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  "Would you Aiden? Be lucky to have me?" She asked, staring into my eyes.

  "Yeah." I replied honestly as she snuggled closer to me, absorbing each other's warmth.

  "How'd you lose your phone?" She asked, she already knew the answer, it was evident in her eyes.

  "I um. . .was, "I began clearing my throat, I'd never felt so uncomfortable telling someone I'd had sex.

  She placed her finger on my lip, seductively shushing me, as thunder struck louder and rain poured harder. I felt water soaking through my shoes and the roof of the car suddenly felt like a waterfall. The leather jacket placed on her was soaked and no doubt went through soaking her as well. I pulled her closer, if that was possible, trying to keep myself, and her, as warm as possible.

  "It's ok. I know." She said, I felt my heart rate rising staring into her sad eyes. She pulled closer, removing her finger, her lips brushing mine.

  "Summer," I whispered, my breath hitched as she gave me a confused look. "I don't want to be your rebound, you had feelings for him and you can't transfer those on to me. You have no idea how bad I've wanted to kiss you since the day I met you. But now isn't the time." I said, rain pouring harshly on the car sending inharmonious sounds all about.

  "You prefer taken women huh?" She gave me a weak smile, " I get it, I'm everybody's last choice." My heart felt like it was being pulled out of my chest and slowly being torn by Summer.

  "Summer." I whispered as she shut her eyes. "Summer." I repeated placing my hand in her wet hair, playing with her brown locks until she reopened her eyes, focusing on me. In that moment I was speechless.

  "I really like you Aiden, but you're possibly. . ." She said slowly, her hand placed on my cheek as she stared at me with all too familiar longing eyes.

  "I can't." I whispered, standing my ground, as she turned around. I hugged her tightly feeling like a piece of crap.

  If she was any other girl, I would've just kissed her. Hell I would've fucked her till the sun came back up. But she wasn't just some other girl, she was Summer Gray.

  I shut my eyes, trying to warm her up in the cold of the wet night. I heard light snores as we fell asleep.

  Summer Gray

  I saw a bright white light approaching, either I'd died and gone to heaven, doubtful. Or a car was approaching, surely they'd be done with the party by now. It was too cold to move and my choice of clothing didn't help one bit. My toes were freezing and so were partly my legs, except they'd been intertwined with Aiden's, his jacket mainly covering me had dried up a bit by now.

  Why wouldn't he kiss me. Does he think I'm not good enough for him?

  "Aiden, wake up." I croaked, my voice coming out unintentionally cracked, I think I might be catching a cold.

  "Summer?" He furrowed his brows, "I'm up." He mumbled as the approaching vehicle drove right past us. We missed our opportunity.

  The rain had subsided, leaving the humid mossy feel of the forest to surround us. The sun was starting to rise meaning it was almost six in the morning.

  We were stranded, no phones, a broken down car, and just the company of one another.

  I yawned, sliding off the roof of the car, scraping my knee as I landed. I hadn't realized I was on the car. I felt something warm flowing down my shin. I looked at the empty road for a second, confused at what just happened.

  I tried to stay quiet but a huge cut on my knee began leaking onto the road.

  "Summer! Are you alright?" His question brought back memories of what had happened hours ago. I bit the inside of my cheeks to prevent silly tears over Ryder.

  "I'm fine." I smiled reassuringly. Aiden ripped a part of his clean white shirt and tied it around my knee. "Thank you. But we've got to find some way to get home before your parents arrive."

  "Can't let me bask in the glory for just a second." He gave me a cute half smile.

  "What glory?" I teased.

  "Of being your hero,"

  "Well thanks my hero, you've stopped germs from entering the scratch. I'll be forever in your debt." I smiled as he stood there proudly.

  "Remember that the next time we. . ." He began but cut himself off as we spotted a green Toyota heading toward us.

  The car drove right past us. "We should walk." I suggested, "and I need to pee."

  "Go ahead." He smirked as I began walking into the woods.

  "In there?" I stared, disgusted. He nodded, smirking.

  "Don't look!" I whined as he averted his eyes. I stood beside a nearby tree, the sun hadn't come this far yet, it was still seemingly dark as I did my business and began walking back.

  A sharp sting jabbed my leg as I stepped on something squishy. I tried to see what it was as beady eyes stared at me and slithered away. I had a painful cut in one leg and a snake bite on the other. I just hoped it wasn't venomous. I began trudging back to the car but it seemed like the sun decided to set again. I stared at a tree until it turned to complete darkness.

  Aiden Black

  Summer was taking too long. She'd asked for privacy and I wanted to give that to her, but I was beginning to worry. She wouldn't care if I saw her half dressed, would she? It's not like I hadn't seen a half-dressed woman before, many times actually.

  It seemed to have been fifteen minutes. Who takes fifteen minutes to pee? I began following in the direction I saw her go.

  "Summer, where are you?" The sun shone weakly in the forest, providing an insufficient light, "Summer." I called.

  "Summer!" I shouted.

  I pushed past large trees until my eyes landed on a sleeping figure. She had fallen in mud.

  "Summer," I ran up to her, she looked barely conscious. I scanned her body until my eyes landed on two small holes beside her ankle. "No, no, no." I said, tearing another piece of my shirt and tightly tying it above the bite to slow down the spread of venom.

  She gasped, coughing as I lifted her head up.

  "Aiden." She said calmly. Her eyes frozen on me as she slowly shut them, "It's not poison, I just. . ." She coughed, "got scared and fainted." I knew otherwise. She was trying to be a tough girl but hurt was very clear in her eyes.

  "You're going to be alright." I said, carefully putting my other arm under her knees and standing up. Mud covered my shirt, her arms flailing beneath us like she was rag doll in my arms.

  "You're going to be okay." I said.

  "I know." She smiled, even in her dead state, she still wouldn't give in to feeling helpless.

  I began walking away from the car and down the street toward home. I've never known someone, personality wise, as well as I knew Summer Gray and in that moment I realized I thought of her as more than a friend. Rather a best friend who's annoying comebacks make me want to jump her each time she has that cutely snobby victorious smile on her face. I looked at her tired face, my jacket still around her arms as she leaned into me.

  "Aiden my car." She whispered, it seemed like she was having trouble talking.

  "I'll have someone tow it later." I said as I saw a smile on her pale face, watching her cheeks burn up at the intensity of my gaze. She shut her eyes again

  "I can walk Aiden, can you put me down?" She asked, unbelievable, even half dead, she still refused to get help from me. I scoffed.

  "No." I chuckled as she furrowed her eyebrows.

  "Summer," I held her tighter, "can I ask you something?" I looked at her calm brown eyes as she nodded. "Why don't you ever want my help?"

  "Because I don't need it." She replied stubbornly. A car slowed down to our pace as the window opened.

  "Oh my. Do you need any help kids?" An old lady with kind eyes asked.

  "Yes please." I said just as I heard a faint no escape Summer's lips.

  "Well young man, hop right in? What's wrong your girlfriend?"

  "She fell, after she was bitten by a snake, she scratched her knee."

  "Oh my, do you need to go to the hospital?"

  "No I'm fine." Summer cut in. The old lady unlocked the door to her car as Summer and I took a seat in the
back.

  "Where are you two headed?"

  "7345 BlackBerry Lane." I said.

  "Oh, you're going to the Black's house. Oddly enough I never see them around anymore and their son, a repulsive young man. Did you know he took the virginity of both my granddaughters?" The old lady said as I felt Summer shake from laughter.

  "Yeah, he's a terrible guy." Summer chimed in.

  "Oh if I ever get my hands on him!" The lady said angrily. We had about twenty miles left until we got there, "and his parents are never home to scold him for his actions! Makes me so mad!"

  "With all due respect ma'am," it felt really strange saying those words, "he does take pretty good care of his little sister."

  "Nonsense! He's going to corrupt her like he did with all those other girls. And my silly granddaughter won't stop going on about what he did in bed, she doesn't realize that he used her and she probably won't see him again." I had a handsome smirk on my face. The house was now in my view, we had been driving for fifteen minutes, "mind me asking why you'd want to go to that house?"

  "Aiden's a friend of mine." I smirked.

  "Well you'd better watch out or he might trick your girlfriend into losing her virginity to him." I heard Summer laugh beside me.

  "What's so funny?" The lady asked as she turned onto my street.

  "He is Aiden Black." Summer blurted as the car stopped abruptly.

  "Get out!" She shouted as the car behind us beeped loudly and drove around us. "I can't believe I had you in my car! Take your prostitute with you!" I felt anger boil in my bones at the word she'd just called Summer.

  "If you were decent enough old lady, you'd know that your granddaughters enjoyed sex with me very much and this girl is not a prostitute, she's my friend." I said.

  "Oh I got to give you a piece of my mind!" She said angrily.

  "No thanks ma'am, I've heard enough already. Here, thank you for the ride." I threw a small wad of 20s at her and walked out of the car. I reached for Summer but she felt it was necessary to not accept my help and stepped out into the cold morning breeze.

  "Aiden, can we just forget the past eight hours and pretend they never happened, please, it's been a long night and I really don't think I can. . ." She began, but I pretended not to hear me, why the hell would I want to forget any of this. This has been the most fun two days of my life.

  "Almost there." I said as we began approaching my house. Summer walked at her own pace until I grew frustrated and carried her up.

  "Aiden!" She complained as I smirked.

  "What. The. Hell." I looked at the parked limousine as I walked through the gate and toward the entrance of my house. I unlocked the door curious to find out who was inside until my eyes landed on two very familiar faces.

  My parents were here. Early.

  Chapter 9: To Feign or To Fight

  Summer Gray

  I looked so horrific as I entered the house in the muddy arms of Aiden. He set me down as his eyes landed on his parents. Two very well dressed people, he placed me on my feet, putting his arm around my waist to help me stand. I don't need your help. I thought of saying but held back as his parents glanced at us.

  I stood feeling in the middle of my skin as his parents turned their attention to me. His mom wore a fancy dress with an expensive looking suit jacket while his dad had a full on tuxedo. They were very good looking for older people, I guess that's where Aiden got his looks.

  "Aiden, who might this be?" His mom asked, a sharp anger buzzing in her voice as she looked at his torn shirt and down to my knee. Her eyes scanned the mud all over our clothes and the disheveled wet hair, finally her eyes landed on his hand, which happened to be resting on my waist.

  "Glad to see you're getting around my boy." His dad winked at him. They thought I was just another one of his girls, they knew about what he does in the dead of night and didn't seem to care.

  "This is Summer." He introduced me, "and I'm not 'getting around' with her. She's just a friend." His dad gave him a smirk as Amy ran down the stairs.

  "Mommy! The maid ruined my old dolly!" She screamed running into the expensive suit jacket of her mother.

  "And who exactly is the maid?" I wished the earth would swallow me whole and toss me into some southern pacific ocean. It was humiliating enough to walk into their home looking like I'd just gotten stomped on by an elephant, but having Amy's, excuse me, her majesty's annoying accusations, even if they were true, really put me to the edge.

  "Her!" Amy shouted as I begged the ground to swallow me up. I looked up at Aiden's chiseled jaw, hoping he would say something.

  "Who wants breakfast?" Aiden cut in, noticing my discomfort.

  "Are those Stella's clothes?" His mom asked as Aiden grabbed my hand and began walking upstairs. My slow steps made him carry me again, he seemed in a rush to get out of there. I felt the stares of his parents on my back as we, well he, walked up the stairs

  "Aiden, why are they here so early?" I asked, entering his room.

  "I need to shower." He said as he began taking his shirt off and walking into the bathroom. "And you'd probably need help, with your leg injuries and all." He smirked as my eyes focused on his abs.

  "Gross, no." I said, feeling like it was a total Aiden thing for him to ask that. He stared at me for a while, considering what I'd just said. "Well" I began but he changed his mind just as I was about to change mine. I did need help. There was no denying that, I could hardly walk for crying out loud. But I wasn't about to damage my pride by saying yes.

  I don't need help.

  "As much as I'd like to get naked with you," he smirked, "I'd rather not do it while you're still rebounding." He shut the door as I stared at him. Has he always been this confusing?

  I took off his leather jacket and tossed it in the laundry basket, it was full and it was my job to wash those clothes, I'd do it later. I walked into Stella's room, struggling to untie the wrap around my knee and ankle.

  "Need help?" He stood in front of my door. Still shirtless and wearing his muddy jeans.

  "No." I said quickly, slowly peeling the painful wrap around my knee.

  "Come on princess, we'd better get you cleaned up."

  "Aiden." I said warningly.

  "Relax, I just meant your knee and ankle and if you wanted to do any other cleaning, don't be shy to ask." He smirked as I rolled my eyes.

  He carefully helped me stand up and sat me down on the bathtub. He removed my muddy shoes and socks and tossed them carelessly aside.

  "Aiden," I said getting his attention, he turned his warm blue eyes to me "Thank you." His features seemed to soften a bit but I couldn't help the glint of mischief in his smile. It was amazing how every emotion he was feeling could be read through his eyes.

  "Yeah, but I don't do any of this for free." He smirked as I laughed, rolling my eyes, "I'll be right back, wash your knee with some water, I'm going to get the first aid kit." He said walking out of the bathroom. I washed my entire muddy leg, watching dirt pile in the drain. It was gross watching the disgusting water flood into the drain.

  "Here." He walked back in, "you have to swallow this in case that snake bite could actually have been venomous." He said, handing me a pill and a small cup of water. He had brought a small towel and a box with him. "Here I'll let you clean up and then we'll seal those cuts." I smiled at him, if Aiden ever wanted to be a doctor, he'd be a darn good one.

  Aiden Black

  She stepped out of the shower, I had picked out a random bra and underwear for her and some other clothes before I left the room. I took a quick shower and put on some boxers just as she stepped out of the bathroom with a shirt and panty shorts on. I'd give her the sweats after I covered her cuts.

  I walked into the room, handing her the towel for her hair.

  "Why are you being so nice to me?" She asked sullenly, I hadn't realized I was. I'd never had a real friend before. At least not one who didn't want something from me, but Summer was an unconditional friend and I liked that about her.


  "Friends help friends." I said, pulling out an alcohol wipe, "this might sting a bit." I placed it on her cut as she winced, trying to stay strong. I sat on one knee below her, watching her pretend to not be in pain on the bed.

  "So we're friends now?" She laughed, drying her hair with the towel.

  "Aren't we?" I applied more pressure to her knee as she squeaked out in pain. I smirked as she glared at me.

  "Well aren't you two cute!" My mom announced, walking into Stella's room.

  "Hey mom." I smiled at her as she looked at me applying a band aid to Summer's knee and another to the two small bites by her ankle.

  "I've never seen you like this before Aiden." She said, "are you okay?"

  "Which part, the half naked?" I laughed, my mom would think this joke was funny.

  "No kidding, you must really like your girlfriend. Now put a shirt on, I don't want to know what you two just did." She said in reference to both our wet hair.

  "We weren't showering together if that's what you mean." I bluntly said, suddenly feeling Summer staring at me. I just knew her cheeks would be bright red.

  "Sure honey, of course I believe you weren't messing with the maid, I guess that's slang for you kids today, get dressed, I'll see you downstairs." She walked out of the room, I heard her footsteps becoming fainter. She spat out the word maid like she was throwing a dirty rag into the garbage can.

  "Summer I need a favor." My eyes flashed to hers.

  "What is it, friend?" She looked at me with playful eyes. I walked into Stella's closet pulling out a random pair of sweats and socks.

  "Will you be my fake girlfriend until my parents leave?" I asked as she stood up and put her pants on, she sat back on the bed, trying to bend her knee to put the socks on her feet. I watched her struggle for a while laughing. "Need help?"

  "No I don't, Why?" She stared at me in confusion, "I thought Aiden Black doesn't settle for just one girl?" She smirked. I ignored her no and snatched the socks out of her hand placing them on her feet. Her breath hitched at the sudden touch of our fingers, but I thought nothing of it. Or tried not to anyway.