the table as I fished mine out of my pocket to read my message. A smile immediately lit up on my face when I saw that it was from Aden.

"Ryan wants us to go to a party Friday night," Josie read her message aloud.

"Yeah, Aden just said the same thing," I tucked my phone back into my pocket.

Josie gasped, "Ooh, it's Halloween themed, we have to go!"

My mind flashed back images of how crazy I was at Austin's party, and how I'd embarrassingly thrown up all over Aden's shoes. "Hmm, yeah that'd be a hard no."

"You can't not go," Josie stuffed a fry in her mouth, her eyes widening at the atrocity that I'd just committed by saying that. "What if some chick tried to hit on Aden, you've gotta be there to stop her," She said knowingly, pointing her fork at me.

"Oh please, I'm sure he wouldn't entertain them anyway." I rolled my eyes, my lips twitching up into a smug smile.

Josie thought hard about it for a moment, her eyes narrowing slightly. "Oh I guess that's true. But Halloween parties are awesome, I've never actually been to one before. We've got to go!"

"With what costumes," I raised an eyebrow at her.

Josie smirked, and I regretted asking her, "Leave that to me."

_____________________

The week went by quicker than a blink of an eye, passing by blissfully with Aden and Ryan joining us for lunch. Aden even walked me to my class sometimes, if I wasn't able to convince him not to.

I had therapy with Doctor Miranda again, and it went better than I thought it would. We talked casually, and I managed to make it through the session without shedding tears or running off. She was proud of my progress.

Aden never mentioned his dad again, and I could only assume things had gone back to normal — as normal as it could be between them. He did mention however, that despite all his dad's bruises and his concussion, he still went back to his office job so he could pay off his debt.

That was a good thing, but Aden still seemed irritated at his father.

"Check this," Josie squealed, pulling out two costumes from a shopping bag. She tossed one to me, that I caught effortlessly. I spread it over my bed, scanning it the skimpy outfit.

Josie and I were grouped at my place to get ready for this overhyped Halloween party. Seriously, it was all I heard anyone talking about the whole week. In the bathrooms, in the halls and even during lectures. Even some freshman knew about it — how? I had no idea.

"I'm not wearing this," I looked up at Josie with wide eyes.

She'd picked out a Wonder Woman costume, like any typical one you'd find at a store. A red tube top that ended just below my belly button, and a short skirt that barely covered anything underneath.

"What if I drink too much and get like a beer belly," I glanced back and forth between Josie and the costume. She was already putting on hers, a cliche cat costume, with cat ears, a black crop top and skirt.

"Then don't drink," she cackled.

I looked at the clock on my beside table. Aden and Ryan would be here in less than ten minutes, and I had no other costume. Giving in, I threw on the costume and stared into the mirror. It looked good, no one could deny that, but my fears had definitely been answered. No drinking tonight or else my stomach would be larger than Santa Claus.

Thankfully, Josie and I had already done our makeup and hair prior, since we knew that we'd both take forever perfecting it. She'd helped me curl the ends of my hair before tying it into a high ponytail. My scalp already burned and the night hadn't even started yet. Josie had also slapped on dark eyeshadow and fake lashes on the both of us.

My phone buzzed in my pocket; a text from Aden telling us that him and Ryan were here. Josie and I made it down to their car in a few minutes, but not without a few older people judging us at the main floor. I pulled at my short tube top.

Josie and I slipped into the backseats of Aden's car since Ryan took shotgun. No surprise here, Aden was our designated driver.

"Okay so we're actually really close to the penthouse," Ryan held out google maps on his phone. "Damn, do all rich people live near each other?" he turned back to me and I shrugged. It was Aunt Claire's house after all, not mine.

Josie took charge of the music, much to everyone's annoyance and blasted pop music from the speakers.

"Who's ready to get wild!" Ryan hooted in the front seat, and both Aden and I made eye contact from the rear view mirror as we rolled our eyes. Well, we could all drink, except Aden. The music drowned out the rest of the conversation as we drove the few blocks to where the party was held.

Just like the first time, the music could be heard as we entered the building, shaking the building with its vibrations. We were joined by a few other kids I recognized from our school in the elevator, all dressed in their own costumes.

I found some of the guys' costumes pretty entertaining. One guy was dressed as a hot dog and the other a ketchup bottle, while another was an M&M. See, why couldn't I dress like that?

Oh right, cause it wasn't conventional for girls to do that.

I walked with Aden, a few steps behind Ryan and Josie.

"You look like the perfect Wonder Woman," Aden's dark eyes scanned me from head to toe and I found my face heating up from his stare. Suddenly, it felt as though the skirt was not big enough. "The costume's perfect for you."

"Yours is great too," I responded truthfully, eyeing his fireman costume. That would not be a bad career for Aden that was for sure. "And don't worry, I'm not drinking tonight," I smirked at Aden's relieved expression.

"Well thank god, these shoes were expensive," he said as I glanced down at his combat boots.

"Hmm, maybe throwing up on them would benefit you," I wrinkled my nose jokingly.

"Why you..." Aden laughed, his arms stretched out to attack me. He lunged towards me, and I screamed when I felt his fingers running all over my waist. I jerked up, as he wriggled them, sending a herd of tingles as he tickled my sides. I squealed, trying to squirm away from his hold.

"Jokes on you I'm not ticklish," I lied, panting heavily as Ryan opened the door to the apartment.

"I'm sure you're not," Aden shot me a skeptical smirk, still laughing as he slipped his hand into mine as we walked in. "Trust me, tickling you isn't the only thing these hands can do," he bent over, whispering into my ear.

His breath sent a shiver down my spine and I looked up at him, feeling my cheeks burn even more than before at the comment.

"You wish," I gave him a small shove, trying to avoid his eye contact so he couldn't see how red my cheeks really were.

Just like last time the penthouse was breathtaking, way larger than mine and adorned with a bunch of artworks and sculptures along the polished white walls.

The living room was large and already crowded with people, especially the couch, and as was the hallway that lead to the rooms. I was surprised at how people managed to maneuver between all the artifacts without knocking them down. 

Right as we stepped into the apartment, I heard a girl gasp. "Aden!?"

I looked towards the voice, to find a beautiful girl I'd never seen before, throw her arms around him and engulfing him in a large hug.

Who the hell is she?!

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Hope you all liked this chapter!! This one was originally attached to the previous one but I realized that it MAY have been too long!! (Like 4000 words long) .

Remember to vote, comment and share if you liked it!!

And omg looks like there's someone else in the pic, who could it be?? (Pretty obvious who, I think tbh don't know why I asked)

~SweetnessInTheSalt