Song for chapter twenty eight: You're in Love by Taylor Swift

|Skyler|

I was never one to be bold, or make risky moves. But this was the first time that I had acted impulsively without regret.

Right as my lips connected with his, a burst of fireworks exploded within my stomach. Aden place a hand behind my neck and an arm around my waist, pulling me closer towards him. I wrapped my legs around his waist instinctively, and my arms around his neck.

Another burst of confidence coursed through me as I attempted to take control of the kiss, though my efforts became futile when Aden slipped his tongue inside my mouth, igniting more fireworks in my stomach and throughout my whole body. My brain momentarily blanked out as I trailed my hand down his toned back, my other hand playing with the hair at the nape of his neck. Aden's muscles clenched under my touch and I resist a triumphant smile at the effect I had on him.

We finally broke apart, to my disappointment and I pushed myself away from him, in heavy breaths. The butterflies in my stomach slowly subsided as I glanced up at Aden, taking in his cheeks flushed and his eyes glazed over and darker than usual.

A wicked idea suddenly lit up in my brain, much like a light bulb. A sly smile spread over my lips, stretching larger at Aden's confused and dazed expression. I splashed him, the water hitting him square in the face.

"Hey!" Aden exclaimed, rubbing a hand over his eyes to get the water out. I guffawed, my laughs echoing through the woods. "Oh it's on," he narrowed his eyes playfully at me.

My eyes widened as I ducked back under the water, skillfully avoiding the water that Aden had splashed towards me. My head broke through the surface of the water again only to have what felt like a bucket of it splashed onto my face. I sputtered at the water that I had swallowed as I tried to catch my breath.

"I think that means I win," Aden smirked and I narrowed my eyes at him.

I took another large gulp of air, ducking into the water. I swam directly underneath him, yanking his legs under the water until his head was submerged into the lake. I gave the water one hard kick and broke through the surface of the water, Aden following behind me, coughing and spluttering.

"No I don't think you did," I winked at him.

"Y-you just caught me off guard," he coughed.

"You didn't take a breath before you went under?" I laughed.

"I did," he defended himself. Lie. Clearly he didn't.

Sighing, I tipped backwards, floating on my back. Clouds littered the bright blue sky, blending into streaks of lilac and pink as the sun began to set. A peaceful feeling washed over me.

Aden came up next to me, floating on his back as well, "Penny for your thoughts?"

I looked over at him, standing up again, letting my foot touch the dirt and rocks and the bottom of the lake. "I'm just thinking about nice it would be to stay here forever. No school, no responsibilities."

Aden chuckled, his own gaze trained on the beautiful sunset, "Yeah that would be nice."

"We should get going though, it might get dark soon," I told him as I began to swim to the shore. Aden followed close behind as I pushed myself back onto the grass and out of the water.

What was left of the sun in the sky warmed me up enough so that I wasn't shivering like I had been yesterday after I fell into the lake. I walked over to where I'd scattered my clothes everywhere, the grass prickling at my feet.

"What does Mr. Woods have planned for tomorrow?" I asked Aden as I began slipping on my leggings. A lot easier said than done since my legs were still soaking wet.

Aden shrugged as he threw on his shirt quickly. "He never said. I think he doesn't have anything planned, he's scrambling to come up with something tonight," he joked, slipping on his jeans as I laughed in agreement.

My laughter was cut short when a rustling noise resonated from the trees behind us. I glanced at Aden, and from his perplexed expression, I could tell he had heard it too. Not even a moment later, Austin stumbled out from the trees, falling over onto the grass.

"Shit," I heard his muffled curse as he stood back up, almost tripping over his own feet. He stumbled towards us, swaying as he walked, his cheeks red and his hair disheveled. I knew that familiar sight all too well. Austin hobbled over towards Aden and I, just as Aden grabbed my arm, pulling me behind him as he simultaneously stepped in front of me.

I gasped, looking down at myself, realizing that I was still in my bra. I picked up my shirt from the ground, throwing it over my head in a haste. My shirt was immediately soaked from my wet body. When I finished I peered over Aden to see Austin right in front of us, it was then when I noticed the almost empty whiskey bottle in his hand.

He must've chugged that fast to have finished it all within an hour since we'd been dismissed by Mr. Woods.

"Are you drunk?" Aden asked him, not able to hide the astonishment in his tone.

"So what if I am," Austin wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.

"How did you even—"

"I snuck it in my backpack okay, but thats not the point," Austin cut him off. "The point is...." he let out a loud burp, turning to me, "I just don't understand."

Aden and I exchanged a confused glance, which seemed to outrage Austin more because he let out an angry cry, tossing his bottle against the tree next to us. It shattered with a loud crack, falling on the ground in tiny pieces. I jumped up from the piercing noise it made.

"I just don't understand what's so great about him," Austin finished, pointing a finger at Aden. "I've been trying to get you from the start. I've asked you out so many times, but you've always wanted him." He slurred, "I'm the captain of the soccer team, what's not to like," his voice bellowed past the woods.

"Austin, you're drunk. You don't know what you're saying," I stepped around Aden to approach Austin, but Aden yanked me back with a warning look in his eyes, shaking his head. I frowned to myself. I could handle him if Aden would just let me.

"Look Austin we can talk about this another time, when you're sober," Aden said carefully, keeping a firm grip on my hand.

"No, fuck that!" Austin spat angrily. "You're good for nothing, just like your father, the whole soccer team knows that."

I felt Aden's body tense next to me, his jaw clenching. Subconsciously, I gripped his hand tighter, pulling him towards me.

"Leave," Was all Aden said, his jaw tight. I could tell Austin scrambling off now would be for his own good.

"We all know I'm right," he shouted out, his voice echoing past the trees. "You will end up just like him. Like father like son."

"Austin, stop it," I warned him, not even being able to recognize my own wavering voice. I didn't know what was with Aden's dad, but I knew it was nothing good. Austin had struck a cord.

"Good for nothing—" Austin's words were cut off when Aden yanked my hand out of his grip, throwing a solid punch square in Austin's face. Austin stumbled back, wiping the corner of his mouth as a small pool of blood had begun to gather there. Aden dropped his fists, ending the fight.

But before I could even react, Austin retaliated, his fist connecting with Aden's face.

My eyes widened and my hands flew over my mouth to muffle my shocked gasp. Aden staggered back, but quickly recovered when he threw a roundhouse punch on Austin's jaw not a moment later.

Austin stumbled, before falling over onto the grass, flat on his back, groaning as his hands covered his face. Aden stepped forward again, a fist raised to strike Austin again. His body was tense and rigid, and I knew he wouldn't back down any time soon. He could severely injure Austin and then we'd all be in trouble.

"Aden don't!" I ducked under his fist, placing my hands on his chest in a futile attempt to push him back. I looked up at him with pleading eyes but his narrowed ones were set on Austin. I pushed on his chest, almost sighing of relief when Aden listened and took a few steps back, lowering his fists. "He's.. he's not worth it."

Aden looked down at me at last, his hard eyes softening. A trail of blood dripped down his nose from the impact of Austin's hit. He swiped the back of his hand over his nose, wiping the blood away momentarily. I'd never seen Aden like this before, and it was a side I hoped that I wouldn't have to see often. Austin sat up again in a daze, still holding his face with a hand as he stumbled onto his feet.

"You don't deserve her," Austin pointed at Aden again as he began backing away.

"I think I can decide that for myself," I found myself saying to him, glowering. "Leave Austin."

Austin gave me one last glance, and shot Aden another glare before he scrambled off, disappearing behind the trees. We'd see him again tomorrow, unfortunately.

I let out a relieved sigh, turning back to Aden. A streak of blood trailed down his nose.

"What was that about?" I asked. "You didn't even hit Austin at the party."

"It was nothing," Aden growled under his breath, wiping the blood off his nose again, only to have another stream drip down again. Frowning, I decided that I'd ask him another time, when he wasn't so worked up.

"Come on," I tugged on Aden's hand and began walking away from the lake. Aden followed without a word as we made our way to the hotel again. Every time I glanced back though, his gaze was trained on the ground, jaw and fists clenched. His face was still flushed with adrenaline.

We scurried through the main lobby of the hotel, avoiding some people's curious glances as we entered the elevator. It must've been a sight to see for them, two wet teenagers, one all bloodied up. I pressed the button to my floor, silently praying that no one would step on with us.

"You're... you're not mad at me?" Aden asked as soon as a thick silence had settled over us, his face contorted with guilt and disappointment.

I shook my head as the elevator doors swung open and we walked out, my room was just a meter away from the elevator. "Well, no not really, whatever Austin meant he deserved it."

"But...?" Aden raised an eyebrow as I unlocked the door to my room, letting him in before I followed behind, shutting and locking it behind us.

"But nothing. I've just never seen you so angry before — come on," I grabbed one of his hands again, dragged him to the bathroom. "It was kind of scary," I added in a voice that was barely audible. Aden's expression softened significantly, looking remorseful. I grabbed a tissue, wetting it from the sink.

"Sit up," I demanded as I wrung the tissue dry. Aden did so without a word, pushing himself onto the sink. Gently, I swiped the area above his upper lip, wiping away the blood from his nose. I avoided his eye contact — even though I could feel his eyes burning into me — because I knew that if I did, my cheeks would betray me and grow beet red.

I finished quickly, handing him a dried tissue to clamp over his nose as I tossed the dirty one into the trash. I wet another tissue and began swiping over his bloodied knuckles.

I knew for a fact that it wasn't his blood.

"You know I'd never hurt you right, Clumsy?" Aden said in a soft tone, jumping back onto his feet.

I peered up at him with a small smile, admiring his beautiful hazel eyes as they sucked me into them once more.

I nodded, "Yeah, I know that."

"Gosh, I feel like a girl on their period," he glanced down at his bloodied tissue, "so much blood."

My eyebrow cocked upwards, "Trust me, that's not even half of it." I resisted a smirk at Aden's horrified expression.

Without thinking twice, I wrapped my arms around his waist, engulfing him into a hug much like the night before, "I'll always be there to listen if you need me too, you know that right?" I asked him, referring to whatever Austin had mentioned.

I knew first hand how much it sucked when another tried to force something out of you, and I wouldn't ever do that to him. I had no clue what the issue was between Aden and his dad, but I trusted that he would tell me when he was ready.

"Yeah I do," he replied with a sigh, resting his chin on the top of my head. Surprised that the lake water hadn't gotten rid of his signature vanilla scent, I breathed it in, shutting my eyes. And we stayed that way, unmoving for however long we wanted to.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Hope you all liked this chapter! Please do vote, comment and share if you did, I would really appreciate it!

And seriously what's with Aden's dad!?

~ SweetnessInTheSalt