The small island of Newport, Florida was home to a variety of species. Alligators, manatees, pelicans -- and North Siders and South Siders. An invisible border divided the battling sides of the marshy island, resulting in animosity and distaste of each other on both sides. The North Siders were rich, extravagant and privileged. Where as the South Siders were struggling to get by, living in older shacks of homes and getting into all sorts of trouble -- well, the only ones being caught, that is. Now that summer has finally hit the island and the snowbirds and tourists have finally left, it is now just the locals on this small slice of paradise. And the busy season has done nothing but divide the two territories even further.
Inspiration Photos:
A few ground rules:
Try and post at least a few paragraphs, no one liners here!
This rp will probably have some mature themes, proceed with caution.
Two characters per person, please. (Preferably one from each side as well)
Have fun :-)
It had been several weeks since Eloise’s twenty-first birthday party, and the small blonde and her south side counterpart had been living the most blissful dream ever since. Elle had spent nearly every evening with her feet propped in Beckett’s lap, sprawled on his couch with a movie on the television, or laying out on the dock of Beck’s boat with an old book from his collection while he worked on finishing the project in his spare time, and had even taken to sleeping over in his too-small bed on the rare occasion. During the time that Beck was away at work Eloise would visit Wren and Aria at the animal shelter, lay out by the pool with Ar, or catch up on errands that she’d been pushing off to spend more time with her people.
It was very quickly becoming the best summer she’d ever had.
The previous night had been no exception to their summer fun - Beck had taken her out to dinner, they’d gone back to his house and worked on The Patience until the sun had set, and the pair finished the night snuggling in bed with Callie while watching an episode of their favorite show. They’d had to be up early for Sunday brunch with the Montgomery family - Beck’s first appearance at one - so it’d just made sense for Elle to stay over.
“We’re going to be late.” Eloise breathed against the south sider’s lips, hands remaining tangled in his hair despite her statement. They’d gotten up, showered, gotten ready, and almost made it out the door before their resolve had crumbled. The two had ended up on the couch, Eloise straddling Beck’s lap with the skirt of her white dress hiked up around her waist and Beckett’s hand’s keeping her firmly planted against him, locked in a heated embrace. They had been like ravenous teenagers in heat ever since Elle’s party, and it didn’t look like that was going to be stopping any time soon.
They hadn’t had sex the night of her party despite popular belief, and they’d both been glad for it. Beckett had worshipped Elle’s body until she was seeing stars, and once she was able to feel her legs again she’d sunken to her knees and repaid the favor, but afterward they’d simply showered together and went to bed. It was far from the first time for either of them, but it would be their first time together, and Beck had insisted that he wanted it to be more special than a drunken hook-up, that he’d wanted her to cherish the memory. Yet even now, so many weeks after that memorable night, the two still hadn’t managed to be together in that way.
It wasn’t for a lack of trying, to their credit. Any time they would even get close to reaching that point something would interrupt their time together - Elle’s little sister bursting into the room, Griff coming over uninvited and quite literally crawling in-between them in bed, a panicked phone call from Aria, her parents coming home early - hell, they’d even desperately resorted to the back seat of Beck’s ratty jeep after a night on the beach with their friends when a cop shined a flashlight through the windows and ordered them to get out of there. It was almost like life was playing some sick joke on them.
“No, really,” Eloise insisted, chest heaving with heavy pants as she finally pulled back from him. “You think my parent’s are strict..” She couldn’t help herself from dipping back into him, savoring a few more long kisses and strokes of Beck’s calloused hands against her skin. “You should see my grandparents when people are late for brunch.” She warned with a goofy grin.
Sunday brunch was a bit of a tradition for the Montgomery line, which typically followed the morning church service though Elle had stopped attending that portion years ago, and was taken quite seriously by the members of her family. Each week the members of her extended family would meet and share a meal together, everyone dressed in their finest whites and on their best behavior. This was the first time Eloise had ever bothered to bring a date to the event, but Beck was special, and her father had insisted that it was time for him to be properly introduced after all of the time they’d spent together.
Beck looked more north side than ever in his khaki slacks and white linen shirt, both articles of clothing that Eloise had bought and bribed him to wear, and Elle was beaming with pride as the two approached the long table on the lawn that held all of her family, a white tent placed to offer a reprieve from the unrelenting Newport sun. “Nice of you to join us, Eloise.” The oldest man at the table, her grandfather, greeted with a glance at his watch. “Who’s your friend?”
While Beck and Elle had never officially discussed the labels of whatever this relationship was, Eloise considered it safe to say, “This is Beckett Greene, my boyfriend.” As she lead them to their seats. She passed the copper haired boy an encouraging smile, giving his knee a small squeeze of reassurance under the table before greeting Aria and Wren who sat across from them and leaping into conversation with the other ladies at the table. Over the years Wren had become somewhat of a regular at Montgomery brunches thanks to the number of times Elle and Aria’s parents had found the boy sleeping in their daughters’ rooms on Sunday mornings, the two cousins constantly sneaking him in at night so the three of them could share a movie marathon or a bottle of cheap liquor. He had essentially become part of the family, especially after the incident with his father the last time all of Newport’s elite had shared dinner.
“Mr. Greene,” Called a mustached man from down the table, his deep southern accent drawling out the boy’s name. “What is it that you do for work, boy?” Eloise shot her uncle a sharp look, but didn’t speak up as the table turned their attention to hear Beck’s answer. “And what does a job like that bring home, if you don’t mind me asking?” Asked a cousin, the man’s adult son inquiring about Beckett’s wage.
To her credit, Eloise’s had attempted to intercede on the south sider’s behalf, but not before he’d given his answer and a beat of shocked silence from the Montgomerys followed after. “Beckett is really quite skilled, he’s building his own boat from scratch right now! We're almost finished with it, actually.” She covered quickly, which lead to another side conversation discussing all of the yachts and boats the family owned. “Well while we’re speaking of work,” Began Warren Montgomery, Eloise’s father, “I could really use a hand here who knows his way around the inside of a boat. You looking for some more work, Beckett? I lost a few guys over the summer and am really hurting for some extra labor around the estate - you’d be doing me a favor.”
Warren Montgomery had been born into money, but the man could still see the value in hard work, and had to admit that he respected the boy for coming here and openly pursuing his daughter despite the fact that it was obvious he was out of his league here. While he didn’t love the idea of his oldest daughter dating a boy from the south side and well bellow her means, Beck hadn’t given him a reason to be ran off yet, so he’d give the kid a break from all of the assessing stares he’d been receiving.
Eloise did not miss the sharp look that her mother shot her father at the offer of employment, nor did she miss the quick change of subject. “Lawrence, dear,” The woman began, flashing him a smile, “We haven’t seen you around here as much lately, why don’t you join us for dinner sometime this week?” That one earned an eye roll from Elle. Her mother had doted on Wren since they were in diapers, and pretty much already had their wedding mapped out.
“And Beckett, of course, is welcome to join us as well.” Interjected Warren.
Earlier that night had felt like days ago – when Beckett Greene saw that look in her eye, her truth plastered across her face shamelessly. She remembered the panic rising in her chest, the guilt starting to make its presence known right next to the honesty. Aria had to live in secrecy all of these years, with her feelings her biggest downfall. And also the very thing that made her feel so, so alive.
And he felt that way too. Wren McCoy kissed her.
So, were her feelings really a bad thing?
Elle had Beck – her face was glowing when she stared at the Southside boy. And, as much as he got under Aria Montgomery’s skin, she couldn’t deny how he looked at her, as well. The exact same way she looked at Wren. They were all finding their sun, their source of happiness that made the confusion of it all worth it.
Aria might as well run with it.
She felt Wren’s arms around her even as they sped through her house, slipping on the water that dribbled down from their tan bodies. Still, everytime her bare feet slipped on those impeccable floors, he always caught her without fail.
Bursting into her bedroom, Aria let a light laugh escape from her chest, practically leaning into his arms as they snaked their way down her own. His touch, no matter how innocent it was, was addictive. It was uncanny how his fingertips calmed every bit of her beating heart, and yet were also the exact things that sent her over the edge. Wren was a generous lover, from what she recalled of that night in the wine cellar those months ago. She felt worshipped, felt every bit of the rebel she tried to become, as well as the royalty that came with her legacy. It was why she felt her stomach warm as he stood before her, as those fingers tucked a stray lock of gold behind her ear. Everywhere his touch traveled, she became more and more undone.
He leaned. Thank God, he leaned in.
She closed her eyes, ready to pick up exactly where things had left off, but instead of the warmth that followed Wren, she was left with nothing but the chill of the air. Fluttering her eyes open, she gazed at him as he made his way towards her bathroom, as the steam of the hot water from her shower began to cloak his sculpted form.
Aria arched a brow, but slowly stepped towards the bathroom, giving him a single nod. “Wine and snacks would be good,” she answered, pulling in her lips to keep herself from giggling at his clearly disgruntled self. Wren McCoy was nervous. He was acting exactly how she had been all of these years – tiptoeing over the obvious, too scared of the repercussion to take flight. Their feelings were already out in the air, what they had done will never be stolen from them.
Maybe all he needed was a little nudge. A gentle reminder that he was everything she wanted. And more. That he was more than just a hook up in a wine cellar. That they both deserved to be happy.
She kicked off her underwear after he fled the room. Her lacy bra followed until it was nothing but a puddle on the bathroom floor. Exhaling a deep sigh to calm her nerves, Aria let the confidence the wine brought and trekked back towards her bed before she sat herself on the edge, her arms extending behind her. She crossed a long, tanned leg and rested her chin on the top of her shoulder, eyeing the door with an intensity she could feel all the way to her toes. If anyone besides Wren McCoy walked through those doors, Aria was sure she would toss them off her balcony.
Thankfully, the man of the hour returned, bag of chips dangling between perfect white teeth. Bottles of water, wine, and a couple glasses hung from his fingers. Her face lit up as he set them to the side almost instantly. Smart boy. Unfortunately, the bag of chips wasn’t so lucky, because as soon as his eyes landed on her, they went tumbling to the ground. Enjoying his flustered state and hungry eyes, Aria relished the butterflies going rampant in her stomach, offering him a gentle, “hi,” in response.
This was it. All or nothing.
Standing up gracefully, slowly, from the edge of her bed, she started to make her way towards him – her steps definite, her eyes locked on his.
“Wren McCoy, you’re my best friend,” she started, eyes glistening and heart soaring. “Everything in my entire life was starting to belong to someone else's vision, not my own. I had to try unbelievably hard to force myself into a mold that wasn’t made for me.” She was closer now, barely an arm’s length away. "But, the only thing that never felt forced was you.” Aria swallowed a tightness in her throat, but continued on. “Kissing you was the easiest choice I ever made, and I loved it even more because it was ours to make.”
Lightly she leaned in and brushed her lips against his, her breath hitching at the contact. “There is something far more between us than rooftop kisses and fucks in a wine cellar.” Pulling away, she wrapped her fingers around his and began walking backwards, leading him towards the steaming bathroom with a look on her face that read nothing but mischief. “Why don’t you come show me what I’ve been missing?”
Wren wasted no time.
His hand wrapped around her neck fiercely, pulling her to him without any restraint. She moaned into his mouth as his lips crashed against hers and his touches traveled to her waist. He kissed her every place she laid bare for him. Her neck, her jaw, her soul. She sighed wistfully and wrapped her own arms around him, draping against his broad shoulders. As his grip traveled to her ass, hoisting her up and allowing her to wrap her legs around his waist, Aria let out a soft laugh. The steam from the bathroom enveloped them, as well as the gentle miss from the spray of the shower, right above. With her back against the tile wall of the shower, she watched Wren dispose of his boxers, her teeth digging into her bottom lip as her eyes took him in. All of him.
It was safe to say, he wasn’t lacking in any department.
He also decided it was the perfect time to take in her, as well. Usually being more submissive and shy in bed, the change of pace, the confidence she felt when with him, was riveting. Aria could be herself. Has always been able to be herself with him. As he complimented her, her cheeks warmed and stars continued to dance behind her eyes as she looked at Wren as if he were the whole damn universe. “Come here,” she whispered to him. And he obliged.
Wren kissed her, pushing them back into the stream of water, which caused her to gasp into his mouth. He swallowed the sound with his tongue. His teeth. As his hands roamed, covering every inch of her, she pressed against his form, gliding her slick center against his hardened state and letting him hear the moan she elicited freely. “Fuck, Wren. Please,” she breathed as his lips moved from her mouth and down towards her raised nipples. He ravished them, bit by bit, until her core was flooded with warmth and she was grinding her hips against any piece of him she could find. He was molding her and Aria was putty in his damn hands. The only person she would relent to.
As his hand moved from her breast to her throat, Aria’s eyes fluttered open slightly, just enough to meet his gaze and crack a pleased smile. Enjoying the pressure, she leaned her head back, baring more of herself to him. His mouth moved to her neck, sucking and biting and kissing. His name left her lips like a gentle caress, urging him, craving him. She felt a finger graze past her nipple and she whimpered at the loss.
Until it traveled lower. And lower.
Her eyes flashed to his, savoring the cool, rich baritone of his voice that was so familiar, and yet felt entirely new. At his admission, Aria let her eyes fall halfway shut, leaning in towards his ear and letting her teeth graze his skin. “Then by all means Wren McCoy, touch me.”
He obeyed. And she nearly shattered.
His fingers entered her and she swore she was floating. Their first time had been quick, barely enough time for foreplay before he was pressing himself inside her. Now, Wren seemed to want to savor his time. And with every move he made, with every added finger, Aria cursed herself for being so impatient before. For not truly realizing that Wren knew what the fuck he was doing.
After nearly coming close to the edge multiple times but never fully reaching her peak, thanks to Wren’s teasing, Aria was practically begging for him to be inside of her. Fully. She made soft, tender pleas against his mouth as her legs wrapped around his waist, him positioned right at her entrance. “Please, Wren,” she whispered against his mouth, kissing him. “Please, I want it so bad.”
He sheathed himself inside of her with one punishing thrust. Aria silenced her moan by biting into his shoulder, her hands digging into his back as pure ecstasy filled her. There was pressure for a moment, due to his size, but it quickly became replaced with everything she could have ever hoped for.
She was no longer pretending.
Lena was certain Beck and Elle were going to disappear behind a door before she and Griff had a chance to catch up with them, but apparently the universe owed them one after being interrupted earlier. Griffin managed to wretch Beck out of the door frame and it was almost comical seeing Beck beg them to fuck off. Lena tried and failed to hold back a laugh when Beck told her that he’s never asked her for anything.
“Oh what the fuck ever,” she told him, shaking her head. He brought this on himself when he decided to be a cockblock at the worst possible moment. But then, he offered a proposition that made her hesitate. To pick up where she and Griff left off. Lena considered, and looked to Griff for his reaction. His response made her heart start to race. They would leave Beck and Elle alone for the night, if she and Griff were left alone for the week. The week. That was definitely a deal she’d be interested in.
As the boys bowed their heads together to talk through the details of their arrangement, Lena caught Elle’s eye and mouthed sorry. Her friend was obviously disappointed by their sudden appearance—Lena knew the feeling. The boys finally separated and Beck wasted no time retreating back into the room with Elle, and promptly locking the door. At least he’d learned from their mistakes.
Lena smiled as Griffin finally turned his attention to her. “Alone at last,” she said, squealing softly as he grabbed her by the waist and pulled her up into his arms. “So the rest of the week, huh? I’ll have to see if I can pencil you into my schedule,” she teased. Lena felt the muscles in her stomach tighten at his next words—that he intended to keep his promise of picking up where they left off. “Lead the way,” she told him, already a little breathless at the thought.
He carried her through the doorway of an empty room, dropping her back on to her feet as soon as he had locked the door behind them. Barely a breath passed before his mouth was on hers. Lena parted her lips for him and wrapped her arms around his neck as he made quick work of her bra, tossing it to the side. The sound he made when he saw her without it made her spine tingle. Lena had never felt her ego boosted like that without so much as a word.
Lena let her eyes flutter closed as Griffin’s kisses worked their way up her body. She felt like she was being worshiped, savored, devoured. A gasp left her lips as he caught her nipple in between his fingers, the pinch causing a flicker of pain washed away by the tingle of pleasure. But it was the way he asked if she liked what he was doing, the way he looked up at her, that caused her to shudder and nod.
Lena bit down on her bottom lip to quiet the moan that was building in the back of her throat. But it didn’t stay quieted for long as Griffin leaned down and sucked her breast into his mouth. Her head dropped back and her fingers twined through his hair, nearly holding him in place. “Fuck, Griff,” she murmured, otherwise unable to express how he was making her feel.
She inhaled sharply as Griff pulled her even closer to him, her back bowing slightly to give him easier access to her chest. Her breath hitched once again as he began a slow descent from her breasts to lower…and lower. Lena admired his muscled shoulders and the wide panes of his back as he kissed back down her body. How she had never noticed him in this way before a few weeks ago was beyond her. She’d always known he was attractive, but the thought of him like this—bowed between her thighs like a man giving penance—had never crossed her mind. Now, she wasn’t sure she’d ever be able to (or want to) forget the image. She’d have broken the ‘friends don’t fuck friends’ rule years ago if she’d known it would feel like this.
Lena felt her heart stop and then start again at twice the speed when she felt his finger in between her legs. She bit down on her lip again as he discovered just how much he was affecting her body. Lena felt like every muscle in her body was wound so tight they might snap as Griff pressed slow, tantalizing kisses to her inner thighs, kissing everywhere except where she wanted him to until he finally, finally, gave her what she wanted.
The feeling of his tongue made her feel like she was slowly being set of fire. He took his time with it, something most of the guys she had been with hadn’t done, and he was good. There was no holding back moans as he brought her to the edge again and again only to continually deny her. Every time she’d try and move her hips for any extra bit of friction, his hands would keep them pinned in place. She fisted the sheets of the bed, frustrated. She was covered in a thin sheen of sweat and she felt the muscles in her legs trembling as she ached for release. “Has anyone ever told you that you’re a tease, Novak?” she joked, looking down at him, though she was truthfully close to begging. The mere sight of him between her legs, his mouth closed around her, nearly sent her over the edge on it’s own.
Her lips parted and she nearly forgot to breath as she watched him work. His gaze flicked up to hers and as if finally obeying her pleas, Griff slipped one finger into her. The sudden feel of it after what felt like hours of him teasing—torturing—her had Lena’s entire body tensing around him. As soon as Griff closed his mouth around her once again she felt herself quickly approaching her peak, damn near praying that he would allow her to reach it.
But he didn’t move away. His mouth stayed fixed on her clit and he kept a steady pace with his fingers. Lena felt the wave approaching and finally felt is crash over her. She was almost afraid she’d wake the dead with how loud she was being as Griff continued to pump his fingers into her until her legs were left shaking and she felt like her bones had been turned to jelly.
“God,” was all her brain seemed capable of producing. She wasn’t sure if it was a curse, a prayer, or if she was actually seeing him but it seemed a reasonable response to what just happened to her. When the ebbs of pleasure subsided, she was left breathless and a little awestruck. No one had ever made her come that hard.
The fact that she could taste herself on his lips when Griffin kissed her again almost made the whole thing even hotter. Lena’s hands drifted over his chest, down his stomach, and she wrapped her hand around his cock. She reveled in the way he reacted to her touch as she kissed down the side of his neck, nibbling at the sensitive skin there as she stroked him. He had made her feel so good, she merely wanted to return the favor.
She’d barely had time to recover when Griff dragged his head up her still sensitive center. But the feel of him left her aching in the pit of her belly. Lena grabbed his shoulder as he eased into her, a moan escaping her lips in tandem with his own. Even though they’d slept together once before, the size of him still caught her off guard. It took her body a moment to adjust around him before he pulled all the way out and buried himself in her again.
A soft moan escaped her lips and she wasn’t sure if it was the feeling of him inside her or of his admission. That he’d craved this as much as she had since the last time they’d been together. Lena clawed at his back as his speed increased, his voice a low rumble in her ear. She felt herself approaching that edge, and as soon as his finger circled her clit her muscles tensed and she felt pleasure crash over her yet again.
Lena pulled him up to kiss her, her teeth skimming his bottom lip as she shifted their weight until he was on his back and she was straddling him. She sank back down on to him oh so slowly, her hands pinning his chest to the mattress. Griffin had teased her for long enough, she figured she could return the favor.
“And what would you do if I told you I touch myself every night thinking about you inside me?” She asked, rolling her hips. “But fuck, it comes no where near the real thing,” Lena murmured, dipping down and brushing a hint of a kiss on his lips. She nearly lifted herself completely off of him only to sink down again, even slower this time. She wanted him to beg for it.
Wren’s shoulders sagged with relief when Aria laughed and told him to just shut up. That was a much better reaction to him kissing her than anticipated. And he felt like a weight had been lifted when she said that she had missed him too. The several weeks they weren’t on good terms were some of the worst of his life. So it was a relief to know that he hadn’t fucked it up, yet again. Despite his best efforts, apparently.
He sat back as Aria started telling him something, but her words were quickly drowned out by their rowdy group of friends below them when Elle called up to them, demanding that they get their asses in the pool. “You called it, she did end up in the pool,” Wren laughed. Aria stood swiftly and her dress was off in between one blink and the next. Wren swallowed hard and tried his best not to stare as he stripped down as well. He smiled at her as she grabbed his hand and winked before taking a running start.
He and Aria launched themselves into the pool with no hesitation. It was definitely not the first time they had done this. The cool blue water nearly shocked Wren sober. Compared to the heat of the party and the humidity of the night, the water had been a welcome change. Once he emerged and flung the water from his eyes, he swam to where Aria’s head had popped up and where the rest of their friends were gathered.
Nearly as soon as he and Aria jumped in, there was a chain reaction of guests who decided to follow suit. The giant pool was now nearly shoulder to shoulder, almost as bad as the dance floor had been. Wren snaked an arm around Aria’s waist as to not lose her in the crowd, and she then wrapped her arms around his neck.
He chuckled as she gave him permission to shut her up if she started thinking about the morning. “Deal, only if you promise me the same,” Wren did not want to think about the killer hangover or the almost definitely guilt he would feel about kissing her. But she had kissed him back. And she hadn’t seemed mad that he’d done it in the first place, which had honestly surprised him. He’d been half expecting her to slap him once he had the wherewithal to even realize what he was doing. But she hadn’t, she’d just told him that she had missed him too. Had been about to tell him something else before they’d been interrupted.
Beck and Elle were the first to slip away, but to be honest, Wren didn’t even know they had gone until Griff and Lena followed behind them. It didn’t take an over-active imagination to guess what they would be up to. Aria’s chattering teeth brought his attention back to her, just as she asked if he wanted to get out of the pool, of the crowd. “Then let’s get you out of here,” he agreed, standing and wading out of the pool, his arms still wrapped around her. He didn’t let go until they’d stepped out of the water, and reached the edge of the crowd.
The night breeze nipped at Wren’s skin as they made their escape from the pool back into the house. Their clothes were upstairs, and they had no towels so they dripped water all the way back up to Aria’s bedroom. The clean up was going to be a pain in the morning, but he and Aria had promised not to think about tomorrow, so he would leave that problem until then.
Aria’s old bedroom was mercifully empty, and the blonde’s teeth were still chattering when they walked through the door. “You look like you’re about to turn into an ice cube,” he joked, rubbing her arms in an attempt to warm her up. Her face was flushed from the wine, and the cold, and Wren became acutely aware of the fact that she was only in her underwear. He pushed a strand of hair behind her ear, and his gaze dipped. He was getting dangerously close to kissing her again, or worse, so he took a step back—hoping that putting space between them would get his traitorous mind out of the gutter. He couldn’t mess things up again, no matter how bad he wanted to.
“How about a hot shower? To warm you up?” He asked, stepping into the bathroom and turning the water on before even waiting for a response. “I can go get us more wine, and, uh snacks, while you, you know,” he gestured behind him to the shower. Wren didn’t remember the last time he’d been this flustered.
Wren made his escape down the hallway, but shut himself in a bathroom before going downstairs. He splashed his face with cold water, hoping that would be enough for him to cool his ass down. “Get your shit together, McCoy,” he muttered under his breath. He did not need to be this hot and bothered by one of his best friends, especially when sleeping with her had been what landed him in so much trouble in the first place.
Downstairs, there were still people milling around the makeshift bar, but Wren found an unopened bottle of wine and grabbed a couple of glasses from the cabinet. He also managed to swipe a few bottles of water—because, while he was trying not to think about tomorrow’s hangover, he did have a little foresight—and a bag of chips. He carefully made his way back up the stairs, the bag of chips dangling from his teeth.
Wren opened the door to Aria’s bedroom with his elbow, but as soon as he walked in and saw what was waiting for him, his jaw went slack and the chips fell to the ground. Aria was sitting on her bed. The underwear she’d had on when he left was no where to be seen. Wren almost turned around and walked out, until it was obvious that she had intended for him to walk in on her like this. He tried his very best to keep his eyes on her face, but was failing miserably. “Uh, hi,” he said, there wasn’t enough blood going to his brain to come up with anything else.
He kicked the door closed behind him, and set the wine and waters down on the dresser as she stood and walked over to him. Wren listened very intently as Aria explained that there was obviously something between them, that the kiss on the roof had really just solidified that for her—something he wholeheartedly agreed with. She definitely knew how to keep a man’s attention. And then she invited him to shower with her.
It was the invitation that seemed to snap him out of place. “Thank fuck,” he groaned, grabbing the back of her neck and pulling her mouth to his. His other hand gravitated to her waist, closing any distance they had between them. Wren dipped his head as he pressed kisses first to the spot just below her ear, then her neck, her collarbone, her breast, and back up again.
Wren’s hands wandered down her waist, past her hips and cupped her ass as he picked her up and had Aria wrap her legs around him. He walked them both back into the bathroom, setting her down only to discard his own underwear. While he did, he took the opportunity to get a real look at her—her tanned skin, her full breasts, the curve of her hips. “Fuck, you are…perfect,” he murmured, kissing her again and carefully backing her into the warm stream of water.
He pressed her against the cool tile, sucking her bottom lip into his mouth as she gasped from the sudden cold of it. Wren squeezed her hips before he bent down again, this time, sucking her nipple into his mouth and letting his tongue swirl around the tip of it as his other hand squeezed her other breast. He bit at the sensitive skin, quickly licking over the small hurt before kissing his way back up to her throat.
Wren wrapped his hand around her neck, lightly at first, and moved her head to the side to grant him fuller access as he licked and kissed and nipped up the column of her throat. He traced one finger lazily down the length of her body, letting it linger and circle around her nipple before descending further. His touch was feather-light, while he slowly began adding pressure with the hand he still held around her throat. “The thought of going the rest of the night without touching you was driving me crazy,” he breathed in her ear as his hand finally dipped between her thighs.
Eloise couldn’t remember the last time she’d had this much fun. If there were a feeling she could bottle up and keep forever, to pull out when things got bad, it would be this one - because right now it felt like everything was right in the world. Surrounded by her closest friends (not to mention half of newport), the cozy warmth of alcohol settled in her chest, and wrapped in the arms of Beckett Greene… this must have been what heaven felt like. Even with the chilled water of Aria’s pool splashing around them, the blonde had never felt more warm than when Beck had pulled her against his chest, subtly reaching down and hooking her legs behind the knee and hoisting them up and around his waist.
Beckett also wasn’t nearly as subtle as he thought he was as those work roughened hands slowly skimmed up her thighs and around to her ass, holding her hips squarely against his as she whispered her question against his ear. Eloise could have sworn she felt a palpable shiver run down the boy’s spine at her words, and she couldn’t help the coy little smile that slipped onto her lips in response. She dipped back into him once more, hands on his cheeks to guide his mouth back to her’s despite the party raging behind them. The blonde could hear the banter between the south siders in the pool and her friends up on the roof, followed by the splashed entrance of Aria and Wren as they departed the roof. She could feel the previously still water go choppy as more and more people entered the pool in response, the sound of their combined chatter and shouts raising to a roar - but Elle couldn’t even be bothered to glance back at the scene behind her. Not now, not with Beck’s hands tightening their grip on her, dragging her closer against his chest until there wasn’t any room left between them, not while he kissed her as if she were the only air left in a burning room. And then, then, his sultry response breathed against her lips…
She could have melted right then and there.
“Good.” The Birthday Girl whispered right back “Because I want you… I want you now.” She turned, a devilish look slipping onto her face as she paused their heated embrace to put a little space between them. Eloise took one glance back into the heat of the party raging in the pool to ensure that they weren’t being watched, though she wasn’t really sure if she’d care if they were, before turning back to her hazel eyed boy. “Let’s go.” She urged with smile, using Beckett’s sturdy shoulders as a support to hoist herself up and out of the water.
Eloise didn’t waste any time making her way into the house, one hand reached back for Beck as he collected their clothes with one sweep, blue eyes locked onto the grand staircase across the room. It was almost surreal, how strongly her feelings had developed for a south side boy who’d gotten her arrested only a handful of weeks ago. And even after her hatred for the boy had worn away, the pair had been left with weeks of tantalizing flirting, stolen glances and skirting around the fact that they both were quickly developing feelings for one another. They had spent all this time pretending that they were just friends, refusing to acknowledge that there was something more growing there, that now it felt like they were making up for lost time.
That kiss at the beginning of the night hadn’t just broken the ice… it had melted the whole dame antarctic. After so long of avoiding touching one another for fear of sparking a flame they wouldn’t be able to contain… now they couldn’t keep their hands off of each other.
Elle’s bee line to the stairs was interrupted by Beckett’s tug on her hand, stopping her in her tracks and pulling her back against his chest and bring her mouth back to his. This time was different though, his kisses came slower, gentle and unrushed unlike the ones they had shared before… as if they had all of the time in the world at their disposal now that they’d finally unlocked this chapter of their relationship. Eloise didn’t think she would ever get tired of this - of kissing him, feeling his body pressed against her own.
Eloise nearly audibly groaned in disappointment as their south side friends entered the house, clearly intent on spoiling their night together as they interrupted their kiss to recommend another game of pong when herself and Beck were so obviously - ahem - busy. The blonde may have been drunk, but she wasn’t stupid. She knew what this was. “Sorry guys, we’ve got a very busy night ahead of us. Booked solid. No time for pong, I’m afraid.” She flashed the two of them a smile. “Towels are in almost every hall closet or in any of the bathrooms, take as many as you need!” She called back to Lena with a laugh as Beck rushed her up the stairs.
Her head swam with the lingering effects of intoxication mixed with their fast pace, rushing from door to door as they attempted to find one that wasn’t already occupied. A small sigh of relief slipped from her as thankfully one of the knobs finally turned and revealed an empty guest bedroom ready for the taking. Elle shared a single devious look with Beck before slipping inside. But before they could get the door shut, a pair of arms circled Beck’s chest and yanked him back.
Eloise was barely able to see around Beck to the other side of the doorway, but she managed to catch a glimpse of Griffin and Lena across from the tall male. She couldn’t quite make out what was being said, but the two men had their heads bowed close, whispering fervently back and forth to one another as if negotiating some deal. She approached slowly, fingertips brushing against Beckett’s spine as she slid into place at his side just in time to hear a hushed “Fine, but you owe me this time Greene.” leaving Griff’s mouth as he turned to guide Lena back down the hall.
“Finally.” The word came out with an exasperated breath as she pulled the door shut, turning the lock before facing Beck once again. “Now,” She grinned, small hands gliding up his chiseled chest and around the boy’s neck. “Where did we leave off?” She mused, rising onto her tip toes as she met him in another heated kiss.
A small delighted squeal of surprise slipped from her lips as she felt her legs being lifted around Beck’s waist for the second time that night, her ankles locking around his broad hips in response. Their trek to the bed was slow and steady, no more rushing or sneaking around necessary now that they had the whole night ahead of them and a locked door separating them from the rest of the world. And that was exactly what it felt like in that moment - that they were in their own little world made just for the two of them, far, far away from anyone else. There were no more distractions or interruptions, no reservations left between them… just the two of them exploring each other in a way they never had before.
She couldn’t get enough of him, enough of this bliss as her hands slid from the back of Beckett’s tanned neck and up into his hair, gripping the messy strands harder than she had intended as Beck finally eased back onto the bed. Elle’s entire body went aflame as she moved over him, gently pushing his shoulders back into the mattress until he complied and laid back. She straddled his waist, taking in the sight of him laid before her as she reached behind her to unsnap her bra, sliding the straps down her arms tantalizingly slow before dropping the red piece of fabric off the side of the bed. Eloise took a moment just to appreciate the sight of him, tanned muscles, small scars from fights and plain old mischief littering his skin, hazel eyes bright with fever and his mouth bracketed with so much lust he looked as if he might combust. He was easily one of the most gorgeous men she had ever seen, and right now he was all her’s.
Elle leant forward to kiss him briefly, moving her lips to suck against the pulse in his neck. She could feel him hardening beneath her as his hands explored her exposed skin, her hips rocking against his instinctually. A small moan of pleasure slipped from her mouth and vibrated against the sensitive skin of his neck at the friction, and she couldn’t stop herself from doing it again. “Oh my god,” She panted, feeling moisture already beginning to pool between her legs and repeating the action as she eagerly moved her lips back to his.
Maybe Eloise had been fucking the wrong men all of this time, but she couldn’t remember the last time she’d been this hot and bothered before she’d even gotten the man’s boxers off.
If Beck could bottle up a memory and stuff it in a bottle, it would have been the look on Elle’s face as she spotted him from across the room -- how her eyes lit up like the sun kissing the ocean, how her smile widened and how his own followed suit. He watched her push herself away from her friends, her tiny little body weaving through the throng of the crowd with expert precision, just to meet him in the middle of the dance floor. Hues of neon blue and pink flashed around her frame, haloing her blonde hair as his hands snaked their way right into it. She opened her mouth, as if to speak, but Beck had beat her to it.
“No,” he started, leaning in, his lips barely brushing hers. “It’s my turn.”
And then he kissed her.
And she tasted like the man he wished he could be. The man he wanted to be. For her.
While he held her face gingerly, the passion behind his grip did not falter. He pulled her against him as if she were the very air he breathed -- like she had taken a breath right out of his lungs and he desperately tried to claim it back. While their kiss before was tender and warm, the way they kissed now was filled with nothing but raging wildfire. He thought that Eloise Montgomery was a tame, innocent mold of what the northsiders trained her to be. However, in reality, the girl had more rebel inside of her than he thought. And he couldn’t get enough of it.
His grip on her hair tightened and his tongue swiped across her bottom lip, begging for entrance. As she wrapped her arms around his neck, Elle opened up for him and he smirked at the admittance. Beck had no idea how long they had been kissing for. Seconds. Minutes. Hours? It didn’t matter. All he knew was that he didn’t want to stop -- that he never wanted to stop.
She was the one to pull away first, leaving the boy nearly breathless. His hazel eyes were still dark and locked on her mouth as she spoke, full desire twisting inside of his stomach and craving more. He leaned in, not ready to give that slice of ecstasy up just yet, but her hand against his chest halted his movements. Elle whispered against his mouth, and the sensation nearly drove him up a damned wall. But, it was when she was grabbing his bottom lip with her teeth that sent Beck into unfiltered bliss. His eyes fluttered shut at that, using every ounce of self control he had to not groan at the contact.
“I think I quite like you, Eloise Montgomery,” he eventually whispered to her, eyes still ignited by that fire.
Her fingers weaved through his and before he knew it, Beck was tugged into the mass of dancing bodies. Elle effortlessly dodged the chaotic arms and swivel of hips as they made their way through, finding an open spot right in the middle of the chaos. The buzz from the copious amounts of alcohol he had already drank flowed through his veins, only heightening every curve of Elle’s body pressed against his own. A full fledged smile grew with every song as he watched Newport’s Golden Girl finally let her hair down, losing herself to the party. He let her have her moment, only dancing with her when she beckoned him and pulled his hips flush against hers before turning and pressing her ass to him. The feeling was nothing short of euphoric, especially when she turned to dust more of those passionate kisses against his lips.
It was easily one of the best nights of his life.
So, of course, his shithead friends had to ruin it.
Griff and Lena’s arrival felt like a straight kick to the chest, even if he might have deserved the interruption after interfering with their ‘affairs’ upstairs. Yeah, yeah, yeah, he was a cockblock earlier. But, to be fair, they already fucked before. At least once. He tried not to think if there were any other times, or else his mood would surely turn sour. He hadn’t even gotten close to that with Elle and, with the way things were headed tonight, things surely were in his favor.
Beck passed the pair a tight lipped, strained smile as they dragged Elle away from him, Griff’s wink settling in his mind while Lena’s hand sunk into his skin like a brand. This was payback, he knew it. He wasn’t even able to stop Griff from pouring a shot into Elle’s awaiting mouth -- the girl weighed as much as a fun-size candy bar and yet she was drinking more than him. By a long shot. Beck had already played dad to her before, and he didn’t mind doing it, but even he was a bit worried about the birthday girl. “I hope she pukes on your shoes,” Beck murmured to Griff with a chuckle before roughing up the boy’s hair.
It was safe to say that after Beck had taken a few more shots, his mood turned back around. The girls climbing on top of Aria Montgomery’s countertop definitely contributed to that, as well. It was just a shame that the host wasn’t there to partake in the festivities.
Especially when Elle started taking shots. From Lena’s tits. Beck looked respectfully and then passed his best friend the same wide-eyed, awestruck expression, only to find it on Griff, as well.
Maybe they did severely underestimate the girls and the power their hold had over them. Beck was usually mingling with different women every five minutes at parties and he had never seen Griff so… unbalanced. His cool and collected friend was thrown off kilter. It was refreshing to see, even if it was with a member of their squad.
However, Beck decided that his absolute favorite part of the night was taking a tequila shot off of Eloise Montgomery’s stomach. He even gave her navel a small lick as he relished the flavor of her skin mixed in with the tequila -- that really didn’t taste like tequila at all. Elle’s giggles had ricocheted through the party all night, confirming to him that her birthday party had been a success and that the wicked hangover they both would have in the morning would surely be worth it. Anything would be if she kept smiling at him like the way she had throughout the night.
As the birthday girl announced she was hot (followed by a snide comment from Griff, which Beck lovingly smacked the back of the boy’s head after) Beck’s eyes grew wide as she mentioned taking a dip in the pool. At Lena’s comment, he passed the girl a knowing smirk, “Will you be helping me with that?” he joked, right as Eloise had snagged both of their hands and started dragging them to the pool outside, that was no doubt the size of his house. The cool kiss of a summer night graced his sweaty form as they entered the backyard, which was still full of rowdy, drunk locals and the heavy thrum of bass from the music.
The girls started stripping down into their underwear and Beck once again locked eyes with Griffin, not believing their damn luck for the night. Maybe north side parties weren’t so bad after all… Still, he only was able to take a glance at Lena’s curvy form before he looked away, feeling odd for staring at one of his best friends that way -- even though he knew the girl could surely kick his ass if she caught him. Beck’s eyes then drifted to Eloise as she shimmied out of her dress and into a striking bra and underwear combo of scarlet. His breath hitched and a lump was caught in his throat at the sight of her tan body as she flung herself into the pool. Beck was the last one in after he quickly shucked off his clothes and jumped into the pool in his underwear, but he hoped that his friends had forgotten about the shot, too distracted with dunking each other and playing chicken.
He laughed as he and Griff wrestled in the water and held on gingerly to Elle’s thighs as she climbed onto his shoulders to play another round of chicken until the girl of the hour’s voice sang through their game, causing Beck’s attention to snap towards the roof where Aria and Wren sat. Although his body tensed as Eloise called for Wren, he kept his mouth shut, only running gentle, smooth circles with his fingers across Elle’s thighs instead as she remained on his shoulders. As Griff went off about Aria having bigger balls than McCoy, Beck had to agree. “Oh, I wouldn’t be surprised about that. Goldilocks nearly chopped my dick off once or twice while planning this party, I’m lucky to be alive,” he laughed, squeezing Elle’s thigh and looking up at her while he did so.
As the pair jumped into the pool, from the second story, as well, Beck laughed and playfully dunked Elle back into the water right after. More and more partygoers began to join them and the pool quickly became the new hot spot, growing more and more crowded by the second. His little blonde made her way back into his arms and Beck grabbed her legs to wrap around his waist in the water. He held her there by gripping lightly onto her thighs, a charming yet cunning smirk on his face. As she leaned in to kiss him, he met her halfway, kissing her lightly and then pouting as she pulled away after only a few moments. Her lips brushed his ear and, despite the warm water, a chill ransacked his form and he pulled Elle closer.
“You want to go upstairs?”
Beck stilled as a wave of heat crashed through his chest. He pulled back so he could find the blue of her eyes, searching for any hint of hesitation, only to find none. She kissed him once again and he couldn’t control his eyes as they fluttered shut once more, losing himself into her as he had done the entire night. Around her lips, he gently whispered, “I’ll do whatever you want, Birthday Girl.” That seemed to ignite something inside of her, for Elle didn’t waste any time in pulling him out of the pool, barely leaving Beck with enough time to snag their clothes as they raced back inside of the house.
This was what he wanted, he knew that for sure. Elle had weaved her way into his life and now he couldn’t imagine it without her. She was a firecracker and a lionhearted girl and he didn’t know how he had come to this realization, of him finding solace by her side, but he definitely no longer minded. The wall of money and status and reputation was nothing but a crumbling pile of dust between them. She was his. He was hers.
Not even a bet could break the bond he felt with her. It hadn’t even crossed his mind.
“Come here,” he hissed to her with a grin, pulling her back to his chest as she tugged him through the house. He placed a hand on her cheek and brought his lips to hers, kissing her slowly, no longer hurrying as they had done throughout the party. At the moment, she was the only thing that existed in his world. And he sure as hell acted like it.
He eventually pulled away and started towards the grand staircase, his hand gripping hers, ready to take this next step with her.
And then his shithead friends entered the house.
Beck stopped in his tracks at Lena’s words, peering over his shoulder to glance at her and Griff, dripping wet, and with smug smirks across their face. Ah, he knew what this was. Payback. He rolled his eyes and started towards the stairs once more. “Sorry, no more pong for us. I’ve suddenly gone blind and it wouldn’t be a fair game.” He glanced at Elle, a sarcastic grin on his face. “And I’m sure Griff could help you find a towel, odds are you’re gonna need one later anyway, right?!” Beck held back a snicker as he and Elle quickly ascended the stairs, him now behind her and giving her gentle nudges as they reached the first floor.
They started down the long hallway, but their pace quickened as another set of footsteps echoed across the stairs. “Shit,” Beck whispered, trying every door he saw. All of them, of course, were locked. At this point, he was about to go find a damn closet. He could work with that. Desire coursed through his body, especially as Elle kept glancing at him with lowered eyes and biting that damned lip as she did so. The boy was practically about to start praying to God if he didn’t find an open room soon. God, please do me this one solid and let me have sex with the girl of my dreams and I promise to never swear for the next five minutes. Yeah. That should work.
His prayers were answered and a shiny, gold doorknob finally turned, revealing a guest bedroom. Beck’s eyes were the size of saucers and he glanced towards the ceiling and whispered a ‘thank you’ before letting Elle inside of the room first.
Just as he was about to enter, a pair of arms wrapped around his chest and pulled him backward.
Griff.
Beck scrambled against the other boy’s hold and attempted to push him off. “I swear to God I’m going to pop the fucking tires on your bike if you don’t give me this one solid, Griff,” he protested, finally finagling his way out of the hold and running towards the door, only for Lena to be blocking the entrance with a snide, little smile. Panting, Beck tried to peer around Lena, only to see an exasperated and confused Eloise in the room behind her. “What are you doing?” he asked her, eyes still on Elle. “Please, Lanes. I never ask you for anything.” He lied. Without Lanes teaching him how to be a damn adult, Beck wouldn’t have survived two weeks on his own. She was the Mom of the group and this felt like a sick sort of punishment. “Why don’t you and Griff go pick up where you left off, huh?” The desperation in his voice was nearly palpable.
When Eloise leaned her cheek into the palm of his hand and looked up at him with those blue eyes, Wren felt like his heart would jump out of his chest. The moment was sufficiently ruined, though, when she called him Laurie. He’d hated when she’d called him that growing up. And that hatred seemed to only encourage the nickname to stick.
“You’re the worst,” he laughed and shook his head as Elle pressed a quick a kiss to his cheek. It was kind of nice though. Even though he hated the name, and always would, it at least signified a return to normalcy. And what she’d said sure as hell wasn’t true, it was her that was too good for him—she and Aria both.
Wren was grateful when the latter finally joined them; he’d barely seen her since the party started. He’d assumed that had been because Aria had been running around playing hostess, but something about her seemed off—nervous. Maybe she’d been avoiding him. Wren couldn’t blame her, of course, he’d royally fucked up and he would work his ass off to try and earn their friendship back. But even still, with all of them hanging out in Aria’s house, throwing a party her parents surely didn’t know about, and well on their way to drunk—things felt like they were starting to go back to normal. That in itself was something worth celebrating.
So he started pouring shots.
It was hard to hear over the bass of the music and the dozens of others crowding the bar, but when he’d turned around the girls had been giggling about something and it wasn’t hard to guess who their furtive conversation had been about. The southside asshat had yet to come back downstairs and Wren could almost picture him ruining his best friends’ night.
At least Wren had a shot to wash away the bad taste in his mouth.
“Deal,” He laughed as Elle announced that if she were going to end up naked in the pool by the end of the night, he and Aria would be right there with her. Wren let himself be pulled into Eloise’s drunken hug along with Aria and passed his friend a knowing smirk. Yeah, Elle would definitely be hugging a toilet by the end of the night if she kept going at this rate. Wren wondered who would be holding her hair back: Aria, him, or Beckett Greene. He couldn’t see the southsider caring enough, but then again he’d supposedly helped Aria plan this whole thing. Had been there when Wren hadn’t. “We love you too, Elle. Happy birthday.”
Aria excused herself nearly as soon as they set the shot glasses down, claiming she had to get some air. But she passed him a look that drew Wren’s attention to a figure cutting through the crowd, bee-lining toward them—a man on a mission. And Beck’s eyes were set solely on Eloise. Wren turned back to Aria, about to suggest that he join her, but the girl was already lost in the crowd. And when he turned to Elle again, Beck’s tongue was already halfway down her throat.
“Cool, cool, cool,” Wren muttered to himself, finding anywhere else to look. God, he wanted to bleach his eyes after that. Wren grabbed two bottles of wine and pushed through the crowd toward the stairs. He had a pretty good idea of where Aria had gone, and he sure as hell wasn’t sticking around to watch those two get to second base.
Lena and Novak were making their ways down the stairs as Wren was going up. Neither of them looked too pleased. Beck had apparently succeeded at being their self-appointed cock-block for the night. Wren glanced back at Beck and Elle who were now dancing on one another in the middle of the dance floor. “Give him hell,” he told them, and clapped Griffin on the shoulder as he passed by.
Wren was relieved to see that Aria’s old bedroom was vacant of party-goers, that was the last thing he wanted to see at the moment. Her bedroom window was open and Wren could feel the sea breeze coming through it. Walking into her bedroom was like stepping into the past. It was almost exactly the same as she’d had it in high school. He couldn’t even count the hours he, Aria, and Elle had spent up here in their childhood. Aria still had photos plastered everywhere and Wren felt himself drawn to them. A lot of them were the three of them at various ages, growing up together. He traced the edge of one photo with his finger. He missed those days. Everything now felt so off-kilter. So many things had changed.
He tore himself away from the wall of photos, of memories, and approached the window. Wren stuck his head outside and knocked on the frame. He’d spent countless evenings out here as well. It had a great view of the water and felt just detached enough from the house that it almost felt like a true getaway when they were teenagers.
The sun had set some time ago but Wren could see the moon reflecting on Aria’s face, her hair, her eyes. Her knees were pulled to her chest and she looked deep in thought—he almost felt bad for intruding. “Thought you could use another drink,” he waved a bottle in front of him. “Can I come out?” He passed the bottle to her as he climbed on to the roof as well. “If I’m being honest, I didn’t really want to be alone with,” he paused, looking for the right words. “All that going on downstairs.” He joked, taking a swig directly from the wine bottle.
“You okay? You seemed…anxious, earlier,” he didn’t want to push her, because honestly he had no right to know how she was feeling, even if he wanted to.
“Being back out here feels weird,” he paused. “Like we’re kids again.” Wren had been at both Montgomery houses more than his own growing up—for obvious reasons. “I actually don’t even think I’ve been in your old room since you moved into the guest house,” he was mostly trying to fill the silence. And he was suddenly afraid that maybe he was the reason she snuck away from the party. Maybe he was the last person she wanted to see right now.
“The party seems like a success,” Wren said, nodding his head toward some guy throwing up in the bushes on the side of the house. “I think we went to high school with him.” He laughed. “Cheers to you throwing a kick ass party.” He clicked his bottle against hers and drank deeply.
They sat on the roof and talked until Wren ran out of wine. And somehow, they ended up sitting shoulder to shoulder, and Wren’s arm was draped over Aria’s knee. It felt good to talk to her again after weeks of barely seeing one another, after almost losing her friendship. He didn’t realize how much he’d missed her.
“I wanted to thank you,” Wren said quickly. “For getting me the job at the shelter. It’s actually been…kind of amazing.” He smiled sideways at her. “I always wondered why you spent so much time there—you know, obviously besides you just being a good person,” he knocked his shoulder into hers. “But I think I get it now. Like, when I’d work at my dad’s office over the summers, I always felt like I was scamming someone. Like every choice I made was hurting someone down the line—I hated living that way. And now, thanks to you,” he light-heartedly tugged on a strand of her hair. “I get to go to work and I just have to worry about being the best person I can be that day, it’s nice.”
Yep, he was drunk. And way oversharing. But he felt like he should tell her, felt like she deserved to know, just how much she’d really helped him. Even when she had every right to hate his guts. “You are the best person I know, Aria Montgomery.” And he meant it. And Wren wasn’t sure if it was the wine or the way the moon made her green eyes look like they were glowing, but he really wanted to kiss her. So he did.
Wren cupped her face in his hand and scanned her eyes before dipping his head and brushing his lips against her own. He couldn't help but pull her closer and kiss her deeply. His hand moved to the back of her neck, his other drifted down to her hips wanting—needing—to pull her even closer. His lips moving against her own felt like the only thing he had done right in weeks, even though this was incredibly, monumentally stupid.
Just as he was about to pull her on to his lap, the door to the house flung open and the rest of their, very drunk, friend group came stumbling out. Finally, he realized his mistake and pulled away.
“I’m sorry,” he confessed, still breathless. “Fuck, I’m sorry.” Wren sat back and ran a hand through his hair. “We were just getting back to normal and I fucked it up. I am such an idiot. I wouldn’t blame you if you told me to leave, but I just missed you and, I don’t know, that was obviously not the right way to go about it. I’m such a dick, I’m sorry,” he couldn’t stop the words from coming out of his mouth.
Elle’s voice sounded from the pool below. Wren hadn’t even realized they had completely stripped down to their underwear until Elle had spotted him and Aria on the roof and demanded they join them in the pool. “You called the skinny dipping,” Wren joked, trying to defuse the tension. “What do you think?” He asked Aria, glancing over the edge and gauging the drop into the pool. It wouldn’t be the first time he’d jumped off the roof and into the pool.
Wren followed Aria’s lead and started pulling off his clothes, and his eyes may have lingered a second too long as Aria did the same. He rolled his eyes at Griffin’s comment about being a pussy and how Aria had more balls then him—the latter was definitely true, but still. “Fuck off, Novak,” he yelled back, flipping the other boy off. He lifted his eyebrows at the blonde to his side and shrugged before taking a running start and jumping into the water below.
Griffin hadn’t planned on taking Lena to his bed again tonight, but he certainly wasn’t going to complain about her ending up there. It was as if as soon as the boy started drinking, his brain went to his balls and his dick did all of his thinking. And by the end of that game of pong - god help him - he couldn’t get the image of her out of his mind.
Griff was convinced that the two of them had been able to slip away unnoticed, blissfully unaware that they hadn’t been nearly as sneaky as he thought they’d been - unaware that nearly everyone had been chuckling at their not-so-secret escape, and a drunk menace would be behind them shortly.
Finally finding an open room, the dark haired boy didn’t waste any time in backing Lena to the bed. They both wanted this, that much was obvious by their shared moans and eagerness to strip one another out of their clothes. Griffin’s head swam with intoxication and a whole lot of lust as he laved kisses across any open skin his mouth could find - her neck, her chest, and eventually he’d ducked down even further, his face planted between the brunette’s legs as he kissed up her thigh, shoving the girl’s dress up around her hips as he went.
He’d raised back up to press a kiss squarely across Lena’s lips for just a moment, his hand replacing where his mouth had just been and making slow, tantalizing circles against the lace of her underwear. Kissing along her jaw and eventually making his way to her ear, “I want to taste you.” the boy murmured, voice thick with desire.
Just as Griffin had began his descent back south, Beckett fucking Greene was throwing the bedroom door open in a fit of drunken exuberance. The damned audacity of that kid. “Not now, Beck.” The dark haired boy growled, hovering over Lena for just a moment in hopes that their friend would get the hint and leave, before ultimately rolling to his back beside her.
Annoyed was an understatement.
Although, the competitive side of Griff understood where Greene was coming from. He had just tried to get Eloise to kiss her ex and Beck’s mortal enemy just to spite him, so he supposed this payback was fair, albeit incredibly frustrating. The tent in his pants that he subtly tried to hide under the covers was proof enough of that.
Griffin couldn’t help but roll his eyes as dramatically as possible as he listened to his friend brag about scoring a kiss from one of Newport’s elite blondes in front of such a crowd, crooning on about how well the bet was going, and just how he had Elle eating out of the palm of his hands. The worst part? It hardly even seemed like he was exaggerating. Still, Griff couldn’t let that shit head know that he was winning. “Okay, she kissed you, but you gotta remember the bet was to make Elle fall in love with you.” He explained in a mocking tone, as if having to explain this to a child. “Elle isn’t stupid, she’s going to use you for exactly what she wants out of you, and leave you in the dust. The Princess of Newport surely isn’t going to fall for a ratty south sider with a rap-sheet longer than her law school essays.”
Novak let out a grumpy huff as Beckett settled between him and Lena, making himself far too comfortable in their shared bed. But, even the grump-master himself couldn’t help but crack a smile as the drunken boy launched himself out of bed, exclaiming his intentions of kissing Elle again. “You know what? You do that, Greene. But I want you to remember this moment-“ Griff laughed, pointing an accusatory finger in his direction. “Because right when you finally think you’re going to get it in with that girl, I will be there, and I will cock-block you so hard.”
And you’d better believe Griff had full intentions on following up with that threat.
Thats why no matter how much Griffin wanted to pick right back up where himself and Lena had left off, he snagged his discarded shirt from the foot of the bed and pulled it back over his head. “Rain check?” The boy asked with a small laugh, dipping forward to press another lingering kiss against Lanes’ lips. “We should get down there.” He sighed, pressing a second kiss to the girl’s forehead before crawling out of bed and offering her his hand.
The pair begrudgingly left the bedroom untainted and door wide open for next drunk couple to find - hopefully they’d have better luck than the two of them did. Together, the slipped back down the steps and into the raging crowd of drunken young adults, dancing and screaming the lyrics to each song that played. While Griffin had seen his fair share of wild parties on the south side, he couldn’t deny the fact that he’d never seen a rager go quite as hard as this one.
Finally spotting a familiar puff of brown hair pressed against the back of his little blonde counterpart, Griffin nudged lanes, quirking an eyebrow in their direction. Oh yeah. That had to stop.
Griffin weaved his way through the throng of gyrating bodies, eventually coming up behind Eloise and snagging her hand. “It looks like the birthday girl needs another drink!” He shouted over the music, passing his friend a wink from over the petite girl’s head. Despite her protests as he lead her into the kitchen, Griff still poured another shot, pressing it against Elle’s lips and tipping it back into her mouth before she could stop him. “It’s your 21st!” He excused, “You have to!”
After that final bit of liquid courage, it was clear that any inhibitions Eloise still had were long gone. The last party he’d seen the girl at she had been mourning a relationship and had just watched the boy she’d been developing feelings for slip away with her cousin for a one night stand - so she was understandably drinking the pain away. But tonight? No, tonight it was clear that the little blonde could party much harder than any of them had ever expected.
The rest of the night seemed to move in a blur as the four friends drank more and more. He remembered helping the girl’s up onto the bar and ogling as they’d danced together, another time he’d pulled Lena against himself, insisting that they dance together - that in itself could’ve been considered a small miracle. Griffin didn’t dance at parties, no, he preferred to hang around and smoke a blunt or sip a beer while everyone else lost their minds. But there was just something about the good vibes of the night, and the overwhelming urge to be near his long time friend and short-term hookup that made him want to pull her close and let loose like everyone else.
And then there was his favorite parts - watching the always perfect and poised Eloise Montgomery lay across a pong table, Beck sipping tequila from her exposed navel and Lena pouring straight from the bottle into the other girl’s mouth. Oh, and we can’t forget about the part where Eloise had not-so-innocently taken a shot glass out of Lena’s breasts with her mouth, tipping it back with no hands before the two shared a laugh. The whole time Griff had been dutifully documenting these encounters via snapchat, because there was no way he was ever going to their pristine and proper friend live this night down - but at that last one, Griffin couldn’t help but share a wide eyed look with Beck, a wicked grin on his face as they observed the two drunk girls.
He didn’t know what was happening - but damn he liked it.
“I’m hot.” The birthday girl announced, causing a mischievous “Yeah you are.” To slip from his lips, although it was clear that wasn’t what she had meant. Still - Griffin couldn’t help but be a little bit of a flirt - it was in his nature. Especially after watching the show that she and Lanes had just put on. But, the idea of stripping down and diving into a cool pool did sound rather tempting. The amount of people in the room and all of that body heat had made the room a little steamy, and Griffin was ready to cool off - especially if it meant seeing pretty girls undressed and soaking wet.
I mean, who could blame him? He was literally living like every guy’s dream.
Following his friends out onto the back patio, the boy’s jaw dropped at the sight of such a massive pool. He shouldn’t have been so surprised - Aria Montgomery came from one of the wealthiest families on the entire island - of course she’d life in a place like this. But still, he couldn’t help but be a little envious seeing all of this luxury for one small family, while him and his family all had to squeeze into a two bedroom double wide that was half-caving in. It didn’t seem fair, but hey, that was life he supposed.
Luckily, Griffin was quickly lifted back out of his sorrows as the girls began to strip, everyone racing to see who could get in the pool first. He took a moment to share another devilish look with his partner in crime before following suit, diving in close behind them. In true Griffin fashion, he hadn’t wasted any time in going after the girl, snatching them around the waist and tossing them across the pool, dunking them under the water, and even climbing onto Beck’s back at one point in an attempt to get enough leverage to push him under. The two boys had grappled and shoved almost as much as Lena and Elle during round after round of chicken, and eventually just went at each other in a full-on wrestling match.
Truthfully, Griffin couldn’t remember a time that he’d had this much fun with all of his friends in one place.
Griff spun around to face the roof as Eloise pointed out the missing party-goers, shouting up to them that they’d better get their asses in the pool asap. “Yeah McCoy, don’t be a pussy and jump!” Griff taunted, a grin on his lips. “I’m starting to think the little blonde has got bigger balls than you do!” He laughed, referencing the other Montgomery beside him. Okay sure, maybe him and Beck constantly picking at the kid wasn’t exactly nice - but the kid was a pompous ass, and to be honest it was just too fun to stop.
It hadn’t taken long for the two to agree, stripping out of their clothes and diving into the water below. This apparently had caused a domino effect, because shortly after their entrance came tons of others, each stripping down to their undies - or completely naked, in some cases - before jumping into the pull. In no time at all the pool had become almost as crowded as the dance floor had been.
With the distraction at hand and his arms looped around Lanes, Griffin almost hadn’t noticed a pair of plaid boxers and a little red bra slipping back inside. “Oh my god! Those little shits think they're going to get away with it!” Griffin gasped, pointing the two out to Lena just as they slipped out of view. “Go, go, go!” He urged, although laughing through the words as they tried to push themselves to the edge of the pool.
“Time for some payback.”
Wren damn near choked on his drink when Griffin suggested how they could raise the stakes of their ‘friendly’ game of pong. He glanced over at Eloise who looked even more uncomfortable by the suggestion as her gaze kept shifting over to where Beck was behind the make-shift bar. It was obvious that Griff was just trying to stir the pot and cause drama—but if Wren got to kiss Elle again he wasn’t sure he cared what the south sider’s motivation behind it was.
And he was positive that made him a bad person.
Things still weren’t back to normal between him and his friends, he wasn’t sure they would ever be, but this certainly wouldn’t help. Hell, he’d been shocked when Aria had invited him to this party in the first place. While things between him and his other friend had been steadily getting better—thanks to Aria getting him a job at the shelter—Wren had barely had time around Eloise to try and make amends. So he’d seen this party as an opportunity for the three of them to finally put the past behind them.
At least, that had been his plan before he watched Elle kiss Beck in front of the entire party. Wren had known she’d been spending most of her time with the south siders the last couple of weeks but he hadn’t know just how close she and Beckett Greene had gotten. Seeing them kiss had definitely been a shock to the senses. Then his plan had been to get rip-roaring drunk and try to forget that he’d seen that little spectacle in the first place, but before he could even down another shot, Griff and Lena had suggested they play a game.
Wren had never been able to say no to Eloise, especially on her birthday, so he had no choice but to agree. Plus it was an opportunity to hang out with her sans Beck which is something he would not pass up. He couldn’t help but smile when she knocked her shoulders into his. “Since when have you ever whooped ass at pong?” He teased. Wren tried not to think about the last time they’d played together, since that had been the shitstorm that started it all, but it felt nice to be by Elle’s side again. That was until Griff decided to make the game a bit more interesting.
The last thing he wanted was to ruin the progress they’d made since their fight at the ball, especially now that things were starting to feel normal again. But he wouldn’t turn down a kiss from Elle either. He looked over at his partner, waiting for her to make the call whether she wanted to play or not, it was her party after all. And Wren was more than a little relieved when his partner continued with her smack talk, obviously still intending to play.
He laughed as both Lena and Eloise took cracks at Griff for his motives behind the game. Wren wasn’t so sure that kissing the brunette across the table had been the boy’s sole reasoning for suggesting they play—but he wasn’t sure that he cared either way.
Eloise took the ball and lined up her first shot. There was no hiding the shock on Wren’s face as he watched her sink it. “I thought you were supposed to get better at this game the drunker you are?” Wren laughed as Elle tried to explain how her skills had gotten leagues better than they were the last time they’d played. But damn, if she played like that the entire game he was going to have to actually try in order to make sure they lost. So when it came time to line up his shot, he aimed slightly off so that the ball hit the rim of the cup before bouncing off the table.
Wren felt bad almost immediately after he missed the shot. Elle was happier than he’d seen her in a while and here he was trying to fuck it all up just for the opportunity to kiss her one more time. While Eloise was either having too much fun—or was too drunk—to notice that he was purposefully missing shots, his opponents seemed to be on to him. Wren shrugged his shoulders at Lena’s comment. “I guess so,” he conceded. “Good thing Elle has enough skill for the two of us,” he tried to laugh it off.
By the time they got down to the final cups, Wren was a smidge beyond tipsy, and Eloise had basically cleared the table all on her own. And even though he had been trying to lose, the game had been fun. It almost felt like things between he and Elle had gone back to how they used to be—or at least as close as he thought they were ever going to get.
Elle sunk the final shot and Wren was surprised again when she threw her arms around his neck. Seeing her so giggly and happy and excited was nearly enough to make his heart stop in his chest. He instinctually wrapped his arms around her waist and lifted her briefly off her feet as she celebrated. “Good job, Montgomery,” he laughed before setting her down as she told Griffin to kiss her ass. Maybe winning wasn’t so bad after all. Wren glanced over his shoulder to see how their opponents were taking their defeat only to find them already sucking each other’s faces.
“Well, I can’t say no to the birthday girl,” he laughed as Eloise took his hand and led him back to the bar to get another drink. Wren briefly caught a glimpse of Aria and Beck talking and he wondered what those two were talking about that looked so serious. But his attention shifted back to Elle as she pressed a drink into his hand. He took a sip as he looked over to the couple she was referring to. Lena and Griffin were already making a not-so-subtle escape up the stairs. “Damn, you’re right. They wasted no time,” he laughed.
He watched as Beck then made his way up the stairs after the other south siders. When Wren turned back to Elle his heart dropped a bit at the smile on her face as she watched him from across the room. He took a long drink from his cup, trying to dull the ache in his chest when Elle rested her head on his shoulder. Wren tensed a little when Eloise started talked about how, in another world, he and Beck would be friends. He seriously doubted that, the south sider was able to get under his skin better than anyone and the fucker knew it—but Beck was obviously important to her.
And for half a second, Wren wanted to be selfish. He wanted to tell her how sorry he was for everything he’d put her through. He wanted to ask her for a second chance. Wren knew he didn’t deserve one but if she decided to give it to him he wouldn’t risk fucking it up again. He would do everything in his power to make her happy for however long she wanted to keep him around. But she looked up at him through those lashes and he couldn’t do it.
Wren pushed a stray strand of hair behind her ear and smiled softly down at her. “As long as he makes you happy, I couldn’t hate him if I tried.” And that was the truth. Wren might not ever be friends with the guy, but as long as he made Eloise smile like this every day there was no way he could hate him.
Thankfully, that conversation was cut short as Aria made her way toward them. Wren drained the remainder of his cup as Elle perked up and jumped off the counter to give Aria a drink. He couldn’t help but smile now that the three of them were together again. It had always been them against the world growing up and those short couple of weeks without them had nearly killed him. He would do anything to never have to live through that again.
“You really did, Aria.” He agreed, pouring himself another drink. “I think this might be the best party of the year,” He raised an eyebrow at the girl and clinked his cup against hers before taking another sip. “Okay, Elle,” Wren turned around toward the bar again and lined up three shot glasses. “It’s your 21st, which means that if you don’t black out then we’ve failed you as friends.” He stated matter-of-factly, smiling at them over his shoulder before turning to hand a shot to both girls. “So, bottoms up.”
Griff’s plan was the work of an evil, shit-stirring, genius.
And it was no surprise that both of their opponents seemed more than a little caught off guard by the stakes of the game being raised, nor did it take a rocket scientist to venture a guess as to why Beck was behind the bar pounding shots after they agreed. Griff had definitely struck a nerve, and Lena might have felt bad about that if it weren’t for this stupid bet. Beck needed to get brought down a peg before someone actually got hurt, so she was more than willing to play along.
Plus the possibility of kissing Griffin again wasn’t a terrible motivator.
Lena did feel bad that Eloise was getting caught in the crossfires—of the game, of the bet. And from the glances she was stealing of both Wren and Beck across the room, it seemed that the girl was a little more uncomfortable with the added stakes than she let on. “Don’t worry Elle, he doesn’t always like to be on top,” Lena joked, trying to lighten the mood a bit more.
Though Lena couldn’t help but roll her eyes as Griff slung an arm over her shoulder and resumed being his normal, cocky self. “Well, it would lead to faster results.” But she had to admit the chase was half the fun. She leaned into him as Elle threw, and sunk, her first shot.
“Jesus, I have a feeling this is going to be a short game,” Lena laughed. “And I blame the generations of frat boys that are no doubt in the Montgomery family for the insane pong skills,” she added as Griff lined up his shot, and missed. “I thought you were supposed to be good at this game?” She teased.
Speaking of frat boys, Lena noticed—even in her increasingly intoxicated state—that Wren missed damn near every shot he took. “Having an off night, McCoy?” She lifted an eyebrow at him. Lena still didn’t like the kid, but she guessed he wasn’t being completely insufferable tonight. At least there had been no fights so far.
Despite Wren’s attempts to throw the game, Elle managed to sweep the table all on her own. The blonde sunk the final shot of the game with a squeal and Griff tossed back the last cup on their side of the table. She couldn’t help but laugh as the birthday girl boasted her win.
Lena typically hated to lose, but she was far from disappointed. And Griff seemed to share that sentiment. Especially as he wasted no time in closing the space between their lips and pulling her closer to him. It felt like the rest of the party fell away as her lips moved against his. Lena swore he was the only guy she’d ever been with that was able to make her mind go blissful blank. She wasn’t thinking about the consequences, she wasn’t thinking about what other people thought, and she definitely wasn’t thinking about the damned bet.
Her breath hitched slightly as she felt Griff’s hands travel down to her hips and pull her even closer to him. Lena smiled as she felt his kisses growing hungrier, more heated. Her teeth grazed his bottom lip as she forced herself to pull away and take a half step back—which tested her willpower more than she cared to admit. Lena felt the heat rising to her cheeks and she was still a little breathless as Griff reached his hand out and idly played with her fingers.
“It was alright,” she tried to sound nonchalant, though she was not at all convincing. A smile pulled at the corners of her mouth when he told her that maybe he wasn’t just trying to irritate Beck. “Wow, I’m flattered,” she teased.
Lena raised an eyebrow at him when he suggested that they cut the shit. “And what shit is that exactly?” Her gaze flitted briefly to his lips as he leaned in closer to her. Goosebumps rose on her skin as he spoke into her ear, so close that she felt his breath on her neck. Her heart beat a little faster when she heard his suggestion—it was definitely tempting.
She bit down on her bottom lip, considering the offer. Lena felt like it would probably only further complicate their situation. But at least now she knew where he stood, where they stood—just friends. Nothing more. She wouldn’t go into it with the same naive notions she’d had last time. This was just how Griffin was, and she would have to be okay with that. Not to mention he’d been the best lay of her life, although she’d never tell him that. He had a big enough ego as it was.
Lena looked around the room to find that their friends had all dispersed—Elle and Wren had made their way back to the bar, probably due to the fact that she and Griff just had their tongues down each other’s throats. And she noticed that Beck was, at least for the moment, distracted by Aria. If they slipped away now, no one would be the wiser.
“Fuck it,” she breathed. “Let’s go.”
She laced her fingers through Griffin’s as they made their way through the crowd of people and up the stairs. The first several doors they tried were locked before they finally stumbled into an empty one. They’d barely crossed the threshold before his lips were on her’s again, the door shutting behind them.
“Mm, no, tell me,” she responded, trailing kisses across his jaw and down the side of his neck as he backed her across the room toward the bed. She ran her hands over the muscles in his chest and down his stomach as they fell back onto the bed. Lena felt like she’d lost the ability to think—to breath—as Griffin brushed kisses along her neck and chest. Everywhere his mouth or hands touched felt like it had been set aflame. She curled her fingers into his hair and tugged at it, guiding his mouth back to hers.
She let out a breathless laugh when he told her that he was more interested in what was underneath her clothes. “You first,” she mumbled into his lips. Her hands skimmed the hem of his shirt and tugged on it until he pulled it over his head and tossed it to the side.
Then the door burst open.
She nearly jumped out of her skin at the noise and looked around Griffin to see what the hell was going on. As soon as Lena saw who stood in the doorway, she reached behind her, grabbed the corner of a pillow, and threw it as hard as she could at the figure. “Get the fuck out of here, Beck!”
Griff rolled onto his back beside her, looking as annoyed as she was by the interruption. But their friend—who seemed well past intoxicated at this point—evidently didn’t care that he had just become a colossal cock-block.
Lena’s dress had been pushed up her thighs, the fabric gathering around her hips. She tugged it back down as Beck walked further into the room, obviously planning on staying for a while—or at the very least, ruining the mood. Lena groaned and rested her forehead on Griff’s shoulder. “We really need to start locking the damn door.”
Was Beck going to kick his ass? Definitely. Was it going to be worth it? He sure as hell hoped so.
Griffin knew that daring Eloise to kiss Wren just minutes after she’d been lip-locked with Beck was all but a death wish, but he could only help it would be worth it. Their little blonde friend seemed like she was falling for their resident bad boy much quicker than intended, and that meant nothing but bad news for himself and Lena. Hell, no one had even expected Newport’s Princess to give Beckett the time of day, let alone kiss him in front of a whole room of influential north siders. Plus, Griff was almost always a hit it and quit it type of guy, so the fact that he kept coming back for more of Lanes was definitely a statement, and that wasn’t something he was willing to give up just yet. His only hope was that if Wren and Elle had to share another kiss, that it might stir up more old feelings, and put a hold on whatever was going on between her and Beck.
Not to mention, he was fairly confident that his undeniable pong skills would land them the win, despite the little blonde’s smack talk. “But where’s the fun in just asking?” Griffin teased, slinging an arm across his partner’s shoulders as Eloise and Wren lined up their first shot.
His jaw dropped when she sunk it.
“Holy hell, since when does she know how to shoot?” Griffin asked with a laugh, shaking his head as he lined up his own shot. “I swear, it’s in their genetics or something.” He joked, shooting and missing.
The game went anything but the way he had planned it, and was mostly filled with vague threats and lots of cursing on his end, and more taunts and giggles coming from the other end of the table. Although everything was in good fun, Griffin couldn’t help but notice that McCoy seemed a little off his game. And upon closer inspection, Grif figured out that the kid was doing it on purpose. That sneaky bastard. From the puppy-love looks he was stealing at his blonde counterpart, coupled with the fact that all of his shots were just slightly off, it was obvious that Wren was trying to throw the game in order to win a kiss from Elle.
It didn’t take long for the game to come to a close with Eloise sinking the final cup, letting out a holler and celebrating with her partner. “Well shit.” Griff huffed, tossing back the contents of the cup with one deep swallow. He was a little drunker than he intended to be by this points - but to be fair, he hadn’t intended to lose.
“Hmm.” He murmured as Lena feigned disappoint, returning her look with his own smirk. “What a shame.” He agreed, not wasting another second as he dropped his lips to hers. No matter how many times he did it, kissing her never seemed to get old - in fact, it was intoxicating. Even now he swore his head began to swim with lust, his hands reaching out of their own accord and yanking her hips to him. But damn her, the girl pulled away with a half-assed ‘good game.’
“Yeah, it was good, wasn’t it?” He mumbled, although not totally referring to the game. “Maybe I wasn’t just trying to irritate Beck?” Griffin returned with a cheeky grin, reaching out to toy with her fingers. Eloise and Wren had excused themselves, Beck was occupied with the other Montgomery girl across the room, and Lena and himself were left to themselves. “Let’s cut the shit,” He began, dipping his head in close to her so he wouldn’t have to yell over the pounding music. “Let’s go upstairs.”
It had only taken a couple of moments consideration for her to agree - thank god.
Griffin took Lena’s hand in his, quietly excusing themselves from the room as another group of rowdy partygoers took their places at the pong table for next game. It hadn’t taken long to weave their way through the party and make it up the stairs, trying a few already locked doors before he found a vacant guest bedroom.
“Have I told you how good you look tonight?” He mumbled, wasting no time in kicking the door shut and catching her lips in another kiss, backing her across the room until they fell against the bed. “Because you look so good in that dress.” He continued breathlessly, lips moving kisses down the side of her neck. “But I’m interested in what’s underneath.” He said with a wicked grin before moving his lips across her chest.
Fuck Beckett Greene.
Lucky for all of them, Griffin had just tossed his shirt aside when the jackass kicked open the door, leaving the rest of their clothing - and modesty - intact. “What the fuuuuccccckkkkkkk Greene!” The groaned, dropping onto his back beside Lena and throwing an arm across his face. “Can we do this literally any other time? Like, not now?”
Aria’s mind was running a mile a minute. She was no stranger to throwing parties when her parents were away and she always enjoyed a good weekend of drinking, dancing, and singing way too loud to songs she barely knew the words to. However, this week had been exhausting and she was more than ready to take a shot or two to loosen up her ongoing nerves about throwing Elle the greatest party of her life. Her friend deserved nothing less than the best. Aria would put up with Beck’s constant nagging every day of the week for her.
Still, Aria poured two shots just for herself.
Hearing the rest of the crew rifle in, she greeted each of them happily and began to pass out the array of tequila shots. She noticed Jasper near her and none other than Lucy, whom she had briefly been reintroduced to the day Beckett Greene decided to bless the Montgomery household with his ass. The two were talking, however, Jasper looked less than pleased and Aria found herself inching closer to the two. How could someone look so annoyed at a party? Nonetheless, a party that had just started.
After stepping closer to Jasper, Aria furrowed her brows at the words that had come out of Lucy’s mouth. Of course, she had only just re-met the kid and they were fresh into their friendship, considering she knew nearly next to nothing about the boy -- other than the fact that his family life seemed a little wayward and he had a nicotine addiction. But still, Aria didn’t ping him to be a liar and as he turned to offer her a drink, obviously trying to weasel his way out of the conversation with Lucy, Aria narrowed her eyes slightly and simply held up the two tequila shots in her hand. “I think I’m all set.”
As they toasted and cheered once Griff came back with a squealing Eloise across his shoulders, Aria instantly felt less stressed and her shoulders relaxed. She grimaced only slightly at the burn of the tequila, and quickly collected the glasses from the others and setting them in the sink. Catching Eloise helping her, Aria beamed to her friend and wrapped her arms around the blonde once again, giving her one last birthday hug. “I really hope you like this, Elle. it’s not too much?” Aria gestured to the party with a hand and sighed wistfully. “That Beckett Greene honestly insisted that we do something. I swear, that boy has taken quite a liking to you. He would not leave me alone this entire week, I almost shoved him off the marina dock,” Aria laughed, glancing back at Beck who seemed to be talking vividly about something with Griff. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen him so determined.”
Noticing Griff call out to Elle and Wren about a game of pong, Aria gave her friend a little shove back into the party, passing her a quick wink. “Make me proud, channel your inner Aria Montgomery and her hustling pong skills.”
Now left alone with Beck, Lucy, and Jasper, Aria turned to her old pong partner. But, Beckett already seemed to be conversing with Lucy, his eyes taking generous glances back over to Elle and the pong table. Damn, that boy was whipped. So, chewing on her bottom lip, Aria faced Jasper and eyed the drink he was clutching in his hands. “Actually, I think I’ll take that drink now,” she muttered, snatching the cup out of his grip and bringing it to her lips. Already she could feel the tequila and its effects taking a toll on her body and her words sounded far less menacing than she had tried to imply. Glancing up from her cup, she eyed Jasper once. “So, is Jasper even your name or are you lying about that too?" While a hint of a smirk fiddled on her lips as she echoed Lucy’s questions, she couldn’t deny that she was curious about Jasper and his secretive ways. Aria had no problem with secrets and, hell, she was a liar herself from time to time -- although only to her parents. Never to friends, or whatever she and Jasper were. It seemed that he also knew Lucy Baker more than he was putting on. “Listen, if your name is something weird, like Alfred or Edmund, that’s okay. I’m not one to judge.” She took another sip of her drink, nearly downing its components. It was whiskey and coke, her favorite and Aria was thankful that if Jasper was a liar, he at least could make a damn good drink.
The party raged on behind them, the kitchen was now nearly dark and the soft glow of neon lights flickered throughout her estate. Heavy bass-filled music thrummed throughout the home and Aria managed to climb up onto the kitchen counter and sit, legs dangling next to Jasper as she stared at him -- trying to figure out the north side boy who clearly had a knack for the south sideways.
That makes two of them.
"Okay, I tell you a secret and then you tell me one, deal?" She cocked a thin brow and gave the boy next to no time to object before she started again. "For example, I cry like a baby every time I watch Finding Nemo. Like, every time. It's pathetic, really. I think it's the little fin." Yes, Aria was definitely tipsy, especially if she was talking about Finding Nemo. She offered Jasper a soft smile and a quick flash of teeth before she urged him to give her a secret. "Okay, now your turn, and don't give me some weak shit."
The past couple of weeks had been quite out of the ordinary, and Griff wasn’t quite sure if he liked it. Whereas his evening were normally filled with hanging around Beck’s place and heckling Lena for free burgers from the diner, he’d been spending a lot more of his time alone lately. He’d been picking up extra shifts at the garage as often as he could, squirreling away any spare money he could get his hands on in order to hopefully eventually have enough to move out of the tiny trailer he shared with his mother and sisters - but that was hard when you paid most of the bills on said trailer. But even when Griff did find a spare few minutes in which he’d normally shanghai Beck for an evening of mischief, the kid was always with his newest play thing - Elle - and didn’t want any extra company to interrupt their time together. Occasionally Griff would join them for a trip to the diner, but that was about it.
Griffin tried his best to be indifferent to their new situation, but is he were being completely honest, he was a little butthurt that his best friend was choosing a bootycall over him.
He’d gotten word of Eloise’s birthday party from none other than the simp himself. Beckett was really going all out for this girl, and while even he himself had grown pretty fond of Elle in the few weeks she’d been hanging around their little gang, he didn’t quite understand why Beck was putting in so much effort just to get it in with the girl. She must’ve had one hell of a gorilla grip to keep that boy coming around for this long.
Regardless, Griffin had never been one to turn down a good party and free alcohol, so he’d shown up at the instructed time, only to find that apparently half of Newport had already beat him there. It’d taken him at least ten minutes of shoving through people to find someone he knew, and another five to hunt down Lena after Aria had pointed him in her direction. “All these years of being that bastard’s best mate, and you know what I got for my birthday this year? A case of beer.” Griff scoffed, slinging an arm across the brunette’s shoulders as he approached her from behind.
Although, if he were being honest, there probably wasn’t anything else he would’ve preferred. A good night, a case of beer, and his friends was all Griffin really needed to properly celebrate his birthday.
“Anywho, how much longer do you think we got until we can really get this thing going?” He asked, only for Lucy to squeal out that the birthday girl and bitch-ass-Beck had just arrived. “Speak of the devil.” He muttered, following Lena’s lead and tucking himself behind a piece of furniture, watching as Beck lead the Montgomery girl into a pitch-black foyer. Griff played his part, jumping out and hollering along with the rest of the crowd as the lights flicked on. And even if he were being a tad bitter today, he couldn’t deny that the genuine joy on Eloise’s face was kind of endearing.
“Happy birthday blondie.” Griff laughed, pulling Eloise into a hug shortly after Lena had released her from her own grip. “Or maybe I should say hottie? I see you, girl.” He teased, snagging Elle’s hand and giving her a quick tour. “Who knows, maybe Beck will have some competition if you keep wearing little dresses like that.” He joked, passing the girl a playful wink and shoving at Beck’s shoulder jovially. Sure, he was only joking, but it was kind of fun to watch Beckett squirm.
“You’ve got like, thirty seconds to get your ass in there before I come back and drag you in there myself.” Griff threatened as Eloise insisted she’d meet the rest of the crew in the enormous kitchen. He excused himself right behind Lena, following her in there to meet the other blonde Montgomery as she poured a line of shots for everyone. “Count me in, Ar.” He hollered before shoving his way back through the crowd and to the foyer, where he found Beck and his little companion locked in what looked like a heated embrace “Alright, alright, enough of that!” Griffin interrupted shorty after they broke apart. “We’ve got shots to do, let’s get this party started!” He insisted, snatching up a squealing Eloise and tossing her over his shoulder, clearing a path back to the kitchen.
Sure, the kiss was sweet, but Griffin has a bet to win. And the closer those two got, the closer he came to losing.
“To the birthday girl!” He toasted, raising his glass in the air to clink with all of the others before smacking it against the counter and throwing it back. Shaking off the burn of the alcohol as it slid down his throat, Griffin turned his eyes to Wren. “McCoy! Elle! Did I hear something about a game of pong?” He taunted, waggling his eyebrows suggestively. “Me and Lanes have got first game.”
Griffin didn’t give Lena a chance to argue, simply snagging her hand and dragging her to the pong table that’d been set up near by. “In an ode to our last party, and the game of pong that started this darling friendship of ours-“ Griffin began, smirking just slightly as he eyed his competition across the table. “Let’s make this game interesting. Losers have to kiss - and no pussy shit, either.”
For Grif, it was a win/win. If he and Lena lost the game, then they’d get a quick mack session, which would hopefully lead to exactly what it did last time. If Eloise and Wren lost, then he’d get to watch Beck’s skin crawl.
“I’ll even give you guys first shot.”
Lena had taken the day off of work to help Aria set up at the Montgomery estate for the party, and by the time people started showing up Lena was ready for a damn nap. Despite the craziness of the day, it was still fun to get to hang out with Aria — especially considering the fact that she’d barely gotten to see her other friends all week. Beck had been too busy with his ‘not dates’ with Elle, and Griff was…she didn’t really know. Things with Griff were different, uncharted — Lena still didn’t really know what to make of it.
She had also been surprised to hear from Aria just how much work Beck had actually put into planning this night for Elle. This was more effort than she’d ever seen the boy put into anything besides that damned boat of his, and for a girl, no less — even if that girl was Eloise Montgomery. He was taking a very different approach to the bet than Lena originally thought he would have. This was a version of Beck she’d never seen before.
By the time people started showing up, Aria was still running around trying to finish some last-minute details and Lena managed to slip away to get ready in one of the dozens of rooms in this place. Lena pulled on a pair of ripped black jeans and a tight white top, yet she was sure that she would look under-dressed next to the north siders here. She ran a brush through her hair and managed to apply some makeup before she heard even more people filtering in downstairs.
The foyer of the Montgomery house was filled with balloons, food, booze, and tons of people. The sight of it was so starkly different than how Lena had spent her 21st birthday that it was almost comical. She’d gotten shitfaced with the boys on Beck’s dock, and she’d spent most of the night, and next morning, sick — she didn’t remember much beyond that, but from the pictures and videos she had of it, it looked like she had a great time.
As she came down the stairs, Lena saw a familiar face in the growing crowd and pushed her way through people until she reached him. “Hey,” She said, nudging Griff in greeting. “You clean up nice,” Lena smiled, looking him over while trying to ignore the fact that her heartbeat quickened a little.
She heard Aria call out to them about how much time they had until Beck arrived with the birthday girl, and Lena pulled her phone out of her back pocket and checked her most recent messages. “Like fifteen minutes, I think,” Lena told her. “Go make yourself a drink and chill the hell out,” She joked, watching the girl flitting from one side of the house to the other trying to ensure that everything was perfect before Elle got there. “Everything looks great.” It really did. It was a party fit for Newport royalty, that much was certain.
Lena picked at the food on a side table, just now realizing that she had been so busy all day that she’d forgotten to eat. “What have you been up to?” She asked Griff, grabbing a handful of chips from a brightly colored bowl. “I cannot believe Beck helped plan all of this,” She said in between mouthfuls. “Where are these party planning skills on our birthdays?” She joked.
Aria’s voice called out to the partygoers saying that Elle had arrived. “Shit,” Lena muttered before dusting off the crumbs on her hands and ducking behind the snack table with Griff as the lights went out and everyone in the room quieted down and hid as well. The front door creaked open and Beck’s voice rang out only to be met with dozens and dozens of people screaming, Surprise!
The lights flickered on as the crowd jumped out to see Elle looking absolutely stunned and Beck beside her looking…honestly, he looked in love. And if Lena hadn’t known any better, she would have thought he really was.
She pushed through the crowd and hugged Elle right after Aria. “Happy birthday!” She pulled away and looked down at the girl’s red dress. “Okay, also you look hot, I love that dress.” Lena watched as Aria made a beeline for the kitchen to get Elle a shot. “Oh, wait, shots? I want one!” She exclaimed before following Aria into the kitchen.
The walk home from the Montgomery's had been an easy one. Jasper's parents beach house wasn't anything very extrodary, but Jas had always loved it. It was older, with a wrap around porch that had overgrown with sandy grass and shrubs. It was technically one story, but the attic had been refurbished for a bedroom and the house held large windows that had been knocked out a few times over the years due to hurricanes. Growing up his parents had mostly used it for a guest house for visiting relatives or to hold family picnics. As a teenager he had pretty much claimed it has his own and now he guessed in a way it was. His parents expected him to come live there once his phase in New York ended, but he knew he wouldn't. The island in all its beauty and horror was no place he wanted to grow old.
Jasper's head pounded and once inside he had copied Aria's number down before drinking a glass of water and debating on whether or not he needed to do any explaining to the Baker boys. It was a thought that made his migraine worse and he found himself rummaging through every draw in the kitchen for a Motrin while silently cursing himself for being so careless. It wasn't that Jasper was embarrassed about who he was, but he knew it would change everything about the illusion he had created for himself. Being around the South Siders was really the only thing Jasper enjoyed about being home. He wasn't ready to lose it.
With a defeated yawn he gave up the search for prescription relief and instead grabbed a bottle of Spiced Rum from the top of his refrigerator and made his way up the stairs and his room. If he couldn't change it, he might as well act like his mother's son and drink it away.
-----
Jasper's week had been boring. Other than the occasional text from Aria he had mostly hung around home, swimming and relaxing. His father hadn't returned to town and quiet conventionally his mother had also dipped out on some cruise. Jasper took the lack of being needed and having to run from house to house with a lot of stride. It wasn't until Aria invited him to a birthday party that Jasper actually got fully dressed for the first time in days.
Suprise parties were weird. Jasper had never actually had a birthday party so maybe that was why he never understood the point of one, but he went anyways. He wasn't going to lie to himself; he wanted to see Aria. He had thought about her blonde hair and fiery attitude far too much to admit to anyone; it was nice having a friend. So maybe that was why when he found himself stuffed behind a couch dressed in dark jeans and a loose shirt he was genuinely happy about it. Even yelling suprise hadn't been that bad.
"Well, now that all of that's done with, I'm getting a drink." Jasper sighed, a grin hanging around the corner of his lips. He wasn't sure anyone heard him over the noise filled room but he poured a few cups full of coke and Whiskey just in case. Behind him Aria entered on a mission of getting her cousin drunk. Beside him Lucy had seem to pop out of nowhere and her hovering form made him slightly unnerved. Jasper found himself mostly avoiding her gaze. He had been ignoring her since he had arrived and to be fair, she didn't deserve it. She hadn't told anyone about seeing him, not even her brothers.
The truth of the matter was that he just didn't really know what to say to her that wouldn't cause chaos for himself. "Want a drink?" He finally offered, pushing a mostly filled cup into her hand before glancing around at Aria who was at the opposite side of the island counter pouring shots out. "Is Jasper even your name or are you lying about that too?" Lucy asked, a question that led to Jas almost dumping his entire freshly made booze on his own two feet. Rock throwing and being so blunt? What had happened to the sweet innocent girl he'd known in the past. Jasper cocked his eyebrow and shook his head slightly. "I don't think I understand what you mean," He muttered, glancing back to see if Aria had overheard. "Want a drink to go with the birthday shots?" He called, wiggling the cup in his hand. He needed out of this conversation, the quicker the better.
“Yes, that is indeed a rock,” Aria said, her eyes watching the pebble soar through the air. Clearly, it had been meant for Jasper. The dark haired girl at the end of the driveway had been flailing her arms just long enough for Aria to glance at her. She looked somewhat familiar -- then again there were so many south siders that hung around that chaotic group that they sometimes had all blurred together.
As the rocked crashed into Wren’s forehead, Aria gasped. “Oh shit,” she whispered as her hand covered her mouth. However, noticing that the object didn’t do any terrible damage, her racing heart slowed and glanced back to Jasper and tried to hide a smile. “Now why on earth would a south sider try and throw a rock at you?” This boy was raising more questions every moment she seemed to spend with him. He was mysterious, cunning, and something about Jasper Hudson annoyed the absolute hell out of her mother.
So obviously she had to see him again.
Taking a pen out of her purse, Aria snatched Jasper’s arm and began to scribble her number onto the back of his hand. “If you ever want to leave the north side,” she started, popping the cap back on her pen and giving him a flirtatious wink, “be sure to let me tag along.”
With the setting sun pouring across her face, Aria smirked and started to head down the driveway, kicking off her sneakers and hanging onto them with a couple of fingers. She passed her family’s car and wrinkled her nose at the vehicle. There was no way in hell she would be riding home with her parents after that cluster fuck. She also would no doubt be slammed with a thousand questions from her mother. As much as she hated to leave her father to deal with the raging monster that was Mrs. Montgomery, that was a battle she needed to leave for him. Besides, her house was only a short walk away. The island was small, but the north side was even smaller.
Aria turned and walked backwards down the driveway as she neared the road. She gave Jasper one of those devious smirks from earlier and offered the boy a small wave of her fingers in departure. She called up to Wren and Elle, giving them a goodbye and ordering Wren to ice his eyebrow with a giggle. Passing the south siders, Aria only raised her brows at the crew, a small smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. Without their little interruption, Aria wasn’t sure she would have been able to make it through the rest of the dinner. “Next time, come before the second course!” Giving Lena and Griff and the new girl a wave as well, she made her way down the street, swinging her shoes in her hand and letting the golden rays sink into her skin.
----------------------
The oncoming week had been some of the most stressful days of her entire life.
Aria wasn’t a planner. She had never planned a damn thing in her twenty-something years of existence. She was the girl who snuck out randomly on weeknights, the girl who faced a challenge with a smile, and the girl who absolutely adored surprises.
However, planning a surprise, she was not good at.
With her parents being out of town for the next two weeks, he mother claiming that the horrific dinner party on Sunday had, and she quote, “shattered her soul and destroyed her willingness to spend another minute in Newport”, they had flown to their home in the Dominican Republic. Currently, Mr. and Mrs. Montgomery were sipping cocktails on the beach and doing what they did best -- run away from their problems. It was too perfect of an opportunity to pass up.
Good riddance.
Beck, surprisingly, was the one who reached out to Aria and wanted to plan something for Eloise. While the act was shocking and she thought the guy was just playing another sick joke on them, the kid was indeed serious about throwing a party for their favorite blonde. Aria noticed that Beck was indeed a planner, at least when it came to Eloise. All week he had bombarded her with texts and calls to make sure that the surprise was still a go. By Thursday, she had to stop responding to his texts, or else she would completely lose it. But, that act only resulted in the asshole disrupting her time relaxing at the marina pool or laying out on her family’s boat that was docked there.
He wanted everything to be perfect, and while the declarations were sweet and Aria liked the sense of comradery between the two, the kid really needed to chill the fuck out.
It didn’t take a genius to notice he liked Eloise Montgomery. A lot.
She had also texted Jasper here and there a few times. The two hadn’t seen each other since that exhilarating greeting where they found friendship over vandalizing Phil McCoy’s car. Wren had even shown her the video he was able to sneakily record of his shit stain of a father finding out his car had been keyed by not one, but two kids who craved rebellion like the salt craved the sea. Revenge was so, so sweet.
Of course, Aria had to invite Jasper to the party. The stunt he pulled at dinner instantly earned him the respect of Aria and Eloise. Even Wren seemed to like him, which was good because the poor guy needed a male presence to hang out with. While their relationship had always been easy going, there was still some awkward tension between all of them when they hung out during the week. Maybe it was Aria still being slightly heartbroken over the whole ordeal, or maybe it was the fact that Wren was noticing how much time Elle was spending with Beckett.
Things were good, but they weren’t great. Hopefully, tonight would be able to fix that.
“Lena, Griff!” Aria called through her estate as she rushed around like a lunatic trying to finish setting up the decorations. “How much time we got?” Large, pink balloons that spelled out “Happy Birthday Elle” hung from the wall right across the entryway. Large vases filled with pink and white flowers sat in the corners of the room while bowls filled with candy, chips, and countless of other unnecessary snacks littered every table in the house. If there was a surface, food and drinks were on it. Aria had purchased two kegs and had spent enough money at the liquor store to put even a college frat house to shame. That was definitely a sight to see -- a tiny, five foot nothing blonde walking out of the liquor store with cases and cases of alcohol. Apart from the slew of bottles that lined the countertop in the kitchen, making a makeshift bar, she had also borrowed speakers from Jack, who had fled the island and was now spending his summer in Mexico -- the damn coward. Flashing lights were strung inside her living room and she had even acquired a DJ for the entirety of the night.
She may have gone a little overboard.
Elle was worth it.
Slowly, everyone else entered Aria’s home and she was thankful that they had taken her advice and parked at the beach. It wouldn’t exactly be nonchalant if she had dozens of cars parked outside of her estate when Eloise arrived. North siders and south siders alike swarmed into the party and as the time neared closer for Elle’s and Beck’s arrival, Aria grew more and more antsy. She hadn’t even had time to ready herself for the party -- dressed in a strappy yellow dress that was a lot shorter than she had remembered. Her hair was untamed and large beach waves ruffled through her golden locks. Thankfully, she was able to grab five minutes of downtime to slap a small layer of mascara on and a quick glide of lip gloss. The night wasn’t about her -- it was about Elle.
“She’s here!” Aria called through her home, quickly trying to gather everyone into the entryway and hiding in the darkened shadows of the estate. While night was slowly approaching, she had to draw all the curtains and turn the blinds to darken the room. She had assigned Wren to turn the lights on as Eloise entered and Lucy, the one who had nailed Wren with the rock, was on lookout.
Taking her place and crouching down excitedly while the double doors opened, they waited for Beck’s echoed “Hello” until the lights flashed on and everyone jumped to shout “Surprise!” for the lucky birthday girl.
And damnit, Eloise’s face was priceless.
Aria wasted no time in rushing towards her cousin and wrapping her in the largest hug imaginable. “Happy Birthday, Elle!” She squealed, giving her one more squeeze before stepped back to gauge her reaction. “I know it’s not the bar, but in my opinion, this is so much better. And, I’m making you take a tequila shot with me.” She gave Eloise a quick wink before she flitted away to the kitchen to grab the newly twenty-one year old a celebratory shot.
“Yeah, maybe even a cuter couple than you and him!” Beck hollered down to Lena as she offered that he and none other than Novak would be a power couple.
What could he say, he and Griff had a bromance that no one could match.
It took a moment for Beck to realize that while seeing Wren McCoy sport the black eye he had given him only a few days ago was hilarious, it didn't take a genius to realize that there was more damage done to that boy than Beckett had taken part in. More bruises and cuts were visible across the north side boy's form and Beck slightly furrowed his brows at the sight. The kid looked rough, there was no denying that. Griff's voice rang out behind him and Beck turned to face him once, smiling and waving him off. While toying and taunting the rich prick was entertaining and an extreme sport in itself, seeing the slight vacancy in Wren's eyes and noticing that he didn't give much of an effort in his retort, Beck surprisingly backed off.
Beck was an asshole, a liar, and way too chaotic for most people. But, even he wasn't going to kick someone when they were already down. “I'd hate to see the other guy,” was all he offered the boy, no malice laced in his words, just the usual Beckett Greene charm.
His eyes lingered on Wren's disgruntled frame before quickly shooting his gaze over to the one and only Eloise. A full smile immediately appeared as he held his shirt in his hands, not bothering to put it back on. “Eloise Montgomery!” He mocked back, laughing wholeheartedly. He took in her stance: hands on hips, eyebrow cocked, and trying her best to muffle her laughter that was euphoric to Beck's ears. He noticed her stares as he dressed, and all he offered the girl was a suggestive wink and a devious smirk that she would know all too well. As Elle mentioned the cops, Beck rolled his eyes dramatically and stepped forward to her, closing the distance between them. “Wouldn't be the first time, Princess. I think I quite miss officer Shirley and her mullet.”
Beck then pouted, jutting out his bottom lip for dramatic effect as Elle stated that she would not be joining him on his streaking endeavors. He didn't take her prissy tone and petty jabs to heart. That playful smile and those enticing blue eyes that still held the same Eloise fire and he knew that, despite his absurd interruption, it had made her smile.
So, he smiled back.
As she began to shoo him away, Beck grabbed her arm for a moment, a daring shimmer forming across the boy's hazel eyes and right before he was about to pull his signature move and toss the girl over his shoulder, an object whizzed past his head. Without hesitation, Beck ducked and dragged Eloise down with him. “Jesus fuck,” he muttered, glancing back only to see a guilty looking Lucy trying to hide behind Griff. Beck instantly burst into laughter and shook his head as he stood, pulling Eloise up with him. “Allow me to introduce you to Lucy,” he told Eloise, trying to control his laughter as he gestured with an arm towards the cowering girl. “I would say she's harmless, but I guess that's now not the case.”
Transferring his eyes to Wren again Beck eyed where the rock hit home and the small cut that now sat above his eyebrow. Not wanting to get Lucy into any hot water, Beck quickly spoke up. “Easy, hotshot. Her aim is just crap. Don't put her on your shitlist just yet.” He eyed Wren's cut once more before he started to turn back towards his friends and his jeep. “Besides,” Beck called over his shoulder to Wren, smirking, “that is reserved for me and me only, right McCoy?” Giving that same smirk to Elle along with a wave, Beck descended down the lawn and back into the small group that awaited him. “I'll see you tomorrow, your cute little ass better not be late!” He called to Elle before hopping into the car.
“Elle is coming over tomorrow after my shift at the marina,” he told Griff and Lena as they situated themselves. “So, no unannounced visits, you two.” He shot them a warning look. As everyone piled in, Beck turned in the driver's seat to flaunt Lucy a proud smile and he reached over to ruffle her hair. “It's good to have you back, Baker.” Putting the car out of park and wasting no time in hauling ass out of the northside, Beck blasted his car radio once more and soaked in this moment with his crew as the Newport sun set once again on another reckless and memorable day.
__________________
“Eloise, if you ask for my opinion one more damn time about your dress I'm going to tear it right off of you,” Beck chided to a fussing Elle that sat in his passenger seat. While laughter laced through his words, he pushed her hands away that kept fiddling with the little red dress she had come to his house in. Seeing her stroll into his ramshackle of a home wearing a dress that left next to nothing to the imagination, Beck kicked himself mentally for having even an inkling of self-control. However, it didn't stop his jaw from nearly dropping to the floor and his heart race to quicken so much that he could feel the beats raging inside his chest.
Torture. All of this was pure torture.
For once, Beck was left speechless and it took Elle laughing at his dumbstruck state to snap him out of his trance. He fumbled over his words for a moment until he had finally given up and raked a defeated hand through his hair before dragging her out of his house and into his jeep.
The past week had flown by for Beck. He and Elle's daytime hangouts had become a routine. She would come over after his shift at the marina, they would work on his boat for a while until Eloise grew hungry. From there, they would attempt at making something for dinner, however, that mostly resulted in Elle scolding Beck for his lack of culinary knowledge and she would either take over or they would head over to the diner to visit Lena and Lucy. Sometimes Beck would call for Griff to join, sometimes Beck wanted his time with Eloise all to himself.
It was easy, he decided. It was easy to like her.
Throughout their time hangout out together Beck had realized that Eloise liked her coffee way too sweet, that whenever she wore her glasses Beckett had a hard time concentrating on his boat, her nose wrinkled when she laughed too hard, and that he was in deep, deep shit for noticing those things. Noticing meant caring. Caring meant nothing but trouble.
During his week with her, Beck had forgotten about the bet.
Throughout the week, he and Aria Montgomery had also been planning an elaborate birthday party for Elle. Aria's parents would be out of town for the weekend, leaving the girl alone inside one of the largest estates in Newport. The opportunity had practically fallen into their laps and, despite the fact that Aria was a north sider, Beck had a hell of a time planning the perfect party for his newfound friend -- or, whatever they were. Even Beck didn't know, anymore. Their flirtation and sneaking glances of each other had only amplified during the week. Beck's advances became more venturous, crossing a line in their relationship little by little every day. Hell, he was surprised they hadn't kissed yet. Beck certainly wanted to and, by the way she handed his devious and suggestive retorts right back to him, Beck had a good guess that Elle wanted to as well.
He just had to grow the balls to actually do it.
As they headed into northside territory, Beck glanced down at his own outfit. It was the nicest pair of jeans he owned. A light wash with a busted knee along with the only shirt he could find that would hopefully impress Eloise. A blue and white striped and loose fitting short sleeved button up with almost half of the shirt unbuttoned due to the perpetual Newport heat. He had even worn his white chucks, shoes that he only busted out for special occasions. He was simping hard for this girl, and, damnit, part of him didn't even care that he was anymore.
“So, any idea where I'm taking you, Princess?” He asked, a smile toying along the edges of his lips. Beck had to, for once, concentrate extremely hard on the road, or else the next time he snuck a glance at Elle he wouldn't be able to tear his eyes away. The setting sun left golden rays through his jeep and Beck's knuckles tightened on the steering wheel as the light hit her eyes. Shit, shit, shit. Focus, Beck. “I promise, it's a better date than the diner. While the burgers are good, I think you deserve something a little more… surprising for your birthday.” He gave Elle a warm smile before he turned down a familiar road and slowed his jeep to a park right outside of Aria's house where a hundred of Eloise's closest friends sat waiting for their arrival.
He had to give it to Aria, she did a damn good job of planning. Nearly no cars were parked outside of her estate as she had all of them park at the beach only a short walk away. He had texted her when they had left Beck's home and he made sure to actually drive the speed limit, believe it or not. Giving the girl as much wiggle room with time as he could.
He wanted this to be perfect.
Once she had escaped his car, Beck reached over and grabbed her hand and laced his fingers through her own. Yesterday Beck had snatched Eloise's hand for the first time when they were leaving the diner after inhaling chocolate milkshakes and a plate of fries nearly as big as the table. She didn't pull away and Beck practically beamed the whole drive home.
Seeing Elle looking confused as to why they were at her cousin's home, Beck smirked and only tightened his grip on her hand as he led her up the large stairs and onto the front porch. “Relax, Elle. We are just making a pitstop. Aria wanted to give you her present before I stole you for the night.” He lied and chuckled down at her. His hazel eyes lingered on her blue hues for a moment, before they traveled to her lips, and then to the large double doors. “It will only take a second.”
Not being able to handle the nerve-wracking anticipation, Beck passed Eloise a quick and signature wink as he pushed open the double doors quickly and lead her into the shadowed foyer. The lights were off and the curtains had been drawn closed, leaving them encased in darkness. Beck let out a confident, “Hello?” before the lights flashed on, revealing a slew of familiar faces of north and south siders alike. Everyone grinned widely at Elle and a loud roar of, “Surprise!” Filled the entirety of Aria's home.
Laughing and staring at a gaping Eloise, Beck's face was pure and unfiltered joy. He leaned in and whispered in her ear as the stampede of party-goers started to rush towards them.
“Happy Birthday, Eloise Montgomery.”
Wren was basically seeing red as Elle pulled on his hand, away from his father. He turned to survey the room and found that everyone had jumped from their seats at his father’s outburst and Wren’s retaliation. Though his eyes slid over to Elle again, making sure that she really was okay. He knew she could take care of herself — that much was evident from how she didn’t back down from his father, but he also knew the extent to which Phil McCoy’s temper could go.
The scene they left at the dinner table was a clusterfuck as the Montgomery’s were still standing around, unsure of how to proceed, and Phil McCoy was drenched in red wine, sporting a swollen jaw, and still basically had steam blowing out of his ears. For a moment, Wren was terrified about what he’d just done, but he realized he didn’t have to see his father again. He was out of the house — out of that side of the island, and if he had never been more glad for it. Then he felt immensely grateful to have friends willing to fight for him like Elle and Aria had, despite everything that had happened between them. He was floating on that feeling when he saw Beckett Greene streaking across the lawn, and suddenly that simmering rage that he’d just felt sitting across from his father returned with a vengeance.
This kid had to insert himself at the least opportune times and was possibly the most self-absorbed, intolerable man he’d ever had the displeasure of meeting. Wren thought that their fight from the other night would have been enough to get the urge to punch the kid out of his system, but seeing him standing there in Elle’s yard with nothing on but those nasty ass chucks, made him ready for another brawl. What made it worse was the fact that Elle didn’t seem all that put off by the show Beck had just put on for them. In fact, she even said that she’d see him tomorrow. Which just made him want to punch the kid even more.
He knew it was none of his business what Elle and the south sider were doing. He tried to tell himself he was just grateful she was still speaking to him, her and Aria both. He also tried to remind himself that this little feud between him and Beck was what had gotten Wren into this position in the first place. So, he tried to take a deep breath and chill the fuck out. It only helped a little. He wished he didn’t care as much as he did — it would make everything so much easier if he didn’t.
He would not get into another fight. For Elle’s sake, he would not fight Beckett Greene right here, right now. No matter how much he wanted to. He repeated it to himself in his head like a mantra until he felt collected enough to respond to the boy’s comment about not wanting to see Wren naked. “I’ll try not to be too disappointed,” Wren tried to sound bored and unbothered, though there was an edge to his voice.
Wren looked over at the little group of Beck’s friends all piled on the front of his Jeep watching this all transpire and he rolled his eyes. Where Beck went, they all went apparently, and he was getting really damn tired of seeing that entourage. Though there was a face there he didn’t know. He hadn’t even noticed she was there at first until she started yelling and flailing her arms about, apparently trying to catch Jasper’s attention. Wren looked over to Aria and Jasper a few feet away who seemed to either not hear the girl, or be ignoring her completely.
“As fun as this is,” Wren growled, turning his attention back to Beck. “I’m really not in the mood, Beck. So if you and you’re little posse could get the hell out of here—“ He was cut off mid-sentence when something hard came hurtling at his face. “Fucking ow.” Wren’s hand immediately went to his forehead and felt a little gash above his eyebrow. He bent down and picked up a small rock that had been thrown from the direction of Beck’s friends. “What the actual fuck?” He asked in their direction, seeing that girl who had been desperately trying to get Jasper’s attention, now hiding behind that Griffin kid.
Beck could talk a big game as much as he wanted, Griffin knew better, and could see right through his friend's lies. Beckett Greene was a renowned lady killer and known on the south side of the island for his ability to win girl's hearts... and then crush them. If he had the blonde Montgomery girl right where he wanted her like he claimed, she'd surely already be in his bed. But no, there was something off about the way the two interacted. She was much too comfortable around a south sider for her status, and he seemed a little too... gentle.
Griffin knew that his friend was faltering in his quest to win over the princess of Newport, he wasn't sure how and he didn't particularly care, because any hiccup in Beck's plan meant he was a step farther from winning the bet, which placed Griffin at an advantage to keep his relationship going with Lena. Well, maybe relationship wasn't the correct word - Griffin didn't do relationships - but he sure as hell wanted to keep whatever they had going.
A part of him had expected Beck to turn down the dare purely for the fact that it could put him in hot water with Eloise. And frankly, that'd been Griffin's entire purpose in daring him to do it in the first place. The bigger wedge he could drive between the two budding lovers, the better for him. However, Griff was pleasantly surprised when Beck accepted without a second thought, and insisted they all pile into the jeep. The boy almost declined, because surely his friend had to have been drunk to agree to get himself into some deep shit with his newest little pet.
The drive to the Montgomery estate was amusing in itself, with Beck tearing through the mansion lined roads and causing the biggest scene that he could. It'd be a wonder if the cops weren't already waiting for them by the time they pulled up.
As soon as Beck threw the car in park at the edge of Eloise's driveway, Griffin leapt from his seat, leaving the passenger door wide open so he could take in the monstrosity that was about to take place. "You better make it a good show!" He called, watched as his friend made his first lap across the large windows at the front of the home, losing more and more clothing with each pass he made until he was left in nothing other than his old dirty chucks and a bandana.
Admittedly, the look on Eloise's face was not nearly as satisfactory as he had hoped. It was clear that she was trying to put on a front of anger, but was nothing but amused under the scowl she wore. The north side boy that was always stuck up her ass though, was a very different story. The poor kid already looked like he had been having a bad day, and the sight of a naked Beckett Greene dashing past the girl he was limping over's window surely hadn't helped. "Awh, give the kid a break, Beck! Look at him!" Griffin called as Beck taunted the boy, though he was fighting off laughter as he did so.
Griffin had been so distracted by Beck's display that he'd hardly noticed Lucy calling out to one of the other boys. But he didn't miss the rock that she launched towards him, which landed far from it's mark. "Oh shit!" He laughed, losing himself in hysterics as the already seething boy not only had to deal with a naked Beck testing his patience, but had a rock thrown at him by one of their friends. Griffin doubled over, clutching his stomach as his belly ached from the nonstop laughs, trying desperately to regain his composure as Lucy scurried to hide behind him. "Nice shot, Luce." He chuckled, swinging an arm across the girl's shoulders affectionately.
Here she was, only back with the gang for a couple hours and already taunting their favorite north sider to target.
Lena walked in with dinner just in time to hear Griff say that someone, though she could probably guess who he was talking about, wasn’t nearly as good looking at he was — then asked Lena to confirm that statement. She rolled her eyes and shook her head at him. “My favorite thing about you, Griff, is how humble you are,” She joked passing him a grin as she set down the bags of food. The girl felt Beck kiss the top of her head and she pushed him away from her at his comment about stealing her for himself. “Stealing me from him suggests he had me in the first place,” She quipped, taking a sip of her drink and sitting down with her plate piled high.
She took a big bite of her burger as Beck told her that she and Griff were sure to lose the best. She swallowed and took another sip of her drink. “Mhmm, I feel like you’re acting too cocky at this point. Overcompensating?” She asked with a smirk but scoffed at Griff’s alternative to what Beck suggested she do with Corban. Lena elbowed him when he winked at her. “You’d like that,” She rolled her eyes, and she took another drink when she felt her cheeks flush a little.
It felt good to have just a night alone with her friends without any north side drama, even if that drama was a pretty large conversation point. Lena sat back in her chair as she dipped her last French fry in the pool of ketchup on her plate and tossed it in her mouth. She was two and a half drinks in and feeling it when Beck mentioned that more would be joining them. Lena stood from the table and followed her friends outside to see Griff and Beck greeting a girl she hadn’t seen in years. “No way,” She exclaimed and pulled the girl into a brief hug. “Lucy! How have you been?” She asked, genuinely.
The girl had hung around with their friend group when they’d all been in high school, though that felt like a lifetime ago. Lena remembered that Lucy had been on the quieter side, but had been surprisingly willing to put up with their dumb asses and all the trouble they used to get into. “What brings you back to the island? Weren’t you out in California?” She asked, listening to the girl until she heard Beck say something about setting the bikes up. Lena looked back behind the house to see Beck’s ramp had been set up.
“Jesus Christ, again with the fucking ramps? As much as I love watching you guys bust ass, does the prospect of death not scare you at all or?” She watched as they hauled the bikes on to the lawn and prepared themselves to do whatever stupid shit they were planning on doing. She needed another drink. She skipped the coke this time and poured herself a stiff glass of whiskey before reluctantly returning to the backyard and the redneck death trap they had set up.
She knew she was the mom of the group because this stuff always made her nervous, but also…it was still pretty entertaining to watch. So she took a seat on Beck’s porch to watch the show. Though she almost choked on her drink when Beck suggested Griff make the jump with his eyes closed. “Griff, do not — oh my God,” She was about to say more when Beck cut her off, telling her to either record or to not watch at all. She flipped him off when he called her a mother hen, but she pulled her phone out to record the stunt anyways.
“I feel like I’m recording an episode of Jackass,” She told them hitting the record button. “Or one of those videos of accidents on the news,” Lena started imitating the voice of a newscaster. “Local dumbasses, Griffin Novak and Beckett Greene, died Sunday night in a fiery four-wheeler accident after their shitty homemade ramp collapsed…” She joked. Though she had trouble keeping the phone steady as Griff climbed on, closed his eyes, and took off toward the ramp. She wished she had elected to close her eyes.
Lena let out a breath she didn’t know she had been holding when the four-wheeler connected with the ground again, Griff still on top of it — though he had barely hung on there towards the end. Griff approached their group again, looking triumphant. “You’re an idiot,” She mused, shutting off the recording. But she couldn’t help but bark out a laugh when Griff dared Beck to go streaking on the Montgomery estate. “Or are you a genius?” She chuckled. “But that would put Beck at a disadvantage in the bet. Once Elle sees him naked I really doubt she’s going to want to come back for seconds,” She joked.
Griffin couldn't help but laugh as Beck immediately tried to deny each and every piece of Griff's statement. "Dude. That was such a date." He argued, still shouting from the living room floor as he rolled around with the little ball of fluff that was Cali. "And I think if it had went 'perfectly according to plan' then you'd already have her panties in a trophy case somewhere, you freak." He laughed, finally pushing himself up from the floor and joining his friend in the kitchen. "You act like I haven't known you for like ever, it's not like you to play the long game, Beck."
The boy barked out a gruff laugh as Beckett warned him to start preparing a break up letter for his latest conquest, Lena. "I wouldn't be so confident if I were you." Griffin challenged, jumping up to sit on the edge of the counter. "Just because you're the princess of Newport's newest play-thing doesn't mean she's going to keep you around to seal the deal. We're just cheap entertainment for girls like her, you know that." Sure, maybe Griffin was being a little harsh on his best friend, but a confident Beck was a dangerous Beck. At the end of the day, Griff was still banking on the fact that his friend wouldn't be able to score with the blonde north sider, because he sure as hell wasn't ready to give up this new thing he'd found with Lena.
Plus, bringing up Loafers had pissed him off a little.
"He may have the money, and the cool car, and the rich guy swagger - but Lena's better than that." He bartered, although he wasn't sure how much he believed his own words. "It'll take more than that for her to fall for that douche bag. Plus, he isn't nearly as good looking as I am." Griffin accentuated the last half of his statement just in time for Lena to roll in with armfuls of food and booze. "Aint that right, sweetheart." The boy teased, passing her a flirtatious smirk as she shuffled past her to start creating his burger.
Griffin made himself a fat burger and snagged a beer from the fridge before taking his seat back on the counter, digging into the food without a moment's hesitation. He gagged as Beck insisted she not let her new boy-toy stray too far, making quite a show of coughing and rolling his eyes. "Or-" He countered around a mouth full of food, quickly chewwing and swallowing the bite that'd filled his mouth. "You can let him stray. Far. Really, really far." He offered with a cheeky grin, passing the girl a wink as he bit back into his burger.
After the three of them had successfully finished their food and at least a couple rounds of drinks, Griffin followed Beck out the door as he mentioned the potential for company. What he hadn't been expecting, however, was the small brunette that'd greeted him as he kicked the door open. It took him a moment to fully realize who was standing in front of him, and had only pieced the puzzle together once he recognized the family resemblance of the Baker genes. "Lucy fucking Baker, long time no see." He grinned, scooping the girl up in a tight hug, lifting her feet off the ground for a brief moment before he placed her back down. She'd hung around them in high school, mostly a fly on the wall but always ready for a good time, and Griffin had ran with her older brothers for the last couple of years. "God, it's been years, girl." He laughed, slinging an arm over her shoulder affectionately. Who knew if the kid was just tipsy, or in a particularly good mood. "There's food and drinks in the house, go make a plate and meet us back out here." He insisted, shooing the girl into the house once she'd greeted the rest of their little gang of friends.
It didn't take long for their rag tag group to get into mischief, and next thing he knew he was being dared to jump a ramp with his eyes closed. "You're on, Greene - but if I make it, I'm shaving two weeks of your deadline for the dare." He bartered, slinging a leg over his bike and kicking it into gear. The old engine roared to life, puttering for a few moments as if it were about to give out on them before finally finding a steady rhythm. Griffin took a moment to steady himself and line the bike up with the ramp before passing his friends an overly confident grin, squeezing his eyes shut and cranking back the accelerator.
To be completely honest, Griff wasn't really sure if he'd actually landed the jump or not until he felt the tires of the bike slam into the ground, nearly sending him over the handle bars before he was able to even it out. He slowed the bike to a stop as he jumped off, turning to throw his fists in the air in success towards his friends as he approached them once more. "Okay, your turn for a dare." He began, brown eyes sparkling with mischief as he eyes his friend and fellow trouble maker. "I want you to go streaking." He began, pausing to smile deviously. "Around the Montgomery estate."
As the boy took the key from her, Aria cocked a brow and she crossed her arms over her chest. Either he was going to toss her house key right into the trees that surrounded the Montgomery Estate, or he was about as stupid as she was. She was hoping for the latter.
Aria watched the boy put out his cigarette and she wrinkled her nose at the sight. The crisp scent stung her nostrils. She also took note of the way he looked at her outfit for the night and there was no missing the slightly disgusted look in his eyes as his gaze ran over the god awful dress her mother had put her in. “Yeah, I hate it too,” she muttered, mostly to herself.
Hearing the boy speak and lower himself to hide behind the car, a satisfied smile appeared, and Aria watch as he drove the key right into the red paint. He used a little more force than she had even applied and Aria didn’t know whether to be impressed or curious as to how he managed to drill the key that far into the car. She giggled at his words and kept taking quick glances back at the house to make sure they still hadn’t been spotted. “I like the way you think, stranger.” She hastily snatched the ket back from him once his masterpiece was completed and stuffed it back inside her purse -- disposing of all evidence.
“Either you’re a pro at this or you must know the shit stain that is Phil McCoy,” Aria nodded her head towards the words on the car. Before he was able to answer, screeching tires sounded down the street and thankfully her partner in crime had the same idea of hauling ass up and out of the driveway. “Shit,” she hissed as he grabbed her hand and led her up to the front door. Panting lightly, Aria scanned his features once more. Designer clothes, clean shoes, good hair -- yes, he would impress her parents for the evening. He looked like the picture-perfect boy from the north side, but his attitude said otherwise. Thank God.
Aria Montgomery may have found someone just like her.
The front door opened with a small creek and Aria stared at the entryway with wide eyes for a moment. “You know if you step in, there’s no damn way out.” While her words were true, a hint of playfulness tinged her voice and Aria took one step in before turning back to the boy and extending a hand. “How about we ruin Phil’s night even more, shall we?" A daunting smirk and a narrow of her eyes was all the boy seemed to need before he followed her into the depths of Hell, meeting her mother shocked gaze as she strolled into the dining room.
“Sorry, we got held up!” She sang through the room. They seemed to have walked in on a conversation and Aria took her seat next to Wren and gestured for her new companion to take her opposite side. Catching Wren’s statement on how he would always be there for his friends, Aria sank into her chair and gave her long time friend a warm smile. She grabbed his hand under the table and squeezed it once before returning it back to her lap. “We both are lucky to have someone like your son, Phil.” She accentuated Wren’s Father’s name ever so slightly, forcing a tight smile with sharp white teeth towards the asshole.
“Aria, darling, who may this be?” Her mother asked from across the large table. Her harsh eyes stalked the new dark-haired boy and Aria glanced at him to see how he was handling the cold as ice glare. Thankfully, he seemed to be managing his own very well. Aria quite liked this curious boy.
“This is…” Aria started cheerfully until her voice slowly dissipated. Shit, she had dragged this poor guy into a lion’s den and she hadn’t even known his name. Her large green eyes glanced at him and she urged him to save her.
How unusually for a North sider, Jasper thought, instantly taking the shiny key from the tiny blonde's hand. He had noticed her from the start of the driveway and not just because she looked like a dwarf from all the way back there. It was the color of her dress that his eyes couldn’t unseen even if he had begged them to. It was absolutely awful; the color of a nursing home where grandparents went to die. It wasn’t until he was almost on top of her that he had realized what the little wasp was actually doing.
This was the kind of thing he always expected out of kids who grew up in the South side streets, but not at a dinner party amongst the wealthiest of the town. Who would even dare? With a silent smirk, Jasper put his cigarette out and gazed down at the shiny red paint. It belonged to the McCoy’s, a fact he only knew because his father did a lot of business with the man; probably some form of embezzlement or laundering of money. Although Jasper stayed the hell out of his parent’s way, he had sat through a few dreadful cocktail parties in which Phil had attended. He was someone Jasper had never been very fond of.
“I think,” Jasper began while lowering himself so he could see what he was doing better. “That ‘small dick energy’ might be more efficient. It will crush his pride.” He didn’t bother to wait for approval before pressing the key in deep. He wasn’t just going for the paint chip effect, he wanted Phil to have to completely replace the doors if he ever wanted to shed the embarrassment. It was over quicker than he had wanted it to be. As soon as he’d carved the last letter into energy, he straightened himself, brushed the paint and metal shavings from the front of his clothes, and politely handed the key back. “Well, that was fun. I needed that.” He mumbled, actually taking a minute to observe his new partner in crime. She had a very innocent, life sized doll, kind of look. Although there was the slightest hint of familiarity in her features Jasper decided he probably didn’t actually know her. Maybe he’d seen her at a fundraiser or something. He was just about to ask when the sound of tires interrupted him. A car was turning into the driveway and he definitely did not want to get caught at the scene, red handed. He gently grabbed the hand of the girl, whose name he still did not know, and quickly walked them away and up the stairs of the beautiful house in front of them. Once at the top he let go of her hand, politely opened the front door, and waited for her to enter first.
Hugging her friend made a small part of Aria Montgomery whole once more. While it was unexpected and Aria stilled slightly as he pulled her in for another embrace, she melted into his arms and wrapped her tanned arms around him and gave the boy a tight squeeze. Before pulling away, Aria rubbed Wren’s back for a moment, hearing the uneasiness inside his voice as he spoke about the dinner. “I can be bad again, don’t worry,” she teased, pulling away with a wink and a smile. While she wasn’t sure if their friendship would ever go back to normal, and Aria would certainly try her best, it was kind of nice to harmlessly flirt with him. Just like old times.
As Wren initiated that she should key both sides of the priceless car, Aria only shrugged lazily. “It’s like you don’t know me at all, Wren McCoy.” Backing up inside the shelter, she returned Wren’s raised eyebrows with her own. “Guess you’ll just have to wait and see what shit I can get into when I’m left unsupervised. It seemed to work out somewhat well in your favor last time.” Aria giggled and left him with those suggestive words and playful glances.
Her day went by relatively quickly, she tried to spend as long as possible at the shelter before returning to her boasting mother and wayward father. Aria’s mom had already laid out a ghastly seafoam green sundress and had only given Aria two seconds after walking through the door before she started tending to her beach hair and sun-kissed face. Despite Aria’s protests, her mother had left her daughter looking like a barbie doll. Scrunching her nose at the getup, Aria slid on her white sneakers instead of the heels laid out for her and did her best to ignore her mother’s exclamations about etiquette and elite style. Her father, bless his heart, did the same.
Rolling up to her cousin's familiar estate, Aria gulped once. While she and Elle were no longer fighting and things had gotten cleared up for the most part, Aria still feared to see her fellow blonde again. They hadn’t exactly spoken since last night, which was unusual for the pair. Wherever Elle went, Aria was sure to follow. Her day had felt off not having a text from her best friend and she still felt too guilty to send one out.
“I’ll be there in a minute,” Aria called to her parents as they parked next to Wren’s father’s shiny Ferrari. The red glimmering in the setting sunlight. Clutching her purse tightly, Aria’s hands rumbled through its contents until her fingers grasped the small and golden house key with a sly smirk on her face. Snapping her head to scan the surrounding area for any possible witnesses, Aria then crouched next to the expensive car to hide from the large windows that lined Elle’s home. Without hesitation, Aria raised the key and positioned it right about the back wheel, claiming a spot and dug it into the exterior. She scooted down the length of the car, her key still making its home against Phil McCoy’s most prized possession. She couldn’t help the shit-eating grin that spread across her face as she drove the key right to the headlight. “Oops,” she giggled to herself.
Standing up slowly, casually brushing her golden waves over her shoulder, Aria rounded the front of the car and readied the key for the other side. Just as she was about to drag the key some movement down the driveway captured her attention and Aria quickly stepped away from the car, placing her hands behind her back and plastering an innocent look on her face. She faced a man about her age and she quirked up a brow at the cigarette that sat between his lips. Shit, she had been caught. “I promise, the dick hole had it coming,” Aria babbled, less than ladylike as she examined the slightly familiar stranger. Definitely a north sider by the way he dressed, but the way he carried himself screamed otherwise. His tall form and dark eyes caused her to purse her lips slightly. She knew him. But from where?
As he neared her, Aria removed her hands from behind her back, seeing that he didn’t exactly look shocked at her destroying someone’s property. If anything, she may have seen a glimmer of approval in those chocolate eyes. She inhaled the smoke from his cigarette that wafted in between them as he now stood in front of her. While she wasn’t a fan of cigs, she wasn’t opposed to them either and she breathed the thick fog in. Anyone who smoked had a reason for it -- she wondered what his was. A north sider smoking, and looking damn sad while doing it was a rare sight. Almost as rare as an elite golden girl keying a Ferrari in a dress and beat-up sneakers.
The poor girl had to crane her head back to stare up at him and Aria squinted her green eyes from the sun. She adjusted her stance to where he stood in front of the rays, providing the tiny girl with some shade. Chewing on her bottom lip and shifting her weight, Aria held out the key to the boy. “You want in? I was going to write ‘fuck you’ on the side, but maybe you have something more creative?”
Jasper Walton Hudson
21, North Side.
Having grown up on the North Side, Jasper was sent inland throughout his childhood to attend boarding school and was rarely seen by the other local kids. He has spent the last three years in New York City for college, trying to put as much space between himself and his overwhelmingly dark past. Now he is home, staying in his family's guest house on the beach, and counting the days in which he can finally leave this place and never return.
The Hudson’s have always been criminals. Wealthy with tainted money, all of it earned and ripped from the hands of the people who deserved it most. A lot of them from the South Side, most of them from the midland. Their property has high security, gifted by nature itself; it’s surrounded by marshland with only one way in or out. Jasper has grown up in a lavished life-style, one if which he has never had to experience what it’s like to go hungry. He has never worried about new clothes, college tuition, paying bills, or any of the alternative. He has had everything money could buy and yet he is far from happy. He withers in a deep self-loathing that no one around him seems to understand. Picture-perfect family, picture-perfect life, and picture-perfect appearances. Too bad it is as fake as his family’s “businesses.” Who would ever guess his mother was a raging alcoholic, his father has a mistress on the island plus a major uncontrollable anger problem, and his older sister Leah died from a boating accident when he was only a child? To top it all off, he’d switched his major from Law to Fine arts and Education. A career path that would definitely leave him expunged from the family tree.
Standing a little over 6’4, Jasper has always towered over people. He has hair such a dark chocolate it seems black and eyes the color of fresh acorns. Ever since he was eighteen, he has had a huge cigarette addiction, smoking sometimes over a pack a day. Regardless he is still very athletic and spends most of his time swimming or surfing. He knows almost no one from the North Side because of his family's reclusiveness, but has been known to get in trouble with the kids from the South Side. Jasper never misses an occasion of misfit, although he keeps who he is as secretive as possible.
The car ride back to Elle’s home had ended far too soon. While Beck had tried to keep his secret glances at Eloise to a minimum, it has grown even more difficult once he realized the blonde was taking her chance at glancing at him as well. Even as the battle raged on in his head — the constant reminder that what he was doing with the Montgomery girl was strictly for twisted entertainment purposes — Beck found himself somewhat at peace with her in his passenger seat. Chin propped on her knee and those blue eyes looking at him when she thought he wouldn’t notice. It seemed as if they were both doing their best to control whatever urge that was pulling between them. And failing. Something warm stirred inside him, and it wasn’t from the Newport sun, either.
As Elle commented about his grouchy aura and his lack of attending a regular barber, Beck grinned widely. “Don’t lie to yourself, Princess. I know you like my hair.” As she ruffled his hair Beck playfully shoved her arm away and leaned over to watch her exit his death trap. He was just about to offer another sly retort, one that included more hair pulling and less than respectable acts, in usual Beck fashion, when she brought up hanging out tomorrow. He eyed her, a slow smirk turning up in the corner of his mouth and he shook his head for a moment. She really knew how to keep a man on his toes, something Beckett Greene was not in the slightest bit used to. “Be over at two, then. I gotta work at the marina for a bit in the morning. You north siders are a pretty needy bunch.” He passed her a wink before easing the Jeep out of park. “And I think the question should be can you handle any more of me and my driving? I’m just warming up, sweets.”
Watching her jog into her home, Beck slowly started to slink away in his rumbling car. “Try not to miss me too much!” He shouted out the window before offering Elle a quick wave and a mocking air kiss as he picked up speed and booked it down her long road. Once again, being anything but subtle. That word was unknown to the troublesome boy.
Beck ignored the strange looks and rude glares he and his loud ass Jeep received on the way out of the north side. He usually thrived off the attention, whether positive or negative, he didn’t care. Beck just liked to relish in the fact that people, north siders especially, were thinking about him. As he passed the annoying pricks, Beck gave them a taunting twiddle of his fingers and a smug smile. No doubt some of them had seen Eloise stroll out of his vehicle, and boy did they look pissed. His careless demeanor quickly took hold again and he tried his best to push back whatever he was starting to feel for Elle. Surely it would ruin more than one person in the process. Hanging out with her was nothing. It meant nothing. That blonde-headed and lion-hearted girl was nothing to him.
At least those were the lies he was trying to feed himself.
For the rest of the day, Beck busied himself with setting up makeshift wooden ramps in his backyard and dragging the old and beaten up four-wheeler out of his garage. The thing barely ran half the time and had way too much dirt and mud caked in between the wheels. After setting up a wayward course in the yard, Beck rolled his bandana and tied it around his forehead — hair sticking out on top like always.
He was sprawled across the living room floor, wrestling with Callie when Griff’s loud voice echoed through his home. Callie deserted him to greet the cocky boy and Beck rolled his eyes. “Cals, you traitor,” he called to the pup, lifting himself from his living room floor and sauntering into the kitchen. Beck reached a hand out to clap Griff on the back and leaned against his kitchen counter, arms crossed, and looking annoyed as all get out. “First off, it wasn’t a damn date you idiot. Second, it went perfectly according to plan. In fact, it went so well that she’s coming back over tomorrow.” Looking proud, Beck passed Griff a tight-lipped grin and an arrogant arched brow. “I would start getting your break up speech ready for Lanes, although she seemed to be a little distracted today. I mean, the guy had a nice ass car. You can’t compete with that, hotshot.”
Beck lazily headed towards the fridge when another familiar voice erupted through his home and Lena’s mischievous smile burst through the door. “Speak of the little devil!” Beck said into the open fridge, grumbling at his dwindling beer stash. However, his mood quickly changed when Lena announced that she had brought not only food but alcohol as well. “Jesus Fucking Christ I might steal you from Griff myself,” he said to her in greeting, stepping over and taking her head in his hands and planting a kiss on top of her hair. His embrace was quickly ceased by the smell of burgers wafting through the kitchen and Beck rushed to the bag and started making himself a burger. Taking a large bite and moaning, Beck grabbed a handful of fries and poured himself a few fingers worth of the whiskey in a glass. He took a seat next to Griff and then rolled his eyes as Lena mentioned Eloise again. “I seriously can’t enjoy a damn meal without you two bringing up my latest conquests.” His eyes flashed to Lena feeding Callie a fry and Beck shot his friend a look. “You’re making my dog fucking fat, Lanes.” He started to nudge Callie away with his foot and out from underneath the table. But, the act only made the pup whine and Beck eventually rolled his eyes and let his pet return to Lena’s side, waiting not so patiently. “Let’s just say, Lanes, that I wouldn’t let your new boy toy stray too far. This shit is too easy I swear and you will lose the bet in no time.”
His stomach rolled at the own words spilling out of his mouth and Beck had to keep eating and talking out of his ass to hide the disgust he felt deep down. But, Beckett Greene doesn’t catch feelings. For anyone. And, if he miraculously did so, he surely didn’t announce it to his friends. However, he didn’t meet their eyes and he was already drinking far too much to keep up his casual demeanor when talking about Eloise. He could feel himself tumbling down a steep slope and, if he were bound to crash, he may as well be drunk. “Also, I invited that Cam guy earlier. You know, the dude who stole a north sider’s car at that shit excuse for a party. Anyone who has the balls big enough to pull some shit like that is a friend in my book. Besides, his ass seemed to be chasing the other Montgomery girl. Figured we should stick together.” Finishing his burger, Beck leaned back in his chair and sighed, stretching his hands behind his head.
Suddenly, a notification went off on Beck’s phone and he quickly snatched it up and read the text from Cam. “He’s here. Come on let’s go get the bikes set up, Griff.” Scooting the chair back, Beck grabbed his drink and headed out into his backyard. The sun was slowly starting to set over his small slice of paradise and his yard was covered in an orange glow.
Seeing Cam make his way into Beck’s yard, he jutted out a hand and clapped it with the other south side boy. “Hey glad you could make it, man. I hope you like whiskey and dangerous situations. There are burgers and booze inside, help yourself.” Beck then passed Cam a daring smile before he started to head over to the four-wheeler that sat near the dock. “Okay, Novak. Make that damn jump with your eyes closed.” He pointed to a wooden ramp with a makeshift jump that sat farther out. “Lena, either record or shut your eyes. No mother hen’s here tonight.”
Wren let out a breath he didn’t know he was holding in when Aria told him that he wouldn’t lose her — or Elle. He’d known their friendship was strong, but he’d also come to realize that he had colossally fucked up, and for a while there he thought that was it. Years and years of growth, of trust, of childhood memories and teenage rebellion, turned to dust with the decisions of one night. Decisions he made because he’d been drunk and angry and egotistical. Wren still wasn’t sure if he’d ever be able to forgive himself for what he’d done. Aria’s joke about raiding Jack’s wine cellar brought him out of his own devolving thoughts and he laughed at her — though he a pang of guilt from what else had happened in that wine cellar.
“I’m just as guilty of theft as you are,” He told her. “Though I would call you the instigator. You’re quite the bad influence, Aria Montgomery.” He joked trying to push past the guilt, trying to just be Aria's friend. “Too bad we didn’t see Jack’s face when he realized what all was missing,” Wren would have paid to see just how pissed the boy would have gotten.
When Aria returned with the news that he’d been hired on her word alone, and apparently due to his good looks — he couldn’t keep from grinning. “Whiskey and breakfast, I can do. Maybe even at the same time if we’re in the mood to be passed out before noon,” He joked again. Being around Aria, joking with her, it was as easy as breathing. He was glad the tension between them was settling. Though Wren heaved a sigh at the mention of the dinner on the north side that evening.
“Shit. I forgot about that.” Wren rubbed the back of his neck, weighing his options. While he would love nothing more than to never see his prick of a father again, he had promised his mother weeks ago that he'd be there. “Yeah, I’ll be there.” He told the girl reluctantly. He knew he was going to have to see his father eventually, it was a small island after all, but he had hoped it wouldn’t be this soon. Still, Wren didn’t want to be the one to back down — he wasn’t a kid anymore. He had to show his father that he couldn’t be pushed around.
Wren couldn’t help himself but pull the girl back into another hug when she said that she would have his back tonight. His entire life, that’s all he’d ever wanted to hear. “Thank you, Aria.” He chuckled as she insinuated she would key his father’s car. “That’s his favorite car,” Wren told her pulling away from the hug. “Do both sides.” He raised his eyebrows mischievously as he watched her retreat back into the shelter, giving her a small wave before heading back in the direction of his little house.
Unsurprisingly, the house was in the same state of disarray it had been when he left but he couldn’t bring himself to care about it now. He pulled another beer from the fridge and sat on the counter in his new kitchen. Even if it was a dump, Wren felt some level of satisfaction in knowing that it was his. In knowing that he was more independent now than he’d ever been.
After he finished his beer, Wren spent the rest of the day cleaning and tidying. By the time he was done the house, while devoid of furniture, was at least in much better shape than it had been when he started. Wren had done more manual labor today than he had done throughout his entire life. He hopped in the shower, soaking up the warmth but wincing as the water ran over the more battered parts of his body. Wren tried to mentally prepare himself for the evening that lay ahead. He could do it. He would get through it and then he hopefully wouldn’t have to see the prick for a long while. At least he’d have Aria and Elle with him.
He’d pulled on a pair of charcoal slacks and a white button-down, the sleeves of which he rolled up to his elbows. His entire outfit was wrinkled due to the fact that it had been crumpled in the bottom of a duffle bag since the night before, but he thought it at least would get under his parents’ skin a little.
Wren arrived at the Montgomery house right on time, his father’s red Ferrari already glittering in the driveway. His stomach dropped when he walked in and saw his father talking to Elle’s, and had to take a deep breath when he realized neither of his friends were there yet. Wren approached the men, forcing an easy smile on to his face as he greeted them — though it faltered a bit when he felt his father clap him on the shoulder. He cleared his throat and stepped out of his father’s grasp, trying to keep his composure.
The sight of Elle walking through the door made Wren sigh in relief, though he raised a brow at the fact that she was making an entrance with some new guy he’d never seen before. He knew he wasn’t exactly in a position to ask her about it though, not after the position he’d put them in — not after the kindness she’d showed him the night before.
His chest tightened a bit at the thought. He’d never been so vulnerable with someone else as he had been with her last night. There had been nothing but the broken shell of a boy who just needed someone to be there for him, and she’d given him that. Despite everything he’d done, she’d been there for him. He’d never be able to repay her for that.
Newport’s elite took a seat around the table, filling into their usual places — Elle on one side of him, Aria on the other. He knew he wouldn’t have been able to get through that dinner without them, especially when the fight with Beck had been brought up. Wren almost choked on his food as Elle spoke for him and placed her hand on his arm. He gave her a shocked, but grateful look. He could feel his father’s hardened gaze on him, Wren looked up at him. The man looked a little sheepish like he hadn’t thought to ask what had actually happened at the ball, only that it had made the McCoy’s look bad in the moment.
A pang of guilt spread across his chest when Elle’s mother said they were indebted to him — it was a feeling he’d grown all too familiar with over the last few days. Though he wanted to laugh too at their comments about Elle being sweet and seemingly incapable of protecting herself — like she hadn’t nearly ripped him to shreds the night before as well. “Well, no need to worry I’ll always be there for Elle,” He looked over to her, his breath catching a little in his throat. He’d been an idiot to throw away whatever they’d almost had. “Aria too,” He smiled over at his friend who had fought tooth and nail for him their entire lives, who he’d hurt just as much.
Never again.
"You know me, generosity is my middle name." Griff chirped as Lena teased him, watching as the south side girl escorted the foreign northerner back to his car. Thank god. Lena had never much been one to listen to Griffin's advice - not that he commonly gave good advice, he supposed - but he couldn't have been happier that she was finally getting rid of that sleeve ball. Okay sure, maybe the guy wasn't a sleeze ball but he sure as hell wasn't Griffin's cup of tea.
He rolled his eyes so hard that he almost feared they'd detach and just roll back into his head at the sight of the two of them murmuring what he could only imagine was sweet goodbyes in each others ears, followed by Lena reaching up to press a kiss against the guy's cheek. Yuck. Barf. Disgusting. Griffin contemplated making himself throw up just for the theatrics of it all, but settled on gagging as Lena made her way back into the garage instead.
"You can't actually be into that guy." Griffin laughed, shaking his head in amusement as he tossed Kat back her keys to the car that'd finally been repaired. Well - mostly repaired, that rolling pile of shit would never be completely fixed again. "He's like, the literal worst Lanes. And he's definitely shooting out of his league if you know what I mean." Another flirtatious wink, an arched brow for emphasis.
The sound of his friends cheery voice asking if she'd get to drive his bike was enough to cause Griffin to completely double over laughing. He hooted and hollered until his stomach ached and his lungs burned, tears filling his eyes and his cheeks turning red from laughing so hard at the thought. "Oh fuck, that was good." He finished, wiping the moisture from his eyes as he tried to regain his composure. "Of course not, Lanes. Good try though." The boy grinned, ruffling the girl's hair as he walked past her to swing a leg over the bike and kick it into gear. This bike had been his baby ever since he had been, illegally, driving it from the time he'd been fourteen. Funnily enough, he'd tried to steal the old bike from the very garage they stood in, only to be caught by the old man who owned the place. Instead of calling the police, the man had insisted Griffin work off his debt, and together they fixed the bike up to running condition, and it had been gifted to Griffin along with a full time job by his employer. So sure, the old thing had a bit of sentimental value.
Not that Griff was sentimental, or anything.
Griffin tossed Lena a spare helmet from one of the shelves in the garage, trying to knock the cobwebs off it as he did so - helmets didn't get worn much, around here. Once the girl had joined him on the back of the bike, he'd shouted a goodbye to Kat before pealing out of there, throwing dirt behind them on the old gravel roads as he tore through the town. The ride to Lena's little house hadn't taken long, and he bid her goodbye with a simple wave and a vaugue threat. "There better not be any more surprises at dinner tonight." He wasn't sure if he'd be able to hold himself off if Loafers showed up to oggle her again.
Meanwhile, his own time at home had been spent playing another round of candy land with his sisters, and helping his mother finish dinner for the rest of the family. It was never anything fancy around the Novak household, but even if it was just hotdogs and boxed macaroni, it was always made with love. "I'll see you later, Ma. Love you." He murmured, pressing a kiss to the side of his mother's head before jogging back out the door and to his bike, headed towards his own kind of family dinner.
Griffin didn't waste any time kicking Beck's door in once he'd arrived, falling to the floor to play with a yipping Callie. "So-" He shouted through the house, knowing Beck was milling around there somewhere if Callie was home. "How was your date with blondie?" He teased, not forgetting about the bet they had in place. "Still looking pretty platonic to me, bud." He taunted. "Maybe the old Beckett charm is wearing off, it normally doesn't take you this long, huh."
Once he had told Aria about what really happened after the ball, she had stopped walking beside him. Wren became suddenly very conscious of all of the marks and bruises, and he felt her eyes scanning over his body taking in this new-found information about her friend. He didn’t want to be looked at any differently. His father’s temper had always been an aspect of the life he had to endure, but it had made him into the man he was today. For better or for worse. He didn’t want to be pitied, but looking at Aria he felt that her pity was better than facing her anger again. He shrugged at Aria telling him that she was sorry, and tried not to look at her face.
“No,” He said a little too quickly. “No, I think that would make it worse. And besides, I’m out of the house now. At least I don’t have to be around him anymore.” Wren couldn’t really fathom a world in which he reported his father and it didn’t come back to bite him in the ass. He smiled warmly at Aria talking about letting him stay with her until she, very quickly, realized that was a bad idea. “I’ll be okay, I promise.” He had to admit it felt good to be talking with Aria like they were semi-normal again. He’d missed her bubbly personality and her tendency to ramble. It had been hell when he thought they’d never hang out anymore. That was a worse fate than moving to the south side.
“I’d be walking fast too if breakfast was on the line,” He laughed. Wren thought about her proposition at working for the shelter. Wren had never worked a real job. Hell, he had never even really considered what he wanted to do for a career, even when he was in college. He just figured he’d go work for his father and that would be it. Now that wasn’t really an option. Wren hadn’t thought about the long-term ramifications of his exile and it was making him a little panicky. Then he heard her comment about having to see her every weekend and he perked up a little.
“Oof, that might be a dealbreaker Aria,” He smiled. “But I think I’d be able to work through it.” Working at the shelter wasn’t actually a bad idea. He liked animals, it was close to his house, and he’d get to see his friend on a semi-regular basis. Plus he’d be getting paid. Something he desperately needed now. “If you think I could do it, then I think that’s a great idea.”
They continued their walk in silence, the air between them going from tense to light to tense again. He desperately wanted things to go back to normal. Wren wished they could forget the party, forget the ball. He could barely fathom the fact that the last two days had so drastically changed his life. Even if everything was different now, he just wanted his friendships to return. He realized that those were the only things that should have mattered to him in the first place.
“Don’t apologize, Aria,” He looked at her and felt his throat growing tighter. “I deserved all of it. I don’t expect you, or Elle, to forgive me but I don’t want to lose either of you. I don’t know what I would do, and I hate myself for putting us all in a situation where I would have to find out. I’m sorry, I really am.” He’d blurted out all of it in one breath, and was glad at least that he said it. By the time he had, they’d arrived back to the shelter.
Wren was surprised when Aria shoved yet another leash in his hand and dashed inside. He squatted down and scratched the dogs behind the ears as he waited for her to come back. Their soft fur and smiling faces made his chest feel a little lighter. When Aria walked back out the doors he noticed her little ‘victory’ smirk and a handful of papers before she even spoke to him. As he heard the words he wrapped her up in his arms and spun her around, getting them slightly tangled up in leashes but he didn’t care.
“You just saved my ass, Montgomery.” He murmured into her hair. “Thank you.” He felt immensely grateful for her at that moment. Despite everything he’d put her through she still helped him. Wren barked out a laugh at her last comment and when he saw the girls in the window. “Hey, I mean, if it got me a job then I’m not complaining,” He joked, rifling through the papers. Wren knew that having to work a real job was going to be a bit of a culture shock, but he was just glad that he was starting to pick up the pieces that had shattered the night before. Even if things looked different, they were at least looking better.
Lena narrowed her eyes at Griffin’s comment. God, she wanted to hit him. She also wanted to kiss him again. Lena wasn’t sure how such a dichotomy could exist at once but here she was. The fact that Griff was purposefully trying to get under Corban’s skin made her even angrier. “Really?” She asked with a disapproving glare. Lena was relieved when everyone started wrapping things up, putting away food and dishes. The little glances between her and Griff were enough to drive her insane. The feel of his gaze on her made her cheeks flush and she mentally cursed herself for it. It had taken everything she had to not say here, now when he told her to name the time and place. Even if it meant evoking the wrath of Beckett Greene.
Looking at Corban’s cool demeanor made Lena’s chest tighten with guilt. She knew they weren’t really anything to each other, but he was trying and here she was sneaking off into the backroom to make out with another guy. Not that she had intended for that little spat to end with her being pushed up against a wall. Not that she was sorry it had. Corban still deserved better than what she was giving him.
She looked up as Corban whispered in her ear and gave him a cautious smile. “That sounds ominous,” She joked. Lena turned towards Elle and Beck. “Have fun you two,” and wiggled her eyebrows suggestively. “And thanks for breakfast.” She nudged Beck with her elbow on her way out of the kitchen. “Don’t wait up,” Lena muttered as she passed Kat and Griff on Beck’s lawn before sliding into the passenger’s seat of Corban’s car.
“So do I get to know where we’re going orrr?” She asked as they pulled out of the driveway. She’d grown up on the island and knew this side of it like the back of her hand. Every street and side road on the south side was familiar to her. However, as Corban started driving a little farther off the beaten path Lena had to admit that even she was lost. How he had managed to find this place was beyond her, especially when she’d been living there her whole life and didn’t even know these roads existed. She hesitated as his car slowed to a stop and he told her they had to walk from there. “Is this the part where you lure me into the woods and murder me? Because I swear I will haunt your ass.” Lena wasn’t exactly a hiker, which is more than likely why she didn’t even know these trails existed.
However, when the pair came upon the swimming hole her breath caught a little in her throat. Yes, it was beautiful, but it was also very high up. Lena was not a hiker, and she was not a fan of heights. Corban was taking her out of her comfort zone already. “Wow,” The surprise was genuine. “Yeah, it’s beautiful.” She intentionally stayed a little farther away from the edge and had to swallow hard when she saw Corban start to shuck out of his clothes. Lena didn’t hide the fact that she was staring. Lena was a lot of things, but she wasn’t shy either. Although, while she didn’t mind the view, she did not like what he was implying. Lena scoffed at his comment about hoping she can swim. “I was born on the island, I could swim before I could walk.” But as she said that Corban took a running start and flung himself over the side. She couldn’t help but gasp.
“You’re certifiably insane, especially if you think I’m doing that.” But he continued to tease her. “It’s not so much the water as the potential for plummeting to my death.” She felt her heart racing in her chest. The very idea of jumping off of this made her throat and chest tighten, but what she hated more than heights was backing down from a challenge. Lena cursed under her breath as she stripped down to her underwear, looking sheepishly over the edge of the cliff and seeing Corban below with a lopsided grin. She shook her head and took a running start as he had, but she couldn’t keep herself from letting out a little scream as she dropped.
Lena’s head popped back above the surface of the water and her heart felt like it was going a million miles an hour. That was one of the craziest things she’d ever done, but she couldn’t wipe the smile off her face. She was still trying to catch her breath when Corban swam up to her, so close she could have leaned forward and kissed him. But she didn’t. She raised her eyebrows and smiled at his compliment. “You’re not too bad yourself, Loafers.” She teased, but as soon as she had she felt a splash of water in her face. “Hey!” She exclaimed splashing him back. Once they had gotten their little water fight out of their systems, Corban said that they better go and Lena nodded in agreement.
The walk back up to the top wasn’t nearly as exhilarating as the fall down. Especially not soaking wet in your underwear with no shoes. But she didn’t care too much, she’d had fun anyways. Lena rung out the water from her hair, pulled back on her tank top and shorts, and slipped her feet back into her shoes. “You’re more fun than I expected, for a north sider.” She nudged Corban and smiled at him as they walked back to the car.
They pulled up to the garage that Griffin worked at and Lena could already see Griff working on the car as Kat lounged on top of it. The sight was so familiar it made her smile. When Kat noticed they had pulled up she jumped down and came towards them. Lena stepped out of the car only to hear Kat’s crude comment on if they’d had sex in it. “Ha. Ha.” She said drily, letting the girl wrap her arms around her. Lena squeezed the girl. God, she had missed her. “Glad to have you back, Kit Kat.” She followed up that sappy sentiment by promptly jumping on the girl’s back, practically forcing Kat to piggyback her into the garage, laughing the whole way. Lena dropped to her feet and nudged Griff in greeting as she passed him, rolling her eyes at his comment. “Told you not to wait up,” She told him with a shrug before jumping on the hood of the car and running a hand through her still-damp hair.
She’d almost forgotten that she was supposed to be mad at him. The swimming hole had put her in too good of a mood, but seeing Corban approach Griff like that made her tense up again. Lena eyed the two and braced herself for the inevitable blow-up that was about to happen but was surprised when Griff reeled it back in. She looked him over and realized that she’d never seen someone get under the boy’s skin in quite the same way Corban had. Lena tried to refocus her attention on Kat.
“Things have been…different lately.” Lena told the girl and glanced back up at Griff. “Give her a chance. Eloise is more south side than she seems.” She bumped her shoulder against Kat’s. “Still, Beck was maybe a little harsh,” Lena confessed. Kat and Beck had both in the wrong. Elle hadn’t deserved what Kat had thrown at her, but Beck had decided to snap back. Lena wasn’t sure that sat well with her. Even if he was trying to win the bet. “But Griff’s right, you’ll both be fine — just give it a minute.”
Lena narrowed her eyes at Griff’s backhanded comment towards Corban and his offer to take her home. Her house was out of Corban’s way back to the north side but Griff’s offer seemed planned and pointed. Hell, she wouldn’t complain as long as she didn’t have to walk. “So generous,” She teased Griff as she jumped down from the car.
She grabbed Corban’s hand without another word and led him back over his car, sticking out like a sore thumb amongst the other piles of junk at the garage. “I had fun today,” She smiled at him over her shoulder. Lena thought seriously about kissing him but she wasn’t sure if that was the part of her that wanted to make Griffin jealous, or the part of her that felt her heart flutter at the thought of jumping off a cliff and seeing Corban waiting for her below. Either way, she decided against it — now was a bad time. Instead, she leaned up and kissed him on the cheek. “See you around?” She asked genuinely before retreating back to the garage.
Lena wasn’t really wanting to deal with her friend’s judgmental comments so she spoke before they could. “Anyways, dinner tonight? I’ll get take out from the diner. Just family. No north siders, cross my heart.” She drew a little ‘X’ across her chest. She did miss being around only her friends. They did the dumbest shit when they were together, but it always made for a fun night. She swiped a spare helmet from the back of Griff’s bike. “Do I get to drive?” She jabbed, raising her eyebrows at him playfully. He never let anyone drive his bike, but that never stopped her from asking.
Aria was thankful that the beginning of the walk was filled with the panting of Duke and Frank and the soft buzz of insects and birds chirping throughout the large willow trees that struck home on the south side. Aria was known to make rash and impromptu decisions, but this had to have been one of the most dangerous ones. Her chest still felt tight whenever she looked at Wren – especially now, seeing him covered in an array of cuts and bruises on his face that definitely did not all come from Beck.
As Wren mentioned his horrific night, Aria stopped walking and stared at him. Her green eyes widened and she took in the disheveled boy next to her. She knew that Wren’s father was a tough and strict man, but she didn’t expect him to be like this. To hit his only son and to kick him out onto the streets. Aria knew that she should hate him, that she shouldn’t care for him. However, after finding out this information, how could she not be worried about one of her longest friends? Struggling to find the right words to say, Aria muttered out a small, “I’m so sorry, Wren.” Her brows furrowed together and she had to suppress a small wave of tears that stung her eyes. He didn’t deserve what his father had done – no one did. “Do you want to, I don’t know, report it?” She wasn’t sure what to do, if she could even do anything. But she couldn’t let Wren deal with this by himself, no matter how frustrated he had made her. “If you need to, you could always crash at my place… I could try and sneak you in or maybe we can figure out something with our guest house…” Her voice trailed off as she realized the stupidity of her words. Those weren’t permanent solutions and would probably only get Wren into more trouble.
Hearing his half-hearted laugh, Aria managed to smile softly back at him. “They know that the sooner the walk is over, the sooner they get breakfast,” she giggled, trying to keep up with Duke’s pulling. Suddenly, and idea sprouted and she glanced over at Wren and him walking Frank. “You know, if you need a job the shelter is always hiring.” They continued to walk down the street and past Beckett’s house. She saw a large group of south siders heading out of the home and Aria quickened her pace, not because she didn’t want to talk to them, but because of Wren. She wasn’t looking for another fight to break out between the two rivals. “Plus, then you get to see these two goofballs every day.” Aria glanced down at the two large creatures pulling them towards the shelter that sat at the end of the street. “Unfortunately, you’ll also have to see me on the weekends,” she passed him a soft smirk.
The tension still radiated between them and it was Aria’s undoing. She sighed heavily before she spoke to Wren again, her eyes still drifting back to those ungodly bruises that riddled his face. It made her stomach drop every time she looked at him. “I’m sorry… for what I said…” she started, passing short glances at him ever so often as they neared the shelter. “I don’t forgive you… not yet. But I’m still sorry and I’ll try and help you any way I can.” Aria stopped at the front door of the shelter and glanced over her shoulder at the building. She chewed on her bottom lip for a moment before suddenly shoving Duke’s leash into Wren’s hand and calling to him as she slipped through the door. “Wait right here.”
Aria returned shortly with folder of papers and a proud smirk on her face. She took both leashes and traded the dogs for the papers Wren. “Congratulations Wren McCoy, you are now an employee at Newport Animal Shelter. Don’t worry, I worked my magic. You start Monday at 7am.” Aria turned back to roll her eyes at the women who stared out the window at Wren, waving at him with giddy smiles on their faces. “Plus, they think you’re cute.”
Eloise was full of surprises today. First off, the little thing had actually agreed to come over to his side of the island – that was a damn miracle in itself. But the way she handled herself at breakfast, Beck didn’t think he had ever been more shocked and attracted to something, to someone. She was not fragile like how the other north side men treated her. Elle could handle her own and she proved that with her retorts back to Kat that left Beck slightly speechless and had his mouth hanging open. Not to mention the dirty banter between them in the kitchen that made him have to focus extremely hard on cooking breakfast. He was always used to flirting, especially with Elle, and it used to only be an annoyance to the girl. However, he wasn’t expecting her to flirt back. Beckett had severely underestimated Eloise, and he had never been so happy to be wrong, for once.
They made a good team, he and Eloise. They didn’t set the house on fire cooking breakfast, they cleaned up the kitchen within minutes, and the work they were putting on his boat was the most work Beckett had gotten done in weeks. As Elle mentioned that she made a promise to Mr. President to show him the town, Beckett arched a brow at her. “Okay perfect, I’ll join.” He flashed her a devilish smile. “I’ll behave, for the most part. Scouts honor.” Beck placed a mocking hand over his heart and went back to work before she could object any further.
It was easy to work with her around – Beck had decided. While she seemed a little hesitant to actually use any of his tools, her presence and little questions had kept him fueled for the remainder of the morning. “My dad loved sailing and he taught me when I was young.” Bringing up his past with his father caused Beck to stiffen and his focus to become slightly wavered. He covered up his uncomfortable expression with more talk, like always. “I’ve been working on her for a little over a year and, given her name is Patience, it’s very fitting.” He had finished the keel and the hull had finally been completed, a task that had Beck in a workers slump for months now. Even though she probably did not know it, her pestering about the boat was all the encouragement Beck needed. Sure, his other friends were supportive, but only on rare occasions did they want to come over and help. Beck didn’t blame them, Beck worked on the boat on the weekends only and his hard-working crew was usually exhausted from their own jobs by then. But, just having someone take interest in something that was so precious and personal to him – it meant the God Damn world and he found that he constantly had to suppress as smile as he worked.
Eloise trying to nail the wood onto the boat was his worst nightmare. “Jesus Christ, you really weren’t lying when you said you said you’ve never touched a hammer.” Beck groaned as she, yet again, slammed the hammer down on his fingers. “If I didn’t know any better, I would say that you were trying to nail me,” he smirked and he snatched the hammer from her small hands. “In more ways than one.” His eyes glanced to her lips for a moment before he turned and shooed her away. “Just go sit and look pretty on the bow, Princess. And remind me to never let you get near any hard objects again. For yours and mines sake.” He also had not expected to smile and laugh as much as he did with Eloise Montgomery. Beckett had determined that they were more alike than he had thought. He could dish out jabs and taunts to her and she could surprisingly dish it right back. And damnit those blue eyes that twinkled at him deviously was something that he wouldn’t think he would ever get used to.
A bet. This was just a bet.
He had to keep reminding himself on what role he played and what he was supposed to do. Sure, he had turned on the Beckett Greene charm and passed her crooked smiles, playful winks, and even managed to discard his shirt and throw it on the top of the boat, but he wasn’t expecting the charm Elle was able to throw against him. It was a very dangerous game and Beck wasn’t sure if he would win this time around.
As Eloise had jumped down from the bow once again and perched next to him in the grass, Beck pulled himself away from the boat and gave her a curious smirk, surprise dancing in his hazel eyes. Leaning back against his hands Beck eyed her up and down. “We?” His eyebrows shot up. “I’m going to have to deal with your attitude on a regular basis?” Beckett chuckled and sat up from the ground, brushing his hands off on his shorts before pulling Elle up with him. “I have a few colors picked out – since your hammering was absolutely outstanding and the view of you on my boat was... entertaining -- you can do the honors of picking out the color.” He turned and began jogging back to his garage, calling over his shoulder. “Come on, Princess!” Kicking open the door, Beck headed to the side where a slew of paint cans sat on a shelf mounted to the wall. Tools, car parts, boat parts, and even some fishing supplies littered the garage enough to where Beckett couldn’t even pull his old jeep into the space. An old four-wheeler also sat in the middle of the room. Jutting out his hands to the paint, Beck glanced at her as she examined the array of colors. He had a specific one in mind that he wanted to use and that he bought specifically to paint Patience, but curiosity got the best of him and he wanted to see what color stuck out to her the most. “Pick the one that screams Beckett Greene,” he leaned down and whispered to her. “Even better if it screams ‘Beckett Greene is the sexiest man on the damn planet’, which I wouldn't mind hearing out of your pretty little mouth.”
"Well damn, Mr. President,"
Corban smirked as Lena nudged him and he went back to sipping his beer. Just as he thought the heat was off of him, Griffin spoke up and not to Corban's surprise, Griffin wasn't impressed. "I'll impress you soon enough, just not in the way you'll be expecting," Corban shot across the table at Griffin, his competitive spirit showing its rear end. Corban played football for a living and if it's one thing he knows how to do, it's play a game. He didn't see Lena as a game but he saw wiping the smug face off Griffin's face as a game. Corban watched as Lena ordered Griffin to another room and Corban shifted in his chair uncomfortably. He was definitely sure now that there was something happening between Griffin and Lena, he wasn't an idiot. But that just provided fuel and ammunition instead of discouragement.
Corban kept calm and finished his beer as Lena and Griffin came outside the bedroom. Quick glance at both of them and from Beck's comment, Corban knew something had transpired. Looking across the table at Griffin, he saw the smug smirk on his face had only grew wider and his comment not this time, made Corban raise an eyebrow. Corban let a smirk cover his face as he raised his beer can to Griffin mockingly as if to say 'you've won the battle but not the war'.
Breakfast wrapped up pretty quickly and it was announced that everyone beside Beck and Elle were heading to Griffin's garage. As much Corban hated the idea of spending another minute with that dickhead, he knew that showing Lena he could hang with her friends was a part of her opening to him. Corban leaned over the seat and whispered in Lena's ear, "I want to show you something before we go. It'll only be a sec," he said. He cleared his throat as he stood up from his seat and glanced across the table at Griffin. "We're going to be make a quick stop. We'll see you there," he said with a devious smirk of his own.
Once Lena and Corban loaded up in his car, he took multiple side roads to get to his destination without revealing where they were going. Corban had only been in town a little while and was already expertly navigating the streets. He made the final turn and stopped his car, putting it in park. He got out of the car, opening Lena's door for her. "Just a ten minute walk from here," he said gesturing to the north. As the two began to walk in silence, he could hear the stream of water getting closer. Suddenly, they both stepped out onto a small cliff and below them was a hidden spring with a waterfall trickling down into it. Corban smiled and glanced over at Lena. "I found it while I was bike riding the other day. Isn't it amazing?" he asked. The sun shone off of the clear reflection of the water and the only sounds that could be heard were the sounds of rushing water, the wild animals, and Corban's soft breathing. "I was going to take a swim but I figured I'd wait until I found someone I wanted to share it with," he shrugged.
He stepped back from the clearing and began to strip off his notorious loafers, his t-shirt and his khaki pants, leaving him in only a pair of boxers and a look of uncertainty. "I hope you can swim," he said with a sly smile. Without another word, he took off in a full sprint toward the edge of the cliff and jumped into the spring, hollering at the top of his lungs. He hit the water with a splash and submerged to take a deep breath. He looked up at the edge of the cliff and motioned for Lena to join him. "Don't tell me Lena Campbell is afraid of a little water. Don't worry, I'll catch you," he teased loudly so she could hear him.
Before long, he heard her splash and scream as she jumped into the water. He laughed and swam toward her. He observed her natural state with wet hair and a gleeful smile and his own smile mirrored hers. She was perfect in every way. Corban knew then that the fight for her attention with that southsider Griffin was worth it. He swam closer to her until her lips were only a inch away from his. He wanted to kiss her but knew this wasn't the right time. Instead, he used his fingers to move the hair from her eyes with a lopsided grin. "You are so beautiful Lena Campbell," he said softly. He looked at her for another intense moment before splashing her with water playfully. The splash began a thirty minute long water fight before Corban remembered they had to meet her friends. "We better go," he said.
The drive back to the southside garage was quiet but Corban exchanged a few secret smiles and glances with Lena as they drove. Pulling up to the garage, Corban saw Kat and Griffin already working on the car...well Griffin was. He watched the curly-haired girl come up and compliment his car and insinuate that the two had been having sex in it. Corban chuckled and shook his head. "Thank you. She's my baby," he said, patting the hood of the car affectionally. "Fixed her up myself when she went out on me," he commented.
As the girls conversed, Corban walked deeper into the garage, his hair still damp from the midday swim. He leaned against the car Griffin was working on and observed. "Looks like an uneven rotor surface. Be careful because the tiniest difference in the disc could fuck the whole thing up," he said with a smirk, definitely using his play on words to apply to the love triangle they have going on.
Kat's wasn't one for feelings. She had spent her entire life at war with something or someone, so it was crucial she grew thick skin because it was her armor. But as her best friend stood up for the Malibu Barbie, Kat felt a knot grow in her stomach. She had never seen Beck stand up for anyone, especially a northisider. Was this really all for the bet or was it...more? She raised an eyebrow at his response, her smirk slowly disappearing. "Look at the trash calling the kettle trash or however that saying goes," she spoke, a bit more roughly than she intended. To say Beck had hurt her feelings would have been an overstatement because she takes everything he says with a grain of salt. They've both been irrationally angry and rude for a majority of their friendship, it was how they loved each other. But to say she was jealous was a low blow and it bothered Kat more than she wanted it to. She would talk to him later and not in the company of strangers. On top of her best friend's tough love, she heard the Malibu barbie speak and she audibly sighed, dragging her eyes lazily to Elle. "Ahhhh, she speaks, unfortunately," Kat mumbled under her breath.
Elle's response was actually a genuinely funny response to Kat. Kat laughed and nodded her head, as if impressed the barbie had something sassy to say back. But, for the sake of not further ruining breakfast, Kat kept her mouth shut. As the heat went from Elle to Corban, it was Kat's turn to be a witness to the turmoil. She watched as her best friends stalked into the backroom and could vaguely hear the sound of their lips smacking together. Kat damn near had to hold in a gag. Her eyes looked up to Corban who seemed perfectly chilled now and was chugging down a beer. Her lips lifted into a half smirk and despite Griffin's earlier speech, she could see him fitting in around here. As the two reemerged from Beck's room, Kat made a stank face and finished her beer. "God, I think all that food is about to come back up," she chuckled, shoving Griffin a bit as he sat back down.
As the plans for the day were announced, Kat fist pumped the air but nearly fell out of her chair when Griffin playfully pushed her. "Geesh, ass wipe, I'm still a girl. And if you fixed all of my problems, would I still be single?" she chuckled and stood from the seat. Usually, she'd say goodbye to Beck with a obnoxious hug or secret handshake or simply by jumping on his back or a middle finger, but Kat didn't even glance at him and Malibu as she exited his house. But she was sure to cuddle on Callie and whispered in her ear loud enough for Beck to hear, "Your Dad's a dick."
Kat called a tow truck to tow her dad's car to Griffin's garage and she rode her motorcycle over as well. Jumping off her bike, she saw Griffin was already observing the damage and she was the first one there. She walked behind him and tickled her fingers on his sides, earning her a yelp from her dark-haired best friend. Kat laughed and clapped her hands, jumping up on another car beside her and grabbing a wrench and swinging it playfully. "Gosh, I missed the smell of grease and stolen car parts from this place," she teased. Kat managed to flip onto her stomach on the trunk of a car and she let her legs kick up behind her as she watched her best friend work.
"I think it's the back breaks or maybe the front breaks sprung a leak into the radiator tube on the windshield...or maybe it was the right breaks or the left breaks," Kat said seriously, trying to sound like she knew what she was talking about. A moment of silence encompassed the friends as she let him work but Kat had some questions she wanted answered before Lena and Corban showed up. "He really likes her doesn't he?" Kat asked with a bit of sadness laced in her voice, knowing automatically Griffin would know she was talking about Beck. Kat couldn't deny the deep feeling in her gut that she was right. And if she was right, then this bet would ruin everything for Beck. One part of her wished that she hadn't even mentioned the word bet and another part is glad because the northsiders and southsiders don't mesh. Beck was setting himself up to get heartbroken with a northsider as high-strung as Eloise Montgomery. Plus, the blonde haired bimbo would completely ruin the dynamic the four of them had going.
Kat switched sides and turned onto her back with her legs in the air now. "And you really like Lena, don't you?" she asked, glancing upside down at Griffin, knowing even if he lied that his eyes wouldn't lie. She listened to his response and her eyebrows burrowed. "Well, if you do really like Lena, just know that the sex will only get you guys so far. I know Lena and I know she loves the thrill and the lust but she behind all of that, she wants someone to love her and romance her like that Corban guy. Just some food for thought," she said, offering her best friend a small smile of encouragement. Just in the nick of time, Corban and Lena pulled up in Corban's sports car.
Kat jumped down from the car she was assaulting with her weight and walked over to Corban's car, running her fingers over the exterior. "The sinful things I would do in this car and to this car," she said with a smirk as Lena and Corban got out. "Mr. President, Campbell Soup, how many times have you made sweet love in this car?" Kat teased, making face kissy faces as she walked to Lena playfully. She wrapped an arm around Lena and laughed as they walked into the garage. As if they didn't get enough drama this morning, Kat was curious how this little quality time between all three of Lena's suitors was going to end up.
"Guys, serious question before I cut off all of Beck's fingers and sew them on a dress, was I that harsh to Malibu Barbie? I feel like I left and things were one way and now they're totally different and Becky just expected me to just adapt," she said, irritation rising in her voice and she accidentally dropped the wrench that was in her hands, making a loud bang against the ground. She looked at Griffin with an apologetic smile. "Ooops."
Wren never thought he would spend a full day on the south side of Newport, let alone be renting a house there. He’d driven through this part of town a few times but never so much as stopped his car here for fear of getting mugged. He found it unruly and as gruff as its inhabitants. Still, it was the only part of town with a place he could afford, so here he was.
Once he’d left Eloise’s, Wren had spent the entire morning looking at places for rent. Obviously he’d prefer to stay on the north side, it was the only part of the island he’d ever really known but that wasn’t feasible for a twenty-one year-old with no job and nothing to his name. So he expanded his search and found a place on an overgrown lot next to a red house that looked straight out of a white trash home and garden’s magazine. But Wren wasn’t really in a place to be picky since he was currently living out of his car. Apparently the place had been on the market long enough that once he expressed interest it was like they were begging him to sign a lease. He had spent the rest of his morning dragging out broken furniture and trying to clean the place up as best he could, though it needed more work than he thought he could give.
It wasn’t until after Wren had already signed the lease when he saw a familiar ratty Jeep pull into the driveway of the house next door. “You have got to be fucking kidding me,” Wren groaned under his breath. It had to be his luck that the place he rents is next-door to the guy who just ruined his life. For a moment he thought very seriously about driving his car off the pier with him in it, but he decided to just go get something to drink instead. At the store he realized his credit cards hadn’t been cut off yet, so he stocked up on food, beer, cleaning supplies, and a sleeping bag. He figured if he made a big purchase, like buying furniture, it would alert his parents that he was still using the cards and he’d like to milk that for a little longer if he could. Especially since he was still without a job.
He returned to his little shack, put away his groceries, and cracked open a beer. It was before noon, but at this point, he’d resigned himself to becoming an alcoholic and living out the rest of his days in a perpetual state of self-loathing — until he heard a knock on the door. Wren heaved a sigh and set his beer on the counter. He wasn’t sure who he expected to be standing on his doorstep but Aria Montgomery, with two dogs sitting not-so-patiently at her heels, would not have been his first guess.
“Aria,” was all he managed to choke out. After the events of the night before, Aria and Elle kind of scared the hell out of him. He knew he was still on their shit list, even if he had spent the night at Elle’s, and he did not want to be on the receiving side of their rage ever again. “What are you doing here?” He asked. Wren was less confused about why she was on the south side, as he knew that she volunteered on the weekends at the shelter, and more confused as to how she managed to figure out where he was staying. Then he realized his car in the driveway probably wasn’t the most inconspicuous thing. He figured that he was going to have to sell it soon. He needed the cash, and a car that expensive on the south side was bound to get its windows smashed sooner rather than later. He was dreading it, he loved that car.
Then Aria was shoving a leash in his hand and asked him to walk with her. Wren didn’t think Aria wanted anything to do with him, let alone wanted to spend the morning walking dogs with him. But he didn’t deny her. If he wanted things to ever go back to how they were between him and his friends he was going to have to put in the effort. He nodded. “Yeah, of course.” Wren looked behind him into the house and shut the door as he left, not bothering to lock it. He didn’t have anything worth stealing anyway.
The first little bit of the walk was awkward and tense. He didn’t know what to say. He knew he couldn’t make up for what he’d done to her or to Elle, there wasn’t anything he could say that would make up for it anyway. So, he didn’t say anything. He ran his hand through his hair when Aria asked him about the new place. Wren nodded. “Yeah, actually. Um, after, you know — last night,” He sighed heavily. “My dad wasn’t exactly thrilled with me, hence —“ Wren motioned to his face. It was badly bruised and swollen in some places. It was yet another nonchalant confession on his part, telling another one of his closest friends about the darkest secret his family had. But he didn’t care about protecting that family anymore. “He kicked me out.” He just wanted to repair the friendships he’d broken. He looked over at Aria and smiled at the sight of her with a dog almost half her size. “I think that dog is more walking you than the other way around, Montgomery.” He laughed.
Last night seemed like a blur. Although she was sober as all get out – it hadn’t felt like it. Being whisked away by a stranger, stealing a car, and feeling like she was on top of the whole damn world was buzz like any other. When she woke this morning, Aria had figured her daunting and daring acts with the handsome stranger was just a dream – however, seeing his number scribbled on a piece of paper by her night stand gave her all the clarification she needed.
It was one of the best nights of her life.
Of course, her parents had tore into her when she returned from the party. Aria’s night was also filled with screaming and scolding about acting like a proper north side lady. It seemed as if everyone had left the Summer Solstice ball fairly quickly that night, due to an apparent fist fight between Beckett Greene and none other than Wren McCoy. Aria noticed his black eye when she confronted him last night, but she was too furious and hurt that she had honestly forgotten to mention it. Of course, they had to have been fighting over none other than Eloise. While she and her cousin seemed to have made up, it didn’t mask the hurt she still felt. Guilt still slightly overwhelmed her knowing that she had a part in the destruction of Elle’s and Wren’s relationship. While it was done unknowingly, Aria had wished she had never gone into that stupid wine cellar with Wren.
Because here she now stood – without him. One of her lifelong friends. Even if their relationship didn’t develop romantically, the friendship they had formed was one for the books. And she felt like an idiot for missing it.
Deciding that she did not want to socialize with any human beings for the rest of her weekend, Aria went to the one spot where she could get away from the north side and their insufferable rules. The south side – the animal shelter, to be specific. Animals were so much easier than people, especially boys.
She had two large dogs leashed up while making her walk around the south side. One, a chocolate lab by the name of Frank, and the other was some sort of mixed breed. He was black and white and always had his tongue rolled out of side of his mouth. He wasn’t the brightest color in the crayon box, but Duke was Aria’s favorite. Plus, he was exceptionally lazy, and he only needed a short walk until he basically dragged her back to the shelter.
Aria was making her way down the last street. Passing Beckett Greene’s house wasn’t exactly her favorite part of the journey. That boy was always outside doing some stupid shit. However, she did seem to notice his interest in that large boat in the backyard and all the work he had put into it. Passing by the house every weekend, it was entertaining to watch the boat grow closer to completion with every day. Another part was also relieved that the kid actually spent some of his time not terrorizing her north side friends – although she didn’t blame him for that, either.
Noticing plenty of more cars than usual pulled into Beckett’s driveway, Aria almost didn’t notice another familiar car in the driveway of the house that neighbored his. Wren’s car. Stopping in her tracks and furrowing her brows, she stared at the lone home for a moment. For a few months now this home had been up for rent, but, realizing that the neighbor of the home was a loud and unruly twenty something who cursed more than a sailor, it had sat vacant for a while. Until now, it seemed. While the houses still had a decent amount of space in between, Aria could still clearly see the colorful array of vehicles stored near the red home and she wondered why the hell Wren McCoy would step in a 100 foot radius of Beckett Greene right now.
So, she knocked on the door. Duke and Frank were tugging at her arms, basically pulling her small form towards the door anyways. Waiting patiently, Aria chewed on her bottom lip. She hated Wren – she hated him with all her five-foot body could allow, or that’s what she told herself. But, seeing that familiar shaggy blonde hair and those kind hazel eyes opening the front door, Aria found a small part of herself not hating him, no matter how hard she tried to. Instead, she glanced over his disgruntled form. He had a nasty black eye, which she noticed him sporting last night at the party, but a few new marks and bruises also covered him and Aria’s brows furrowed and her mouth parted slightly as she tightened her grip on the dogs sniffing his hands.
“Wren?” She said to him, taking everything in. Aria knew she wasn’t exactly being sly with her wandering gaze across him and across the home he was standing in, either. Why the hell was he here? And why did he look far worse this morning than last night? She had so many questions, but judging Wren’s exhausted state, she knew she shouldn’t push him. Not today, at least. Chewing on the inside of her cheek for a moment, Aria sighed and handed the boy Frank’s leash. “Walk with me?” As the boy slowly took the leash, Aria eyed him once before turning and walking back towards the gravel road. She didn’t know exactly what to say, the space between them was tense and heavy and, despite the raging heat, cold. She didn’t want to talk about them or Elle or anything of that sorts. “Is that your place?” Aria finally asked, not looking at him as they passed the home.
Lena pushed around the eggs on her plate as she listened to Kat go off on Eloise. She pursed her lips and eyed her friends around the table. The four of them knew the Montgomery’s when they were younger, and everyone assumed that they were princesses of the north side. Well, that much hasn’t changed — but now they know that the princesses can at least hang on the south side. Lena looked over at Beck who, as Griff had so eloquently put it the night before, was simping hard over Elle, bet or no bet. And he was getting more and more irritated with Kat calling her out like that.
When Beck called Kat out, Lena almost dropped her fork. Their little group was pretty savage with one another when it came to jabs and insults. It was all out of love, of course, but they just liked to give each other a hard time. But when Beck called out Kat, it wasn’t a friendly jab. He was serious. And he was defending a north sider — that was the more unbelievable part. Even if it was just for a bet. Lena raised her eyebrows at Elle’s response too. Turns out that the girl can take care of herself, but they’d found that out the night before with McCoy.
Then she sat back, basically in awe, as Corban stood up for himself amongst her friends’ slew of insults and snarky comments. She was kind of proud of him. Her friends were assholes, she knew that better than anyone, but she really thought Corban was going to just sit there and take it for the entire meal. So when he spoke up it had caught her off guard, especially when he said that he was only there to impress her friends because they were important to her. Lena knew that was why he had come, but hearing him say it made it feel a lot more real. She was not surprised to hear Kat speak up first about Corban’s little outburst, and Lena couldn’t help but laugh a little. She nudged Corban, a little smirk on her face. "Well damn, Mr. President," She joke, exchanging one nickname for the other. Maybe these north siders would fit in after all.
The brief moment of understanding between all of them soon dissipated as Griff had to shoot off yet another one of his smartass comments. Everyone else was willing to let the north sider’s presence slide, especially after he’d effectively just told them all to fuck off. But not Griff. Lena pushed her chair back and stood up. “Can I talk to you for a second?” Her tone was curt and it was clear that she was done joking around. Before Griff could even give a response she stalked off toward Beck’s bedroom in the back of the house. She tried to take a deep breath before Griff appeared in the doorway.
“What the fuck, Novak?” Lena shut the door behind both of them and turned to face Griff. “What is your deal today? Literally not twelve hours ago you were telling me that we were ‘just friends’ yet here you are acting like a jealous girlfriend,” She felt herself getting worked up. “You don’t get to tell me that and act like this when I bring someone new around. That’s not fair, Griff.” She took another step closer to him. “You don’t get a say in who I flirt with, who I date, or who I fuck. You don’t get to be jealous.” Lena was seeing red. She didn’t know if she was mad at Griff for the way he was acting, or mad at herself for breaking the damned ‘friends don’t fuck friends’ rule in the first place. She was just angry.
Then Griff was kissing her. One moment they were arguing with each other and the next they were all over one another. It had all happened so fast that Lena’s mind was still racing to connect the dots. His kisses were hungrier than they had been at the party, it was like he had something to prove. But she didn’t mind. She matched his voracity at every step. This time felt even more wrong than the last. First of all, they were in Beck’s bedroom, and if he found out they for sure were getting their asses beat. But also, they couldn’t blame it on the liquor this time. They were stone-cold sober and that terrified her. She gripped the back of his neck to pull him closer into her but he broke away. Lena swallowed hard and looked up at him.
She didn’t know what she was doing. She had a perfectly nice guy waiting out in the kitchen for her. A guy who’d just stood up to her rather intimidating friend group for her. She thought she wanted someone nice. Now she wasn’t so sure.
“Fuck you, Novak.” She told him. Lena wasn’t sure if that’s because she really wanted to, or because this hot and cold thing going on with him was really pissing her off. Regardless, she pushed past him and out of Beck’s room. She rolled her eyes at Beck’s comment and flipped him off, not that the thought hadn’t crossed her mind. Lena also didn’t want to give him the satisfaction of a response.
“So are we fixing Kat’s car today or what?” She asked the group, ready to get the hell out of that kitchen. Lena cast a glance over to Griff who looked overly pleased with himself, which just pissed her off even more. He got under her skin worse than anyone she’d ever met — in more ways than one.
Corban knew he wasn't exactly going to get a warm welcome. In fact, he was pretty damned sure they were going to react the way that they did but he would be lying if he said it didn't make him hella self-conscious and insecure--though he'd never admit that. He shifted in seat at the unwelcome attention as Lena's friends cracked joke after joke on him. To be honest, most of them were funny and he couldn't help but smirk but some were starting to get under his skin. Corban knew he wasn't the type to anger quickly but he was starting to get annoyed. These people acted like they knew him simply because of his outside appearance and they truly knew nothing about him.
What annoyed Corban more was that every time he opened his mouth to defend himself Lena or Eloise would speak up like he was some fragile piece of glass. He appreciated their efforts but Corban was learning, if he was going to gain any respect from these guys, he would have to open his own mouth. As the breakfast began and he started to eat his, Corban enjoyed the silence that encompassed the room. It seemed every time he opened his mouth, he said the wrong thing and every time somebody else spoke, they were bashing him or Eloise. Corban's head picked up as he heard the curly-headed firecracker lay one on Eloise and all that self pity, he felt for himself went to her. Fuck, do these guys ever lay off?
Corban was halfway through his breakfast, moving most of the bacon and sausages to the side when Kat spoke, dissing him once again. His fork clanked against his plate as he set it down less than gently and looked up at the group, his shoulders square and eyes purposeful. "Alright, let's cut the shit. I know you see a prick walking in here with loafers on and a thousand dollar champagne bottle and a sports car and you think I'm some sort of asshole. I've been proving myself my whole life to people and this is the only way I know how. Yeah, I'm trying to impress you guys because you seem important to Lena," he started off. He was pissed it took him this long to realize that the nice guy personality wasn't going to work with these guys. He had to have a show of dominance and confidence about himself. He had to bring something else to the table because it was obvious these guys weren't impressed with money. "But, fuck that. None of you are going to scare me away. And frankly, I'm not here to kiss anybody's ass. But I am here. And I'm here until Lena gets sick of me so you might as well get used to it," he finished, taking a deep sigh afterwards.
He went back to eating his meal as the silence filled the room again. Corban was waiting for them to kick him out for good because, quite frankly, he's never spoken to anyone like that before. He's never so much as said more than one curse word in a sentence before. He reached up and unbuttoned the top two buttons on his shirt, suddenly feeling claustrophobic in the dress shirt he was wearing. He unbuttoned the entire shirt and stripped it off, showing his more casual white t-shirt underneath.
Kat's voice was the first he heard and he looked up at her. Her retort was still sassy but it held some admiration in it so he accepted it. He chuckled and shook his head, glancing at Lena, hoping his outburst hadn't completely turned her off from him. He offered her a friendly smile and a shrug, suggesting he didn't know what the hell had come over him but he was kind of glad it did. He went back to his previous position, with one arm on Lena's chair and one picking up eggs as Kat started again. Corban shrugged and took a sip of his mimosa. "Kitty, huh? More like lion," he laughed. He glanced over at Beck and nodded toward the fridge. "Mind if I get a beer dude?" he asked, despite his outburst, manners still in place.
His attention came back to Kat's question at hand. "I don't know. I've been called C.W. my whole life." Kat seemed to be pondering long and hard on the other side of the table and she snapped as if remember something. "Fuck, Beck said it already, Mr. President," she laughed. Corban couldn't lie, the nickname was hideous but it made him feel a bit more welcome knowing he was worthy enough to be considered for one.
Lena was just about to get out of Corban’s car before he reached into the back and produced flowers and a bottle of champagne. She smiled at him. It was a sweet gesture, really. “Thank you.” She’d never had a guy get her flowers before. “I am gonna leave these in the car though because my friends will roast the absolute shit out of me if I walk in with them,” She laughed like it was a joke — it was not. "But they are appreciated." She also was a little flustered at his opening the door for her, it was not something she was used to. “My friends are a little surly by the way, especially in the mornings. Just warning you.”
Walking into the kitchen she felt her throat tighten up a little bit as everyone turned towards them, she wasn’t sure why she’d thought this would be a good idea last night. While Lena was surprised to see Eloise looking strangely at home in Beck’s tiny kitchen, she was a little relieved that she was here. If she hadn’t been, Lena wasn’t sure Corban would’ve gotten out of here alive.
Besides the presence of the north siders, the scene looked pretty much the same as it always did. Griff was seemingly asleep at the table, and Beck was already burning the pancakes. Lena caught Beck’s glare and, if looks could kill, she’d be dead. She tried so hard not to laugh at Beck’s loafers comment. She thought Corban looked nice, but he was definitely the odd man out. Even Eloise was more dressed down than usual.
“Well good morning to you too Beck,” She told him sliding over and stealing a bit of bacon and lightly punching his shoulder. Bacon was the only thing that Beck could cook well. As she was taking a bite, Eloise pulled her into a hug and Lena stiffened. She just hadn’t been expecting physical affection this early in the morning — her friends weren’t exactly morning people if that hadn’t been glaringly obvious already. “Good morning, Elle,“ She told the girl. “How are you feeling after the, um — eventful night we all had?” She wasn’t trying to stir shit, but she was genuinely curious.
Lena rolled her eyes at Griff’s comment about the south siders hosting just anyone. “That’s the only reason you’re here, Griff,” She told the boy ruffling his hair a bit as she walked around him. Lena squeezed Kat’s shoulder as a greeting and sat down on the other side of the table. Her normal seat beside Griff wouldn’t have left room for Corban so she switched seats. As the north sider sat down beside her she felt his arm go to the back of her chair. Even more interesting was the way Griff visibly stiffened when he did it. It gave her a little bit of a thrill to see him annoyed by Corban’s presence.
She threw the remainder of her bacon piece at Griff when he said that Corban should have just stayed home. “Play nice,” She warned him. “You too,” She pointed at Beck. Lena poured herself a rather large glass of Champagne with the smallest splash of orange juice. She didn’t remember the last time she’d had the stuff, but it would maybe make her friends' smart-ass comments a little more enjoyable.
“And he’s here because I invited him, just like Beck invited Elle. So everyone needs to take a chill pill,” She responded to Kat’s question. Lena knew when she invited the boy the night before that it was going to cause a little conflict between her and her friends. Maybe last night she liked Corban enough to brave the barrage of snarky comments and side-ways glares. Maybe she wanted to get under Griff’s skin a little. If he wanted to be friends with benefits then she’d show him what the just friends part was really like. Maybe it was a little bit of both.
Lena leaned forward and tried to pick at the least burnt pieces of food, those were probably the ones Eloise had cooked. She piled her plate and, like Beck instructed, dug in. It surprisingly didn’t all taste like char, which was a vast improvement on any other breakfast that they’d had together. The fact that Elle fit in so well with their little crew unnerved Lena a bit. And the fact that Beck has jumped so quickly into the bet made her a little nervous about the outcome, but she smiled anyways. She liked Elle a hell of a lot more than any other girl Beck had ever brought around.
“I second,” She said in response to Griff's group vote on keeping the north sider. “That was surprisingly not terrible,” She laughed, leaning farther back into her chair and pulling her knees up to her chest.
Griffin rolled around in the floor with Callie yipping and jumping around him for probably longer than was considered appropriate, his hands covered in little bite marks from her razor sharp puppy teeth by the time he finally climbed back to his feet. Not that he minded, if Griffin’s heart of stone belonged to any female, it was surely Callie.
Hearing Beck call to him from the kitchen, Griff only released a loud, long groan in response, shuffling into the room with his eyes still half closed. It took him a moment to realize that the feminine figure in the room wasn’t just the familiar face of Lena, but the north side blonde instead. He shot his friend a shocked look, smirking deviously as he gave Elle a friendly shove as he walked past, his normal greeting for friends. He hadn’t expected Beck to take this bet so seriously, not so quickly at least. A part of him feared he’d made a mistake by making that bet after seeing how quickly he’d managed to get Newport’s Princess back to his place, but he remained hopeful that the priss would still be too snobby to ever consider sleeping with Beck. Her friendly nature this morning didn’t help his confidence - she fit in with their scraggly little gang of friends far better than he ever would have expected.
“Elle is the new girl ‘round here, she should have to do the eggs!” Griffin argued, greatly resembling a toddler having a temper tantrum. He was still partially asleep, and he’d drug his ass out of bed this early for free food, not to work. He released a triumphant humph, raising a victorious middle finger in Beck’s direction when the little blonde agreed to take over his cooking responsibilities, leaving Griffin to take a seat at the table and lay his head against his folded arms, hoping to catch an extra few minutes of sleep while they waited for the others.
He was still astounded that he’d been the first to arrive, considering he was normally the token late one of their little group.
Griffin’s short snooze was interrupted by the sound of Beckett insulting someone on their taste of shoes - not that he could blame him, who in their right mind wore loafers on a Saturday morning? He rose his head to find Lena standing in the doorway looking annoyed, and was even more flabbergasted to find prince ducking charming from the previous night right there along with her. He was almost disappointed when Elle shushed Beck’s roll of insults, and decided to take over for his friend. After all, there was no one there to stop him, right? “Didn’t realize we were hosting for just anyone, but whatever Lanes.” He snapped grumpily, leaning back in his seat.
Griff was thankful for Katniss’s quick arrival, relieved to have another ally at the table who wasn’t obsessed with north siders. To be fair, Beck was just trying to win a bet - Lena didn’t have an excuse for her disgraceful act. The brunette simply shrugged his shoulders at Kat’s outrage, shaking his head in solidarity with her. “Yeah, me too.” He grumbled, making room at the table as the others began to filter their way over and take their seats.
He stiffened considerably as the oaf of a boy took a seat beside Lena, his arm resting on the back of her chair - he was even more offended that Lena hadn’t sat beside him. That was normally his reserved spot, but all these north siders were fucking with their seating arrangement. Griffin passed Kat an annoyed expression, rolling his eyes as the boy explained that he just needed to get out of the house. “Sorry to disappoint, but you probably should’ve just stayed home.”
Griffin’s only saving grace was the food being placed at the center of the table by Elle and Beck, his hunger proving to be higher priority than the enemy at the table. He gave himself a generous helping of each dish, not hesitating to dig in once he’d sat his plate down. “Wow.” He laughed, flashing Beck a grin. “It’s edible.” He spoke around a mouth full of food, eyes drifting between his friend and the blonde that sat beside him.
“Well-“ he announced, already in a slightly better mood now that he had some food in his stomach, stretching his arms out to either side of him to drape across Kat and Elle’s shoulders, who he was wedged between. “If she can save Beck’s sorry excuse for a pancake and turn it into something halfway edible, then I vote we keep her.” He said, eyes drifting between the other south siders at the table. Sure, he was mostly joking, but also a little serious. Guests normally didn’t last very long with their group of friends unless they’d been welcomed in by all parties.
Too bad for Lena, he had a feeling that they’d never accept her newest boy toy as one of their own.
As soon as Eloise Montgomery opened her mouth to respond, he knew her looks deceived her. At first glance, she would seem like a stuck-up princess, looking down her nose at everyone around her. But, when she spoke, she was nothing but kind. And the blush that overtook her face was pretty damned cute. Corban could quickly identity why the men around Newport were fawning over the blonde haired woman. As she fished for her phone, Corban took it graciously and added his phone number before handing it back to Elle, his fingertips slightly brushing against hers. His smile overtook his face once more as she announced her departure and he waved one of his hands goodbye. "Until later, Eloise," he spoke smoothly. As she walked away, Corban couldn't help but watch for a moment. She was perfect, in every sense. Gorgeous, kind, manners impeccable. Corban couldn't help feeling a bit curious about getting to know her on a deeper level.
But that thought was silenced as the woman who truly peeked his interest walked over to him. His hands rested in his pockets and he raised an eyebrow as she walked up to him. Her greeting made him give a half smirk and he glanced back to where Eloise once was. "Princess of Newport, huh?" Corban shrugged as if unimpressed. "I guess she seemed nice enough. Royalty's overrated," he spoke. As Lena spoke more with him about a breakfast happening tomorrow, he couldn't help as his lip twitched at the nickname she gave him. He knew it would stick and wasn't surprised when she said it. As she went on and described how her friends didn't like him and how she was unsure, he weirdly enough felt nerves in the pit of his stomach. Corban was unfamiliar with the feeling of not being accepted and someone not easily falling for his charm so for the first time in his life, he felt challenged. And for Lena, he was definitely up for the challenge. In fact, he spoke "I love a good challenge. And you, Ms. Lena, seem like you aren't gonna make it easy for me," he said with an easy-going smile.
He gently took the piece of paper from her hands and read the address, it being a street in Newport he wasn't familiar with, meaning it was on the other side of town. As Lena walked to her car, he followed silently behind and opened the drivers door for her. He waited until she slid inside to grab her hand, for the second time that night, and kissed the back of it. "Until tomorrow, Lena."
Tomorrow came quickly and Corban was up before the sun was. He finished his 2 hour long morning workout earlier than usual so he could get ready for the breakfast with Lena. He took his time getting ready, examining his closet alone for thirty minutes trying to find an outfit that didn't scream "preppy" and was appropriate for breakfast. He settled on a pair of khakis, a short sleeved dress shirt, and a pair of his most casual dress shoes. Corban felt self-conscious that he'd be too dressed up but it wasn't like his parents allowed him to go out the house wearing jeans.
As Corban finished getting ready, he headed downstairs and could hear his mother's breathless coughing from a mile away. He ran to the living room and could see she was hacking into a tissue. He went to her, gently consoling her and rubbing her back until the cough attack died down. "You alright, Ma?" he asked softly. As always, she waved him off and nodded her head until she could catch her breath. "I'm fine, Corban. Just got something caught in my throat," she lied. Corban shook his head but didn't say anything as he grabbed her water and handed it to her. He turned his head to look for his father and saw him reading the paper at the island in the kitchen. It's a rarity that Corban lost his cool, but his father always seemed to Bring the worst out of him. "So you're just going to fucking sit there while she's choking?" he snapped.
"Corban, please. I'm fine," his mother insisted. His father shrugged, as if to say 'you-heard-her'. "She said she was fine," his father said. Corban hands balled into fist and he knew if he didn't leave soon, it was going to be a problem. "You look nice, baby. Going on a date?" she asked. "Something like that." He stood up, kissed his mother on the head and walked out the door into the garage, to his sleek, silver, newest edition Porsche and hopped inside, letting the sunroof down. The drive to Lena's house was longer than anticipated but he was still on time. He waited patiently until she came outside and rushed out of his seat to open her door. He offered a smile, though the one she gave back was reluctant. "Mornin'," he said back with a lot more enthusiasm than her.
The drive to Beck's place was short but awkward. Corban was beginning to think that Lena was regretting this decision but he was going to do his best to make sure she didn't. As the pulled up into the driveway, he parked the car. Suddenly, he reached into the backseat and grabbed a bouquet of flowers and a bottle of champagne. "This is for you," he said handing her the flowers. "And this is for your friends," he said holding up the bottle. Again, he rushed out of his seat to open the door for Lena and he let her lead the way inside. As they entered the house, they were immediately greeted by a dog. Corban couldn't help but smile watching Lena interact with the puppy, it was the most relaxed she had been all morning.
As they walked side by side into the kitchen, Corban heard himself audibly gulp as they closer to everyone inside. He saw all those familiar faces from the ball last night and they had the same scold on their faces, except for one. "Eloise?" he asked with genuine surprise. For some reason he didn't imagine seeing her on this side of town. He didn't take her as the type to stray far from the Northside. Happy to see a friendly face, he walked over and offered her a friendly hug before turning to the group. "Good to see you. Hey everybody."
The room was intense and all were on him and Eloise. Corban cleared his throat and sat at the table, across from Kat and next to Lena. He produced a bottle of champagne and set it on the table. "I hope everybody here likes mimosas," he said with a smirk. As Lena sat beside him, he let his arm rest on the back of her chair, not thinking anything of it. He glanced across the table at the curly-headed girl from last night and knew she was going to be a tough friend to make, as well as the dark haired male friend that was obviously protective over Lena. "Had to get out the house. Plus, I figured, why not get some free food and get drunk with strangers," he smirked.
As he glanced at the food on the stove, Corban pointed to it. "Food looks delicious. Who made it? I'd love to thank the chef," he said. Kat chuckled and leaned forward, opening the champagne bottle. "Awww, don't lie to him Corban. And thanks for the drink. I'm gonna need to be drunk to get through this shit show," Kat teased, mumbling the last part under her breath. Corban smiled back nervously, at least grateful she had remembered his name.
“Totally my fault, I should’ve been looking where I was going.” Elle covered quickly, waving away his apology for having ran into her. In all truth, she had definitely been the one to knock into him, but like a true gentleman here he was taking the blame just because he was bigger. She was relieved by his kindness, a wave of tension rolling away from her as she realized this boy wasn’t going to yell at her for being so careless or clumsy. Good, she didn’t think she could handle any more arguments tonight.
As she introduced herself, Eloise took a moment to let her eyes scan over the new boy. He was a very traditional sort of handsome - big as a house, muscular in all of the right places, a strong jaw and cute freckles that dotted his face - all of which definitely added to his overarching charm. Not that he needed it, he was so kind and his easy going personality was more than enough to make him attractive to most women, Elle included.
The blonde had been caught off guard by Corban’s shocked reaction to realizing who she was, her cheeks blushing at the sudden rush of attention. “I hadn’t realized I’d made such a reputation for myself.” She laughed, offering the boy an easy smile. “Nope, no myth, here in flesh.” She assured him, shaking her head in amusement. It made a part of her nervous to hear that their parents had obviously already filled this boy’s head with tidbits of information about her, and now she’d have to live up to the picture they’d painted for her. If she had stumbled into him on a normal day, it would’nt have been a problem. But after the week she’d had, she wasn’t sure if she could meet those expectations anymore.
Elle noticed as the boy’s eyes wandered past her to the scene of the fight she’d been a part of only moments ago. She couldn’t help the grin that over took her lips, dimples popping out of her cheeks at the corners of her smile, as the boy sweetly tried to reassure her that he didn’t expect perfection, especially after having witnessed the shitshow that had just went down. “Good, because you probably won’t find much of that around here.” She laughed. “But thank you, really, it’s a nice change of pace to meet someone so nice. Please, let me make this evening up to you.”
The proposition he’d offered seemed relatively simple, just a tour of the island. That was easy enough, they could make an evening of her showing him her favorite parts of the island and introducing him to a handful of friends to help ease his tradition into the Newport lifestyle. However, catching the tail end of his idea had shocked her. Another blush rose to the apples of her cheeks, painting her dainty face in a rosy glow as she fought back the devious smirk playing at her lips. “Actually Corban, that sounds great.” She agreed, fishing her phone from the little clutch she carried and handing it to him to put his number in to. “I’ll text you my number, you can pick me up tomorrow afternoon and I’ll show you all of Newport’s finest.”
The smile on her lips was hard to wipe away as she headed to her car after their brief exchange. The feelings between herself and Wren had snuck up on her, had came so naturally after years of friendship that she had never expected them. It was a nice change of pace to be flirted with and asked on dates, not just taken for granted. Corban Wilson had single handedly managed to save the night she’d wrote off as ruined, leaving her with a permanent blush on her cheeks and butterflies in her tummy.
Those butterflies quickly turned to pterodactyls clawing at her insides once she arrived home. While she’d managed to beat her parents back to the Montgomery Manor, she knew that she would have to face them in the morning, and they would undoubtedly be ready to strangle her. Instead of waiting up to face them tonight, Elle hurried to her room in an attempt to just pretend to be asleep before they got home.
She felt like a new person after a shower and wiping the makeup from her face, changing into a pit of cozy pjs and settling into bed for the night. It had been a couple of hours since she’d made her escape from the ball, and she was right on the verge of falling asleep when she heard a tiny knock coming from the patio doors across the room. Elle rubbed at her eyes, unsure if the sound had been real or if she’d started dreaming and not realized it. She hadn’t expected company tonight, and most guests used the front door, her private usually patio reserved solely for the purpose of her friends sneaking her out late at night.
“Wren?” She questioned softly, still rubbing the sleep from her eyes as she pulled the door open to find him standing before her. It took a moment for her eyes to focus without her contacts in, slowly realizing that the boy before her was in absolute tatters. “Oh my god, Wren, what happened.” She gasped, trying to keep her voice down so not to wake her family as she pulled him into the room, closing the door behind him. He was covered in a mixture of blood and tears, his suit was torn, and he looked far worse than how Beck had left him.
Of course Eloise was still angry with him, furious even, and he was anything but forgiven. But this was her closest friend since they were in diapers, and he was hurting, and he needed a friend. She couldn’t leave him there after he’s sought her out, needing comfort more than anything else. So she did just that.
Elle rose to her tip toes, curling her arms around the boy in the tightest hug she could manage. She wasn’t sure how long they stood there like that, long enough that she’d lost track of the time, but she hadn’t minded. It’s been several minutes when she finally pulled out of his grip, reaching up to gently slide the remnants of his suit jacket off of his shoulders and tossing it to the back of her desk chair. Nimble fingers loosened his tie, removing that as well and placing alongside his jacket.
Eloise guided him to sit at the edge of her bed before leaving him for a moment, returning with a wet wash rag in her hand. “Are you okay?” She whispered as she began dabbing at his face with the rag; she tried to be gentle, but she knew even then that her actions had to have hurt the tender skin. “You want to talk about it?”
Once his face was clean - which revealed even more horrifying bruises - Elle crawled back into her bed and positioned herself leaning back against the headboard, gently pulling Wren after her. She sat with his head on her chest, combing her fingers through his hair and running her nails gently along his back. Just holding him, trying er hardest to keep all of his broken pieces from falling apart. “This doesn’t mean that I forgive you.” She clarified, though her blue eyes were soft as she looked at the boy before her. Tonight would be the only exception to her anger, tonight she would be the friend, the comfort, that he needed.
She wasn’t sure when, but they’d fallen asleep just like that sometime in the night, and by the time she awoke Wren was already long gone. For a few long moments she tried to decipher if what she remembered was real life or just a dream, but little remnants of his presence still laid sprinkled around her room. She could smell his cologne on her pajamas, his tie still sat on her desk, and a bloody wash rag was thrown in the corner of her room. It hadn’t been a dream, it had absolutely been real. A part of her wished it hadn’t been.
It was the sound of a pebble smacking her window that had awoken her, and had the night before not happened she probably wouldn’t have even bothered to get out of bed. But just for safe measures, she groggily shuffled over to her window, sliding it open and leaking out. The last person she had expected to find was a very chipper sounding Beckett Greene. “What do you want, Beck?” She groaned, rubbing the sleep from her eyes as he demanded her presence, and made fun of her current state of appearance. “Oh, screw off.” She sighed, suddenly very self conscious in her little rolled pajama shorts and tank top, reaching up to try and smooth down her sleep messied hair. She was just about to protest when he reminded her that she did in fact owe him - that much she couldn’t deny.
With an annoyed huff, Eloise slammed her window shut and rushed to get ready for her day. She was dressed and had her teeth and hair brushed in a record amount of time, opting for the ease of glasses today versus having to put in her contacts. She jogged past her parents as she made her way through the house, not wanting to stop and talk and surely receive a lecture for the previous night’s events. “Eloise, where are you-“ her mother began, only to be cut off by Elle’s rushed response. “I’ll be back later!”
Long blonde hair swished down her back as she jogged down her front steps, adjusting the cropped tee and loose fitting denim shorts she’d thrown on a that morning, her black high tops still untied as she jerked open the passenger door of Beck’s Jeep - having to use a lot more umph than she was used to to get the door open. “What is this about?” She sighed, sliding into the passenger seat and pulling the door back shut. Maybe she was grumpy because she hadn’t gotten enough sleep, or maybe it was just the fact that it involved Beck.
Anything involving Beckett Greene at this hour in the morning, in this good of a mood had to have been a recipe for disaster.
As much as Beck tried to pretend like Eloise’s words didn’t phase him, the slight flicker of lost hope shone in his hazel eyes. A hand clenched into another bloodied fist out of pure frustration hearing Elle talk about him. Friends don’t kiss like that. Even if it were a dare, Beck knew that both he and she had felt something within that kiss. Something that stirred up Beck so much he was willing to punch Wren in the face at the biggest event of the summer. And as Griffin’s voice taunted Beck, observing that the blonde had only called the wild-haired haired south sider a friend, all of the feelings he had managed to gather for Eloise Montgomery were pushed so far down that Beck wondered if they would ever arise again. If he ever wanted them to arise again. “Fuck off, Novak,” he muttered, jaw tense as he took one final look at Eloise in that blue dress before forcing himself to turn away.
Fine. Just friends they would be.
Seeing his Jeep become the new town jungle gym, Beck rolled his eyes at Kat’s and Griffin’s protests about having their sorry asses on his car. Flipping his annoying friends off, Beck groaned as the conversation drifted back to Lena and Griff’s late-night adventures in the sheets again. He regretted even bringing it up and Beck wasn’t sure why he did – he was still trying not to gag every time those two passed little glances to each other. “He seems nice?” Beck scoffed at Lena defending the north side prick. “Since when do you go for nice, Lena Campbell? And please, let’s just forget I brough that God awful situation up again. I’m still not trying to puke in my mouth every time I see you two.” Beck passed Lena and Griff a devious but loving smirk.
Kat definitely had not changed any aspect about herself as she tore into Beck. The comment about his and Eloise’s children had him disgusted, flustered, and also thoughtful at the same time. He pondered the idea of children and then immediately shivered. Beck could barely keep his own ass alive, to make him responsible for a kid who would no doubt have his sense of tom foolery would be chaos. Complete and utter chaos. “Permanent teenage angst – that’s a rich coming from a bar rat with a nicotine addiction,” he played back, chuckling as he watched the curly headed girl dive into her car. As she returned with a bottle of whiskey Beck quickly outstretched a hand a took a long swig of the burning amber liquid after Griffin. It was a miracle he had swallowed before the boy had told Kat that Beckett Greene – world renowned playboy and troublemaker – was simping for a north side blonde with a bad attitude and a foul mouth.
Of course, it was true. It was true as all hell. But, once again, Beck had a reputation to uphold.
His eyes darted between Griffin and Kat as they argued if Beck could actually sink his claws into the Montgomery girl. Amusement flashed across his eyes and a smug grin appeared. “You really don’t think I could do it, do you?” Beck retorted to Griff, handing him the bottle back with a little more force than necessary. “Kat, don’t schedule your amputation appointment just yet.” He crossed his arms and eyed his friend challengingly. “You know what? You have your sorry ass a bet. I bet that I can fuck Eloise Montgomery by the end of the summer. Hell, I bet I can make her north side ass fall in love with me while we’re at it.” He ran his tongue along his bottom lip, an evil an off-putting smirk radiating off of him. “If I win, you and Lanes have to stop fucking around with each other. But if I lose then by all means, carry the hell on. I’ll even give your ass rides for the rest of the year and I’ll even give you bragging rights, Novak.” Beck reached out a hand and shook Griffin’s, setting the bet in place. His eyes darted in between Lena and the boy as he spoke, “I’d start canceling the wedding if I were you.” He opened his car door with a creak and Beck slid inside the driver’s seat. “Now, you idiots get the fuck off my car, I’m out of here. Don’t be late for breakfast tomorrow – you too Kat. Celebratory family breakfast at my place.” And with that, Beck whipped out of the lot, dust accumulating behind his wheels. He reached his hand out of the open window, give his friends a mocking wave and a quick and loving middle finger before his vehicle disappeared into the sunset and looming willow trees.
Beck awoke in an extra cheery mood this morning, despite getting into a fight with Wren the night before. His lip was free of blood and only a small bit of bruising covered his left side of his mouth. However, other than that, Beck looked the same. Disheveled, slightly bored, and just as smug as ever. He had woken up before his alarm, surprisingly. Beck was known to sleep in and arrive late for practically everything, but the south side boy had a bet to win and a woman to swoon.
A wet tongue licked his fingers as Beck brushed his teeth. He peered down and scratched a soft and fluffy head. “Chill, Cals. I just fed you breakfast, you’re going to get fatter than officer Shirley if you keep eating,” he scolded the pup over his toothbrush. Beck had rescued the dog a few months ago. Someone had discarded the scruffy little thing near the marina dumpster. When he found her, she was covered in fleas and had a nasty case of worms. Now, she looked as healthy as ever. Long fur covered the golden dog’s ears, making it seem like she had a full head of hair just as askew as her owner's. Callie was a good dog and she read Beck very well. Needless to say, he wasn’t disappointed for taking her under his wing.
After he finished dressing himself in normal Beck attire, a cut off with dirty Chucks and a black bandana folded and tied around his head, Beck kissed Callie goodbye and left the dog on his couch. “If I come back and you pissed on the carpet again your ass will not be getting a milk bone tonight.” His slightly torn screen door rattled behind him as Beck strode outside in his backyard, towards the beat-up Jeep.
The morning sun was just beginning to arise, and the heat today was already going to be more bearable than the ones prior. Hell, he might actually be able to work on his boat today without dying of heat stroke. Beck eyed the half-built sailboat that had sat under his willow tree for far too long. His father had taught the scraggly young boy to sail – it was the only fond memories he had of the man. Beck’s dad was a strict military sergeant and often brought his work home with him. He was a cold and cruel human. His younger years were filled with constant screaming matches with his dad while his mother sat on the sidelines -- just observing. She did nothing to help him while his father took out his own personal and emotional pain on his only son. He no longer keeps in contact with them and hasn't for years. Not even after they left this stupid island. Thankfully, Beck was old enough to support himself and live on his own – even if it was a very minimal and simple life. He wasn’t mad.
The drive to her house was quick and painless. He had rolled all the windows down so the early morning summer air could waft throughout the vehicle. Rolling into the north side and eventually reaching Eloise’s Montgomery’s house, Beck eyed the large estate for a moment before he stepped out. There was no missing the manor. Beside from Jack Hall’s, the Montgomery houses were also one of the largest on the island. His beat-up jeep looked like nothing but a dumpster nest to the shiny sport cars and trucks that littered the north side road. Wanting to quickly leave the area before anyone noticed his car, Beck leaped out of the jeep and rushed across the lush green lawn before rounding to the side of the house. He and Griffin often would terrorize the Montgomery girl’s by egging their homes or tp-ing their trees. It was harmless south sider fun and it made Beck very familiar where their rooms were.
Reaching down into the rock bed that sat underneath her window, Beck chewed on his bottom lip for a moment, debating whether he should just leave and forget about the bet. But it was a good bet and Beck never liked to back down from anything – especially his best friend. So, with no more hesitation, Beck fiddled the small rock in his hand and tossed it onto the window. The glass wavered and it hit harder than he meant it too. God, this was so stupid. He felt as if he were in some damn cheesy 80’s movie. Give him a boom box playing a love ballad and a mullet and Beck would surely be unstoppable.
Beck tossed a couple more rocks before he saw a figure move behind the glass. As Eloise opened her window and shot him one of those famous icy glares, Beck retorted with a cunning grin. “Mornin’,” he called up to her. “You look absolutely ravishing.” His voice dripped with sarcasm as he took in the blonde’s bedhead and her pajamas. He had no doubt woken up the girl and the thought made him chuckle. “Get dressed and get your ass down here. I’m stealing you for the day.” Before she could object, Beck arched a brow and began to saunter back towards the car. “I saved your drunk ass. You owe me.”
He had to keep reminding himself that this was just a bet and nothing more.
The longer Corban stood with Lena's friends, the longer he felt the divide between himself and them. For the life of him, he couldn't put his finger on why that is. He was never the type to discriminate or hold someone's financial wealth, or lack thereof, over someone's head. In fact, usually when people meet Corban they love him, no matter their status. It bothered Corban that he was disliked more so than their rudeness. Regardless, Corban kept a polite smile on his face as he walked away. Truth is, he could give a flying fuck about being liked. It's just that those people seemed to be Lena's closest friends and if they didn't like him, she wouldn't either.
As he stalked toward a small group on the other side of the parking lot, he could hear whatever argument they were having amplify. He turned to allow them as much privacy as he could and when he heard the commotion die down, he began walking toward them again and walking smack into Eloise. He couldn't help the small laugh that left his mouth as he reached out to help yet another girl from falling as they bumped into his chest. "It seems like I've made a habit out of running into people tonight."
His eyes ran across her once and he was stunned. She was beautiful like Lena but she wasn't like Cinderella, she was someone who was already born into royalty. That much Corban could tell from her dress. As she began to introduce herself, his brows burrowed in confusion but then a realization came over him. "Thee Eloise Montgomery?" he said in a bit of shock.
So this was the woman his mother practically begged him to meet tonight. The woman that his mother was already picking out venues for their wedding. Again, Corban stifled a chuckle and shook his head at the irony. This was the type of woman Corban's mother wanted him to date. Not Lena. But, for some reason Lena didn't leave the back of his mind. "Hmmm, Eloise Montgomery. My mother spoke so highly of you, I thought you had to be a myth. But yes, I'm Corban or you can call me C.W." he said, a side smirk taking over his face.
He looked around at the other blonde beauty from before stalking off and the guy with the dark hair stalking off in another direction. It seemed like whatever friend group Eloise was referring to was no longer existent. "No worries, love. Seems like the guys around here need a good verbal scolding. They're unaware of how to treat a lady of your caliber," he said offering a friendly smile and a shrug. "No need to be apologetic, you don't have to be perfect around me. We do that enough for our parents," he assured her with a friendly smile, his dimple peeking through.
The vibes he got from Eloise were the polar opposite of the ones he got from Lena. Maybe it's because their parents together and they were in the same social class but he got the vibes that Eloise was genuinely being nice. With Lena, he felt like he had to work for her niceness and interest which intrigued him to no ends. He shifted his hands in his pocket and casually glanced back at Lena's group of friends and saw they were in a fit of laughter. He figured he'd let them enjoy their evening and he'd find a way to Lena sometime. He glanced back at Eloise with a raised eyebrow. "If you're not busy sometime, I'd love a small tour of the town and you seem like the perfect person for it. Maybe buy you a drink later that evening if you're into it," he suggested politely. His intentions were pure but he couldn't deny that she was beautiful. He knew though that she came with a lot of drama, especially seeing the spat between her and the dark haired boy. So, for now, Corban's intentions were purely platonic.
Lena listened intently to Kat’s reasons for being back. While the explanation had not been as detailed as she would have liked, Lena noticed that her friend seemed rather upset by it. Whether she was upset about being back, or about whatever happened while she was gone, Lena didn’t know, but she knew her friend well enough not to push it. When Kat greeted Corban, less than congenially, Lena turned around to look at him. She was honestly surprised that he had agreed to come with her. He really was new enough in town to not have bought into the whole north vs. south feud, not yet anyway.
She wasn’t exactly surprised by her friends' rude responses to his being there, but for some reason, she did feel strangely embarrassed by it. She knew they were protective of her, and bringing an outsider to their little reunion might not have been the best move on her part but how was she supposed to know that Kat was back? Lena felt her face flush a little when Corban said that she’d taken him under her wing, what was with her today? She was over men literally ten minutes ago, and here she was bringing along this guy she just met to meet her friends. She needed to chill.
Lena rolled her eyes at Beck’s comments on the friendliness of the gators. They probably were friendlier than the south siders were being at the moment. “Ignore him,” She told Corban waving off Beck’s comment nonchalantly, though she couldn’t help but feel the weight of her friends' glares. God she was going to get shit for this later. She did feel a bit of a thrill though seeing Griff a little irritated, maybe now he knew how she felt when he’d ditched her to go flirt with that north side girl.
Her entire body tensed when she felt Corban’s hand on the small of her back and heard his voice so close to her ear. She had to stifle a laugh at his bulldozer joke. “Best of luck,” She told him as he left the group. She was slightly unnerved by his politeness, especially when Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum were the only two guys she consistently hung around and their manners were questionable. She shrugged at her friend’s comments about her hanging around with north siders.
“Coming from the guy who just got his ass beat over a north sider, and the guy who has been in more north sider’s panties than I can count — you both don’t have much room to talk,” She fired back at them. “Plus, he seems nice.” Lena crossed their little circle to lean against the Jeep next to Kat, but she couldn’t help but laugh at Beck’s question about Griff in bed. “If I answered that I’d be breaking the rules to our truce, so no comment,” She joked, smiling as she watched Griff shove Beck at the comment. At least they were being civil with each other again. She leaned her head on Kat’s shoulder but perked up when she heard the arguing get worse from across the parking lot.
“You might have started that fight, Beck, but it looks like they’re finishing it,” She was trying to keep it light, but it was really not looking good for that guy. Lena felt a little bit of pride for Elle and Aria for sticking up for themselves though, they deserved better than to be fighting over that prick. She chuckled at Griff’s explanation of the situation between Elle and Beck, but Lena wasn’t pretty sure that Beck’s desire to bag Elle is what caused the little spat between north siders. She was positive.
Seeing the ocean waves tumble besides the road, feeling the summer night across her tanned skin, her blonde waves rippling away from her freckled face -- Aria was completely certain that she had never felt this kind of bliss. Taking Camden’s hand was one of the best decisions she had ever made. He was from the south side, there was no denying that. He had a little grit about him, his smile was a little too devious and a little too intoxicating. Nothing about him was poised and flawless, and damnit she had never felt more attracted to basically a stranger.
As his hand gripped her thigh while she was on top of the world, Aria glanced down at his grin, she giggled and passed him a wink. The touch ended too soon, and she debated on pulling his hand back to her leg, not ready to give up the tingle sensation his calloused hands gave her. Cam listening to her and picking up the pace drove her over the edge. Her heart soared and another laugh floated through the air. The sound got lost in the wind, but she could feel it in her chest.
Once back in the confinement of her seat, Aria smirked at Cam’s chuckle. “Well your other hostages need to get the stick out of their ass.” She mused, turning her head for a moment to stare at the beach gliding along next to them. It was a pretty calm night on the water, despite the roaring mess back at the Ball. She didn’t want to return, and Aria was thankful that her request to get behind the wheel was well received. Most guys were sticklers about girls driving and it annoyed the hell out of her. Granted, Aria had a led foot and her getting behind the wheel was seen more as a death wish than a blessing. However, she wanted to feel the purr of the engine under her fingertips.
The look Cam gave her was all the confirmation Aria needed that he would happily oblige her request. Watching the boy turn on the cruise control and then stand up, just like she had done, her green eyes widened and glistened with excitement. She bit her bottom lip as he eased the car away from the edge and she began to snake around him, turning her head to face his for a moment as she sneaked in front of him to the drivers side. “Get your ass in the passenger seat, Cam, and hold the hell on.” She smirked. Aria’s nose brushed his for a moment and her breath hitched slightly. His daring grin sunk into her and she passed him one of her own, accepting his challenge.
Sliding into the seat, Aria’s small hands clutched onto the steering wheel tightly and she began to slow the vehicle before turning into a random parking lot, repositioning the car to head back the way they came. His impatient drumming against the dashboard caused her to quirk up a brow to him, a sly smirk unfolding. “You asked for it,” she told him as her foot slammed down on the gas sending her back against the seat. The tires squealed out of the lot and back onto the open road and Aria did not let up on the gas. She sped across the road, taking the corners a little too sharply. She grinned as she took glances at Cam and then the freedom in front of her. Aria picked up the speed and positioned the car once again in the middle of the lane before lifting her hands up into the air, letting out an overjoyed yell into the sky.
It was a miracle this girl was granted a driver’s license.
Aria slowed the convertible down as the Summer Solstice Ball came back into view. She didn’t want her adventurous night with this mysterious boy to end, but she also needed to talk to her cousin and Wren McCoy as well. Reality began seeping back into her and as they positioned the car back in the gravel lot, Aria merely rolled her eyes as the other valets began scolding them. Stepping out of the car and slamming the door, she tossed the pricks the keys and wasted no time in getting Cam away from the scene. Unfortunately, north siders were immune to the law at times, and she would use her unfortunate privilege to try and save the boy that had saved her. “Come on, Romeo. Before they realize I burned out the tires.” Aria glanced over shoulder back at him. Even though she was back in the traps of the north side, her face still held that daring gaze.
Over the cars Aria spotted Eloise and Wren and her stomach clenched. Her grip tightened on Cam’s hand for a moment before she released it. “I’m sorry, I have to do something. I’ll be right back.” Aria’s throat grew small and she felt as if her chest weighed fifty pounds. She started to hastily step up to the brawl when Wren’s painful words stopped her in her tracks. I slept with Aria, because I knew you sure as hell were going to sleep with Beck. Her face fell and she met Wren’s eyes. "What?" She whispered softly. Her friend since they were practically in diapers used her to get back at one of the most important people in her life.
And Aria had been stupid enough to fall for it.
She chewed on the inside of her cheek and tried to regain her composure. Something stirred inside her, and before she knew it Aria Montgomery had stepped up to Wren and shoved his chest with all of her might. “Don’t talk to her like that you pathetic excuse for a man.” Aria gritted her teeth and those green eyes filled with fury and rage and destruction. “Just because you are fucking miserable with your own life doesn’t mean you get to drag others down with you.” Her chest heaved and Aria knew she should hold back – that she should think about her words before they spewed out of her mouth, but she couldn’t. “It’s nice to know I was just something to stick to dick into. You are a piece of shit, Wren McCoy. Because you don’t know how to handle not getting what you want you had to go and destroy years of friendship and trust. You knew how Elle felt about you and you used me to get back at her.” Aria’s eyes brimmed with warm tears, but she didn’t let them fall. Her head snapped back to Eloise and Aria pleaded with her eyes for her cousin to forgive her. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t know. He didn’t tell me anything about you two.” Snapping her head back to him, Aria shot the boy one last looked before she stalked off. “Go fuck a cactus, Wren. You’re dead to me.”
She needed a damn drink.
Corban felt a bit foolish being so instantly infatuated with the first woman he comes across but he couldn't help it. She was beautiful. Even dressed in a wrinkled skirt and blouse with barefoot, she looked beautiful. She reminded him of a Cinderella story but she didn't seem like the type of woman that needed a man to scoop in and save her. Which is exactly why Corban was confused when a dark blonde haired guy scooped in and tried to "save her".
Corban knew all too well what it felt like for a guy to attempt to claim his territory in a smooth way. The protective hand on her shoulder, speaking for her, announcing his presence then leaving to prove he can pop up whenever he wants. Corban took note of all of this but simply offered a polite smile and nodded his head. "Good to know. I was having more fun out here anyway," he said, his eyes glancing back at Lena, though he was speaking to Griffin. Soon after, he felt relief when Griffin walked away. He had a bad feeling about the guy.
A small smile played on his lips as she ranted a bit. There seemed to be more to her than just beauty, but an awareness and intelligence. "You know us guys, we're always screwing up. That's why we need beautiful women like you to call us out on our shit," he said matter-of-factly. While he spoke, Lena seemed to be half listening and half paying attention to the commotion around her which was new to Corban. He usually had a woman's undivided attention when he spoke to them. Looked like Lena was going to make him work for that. He liked that.
As she spoke to him, some of her words blurring together because she was speaking so quickly, he realized that she was inviting him to chill with her friends. Though he would've preferred to speak with her privately a few more moments, he wouldn't mind sharing her attention as long as he got some of it. He laughed at her comment about knocking over her friends and scratched his head nervously. "I don't make promises I can't keep, Lena," he said, honestly loving how her name sounded on his tongue. "Lead the way," he said, extending his arm in the direction of Beck's truck,
As she lead the way, he walked behind her with his hands in his pockets and light on his feet. He was undeniably and naturally suave, a lot of women that he passed staring at the sight of him walking with Lena. As he looked up in the direction they were going in, he saw that the people they were approaching looked a lot like Lena. The help. Again, it didn't matter to him but the sight was odd with him being the only dressed up. His eyes scanned the group and he saw the protective guy from earlier, a guy with a bloody lip and another pretty girl with a cigarette between her lips. He definitely felt like he didn't belong.
As he got closer, he saw that it was obviously a reunion. The curly haired girl seemed to be hugging every and laughing with them. Corban watched as Lena ran toward her friend and they embraced tightly. He smirked to himself at the exchange and stayed a bit behind awkwardly so he didn't intrude on the moment. If it's one thing someone could say about Corban, it's that his mothers taught him manners. He wasn't the type to anger quickly or fight in front of women. He knew which fork belonged where on a dining table. He wore his shirts tucked and his hair was always neat. His mother made sure to groom him into a husband. So much so, he had no idea how to just let go and have fun sometimes. While he was groomed a certain way, his personality was goofy. Those two things conflicted in his personality everyday and it was hard to choose who to be sometimes.
After the excitement died down with the group of friends, he finally stepped forward. "Who the hell are you?" sounded from the curly headed girl's mouth and he froze. He's never been greeted like that by anyone but he tried to hide his surprise by clearing his throat. He extended a hand to her with one hand still in his pocket. "How are you? I'm Corban, I'm new here. Some people call me C.W." he said. The group seemed to be eyeing his a bit suspiciously but Corban knew it could've just been his own nerves. "I was just hoping to meet a few of Lena's friends since I'm new in town. She was nice enough to take me under her wing," he said with a shrug. The curly haired girl was staring at him with interest and a bit of distaste. "I'm Kat." That was all she said before she turned back to her friends and their conversations.
Looking across the parking lot at the women in ballgowns and men in tux, he knew those were the women and people his mother would want him associating with but curiosity and infatuation kept his feet glued in place. Maybe I should introduce myself to a few other people and socialize, he thought to himself. His eyes zeroed in on a dark haired guy across the parking lot that was in conversation with a gorgeous blonde woman and Corban figured he could start there. He placed his hand gently on the small of Lena's back politely and leaned in close to her ear. "I'll be back shortly, going to make my rounds and see who else I can bulldoze," he joked and smirked before walking in the direction of Elle and Wren.
Home.
Kat never knew what a home was. Due to getting evicted from numerous places when she was younger and traveling the world, she lost the feeling of home in Newport. But, for some reason, standing and talking shit with her best friend made her feel warm. The people from the southside made this place a home for her.
She raised an eyebrow as Beck mentioned a nude shoot. "I'd rather shoot myself in the eye than shoot your tiny penis," she joked. She didn't mean to skip over his question of why she had been gone but before she could answer, he spoked again. Digging in her pocket, she withdrew her pack of cigarettes and placed one between her lips. She lit it smoothly before taking a small drag. "Griff? Aww, man, is he working tonight too? I can't wait to see him and Lena."
And as sure as fate is real, Griffin's voice sounded in front of the Jeep. Kat broke into a wide smile and laughed wholeheartedly as he picked her up, making her drop her cigarette but she didn't care. She wrapped her arms and legs around him and ruffled his hair playfully. "Oh my God! Look at you Gryffindor! It looks like you grew a whole foot," she smiled. When he set her down, she observed Griff and Beck and felt her heartstrings pull.
These two guys were the same ones who protected her, who sat up and played videos games with her brothers all night, the same guys who she fought side by side with and stole with. Not to mention experiencing her first kiss with Griffin at a kissing party and spending plenty of nights over Beck's house, platonically of course. Kat wasn't a blind woman, she knew that both of her male best friends were hot but crossing that line with them was a terrifying thought especially Beck. He knew too much. He meant too much to her. They were too much alike. Same for Griffin. Plus, Kat was a natural beauty, a bit edgy but nonetheless gorgeous. She figured those two went for the Barbies.
She missed them more than she was willing to admit. "I see. Our boy Beck sure does know how to make an exit. I'm pissed, if I knew wasn't going to be making money tonight then I would've at least liked to start some shit with you guys," she joked nudging Beck.
Again came the question of why she left but Kat avoided it again as Lena was mentioned and like clockwork, she appeared with a mysterious, gorgeous man following a few steps tux behind her. "Motherfucking Campbell Soup!" Kat exclaimed as she embraced the only female friend she's had in her entire life. Many girls shied away from Kat's blunt, dangerous and provocative behavior but not Lena. The two were different but they accepted and loved each other. While Griffin and Beck were more sibling like, Kat's love for Lena was...a bit more complicated not that Lena would ever know. "I missed you guys so much."
For the third time, the question of her absence arose and she couldn't avoid it. Kat cleared her throat and reached up to undo the tight bun in her hair and let her curls fall naturally down her back. "Long story short, once a troublemaker, always a troublemaker," she shrugged. "You think life outside of this dump is better but not always. But good news, I got some dope shots I have to show you guys later," she said a bit sadly but she tried to mask her sadness with a small smirk.
Suddenly, a loud commotion could be heard across the parking lot and Kat saw one of Montgomery girls having a spat with a guy she's seen on the Northside. Kat laughed to herself, completely oblivious to the heightened drama in her hometown and the new rivalries and affairs between the south and north side. "Isn't that one of the girls from Montgomery clan? They're always in some shit," she said, shaking her head. She walked closer to Beck's car before jumping on top of the hood. "Hey, you two butt-heads still chasing after the Montgomery Barbies or have you given up that dream?" she laughed, referring to Beck and Griffin, knowing even though they despise the north side, they had a thing for the Montgomery girls at some point.
Her attention turned back to the handsomely dressed man that was now within her group's area and she tilted her head. "And who the hell are you?" she asked a bit rudely but her friends were used to her curtness.
Wren wanted desperately to punch Beck again, especially after his little comment about his place and Aria. It had been so satisfying the first time. The security officers hadn’t managed to catch him the first time when Beck spit on him, but they weren’t going to make that mistake again. Wren felt one of the catch his arms as he lunged forward again. He didn’t think he’d ever been this full of rage in his entire life. He’d never hated someone so much. Beck brought out a side of him that Wren didn’t even know he had.
Once Beck had stalked off and out of the ballroom, the guards let go of his arms, and Wren pulled down the sleeves of his suit. All eyes were on him, but one pair, in particular, bore holes through him. His father’s. Wren had been pretty pleased with himself at the thought of his father’s embarrassment but seeing him there, looking at him like that, he felt nothing but dread settle in his gut. He heard the security officer behind him tell him that he was going to have to leave. “Yeah, yeah,” He told them, starting towards the exit. Like he’d wanna stay after that anyways.
Wren tried not to make eye contact with his father when he walked past him, but he didn’t need to for his father to approach him. The older man gripped his son by the back of the neck. “We’ll discuss this little show you put on when we get home,” He told the boy before releasing him. Wren rubbed the back of his neck. “Can’t wait.” Wren feared that he might have crossed a line.
He shoved the doors open in front of him and stepped out into the warm, sticky air of the Newport summer night. Wren started to feel the adrenaline wear off and was hit with waves of pain and anxiety. What the fuck had he been thinking? Fighting with Beck had been one thing, the dick deserved it, but in front of basically the entire town? Wren had just dug his own grave.
As soon as that thought crossed his mind, he heard Elle’s voice from across the parking lot. And she looked pissed. “For fuck’s sake,” He muttered to himself running a hand over his face and wincing as he felt pain explode from his eye. Today was not his day. “Elle, I don’t wanna do this right now. Can you please save it?” He begged. The last few days had literally felt like some hellscape night terror and he just wanted it to end. He let her shove him. Hell, he probably deserved it. He definitely deserved it. It’s not like she could hurt him any worse than Beck did. Until she started talking anyway.
“I played you?” He yelled right back to her. “You’re the one who used me to get Beck into your pants,” He felt himself getting more ad more worked up. “I was just supposed to sit around and let you use me to make him jealous? Fuck that Eloise,” Wren made himself take a breath. “I care about you more than you know but you used me and that hurt. So yeah, I slept with Aria, because I knew you sure as hell were going to sleep with Beck,” He admitted. “But you started it, not me. So don’t give me that holier than thou bullshit.” He finished. Wren felt emotionally exhausted, sore, and like he was five minutes away from an anxiety attack. He also felt like he was losing his best friend, and that was worse.
The south sider in Griffin was silently cheering on the fight, soaking in the chaos and reveling in the destruction of north side property. His eyes held the gleam of a child opening birthday presents as he watched it unfold, taking joy in knowing that even though he was absolutely getting fired after this stunt, that at least they’d managed to ruin the most asinine north side even of the year. If they were going out, they might as well go out with a bang, right? He was actually pretty bummed to have to break it up, knowing that although Wren put up an impressive fight, that Beck had the stamina to outlast him. It came with growing up on their side of the island, getting into scraps was basically in their blood. But alas, he didn’t have the desire nor money to bail his friend out of jail tonight.
Hearing the two sling insults at one another even as they were separated by uniformed men gave Griffin a rush, having to bite back the urge to encourage Beck to rip into him once more. Again, apparently old habits die hard, or something like that. Maybe Griffin just liked being part of the violence.
He offered Beck a nod of acknowledgement as he thanked him, watching as the kid made a grand exit in pissing off some bystanders as he was escorted out of the building by security. At least he knew how to put on a show. With sigh, Griff watched as Wren was also lead out of the building, and figured he had better step out and make sure their scuffle didn’t carry over into the parking lot.
The boy followed after the group of twenty somethings who’d left the room, superseded to find Lena stopped with another boy. What was it with her and north sider’s here lately, as if they hadn’t caused enough trouble amongst their friends the past few days. “Lanes, you seen Beck?” He interrupted, laying a hand on the girl’s shoulder as he inspected the suited man. Maybe he was being a tad possessive, but he’d been protective over the girl way before they had ever slept together, and he didn’t want to watch her get pushed around by some north side prick. Which judging by Jack Hall and Lawrence McCoy, they all were.
Maybe that was why friends didn’t sleep with friends. When you had sex with strangers, you never had to stick around and see who they moved on to flirt with next. Griffin knew he had no right to be jealous, but that surely didn’t stop him. “Drinks are ass and the dancing is even worse.” He answered for Lena, flashing the new boy a friendly grin before turning his attention back to his friend. “I’m going to make sure Beck is cooling off.” He muttered, passing the boy a final look before sliding past them and into the parking lot.
It hadn’t taken Griffin very long to find Beck’s ratty old Jeep, letting out an exaggerated sigh as he approached it between a handful of other cars. “Listen I’m not saying he didn’t deserve to get his ass kicked, but did you have to get us all fired?” He joked through the vehicles, long legs finally carrying him out from around the final one. The last thing he had expected to see was a long lost friend tending to Beck’s wounds, leaving his jaw on the floor as he gaped at the girl like a complete moron. “No fucking way!” He cheered, dashing forward to scoop her up into a hug. He’d silently been following Katniss’s life via Instagram and other social media since she had left, and she’d seemed to be doing amazing for herself. He couldn’t even guess as to why she had ever bothered to come back to the dirty old south side of Newport. “Kat! You look amazing. How are you? Where have you been? Why are you here? Oh my god, Lena is going to shit her pants.” He rattled, just excited to see his friend again. In all of his excitement, it had taken him a moment to notice that Kat was also wearing a catering uniform. He offered the girl a goofy grin “You’re a little late Kitty, Beck already blew that one for us.”