London’s POV:

“Dude you killed him!” Ashton screams frantically as we all wait for Aiden to make some move to let us know he’ll be alright. Okay, so I may have gone a bit far with the whole ‘beating him until unconscious’ thing but he drugged me. But, what if I did kill him? Suddenly, that possibility starts to dawn on me and I feel horrible.

“Oh my God, he can’t be dead,” I say. “No, he’s not dead. He just can’t be. I can’t ruin my life for that bastard! I need some water, I’m going to the kitchen,” I begin to leave the room.

“I’ll go with her and make sure she’s okay,” I hear Avery say before I hear her footsteps behind me. Once we make it downstairs to the living room I turn to face Avery and find all girls there.

“I have to get out of here,” I tell them and they nod. What if something bad happens to Aiden? Could I live with the guilt? I have to decide fight or flight?

“Okay, Katya do you have your car?” I ask her. “Cool, get it ready and hurry the guys will probably be down any minute now,” I tell her after she nods. The four girls leave Avery and I behind.

“Don’t you think we should stay? I mean I get it they drugged us but they were only trying to help in a totally crazy way but help nevertheless,” she elaborates. I think about what she’s saying and she may be right but I just can’t stand them.

“I, fine, we’ll stay. Go let the girls know they can just go home and I’m going to go see if Aiden woke up yet,” she nods and I make my way upstairs. When I arrive to the room I had slept in the guys had already placed Aiden on the bed. Asher was cleaning his face with what I’m guessing is an antiseptic wipe.

“Here let me do that,” I say as I make my way to the bed next to Aiden. I motion for Asher to move aside which he does while all of the guys look at me carefully, as if measuring my movements. I begin to clean the remaining blood of his face.

“Do you have some ointment for the swelling?” I ask Asher. He nods and leaves to get it and I continue to sit on the bed next to Aiden. He looks so peaceful sleeping or knocked out, whatever.

“You’re not trying to finish him off are you?” Ashton asks. The other guys look at me expectantly as if that’s what they’re expecting from me. I roll my eyes.

“No, I’ll wait for him to be conscious to do that,” I tell them.

“Can you guys go help the girls set up they’re going to be staying since they said ‘no way in hell are we leaving Avery and London with a group of psychos,’” Asher explains when he comes back in and hands me the ointment. The guys leave but Asher stays behind watching me, calculating or just staring, I don’t know. I apply the ointment to Aiden’s bruises which I can already see forming. I let out a sigh of relief when he subconsciously winces. I begin to notice how very well defined his face is, from his jaw to his nose, everything. I didn’t notice I began to touch his face lightly with my fingers.

“He really likes you, you know,” Asher tells me from the corner in the room where he was standing. He begins to move closer. “Ever since he saw you at the park when we were eight he hasn’t had eyes for any other girl. You know that’s why he’s supposed to be the ‘unattainable’ one of the group because supposedly he thinks no girl is good enough for him. When in truth there’s no other girl for him but you,” he informs me when he sits in front of me on the chair next to the bed.

“Why don’t you want anybody to care for you?” he asks when I shake my head adamant to believe what he’s saying.

“It’s not that I don’t want anyone to care about me it’s just that they don’t,” I tell him.

“No, because the guys and I have always looked after you, while you were oblivious to that Avery wasn’t and I’m guessing she didn’t tell you,” I say nothing not looking at anything in particular. “I know you’re hiding something I don’t know what it is but whatever it was it left you like this. Give Aiden a chance this guy has been whipped since the moment he saw you, can’t you do that?” he asks.

“Look, I’m pretty sure Aiden’s a really nice guy but I just can’t let myself trust anyone, okay? He can get over this and find someone who’s actually worth it, but I can assure that person is not me,” I say looking him in the eye.

“Why do you believe that? Look had it been any other girl I’d agree with you but you are not like the others. So, what is it that’s making you think this? Huh, were you in an abusive relationship or something?” he asks.

“You seriously think I would let someone lay their hands on me?” I deadpan.

“I don’t know maybe that’s where the tough attitude comes from? Maybe you want people to think you’re a bitch, is that it? Or are you really a bitch? Is that it, if so please let me know so I can knock some sense into my best friend and let him forget about this cold hearted bitch,” he sneers getting tired of the secrets I’m guessing. I don’t know why but I actually feel a pang in my chest when he says these things. All this time he’s been like an overprotective brother towards me and I’ve treated him badly.

“Screw you! You don’t know anything about why I am the way I am. If I were you I’d shut up before you say something you regret,” I spit the words in his face. I didn’t realize I stood up and got in front of him.

“Well why don’t you enlighten me?” he waits but gets no answer which makes him mad. “See you are just a cold hearted bitch, you’re just afraid to say it out loud. Come on say it, it’s not that hard.”

“Shut up!” I scream as I backhand him. I would’ve punched him but I can’t think rationally with all this anger and pain that’s running through my veins. “You know what I’m just going to leave tell Aiden I’m sorry and to stop coming after me and look for someone better,” I say calmly at a stunned Asher. I need to get out of here before the tears fall down I can feel the familiar sting in my eyes.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have pushed you like that. I just don’t want Aiden to get hurt he’s like my brother,” he apologizes.

“Don’t apologize and if you don’t want Aiden to get hurt keep him away from me,” I begin to leave but in a flash he’s blocking the door.

“No, give him a chance or at least tell me why you act this way,” he demands.

“None of your business now get the fuck out my way,” I say harshly, maybe this way he’ll understand.

“Ugh, I feel like I’ve been hit by a bulldozer,” we hear Aiden groan as he wakes up. Whew, save by the bastard. I smirk at Asher showing him I won this battle.

“This isn’t over,” he whispers lowly so that only I can hear. I retort with a challenging look that says ‘bring it on’ and this is the beginning of what I know is going to be war. I quickly make my way to Aiden’s bed and sit next to him. “Great, now I’m having hallucinations,” he says when I sit next to him. I roll my eyes not able to hide the smile that makes its way to my face. “Well at least hallucination London smiles,” he thinks out loud and I hear Asher snort.

“I’m not a hallucination dumbass,” I tell him. At first he looks confused and then he smiles so brightly I’m almost blinded.

“You came to see me,” he states not questions.

“Did I give you brain damage since I am the one that did this to you,” I tell him.

“Details, details,” he waves his hand as if to wave it off. “Point is you’re here,” he says giving me another smile.

“I’m also here,” Asher states.

“Oh yeah, can you leave London and I alone?”

“Actually I was just leaving. Glad to see you’re okay Aiden, goodbye Asher,” I get up and try to leave but I’m stopped by an iron grip on my wrist.

“Don’t leave please, just stay today?” Aiden asks me. He’s doing this thing with his eyes that makes it hard for me to say no. Snap out of it London, you need to leave.

“Fine, I’ll stay,” I give in. Asher gives me a calculating gaze that has me squirming.

“Asher, you’re making London uncomfortable,” Aiden pipes in.

“How?” Asher shrugs.

“Hey, I’m trying to be nice here for once,” I elaborate. Asher gives me one last glance before turning and leaving, after he’s gone I sit down on the chair he vacated earlier. It’s quiet for a while. I mean what am I supposed to say to someone whom I don’t even consider an acquaintance. I was afraid of having to break the awkward, well awkward for me, silence but he beats me to it.

“So, I didn’t know you packed quite the punch there,” he says with what looks like admiration.

“I don’t get you,” I say and explain, “I pummel you to a pulp and you look at me with what admiration? Are you sure everything’s alright up there, you know in your brain?” I question seriously.

“You know, had it been anyone I would’ve had the guys take care of it or wait till I’m healed and take care of it myself but it was you. You’re the only exception,” he says with this smile that’s confusing the crap out of me.

“You should probably get some sleep,” I tell him trying to change the subject.

“I should but you and I don’t like to follow the rules,” he says with that cocky smile he uses to get what he wants. I shake my head at his behavior just minutes ago he was knocked unconscious and now here he is joking around.

“What should we do then?”

“I know let’s get to know each other,” he suggests.

“Yeah, I don’t think so plus don’t you stalkers know everything there is?”

“No, there are some things even we can’t figure out,” he says with an eye roll. This conversation is steering towards a dangerous zone and I need to divert it.

“How are you feeling?” I think he notices what I’m doing but doesn’t comment on it. At least he’s not that nosy like Asher. By the way, I’m going to have to avoid being left alone with Asher.

“I’m fine, I’m strong and I think I deserved it. But, why did you freak out so much in the car?” I give him an ‘are you serious’ look.

“Dude, you drugged me, how could I not freak out?” he seems to think this over and motions me to sit next to him on the bed. I just sit there looking at him without moving.

“I’m not going to do anything, can you just move closer to me?” again with the eyes, it’s like I’m in a trance and I move without directing my body. When I’m a couple of steps close he grabs my wrist and pulls me down, and I land with an ‘oomph’. I’m land directly in front of him, very close, too close for comfort. I try to tell my body to move away but it won’t listen, my eyes are glued to those sky blue ones that look at me with such intensity it’s frightening.

“Can you forgive me?” he asks pleadingly. There’s a slight tremor in his voice, if I hadn’t been so close I wouldn’t have caught it.

“Why do you try so hard?” I ask his question left unanswered. He actually seems confused with this new interrogation.

“What do you mean?”

“You’re going to extreme measures to get into my pants and you act like you actually care,” I say what’s been on my mind for quite some time. His eyes flash with anger but it’s replaced with hurt, why?

“I’m not trying to ‘get in your pants’ as you put it, you do know those rumors aren’t true? I don’t know, I actually care about you and I can’t help who my heart chose now can I?” he says this with such honesty it’s driving me to the edge of insanity. How can he say those things so carelessly? As if he actually believes that? I shake my head, it’s not true no one cares, I repeat my lifelong mantra.

“No, don’t say that. It’s not true, you’re just confused and I don’t want you to get hurt because of me,” I plead.

“Why do you runaway?” he smiles ruefully.

“Because the only person that cares and I trust is Avery, I can’t trust anyone else. Plus, I’m not good enough for you, you’re actually a better person than the monster I created you to be,” I answer not needing him to elaborate what he meant. I even give him a smile at the end, see I can be civil.

“Can you stay tonight?” he asks tiredly, I nod.

“Yes, I’ll go set up another room for Avery and I,” I move to get up but I’m halted.

“No,” he says firmly. “Can you stay with me tonight, please?” he looks like a little child that cannot be denied his wishes.

“Tonight,” I say. I move to the other side of the bed and get under the covers and help Aiden do so as well. I scoot to the edge but I’m pulled back by the arm that wraps around my waist. I can feel his breath on my neck and it makes me shiver. I turn around to tell him to move back but he’s already asleep. He looks so peaceful with the beauty of an angel, he truly is beautiful. I bury my face in his chest and breathe deeply, inhaling his scent and committing it to memory, if this is the only night I’ll spend with him like this, I’ll treasure it. I begin to fall asleep and I vaguely remember him giving me a kiss on the forehead subconsciously before I succumbed. That night my sleep was undisturbed by gory nightmares instead, for the first time in a while, I dreamed. Most importantly and frightening I felt safe in Aiden’s arms, and that scared me more than losing my favorite pair of combat boots.