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The music being played at the party location could be heard down the street it was on. I don't know how they could even have this party without neighbors complaining. They must be used to it or something.

Kelly squealed once the house came into view. "I'm so excited!"

I'm not.

At least I didn't have to wear a dress. But these jeggings were like skin tight on me and this shirt is exposing my shoulders, which isn't really me. I didn't feel like me right now.

We pulled into a space between two cars about two houses away and got out. Kelly grabbed my arm and smiled. "You'll have fun Riley. I promise."

"Have you ever been to a party before?" I asked her.

She smirked. "Once or twice. But don't tell Ryan or Jenna. They'd kill me if they found out I was here."

Kelly is only sixteen, two years younger than me, and she's already been to her first party.

We walked up to the house and entered without even knocking on the door. This definitely isn't a good idea!

The inside of the house was packed with bodies. People were dancing in a certain area with the music blaring next to them. Others had drinks in their hands and were talking to their friends. Laughter was heard everywhere.

I noticed a small blonde girl at the top of a staircase with a drink in her hands. She was swaying as she stood there and laughed at something a guy told her. She handed her drink over to him and nodded. That was when she lifted her shirt and exposed her chest to everyone in view.

I turned away and shook my head. She'd regret that tomorrow when she finds out it's all over the internet.

Kelly looked at me and grinned. "You want a drink?"

"Are you going to drink alcohol?" I asked her, raising my eyebrow. "You're only sixteen."

She rolled her eyes. "Are you going to act like my mother all night? Or are you actually going to let loose and just have fun?"

How is getting drunk and acting like a moron fun? "I'll get one later. You go ahead." I told her so she wouldn't get mad at me. Of course I won't actually get a drink.

She went off with some other girl in a different direction and I sighed. Well, now what do I do?

I walked towards a wall where no one was standing. I stood out of the way of everyone and tried to make myself invisible. I had a feeling I was not going to enjoy tonight.

A guy with short brown hair walked up to me. I noticed his green eyes right away. He offered me a smile. "Hey."

I frowned a bit. "Hey." I looked in another direction, hoping he'd get the hint that I didn't want to talk to him. But he didn't.

"Do you want a drink?" He asked as he stood next to me.

I didn't look at him. "My friend went to get me one." I lied.

"Are you sure?" He asked.

I squinted my eyes at him. "Yes, I'm sure."

"So what's your name cutie?"

Oh god, please help me.

"Riley." I answered simply.

He held out his hand. "I'm Lucas."

I stared at his hand before reluctantly taking it.

"So, are you having a good time?" He asked me. Trying to make conversation, are we?

"Oh yeah. I'm having a great time." I said sarcastically. I suddenly have a boost of confidence in me and I turn my whole body towards him.

He chuckled. "You're not like most girls are you?"

"What do you mean?" I asked, getting caught off guard.

"You aren't drinking anything, you aren't dressed like a slut, and you are definitely trying to get rid of me right now." He said, smiling at the end of his sentence.

I turned my head and took in his appearance. He had on a dark green t-shirt that clung to his body, his dark jeans hung at his hips, and he had on some black shoes.

"Checking me out now, are we?" He asked me, smirking.

"Cocky, are we?" I mimicked him. Where did this boost of confidence come from?

Lucas nodded. "Nope. Definitely not like most girls."

We fell into an awkward silence. I wouldn't say it was completely silent though, with the music and people trying to shout over the music.

"What did you say your last name was?" Lucas asked me after a while.

"I didn't say." I looked at him. "But its Summers."

He raised his eyebrows. "Is Carol Summers your mom?"

"Yeah, it is." I said slowly. How does he know my mom? "Why?"

"Your mom works with my mom, Catherine Thompson." He said, matter-of-factly.

I can remember my mom mentioning a friend from work named Catherine. They go out for drinks along with Anna sometimes.

"I heard your mom saying something about you one time and she said your name." Lucas shrugged. Then he smiled. "I promise I'm not a stalker or anything."

I chuckled. "Well, thanks for letting me know." Talking to him wasn't as bad now.

"Hey your mom is friends with Anna Dixon, right?" he asked me. I nodded. "Are you going to her wedding that's coming up pretty soon?"

I rolled my eyes. "Yeah. I'm actually a bridesmaid."

"No shit." Lucas grinned. "Anna actually asked me yesterday to be a groomsman since some other dude got kicked out of the wedding."

Wait, is he talking about Aiden?

"RILEY!" Someone shouted behind me. I turned and saw Kelly making her way towards me. She had a red cup in her hands and started giggling. "Riley, where have you been? I've been looking for you!"

She was obviously tipsy already.

"I've been standing right here the whole time." I told her, rolling my eyes. I'm going to end up babysitting her tonight.

Her eyes drifted towards Lucas. "Hey! I know you!" She pointed at him. Then she looked at me. "Have you been talking to him?"

I nodded. "Um, yeah?"

She grinned from ear to ear. "Way to go Riley! You're actually socializing with a guy! I'm so proud of you!" she yelled. "And with an attractive guy too! I'll leave you two to continue talking." She giggled then walked away.

I smacked my forehead and groaned. "Oh my gosh."

"That wasn't Anna's daughter...was it...?" Lucas asked slowly.

I nodded. "Yeah, it was. I'll probably end up taking care of her later on tonight."

"Isn't she only like, sixteen?" Once again, I nodded. "She does know her brother is here, right?"

"Well, if Ryan sees her she's dead meat." I said to him.

"You know Ryan?"

"Vaguely."

Lucas looked around and then back at me. "You wanna dance?"

"Not really."

He smiled at me. "You know you do."

I shook my head. "I'm fine right here. But if you want to go dance, then don't let me stop you."

He shook his head. "Nah, I'll be okay. Besides, I kind of like your company."

Is this flirting?

"You're funny." I scoffed. I wonder if Aiden cares that this guy is replacing him. "So, you're going to be in Anna's wedding too?"

He nodded. "Yeah. Apparently, the groom's son got kicked out of the wedding and Ryan is now the best man."

Ryan didn't tell me that when we talked. "Interesting." I said simply.

***

It was close to midnight when I decided to look around for Kelly. I had no idea how we would get home since one of her friends drove us here. We really should have thought this through a little better.

Lucas had stayed by my side this whole time. I even let him get me a drink, but I had to watch him do it. I told him no alcohol, and he followed through with it. He was now helping me look for her.

"I have no idea where she is, or how we'll get home..." I trailed off, feeling frustrated.

Lucas put his arm around me. "We'll find her soon, don't worry."

I wiggled out from his grasp and looked around. If something happens to Kelly, I'll never forgive myself.

"Led Zeppelin girl?"

I whirled around and found Aiden leaning against the wall with a red cup in his hands. He eyed me suspiciously. "What the hell are you doing here? This definitely isn't your scene."

"Maybe I wanted a change in scenery." I snapped at him. I still remember when he was very rude to me when we talked on the phone that one time.

He smirked then his eyes landed on Lucas. "And who's this? Your boyfriend?"

"He is not my boyfriend. He is a friend." I frowned at Aiden. "What are you doing here? I thought you were cowering away from your dad." Once I said that, I instantly regretted it. I didn't mean for it to come out as harshly as it did.

"Cowering?" He asked, taking a step towards me. "Princess, I am not a coward. I'm fucking amazing."

That made no sense.

"Aiden? What are you doing here?" Ryan's voice asked next to me. I looked at him and he acknowledged me.

"I'm here to party." Aiden put his hands up. "Seems to be the only thing I can do nowadays."

"You're dad has been worried about you." Ryan told him.

"I told him." I said to Ryan. "He doesn't want to listen to anybody."

Aiden looked angrily at me. "How about you mind your own fucking business?"

"Hey man, she didn't do anything to you." Lucas came to my defense, even though I didn't need his input.

Aiden looked at Lucas. "Was I talking to you bitch?"

Ryan stepped in front of Aiden. "Aiden, you need to calm down."

"No! This piece of shit needs to keep his fucking mouth shut!" Aiden exclaimed.

"Do you have to be so dramatic?" I asked Aiden, as I rolled my eyes.

"Shut the fuck up Riley." Aiden snapped at me.

Lucas stepped in front of me this time. "I suggest you back off man. You don't need to be talking like that in front of a girl."

Aiden shoved Ryan out of the way and swung at Lucas. Before I could register what was going on, Lucas and Aiden were punching each other right and left on the floor. Ryan and another guy were trying to pry them off of each other.

I felt someone tug on my arm and found that it was Kelly. She looked seriously drunk.

Ryan finally managed to get Lucas off of Aiden and he put some distance between them. Once Kelly saw Ryan, she hid behind me. But I knew that wouldn't work. Ryan yelled at Aiden, who had a black eye, a cut above his eyebrow, and his knuckles were red. As for Lucas, he only had a small cut under his eye.

"Aiden, you're coming with me." Ryan said with authority in his voice. He noticed Kelly standing behind me. "Kelly, I can see you."

"No you can't." She muttered into my shirt. Ryan rolled his eyes then looked at me. "You two are coming with me too."

Lucas spoke up. "I can take them home."

"You've done enough for tonight." Ryan said to him. "I'll take them."

***

It was decided that Ryan would take Kelly home so she wouldn't get into any more trouble and I'd have to take Aiden in. I was completely against the idea, but I lost in the end. My mom had texted me saying that I probably wouldn't see her until about eight in the morning.

And that is how we ended up here with Aiden holding ice to his face while I argued with him.

"This is your fault." I said to him angrily. "We were all doing fine until you decided to show up and ruin things by getting into a petty fight." I was actually enjoying myself with Lucas. He wasn't trying too hard to flirt with me, and when he did it was mild. He was good company.

"Seems like the story of my life right now. Life is a party for me until I go and fuck things up." He shook his head.

I sighed. "I understand that you're going through a rough time right now, but you don't need to-"

"To what? Mess everything up for everyone?" He asked angrily. "Somehow I always do. And I don't need your sympathy. How do you know I'm going through a rough time right now?"

"Why else would you run away from home?" I asked him. "In all honesty Aiden, that is a cowardly thing to do. You're basically running from whatever it is that is upsetting you instead of facing it."

He gave me a cold hard stare. I knew I was right about what I said and he knew it too. "This is how I deal with it." He said lowly. "I'm not a coward."

"Whatever." I said, getting up from the couch. I walked to our linen closet and grabbed two blankets and a pillow. I set them down on the couch next to him. "Here. Just so you know, my mom will be here about eight in the morning. And if you need any Band-Aids for your injuries, they're in the hall bathroom right there. There's a box on the counter of them."

With that being said, I ran upstairs and changed into my pajamas. Once my head hit the pillow, I fell into a deep sleep.

***

I woke up with a start the next morning. I blinked repeatedly until I could read the time on the clock near my bed.

It was seven thirty in the morning.

I yawned then stretched and sat up in bed. I definitely needed more sleep considering I didn't go to sleep until about one in the morning.

Events from last night came rushing back into my mind and I got out of bed. I walked to my dresser and found a small folded white piece of paper sitting by my brush. I grabbed the paper and opened it slowly.

Thanks for the help last night. –A

A small smile broke out on my lips when I read this and what was also below it.

P.S. you look cute when you sleep.

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