Chapter 4 A Dangerous Match

• OLIVIA
• Aiden's arm loosens around my waist. I almost trip as I move away from him. My sister just caught me almost kissing her best friend. In our fucking house.
• "Olivia. Go to your room." Sarah's high pitched voice echoes through the living room.
• She is still standing by the staircase.
• I nod. I avoid my sister's gaze as I walk past her with my head bowed in shame. I know how she acts when she is angry. Sarah can destroy any fucking thing when she is mad. She is a force to be reckoned with when she is upset.
• Aiden must know that too. He has seen her blow up before.
• "What do you think you are doing, Blacksmith? How dare you even consider messing around with my sister? She is my sister, for heaven's sake." Sarah's voice rings in my ears.
• I enter my room and sit on my bed.
• "She is only eighteen. You are not supposed to try doing shit with her." Sarah continues. Her tone is still shrill and angry.
• I roll my eyes. Saying my age is unnecessary. As if she does not tease me for not having my first kiss yet. Whenever she is annoyed at me or I get on her nerves, she throws that in my face. The fact that I have never been kissed or been in a relationship.
• But that is not why I kissed Aiden. I was just caught up in the moment. I do not even know what is going on with me right now.
• For a moment, I hear nothing from Sarah. Only silence. I look out the window and watch Aiden's car pull out of the driveway.
• I swallow hard. I do not want to believe that what happened could have caused a misunderstanding between them. While I might be the cause, I do not want to think about it.
• My door creaks open with an ominous groan. I know without looking that it is Sarah. Who else would barge into my room without knocking? I prop myself against the headboard and prepare for whatever is about to happen.
• "If I had not interrupted you, you would have kissed Aiden Blacksmith." Sarah hisses from beside my bedside table.
• I take a deep breath. "I know." I murmur.
• She whips around to face me. Her voice is sharp. "What were you thinking? How could you even consider doing something like that?"
• I swallow hard. I know this moment. The moment when it is best to stay quiet and let her finish.
• Sarah's rant continues when I do not respond. "I would not care if you were interested in any other guy. But Aiden? Seriously? He is my best friend. He is off-limits for you."
• I cannot help but glare at her. So she does not care if I end up with some random guy. But Aiden is out of the question because of their friendship? What kind of logic is that?
• "Stop looking at me like that." She snaps. "I have always said this and I will say it again. I do not want you around Aiden. Stay away from him."
• With that, she walks out of my room.
• My eyes blink rapidly. My body is trying to catch up with my racing thoughts. Sarah said I should stay away from her best friend. Is that not what I have been doing? Is that not the reason I have never had a chance to speak with Aiden before today?
• Damn. This is trash.
• I lay down in bed and close my eyes. I will myself to fall asleep and escape from the confusing thoughts swirling in my head. I have always turned to reading books to get through tough times. But right now, I am too frazzled to read.
• Just as I am about to drift off, my phone buzzes on the nightstand. I grab it. I know it will be a text from Ashley. Besides her, I do not have many friends these days. I have not kept up with my high school friends.
• Ashley's message reads: The party is tomorrow night, bitch. What do you think?
• Tomorrow night is Friday. Maybe a party will not be a bad idea after all. Maybe it will be a good distraction.
• I text back "okay" and set my phone down. I have had a long day. I just want to sleep and forget about everything that happened.
• I stand in front of the full-length mirror in Ashley's room. I tug at the hem of my skirt. It rides up again. I tug it down. It feels like an endless battle.
• "Do not even bother." Ashley pauses from applying makeup. "Can you not see it is a mini skirt? The material is stretchy."
• I spin around and fix her with a puzzled look. "Maybe I should just wear my boyfriend jeans instead."
• "No way, bitch." She snaps at me with a deadly glare. "Can you not see how hot you look in this?"
• I turn back to the mirror and take in my reflection. I do look different. My skin is more exposed. My curves are accentuated by the form-fitting outfit. I am wearing a crop top and a mini skirt that Ashley chose for me. She insisted I should not wear the clothes I originally planned. She said I would look like a goody two shoes.
• I might be a bit of a goody two shoes. But that does not mean I have to dress like that all the time. This new outfit gives me a confidence boost. I feel like I can fit in at the party instead of feeling out of place. If I am willing to try something new by going to the party, I might as well try something new with my outfit too.
• "Maybe you should put on some makeup too." Ashley's voice jerks me out of my thoughts.
• I lift my shoulder in a half shrug. "I am fine with just a bit of lip gloss."
• I have never been a big fan of makeup. I like my natural look. I have always gotten compliments on my appearance. I might be a bit of an introvert, but I know I am beautiful. Sarah and I both got our looks from our mother.
• Within a few minutes, we are ready to head to the party in Ashley's car. My car is still in the repair shop.
• Loud music blares from the speakers. Different scents of perfume mix with the heady smell of sweat. Whiffs of alcohol and cigarette smoke. Couples making out in the corners.
• So this is what makes a college party. Will I be able to survive this night? What am I going to do?
• I spot a few familiar faces. People I recognize from campus but do not normally speak to. They are mostly freshmen. But there are a few sophomores too. I even see some of my sister's friends. Despite knowing a few people here, I know my sister is not one of them. She is at home tonight.
• "Oh damn. There are some hot guys here." Ashley purrs into my ear and giggles.
• I heave a sigh of relief. With Ashley by my side, I am sure I can make it through this party. She is definitely more used to this scene than I am.
• "I do not see any cute guys here." I say. I know fully well it is not true. The bad boys of campus are all gathered in one place. They are even hotter than usual.
• "You always have such different tastes." She blurts out. "Come on. Let us get a drink."
• Ashley grabs my hand and tugs me over to the bar. It is fully stocked with a wide selection of alcoholic beverages. It is not like I have never had alcohol before. Tonight is a special occasion. My first time going to a college party. Maybe just a drink or two to loosen up. I am not usually one for parties. I am not sure what the rest of the night will hold.
• "Hey girls."
• A male voice interrupts my thoughts. I look up and see a handsome guy smiling down at us.
• "What is up?" Ashley asks and flashes him a smile.
• "You ladies want to play a game?" He probes. His smile grows wider.
• "What game?" I find myself asking before I can stop myself.
• "Seven minutes in heaven." The guy answers me.
• "Sure." Ashley squeals.
• I can already tell she is going to drag me along for the ride. Before I can object, she already has my wrist.
• The guy leads us into a small room. The only furniture is couches. I feel everyone's eyes burning into me. I shrink down in my seat and wish I could hide. I am so grateful to have Ashley at my side. She gives my shoulder a squeeze. We sit on the couch. I look down at the floor. I do not want to meet anyone's eyes.
• Seven minutes in heaven.
• I know the game. Everyone writes their names on slips of paper. The papers go into a bowl. One person draws a name from the bowl and spends seven minutes alone in a private room with the person whose name they picked. It is a silly game. But it seems like a lot of fun. Ashley is already writing down our names without a care in the world. I am not sure if I am nervous or excited.
• The game begins. I watch as person after person comes out of the private room. Their lips are swollen. Their clothes are rumpled. It is pretty clear what is going on in that room. What else do I expect in a room full of horny teenagers playing a silly party game?
• "Aiden is here." Ashley whispers in my ear.
• My heart flutters. I have not seen him since the night we nearly kissed.
• I look up. There he is. He is laughing with his friends. He has a pretty blonde sitting on his lap.
• I ball my hands into fists and shoot daggers at them with my eyes. Seriously. Get a room, guys.
• "Aiden. Come get a name." The guy hosting the game tells him.
• Aiden gets up and walks over to the bowl. He reaches inside. His eyes scan the room as he does. I watch him take a slip of paper from the bowl.
• All of a sudden, his eyes lock with mine for just a moment. I feel my heart pounding in my chest. He gives me a small smile before looking down at the paper in his hand.
• His brows furrow. His eyes meet mine again. His gaze lingers on me for a long moment. His brown eyes are intense. I feel like I cannot look away. He breaks eye contact and gives the paper to the host.
• The host reads the name aloud. "Aiden and Olivia."