A Season of Firsts

Chapter 6 - The Truth

Before December 31st

AIDEN

There are more people than I thought there would be at Adrianne's party. It's like almost the whole school is here. Even though she has a huge house, it's still packed, and being squashed up against so many different people as I walk through the crowds is claustrophobic.

I just need to find Emma, then I'm planning to ask her if she wants to get out of here and go someplace else. Of course, we first need to have a real conversation together. I'm hoping I make a good second impression, and that she doesn't think I'm a weirdo for asking her to hang out with me straight away.

"Aiden!"

Just my luck. In a sparkling turquoise dress, Adrianne is flouncing over to me.  I thought I could slip by unnoticed, but apparently not.

"It's great to see you here," she smiles and flutters her eyelashes.

I return the smile as I look down at her, but my heart isn't in it. Now I'm going to have to get out of this.

"Do you want something to drink?" she asks.

"Uh, no thank you," I say, eyeing first the beer in her hand and then other bottles of alcohol on the table. I don't drink, even though I have had the opportunity to on several occasions like now.

My parents have taught me from young that to drink a little now and then when you're old enough is alright, but underage drinking while I'm not responsible enough could ruin a lot of things for me. I can see Adrianne swaying a little bit. I wonder how many drinks she has already had and where her parents are.

"Awh c'mon," her voice slurs slightly. "Have a bit of fun with me."

I shake my head and try to grin, but it feels like a grimace. She grabs my arm and starts pulling me towards where there is a small clearing near the table of booze.

"Fine, don't drink. But tell me you know how to dance?" She gazes up at me with brown puppy dog eyes.

"I might." I say. Electronic music, the kind of music I hate, is blasting loudly and a bunch of other kids are dancing around the place.

"Stop playing hard to get," she giggles, putting her arms around my neck. "Shall we dance?"

"Adrianne, I think you're drunk...I don't know if- I mean, I don't think-"

"Shhh." A slender, manicured finger is placed on my lips, closing them. "Just dance."

"I've got to go find someone." Having her only inches away from me is dangerous, I can feel that the smell of her perfume and her closeness is beginning to work on me. I know it's my own fault, I got myself into this sticky situation. And now I really have to get out of it. I back off from her. "I'm sorry, Adrianne, but I don't like you in that way."

First surprise clouds her features, then realization as it finally gets through to her in her drunken state, and then anger, flashing in her dark eyes.

"You're just another player." she says, calmly at first. But it turns to shrieking with her next words. "Go away! Get out of here!"

She tries to shove me backwards and becomes more frustrated when she can't, she's not strong enough. "I hate you!" she screams. People are looking at us now.

"I'm sorry." I say quietly.

"No, you're not." She pierces me with a cold stare. "Get out. Now!"

"Adrianne, girl, come on. Let's go get you some water." Another girl steps out of the crowd of onlookers to put her arms around Adrianne. She's wearing a red dress and her long golden hair hangs loose. She glares at me as she pulls Adrianne away.

I'd know those blue eyes anywhere.

They belong to Emma.

~ ~ ~

EMMA

As soon as I get home, all I want to do is lay on my bed and cry.

After finally getting Adrianne to calm down and watching her fall asleep in her own bed, I left the party. Now, in my own room, I have time to think things through, and I don't like what I'm feeling.

I feel stupid. Regretful that I could even think that Aiden was different. Everyone heard Adrianne. He's a player.

I know I've only got myself to thank for getting my hopes up, for expecting something. I feel tears brimming but I won't let them fall. I will not cry over a boy I do not even know.

Suddenly there's a loud tap on my window that makes me jump. What on earth? Probably just something that fell off the roof.
But no. There's a thud again, louder this time. Everyone else in the house is asleep, so it can't be Patty, Carpenter or Eddie. Or my parents.

Slowly I make my way over to the window to draw the curtain back and peer out. I gasp and fall back in shock at what I see. The curtain falls back in place as I land with a thump on the ground.

It's Aiden. At my house. How did he get here? Did he follow me?

I get up to open the curtain again. He's mouthing the words 'come outside' at me. All of a sudden, I'm angry. Angrier than I have reason to be, but it feels so right to be angry with him. I leave my room and storm down the hall to the front door. I unlock it and stomp outside to find him still waiting outside my window.

"You!" I yell. His head swivels from facing the window to meet my stare. "You are nothing but a conniving, sneaky, mean boy, who hurt one of my friends. I don't know why I even liked you!" As soon as the words come out, I clamp a hand over my mouth.

His eyes look startled. And at the same time...pleased? "You like me?" he asks.

"Liked you. Past tense." I say crossly. I'm cross with him because of who he has turned out to be, and cross with myself for letting something like that slip out. "Now go away. What did you do, follow me? Are you a stalker, too?"

He looks me up and down, slowly. I realize I'm in a flimsy blue tank top and my favourite checked pyjama pants. Not exactly what I would have wanted him to see me in a few hours ago. But I don't care right now. And I'm not afraid. I've been afraid of boys for a while now, and I'm unsure as to why I'm not with him, but I like the new confidence.
When he doesn't answer, I walk over to him and prod a finger in his chest, hating that I have to lift my face to meet his gaze.

"Leave. Now."

As he looks down at me, I wish I hadn't come closer. The moonlight is doing strange things to his blue eyes, making them shimmer and dance.
In one swift movement, he grabs my hand in his.

"It's not what you think," he says.

I try to wrench my hand away and fail. His grip is strong. "Oh really? Next thing you're going to tell me is that you're a nice guy and you actually care about Adrianne, right?"

"No," he states calmly. "I'm going to tell you the truth, though."

"Let go of me."

"Not until you hear me out."

I frown and lift my chin defiantly. "Why should I?"

"Because it's important," he returns in a tone just as taut.

I try to pull away again.

"I did it because of you, okay?" he says.

"Me? What do I have to do with you and Adrianne?"

"I turned her away because of you."

"Me?" I repeat again and it comes out as a squeak.

Aiden laughs at my confused face. "Yes. You. I don't feel that way about Adrianne, but I think I do about you." He must see the disbelief, because he continues. "I've never had a girlfriend, I'm no player. I'll be honest, it was cruel of me to use Adrianne just to get invited to the party, but I had to see you."

I just gape at him. "You're for real?"

"Never been more real." Gently he lowers my hand to my side and releases it. "Do you believe me? I'm sorry I made you upset. I want to start over. I want to get to know you properly, Emma Rayburn."