GREED Page 7

  "Because every time my parents come here they're always trying to set me up with some random princess, so this time, I'm turning the tables on them. It's just for one day. And mom already thinks we're together so might as well play the part."

  "What's in it for me?" She had a devilish twinkle in her eye as she crossed her legs, or at least tried to and gave up.

  "The satisfaction of knowing that you, Summer Gray, helped out a friend in need?" I tried as she had a playful smile. "I'll get them to stop thinking you're the help" I added.

  "What's wrong with being the help." I felt like I was digging myself into an inescapable hole.

  "Nothing, it's just my mom won't treat you so well." I ran my hand through my still wet hair.

  "Okay." She smiled, kindly ending the conversation. Maybe the whole friend thing actually got to her. I'd use that line more often.

  "Only if you put some clothes on. I'll see you in the hallway," I smirked as she stood up and walked out the door, I did a little victory dance as I walked into my room.

  ¤¤¤

  "Hey," I smiled walking out of my room to the breathtaking sight in front of me. I began walking toward the staircase. I wasn't enough of a gentleman to let her go first.

  "Hey." She laughed, walking down the stairs behind me.

  "Took you long enough!" My mom's angry blue eyes came into view,"whatever you were doing with the maid better have just been a one time thing. Look at this house, it's a mess?! Some maid she is."

  "She's not the maid, Amy was just saying that because they haven't become the greatest of friends, she's my girlfriend." I intertwined our hands as I felt her tense up.

  "Girlfriend huh?" Mom's face brightened a million times more instantaneously.

  "Hi, I'm Summer." She introduced herself.

  "Im winter." My mom laughed as Summer's face turned as red as a tomato, "I'm glad to see you're settling for just one girl, you know I didn't really like that Kelly girl you were dating the last time your father and I were here." I tried to stifle a laugh, Kelly was my tutor who so generously offered to come home with me that night, and my parent's hadn't informed me they were coming. She laughed as Summer churned uncomfortably in my grasp. We began walking to the dining room. I snaked my arm around her waist as our chef, Steven, approached us with breakfast.

  "So mind me asking where you two were this morning?"

  "We went for a jog and it started raining. And she tripped. And got bitten by a snake." I said as my mom's eyes widened.

  "In what you two were wearing, no wonder. Kids these days." My mom said, as we took a seat around the dining table.

  "Is that what you kids are calling it?" Dad laughed, turning his attention to Amy and her doll.

  "So, mom, dad, what brings you here today?" I asked, taking a bite out of my pancakes.

  "Family business," Mom replied, "we'll wait until she leaves to discuss it."

  "She's not leaving." I said defensively as mom looked at me in surprise.

  "Well, you must be really serious about this one son." Dad spoke, he had been talking to Amy about her dolly, but apparently now my conversation seemed more intriguing. "How long have you two been together?"

  "Two months." I said before Summer had a chance to speak.

  "Well son, I think this is your longest relationship yet, she must really please you. . ."dad began as I felt Summer uncomfortably shift in her seat.

  "Actually Mr. and Mrs. Black, " Summer began, "Aiden and I aren't," she began, instantly I knew I had to stop her from what she was going to say next, it felt like a deja vu moment of what she blurted out to the old lady this morning.

  I quickly pressed my lips onto hers as she stared at me wide eyed. It may be the only time I'd get to kiss her, so may as well make it good. My lips moved in sync with hers as I begged for entrance into her mouth. She pulled away, staring at me in silence for a few seconds before getting off her seat completely.

  "If you'll excuse me." She said politely walking, rather quickly in her broken state, to the front door.

  My parents looked at me with unspoken words stirring in their eyes.

  "She. . .uh is allergic to kissing inside." I made up a dumb excuse and jumped out of my seat, running out. "Can't control myself sometimes." I shrugged.

  Why the heck would she run out? It was just a kiss.

  A kiss is worthless.

  Chapter 10: Hallucinations

  Summer Gray

  "Aiden and I aren't. . ." I was cut short as a rush of emotions flooded into me. Aiden pressed his lips on mine, throwing waves of tingles and exploding butterflies throughout my body. The thought struck me that he could have cared less about my feelings. I'd just had a break up and here he was kissing me to cover up what I was about to say.

  What I was going to say was that we weren't sleeping together, but he, being too distrusting assumed I'd spill our little plan.

  I ran, more like quickly limped, out into the front yard. I wiped away angrily on my lips. I didn't need this. My life was complicated enough as is.

  "Summer," he said rushing in front of me, "It was just a kiss." He looked at me, a deceptive emotion in his eyes, his hands in his pocket,"a kiss is nothing Summer." I wanted to throw something at him, toss him into a lake and burn it on fire. If only lakes would burn. A kiss is not nothing.

  "Aiden, a kiss may be nothing to you because all you ever do is mess around with girls and obviously that would make a kiss mean nothing to you because you just throw yourself at every girl there ever was! You freaking just do them like you're eating a chocolate bar and a kiss maybe nothing to you because it's all part of your charade!" I said, angry. That what I've been since last night, furious actually but it was covered up with pain and heartbreak.

  "Well how about you? Might I just say you have the worst choice in boyfriends, I mean come on the whole school knew he was cheating. What the hell did you even see in that guy?" His angry eyes stared at me as he made hand gestures all around. I felt tears sting my eyes. I take back what I said earlier about him being a doctor, doctors heal, they don't cause pain.

  "Don't talk to me."I shut down, my entire body feeling numb as I began walking away aimlessly. I felt water run down my cheeks and I let it, enjoying the hot spots it left on my cold cheeks.

  My lips were still tingling. I walked out of his garden and onto the street. His words hurt, they stung worse than anything anyone has ever said to me. Even though they weren't all that bad, anything that brought Ryder up caused me pain.

  I didn't know where to go or what to do. I felt lost, broken, and alone. I pulled out my dead phone from my pocket hoping it would magically start back up so I could call mom.

  "Summer, I'm sorry. I can't help myself sometimes and I know you're hurting right now. I. . ." Aiden jogged up beside me. I hate him. I despise him actually. I ignored him and kept walking. He reached for my hand, I turned to look at him, my heart hurt as he pulled me into a hug. His soft hair on my face as he bent down to place his head in the crook of my neck.

  I cried quietly as we stood in the middle of the street. I was grateful that he was there, giving me a shoulder to cry on.

  "I'm so sorry any of this had to happen to you Summer," he whispered as I calmed down a bit. I smiled, Aiden was a great friend when he tried to be.

  "Come on I'll take you home, I forgot to tell you, your mom called earlier and she's coming home early." The news brightened me up a bit but I felt weak, like I'd cried for an hour until no more tears would form. My lungs were tired and so was every bone in my body. I wanted to crawl into the fetal position and sleep for a hundred years. I was tired and hoping I could go home.

  "Well who would've thought my little brother actually had a heart, thought you were used to being the reason girls cried." A voice said from behind me.

  "Actually, I was also the reason she's crying." He said, pulling away a bit to where we were facing his older sister.

  "So are you his girlfriend? Because you two would be totally cute together!" Sh
e smiled at me as I smiled back, "I heard the parents were back in town, I had some stuff to talk to them about."

  "Yeah they're inside." He said.

  "I can't believe it Ace, you're actually hugging a real girl, and fully dressed this time, that's a step up from last time." She winked walking into the house. I looked from Aiden to the rows of houses, suddenly craving some alone time.

  "Aiden, I'm going to take a walk. " I smiled, I knew he could tell it wasn't a real smile, but he didn't care.

  "Yeah we can walk." He smirked.

  "Not we, me I need some air."

  "Yeah, no. I can take you somewhere if you want, but you're not leaving my sight."

  "Aiden but I'm not a little girl who needs protection." I squeezed his cheek, smiling widely as I began limping away.

  "That's no way to talk to your hero. Three times if I do say so myself."

  "Listen Aiden I need some alone time. Please?" I said, hoping he'd give in to the please.

  "Yeah ok, let's go then."

  "Aiden. Go home. Your parents need you for family business. Last time I checked I'm not part of your family." I pointed at his house a smile on my face.

  "Home is where the heart is, and right now, my heart's with you." He smirked. His line was so cheesy. I rolled my eyes as he began following me.

  "Aiden, go away." I said, laughing as I began walking down the street.

  "As you wish." He winked, reciting a line from Princess Bride, following behind me.

  "Her majesty and her older majesty are waiting for you, for your family meeting. " I tried again, turning around to face him. I laughed at the face he made as I began walking backwards.

  "Fine," he gave in, "but promise me you'll come back when you've had your alone time."

  "Is little Aiden scared of losing me?" I laughed, feeling as though I was treading on dangerous ground.

  "Touché." He gave me his famous heart stopping half smile. I smiled back as his eyes widened quickly, he began running at me as I stared at him in confusion. "Summer watch out!" He shouted as I turned my head to look as a blue car heading at me in full speed.

  His arms grabbed my waist as he jumped onto the ground, the car drove past us. I felt the breath leave me and felt as though I'd just been trampled in a stampede.

  "Get off me, you idiot, you broke my ribs." I said as we lay in the middle of the street, his body laying on mine. He was not light, I could be certain of that.

  "Saved your life, that's three times in one day, where's my reward." He looked at me, a cheeky smile on his face.

  "Hm. Your reward is that I'm still talking to you after you knocked the breath our of me."

  "So you could say that I take your breath away?" He winked, standing up and offering me a hand. I ignored it helping myself up.

  "Aiden." I pursed my lips as he began walking behind me.

  "So who's not a helpless little girl?" He asked, a wide smirk on his face. "Not you!" He laughed.

  "Jerk." I muttered as he now stood beside me.

  "Princess." He smirked when I looked at him, "you do need protection, and a big strong guy like me can really do the trick for you." He chuckled, flexing his arms. I looked away, feeling like I'd drool by just looking at his guns.

  "I don't see any big strong guys around, just an annoying immature boy."

  "Is that what they call me?" He and I entered the café that was about a mile from his house. He lived is a very wealthy neighborhood that had shops near the entrance for important visitors. The café was crowded to say the least.

  "You're unbelievable. "

  "They call me that for sure. Along with unpredictable, and sexy as hell." He winked as I took a seat, his ego was almost as big as his nose, even though he doesn't have a big nose, he's just nosy. Really nosy.

  "I'll go buy some breakfast since you didn't let me finish my pancake. " He walked to the long line that was forming, I took one of the few available seats near the door, I sat there bored, twiddling my thumbs.

  I looked around at the 50s style café. It was really a landmark to be viewed. It was beautiful with the classic colors of baby blue and shades of red all over. Suddenly, a dark shadow blocked my view as I felt my heart rate rising. The image of him in bed with three women popped up in my head.

  "Summer, please hear me out." Ryder's cheating face stood before me as he sat in Aiden's seat. I looked at him for a second wondering if I was making this entire conversation up in my head. Maybe I was hallucinating.

  "No. Leave me the hell alone." I said walking outside as I felt fresh tears trying to form. A hand grabbed my wrist and spun me to him. I crashed into his solid chest as fear of getting emotionally hurt again entered my mind.

  "I never meant to hurt you."He stood close, my breath hitching as memories of our first kiss played in my mind. I couldn't move. Frozen by his icy look that had my heart stopping and racing so fast at the same time.

  "Then why'd you do it Ry?" I bit my lip, whispering, having trouble speaking, his intense eyes stared into mine ". . .and why didn't you tell me you weren't going out of town? Why'd you lie?" I felt my lip quivering as I stared at him. Heartbreak was the only thing I could conjure up.

  "Please, Summer, let me make it up to you, what I did was stupid and wrong, and all I could think about was that adorable look on your face when you walked out on me." His face seemed to meld into a sad daze, he looked like this really pained him.

  "I don't think I can ever trust you again." I said, tears brimming my eyes as one began to slide down my cheek. He put his hand on my cheek wiping away the tear that had slipped, "two years meant nothing to you Ry?" I asked, tingling from his touch.

  "Summer, I would jump off a cliff if you asked me to, I am truly so sorry and it was stupid of me to lie to you and cheat but I was drunk and I know that doesn't cover for what I did but without you I feel like I'm breaking into pieces and I can't handle it. I love you Summer." He breathed his confession, his lips inching closer. I looked at his eyes, he seemed so genuine and I wanted to forgive him but I needed time to process what he'd just said. He loved me?

  "Take me back, please Summer, and I'll spend the rest of eternity trying to make it up to you." He closed the distance between us with a soft compassionate kiss. Butterflies began fluttering in my stomach and my heart seemed to go on a rampage. These feelings couldn't go away so soon, I knew they wouldn't be gone anytime soon.

  I pulled away slowly, "you hurt me so bad Ryder King, but, I. . ." I began as my eyes spotted a familiar light brown haired figure jogging with a small bag in his hand, Aiden, "I have to go." I finished. Running out of his arms and following behind Aiden.

  Why was he running? Maybe he wanted the exercise, not like he needed it. I thought we were supposed to eat inside, together.

  Aiden Black

  "That'll be $9.75" the cashier said as I handed her a twenty.

  "Keep the change." I winked taking the small bag of two overpriced donuts in my hand. I turned to look for Summer where I'd left her.

  Nowhere in sight. I sighed in frustration, she never stayed where she was told. I looked around the crowded café in case she'd decided to sit with someone else. I couldn't find her anywhere.

  Maybe she left. I held the small bag in my hand and opened the door, my eyes landed on her soft pink cheeks and shut eyelids. Found her.

  My gaze shifted from her face to the one directly connected to it, Ryder King. I stared at them, confusion killing me inside. Why was Summer so forgiving? Or maybe he was mouth raping her.

  Her eyes shut as he kissed her. I felt my heart sink for a second as I stared at them wondering if anyone has ever watched me kiss someone before.

  Probably, I concluded, I've kissed a lot of girls in my day, no doubt someone had watched me in lust. Which I'm not doing now, by the way. I watched as she began to pull back. I suddenly wished I could trade places with Ryder and kill the guy at the same time.

  I began jogging back home, I couldn't stand watching this. More food for me, I guess. />
  Chapter 11: Butterflies

  Aiden Black

  "Aiden!" I heard her shout behind me as I slowed down. It was a bit immature of me to run, but who said I had to be mature?

  "Can I help you?" I smirked, turning around as my eyes landed on hers, I suddenly felt hurt. What the hell is wrong with me? I need to see a doctor.

  "Yeah, where are you going?" She raised a brow approaching me, seemingly out of breath, clutching her knee. I held back a laugh.

  "I couldn't find you so I thought you were our home." I lied, meaning to say I saw you kissing that cheating asshole, why the hell did you do that?

  "I was right outside, you didn't see me?" She smiled taking the bag out of my hand, "Ooh donuts!"

  "No, I guess I missed you over Ryder's big head, what the hell were you thinking?!" I said watching her stare at me with innocent eyes as she took a bite out of the jelly donut.

  "So you did see me." She said spilling jelly on her face.

  "You've got a little something." I said, my hand reaching for her lip as I slowly wiped away the jelly. The lips are the most sensitive part of the body, by mine touching hers would make her go on overdrive.

  "Thanks." She said, taking another bite of her donut. "So I was wondering if I could go home now. With my mom being home and all?"

  "Why would you want to do that, when all the fun is just starting?" I smirked, "besides, I'm going to the Luzerne later today, wondering if you wanted to join me?"

  "No. No way. Never, I am not going to a strip club with you. " She said, pointing her finger at my chest.

  "What's wrong with going with me. I'm a great guy, and not one who cheats on his girlfriend." I said.

  "Because you've never had a girlfriend." She laughed as my eyes darkened in desire, "that is why you have your strip club, right? No feelings no troubles, that's the Aiden way."

  "Always works." I smirked as she gave me a serious look.

  "You can't keep pushing away your feelings, you've got to put yourself out there and find a girl willing to date you." She poked my chest again as I took out my donut and began eating it. A girl willing to date me? Girls throw themselves at me, I wouldn't have to find one willing because they all are. I reasoned. But at the moment, I only had eyes for one girl.