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Chapter 11 – Dinner with a Friend

Aaron watched as Hailey walked in to the classroom, she was laughing and joking with her boyfriend. The blue eyed brunette's arm was around her waist securely, making sure everyone knew that the pretty brunette girl was his.

His teeth clenched as he leaned forward, his eyes setting on the blonde that was staring at the two kids. Something was different about the way he was looking at them, recently he had been boring holes in to the couple, but now, now it seemed different.

"Hey," Her voice brought him out of his daze.

He looked up and those green eyes were staring back at him, he felt the need to pull her down and turn her back in to the girl she was before this stupid bet. Maybe he needed to call off the bet itself, maybe then she would go back to normal.

No, Aaron shook his head, that wouldn't work at all.

"Hey," he responded back as she sat down.

"I'm sorry about last night," She whispered to him.

"No, I should be sorry…" He started glancing at her his expression hard to read. "Let me take you out tonight for dinner, to make up for it…" He stated.

He smiled at her; he needed to be back in her good graces. He didn't need her to be mad at him, and he couldn't stay mad at her. She smiled at him and looked down at her lap.

"Well Tyler and I haven't made any plans, but I'm sure he wouldn't mind…" She stated glancing down at her boyfriend who was talking with the blonde next to him.

"I'm glad to have his approval to go out with my best friend…" He pressed.

"Aaron," She said his name firmly as he glanced at her.

"Sorry," He muttered the apology.

He didn't say much else to her, and vice versa throughout the rest of the class. The rest of the day was awkward for her; Aaron didn't say much and when he did he was abnormally nice, Reid left her alone, except once to borrow a pencil and Tyler was her only constant.

"Hey, what's wrong?" Tyler asked glancing down at the dark haired girl.

"Nothing," She forced a smile out as she pulled her books in to her bag.

"Are you sure?" He questioned leaning coolly against the lockers.

She forced a smile and nodded, "Of course, why would something be wrong?" She asked leaning up and placing a kiss on his lips as she closed her locker.

"Oh I don't know… you just look a bit spaced out…" He stated grabbing her hand and walking with her out to his truck.

"Just thinking, that's all…" She responded, hoping the brunette would drop the subject.

"About?" Tyler asked as he pulled out his keys.

She looked up at him; those blue eyes stared down at her as he hit the button to unlock the doors to his precious Hummer. He pulled her door open and she looked up at him as she got in.

"What a fantastic boyfriend I have…" She smiled.

"Well that's a given…" He smirked giving her a wink before jogging around to his side of the car.

"You've been hanging out with Reid too much again…" She noted.

Tyler put the keys in the ignition and shrugged his shoulders with a cheesy smile. She shook her head and he drove them both back to the dorms. Tyler grabbed her things and walked her up to her room.

"So, I'll see you tonight?" He asked in a hopeful tone.

"Actually," She sucked in a deep breath.

"Yes?" Tyler's eyebrow arched in question.

"I promised Aaron I'd go to dinner with him tonight…" She stated forcing another smile.

"Oh," Tyler's face fell a bit disappointed but he recovered with another one of his charming smiles. "Maybe we can meet up at Nicky's afterward?" He asked.

"Definitely," She nodded her head, grateful that he was so good to her.

"Alright, call me when you get done with your dinner…" He winked to her leaving an innocent kiss on her cheek.

"I will," She nodded closing her door.

A wave of disappointment washed over her. She wanted to go out with Tyler tonight, and not Aaron. She fell back on to her bed and stared at the ceiling, how could she get herself out of this?

"You're an idiot…" She whispered to herself before rolling on to her stomach. She fought with the idea to cancel with Aaron, but that would just piss him off and make him suspicious. "A big idiot…" She cursed herself.

Why was she worried about pissing Aaron off? It wasn't like she hadn't done it to him many times before.

Tyler, she thought. He was going to use it against her, she knew it. If she broke their bet, or pissed Aaron off she wouldn't put it passed the curly-haired boy to tell Tyler about their little bet.

But would Tyler believe him?

More than likely, as much as she liked Tyler he could be a bit naive sometimes.

She let out a frustrated screech and dug her face in to a pillow not wanting to go through with her 'dinner' with Aaron. She knew him too well to know that he was trying to get back on her good side after their movie night. She wasn't as stupid as Aaron thought she was.

She could read right through him, sometimes.

After a small stay in the dorm showers, and then getting dressed she was ready to meet up with Aaron. He waited outside next to his Mercedes, a present from his Daddy-dearest, another 'I'm sorry I'm not around, here's an expensive present to make up for it' gifts.

"You look great," Aaron stated raking his fingers through his wet curls.

"As do you," She grinned as he opened the door for her, something that she had never seen Aaron do before. He must be taking notes from Tyler. "That is out of character," She muttered sarcastically.

Aaron caught her sarcasm and flashed her a smile as he got in to the driver's side, "What can I say? I'm turning over a new leaf…"

"My ass," She snorted at the thought. Aaron narrowed his eyes at her. "What?" She asked casually. "It's true Aaron, you're really not known for your… chivalry…" She quirked an eyebrow up at him.

"Made times are a-changing?" He offered starting the car.

"I doubt it…" She scoffed looking out of the window.

"What is with the sarcasm?" He asked stopping as he backed out of the parking space.

"I'm sorry am I offending you?" She asked, what was wrong with her? Why couldn't she hold her tongue? She was just going to piss him off.

"Yeah, you are…" Aaron mused glancing over at her, seeing the shocked look on her face. Was she shocked at his words, or was she thinking something else in her head, he wasn't quiet sure. "You know ever since you started hanging out with that faggot, you've been acting like a completely different person…" He continued. "You use to hate them as much as I do…" He reminded her.

"I never hated them, I hated him." She corrected.

"You could have fooled me," Aaron stated shaking his head.

"Could we stop talking about them, and this stupid bet?" She asked getting angry with his weird obsession with the Sons of Ipswich. "I thought we were supposed to have dinner and have fun… like we normally do…"

"How can we have fun like we normally do… if you're not even the same person you used to be?" Aaron asked shaking his head. "Maybe you're right… maybe this is a stupid bet…" He started to think. "Maybe I should just call it off…"

"No," She shook her head, her outburst came a little too quickly for Aaron's liking. "I said I would do it, so I'm doing it…" She stated grabbing hold of Aaron's hand and rubbing her thumb over it softly.

"What is up with you?" Aaron asked knitting his eyebrows together in confusion.

"Nothing, I'm just… just stressed out I guess…" She fumbled over her words.

Why didn't she want Aaron to call off the bet? She wondered. It would make things a hell of a lot easier for both of them. She could continue dating Tyler, or could she? Would Aaron go ballistic on her and tell Tyler their secret? She pursed her lips together and Aaron glanced at her.

"I'm sorry for being a bitch earlier…" She apologized. "I have this new project to do and I'm… I'm just really stressed out about it…" She lied forcing a smile on to her face as she leaned over and placed a kiss on Aaron's cheek.

Aaron smiled slightly, glancing at her as he gave her hand a squeeze, "Now this is better…" He stated rubbing his callused thumb over her smooth skin.

She smiled and looked ahead, silently cursing herself for leading him further in to his demented thoughts of what they might be. She pinched her face together in concentration, she had to think of a way out of this mess before it got messier or uglier than it already was.

Aaron pulled up to the restaurant and ran around to open the door for Hailey, she sighed not really knowing what to say or do at this point. Aaron didn't say anything he grabbed her hand and lead her in to the Steak House.

"Hey Aaron…" She grabbed his attention as he finished talking to the hostess.

"Yeah, love… what's up?" He asked.

"After we eat, do you want to go to Nicky's?" She asked with a small smile.

Aaron narrowed his eyes at her and took a deep breath before answering, "I suppose…" He agreed.

Hailey smiled and followed the hostess, still holding hands with Aaron.

After was seemed to be the longest dinner she had ever eaten Hailey excused herself to the rest room. For some reason she felt like she had to be secretive when calling her own boyfriend, as to not piss off Aaron any more than she had.

She pulled out her cell phone and stood in the hallway of the bathroom; she dialed Tyler's number by heart and waited patiently for him to answer the phone. After three rings his voicemail picked up. Hailey furrowed her brow and sighed leaving him a message.

She walked in to the bathroom, handled her business and walked back out meeting Aaron at the front door. She glanced back at the table and looked to see the waitress picking up the several bills that were waiting for her. Shrugging her shoulders she exited the restaurant with Aaron.

They drove to Nicky's and she noticed Tyler's Hummer and wondered why he didn't answer the phone or call her back. She figured he was busy playing pool with Reid, and didn't hear his phone ringing.

Pursing her lips together she entered slowly behind Aaron who was greeted immediately by his friends, Ryan and Brody. Her green eyes scanned the familiar bar in hopes to locate her boyfriend, and his blonde best friend. She didn't spot them immediately; they weren't in their normal spot hustling by the pool tables.

"What's up Hails?" Ryan asked his arm slipping around her shoulders casually.

"Not much Rye, what's up with you?" She asked looking up to meet his brown eyes.

"Eh, got my ass handed to me in pool by your lover boy and his fuckin' gay ass roommate…" He muttered glancing at Brody who rolled his green eyes.

"Really?" She asked sounding a bit interested, too interested for Aaron's taste. "Do you know where lover boy is?" She asked glancing around the bar again.

"You came here with me, remember?" Aaron asked pushing Ryan's arm off of her and pulling her closer to him.

"Yes, but he is my boyfriend… remember Aaron?" She stated pushing away from him.

"The last I saw he was running in to the alley behind the bar…with the rest of his comrades…" Brody shrugged motioning towards the backdoor of Nicky's.

"I'm gonna go make sure everything's copasetic… I'll be back in a flash…" She grinned and escaping before Aaron ha a chance to argue with her.

She walked to the back of the bar and could hear the arguing coming form the four different voices. They were all arguing about something, what she didn't know… but if she waited a bit longer she could probably find out.

Tyler and Reid were standing in front of Caleb and Pogue, all four boys showing that they were not very pleased with the others. Caleb and Reid were almost nose to nose as Tyler and Pogue stared each other down.

"Why don't you mind your own fucking business Caleb?" Reid asked shoving the older boy slightly.

"When it comes to this," The dark haired boy motioned to the four of them, "It is my business…" He mused.

"C'mon Caleb, we've been through this before… if Reid wants to waste away his life, let him do it, man…" Pogue countered glaring at Tyler who was always there to back up his best friend.

"It's not going to hurt anyone; I'm months away from ascending, chill the fuck out…" Reid glared at Caleb.

"No one saw him Use; it's not big deal…" Tyler stated trying to force himself between Caleb and Reid.

"Keep your voice down," Pogue glared at Tyler who was really starting to get on his nerves.

Hailey stood back by the door wondering what they meant by their conversation. What was Reid using? Was he doing drugs?

What did they mean by ascending? Of course she knew the meaning of the word, but what did it mean to them? But the meaning of it in the context they were using it? She wasn't quiet sure.

Straining to hear as their voices got lower she could see the anger etched in Reid's face, he did not like being told what to do. That was obvious.

"Do you really think that is a great idea, Reid?" Caleb asked glaring at the boy. "To go around and Use whenever you feel fit?" His naturally large eyes were now in tiny slits as he narrowed his attack on the blonde.

"Why not, we've got it; why not use it to our advantage while we still can?" Reid questioned. "Obviously you can't since you've ascended… but me and Ty… we've still got a few months before that happens…"

"What part of 'It's Addictive' do you not understand?" Pogue pushed getting in the middle of the mix.

Addictive? Hailey's thoughts seemed louder than the boys talking. Ascending? Using? Addiction… what the hell is going on with these guys? She wondered.

"Someone's listening…" Caleb stated quietly.

"What do you mean…" Reid trailed off and then shut up as soon as he heard footsteps towards the door.

The four guys looked up and Hailey had finally made herself known to the four guys. She put on an innocent and confused look as she took a step down towards the alley.

"Hails, what are you doing back here?" Tyler asked his brow knitting together, worried about what she may have heard.

"I called you after I left the restaurant and you didn't answer, when I got here Brody said he saw you guys come back here… so I came back to make sure everything was ok…" She gave him a small innocent smile.

The group of four seemed to have relaxed a bit and the tension seemed to have released from the air. Tyler gave Reid a small pat on the shoulder before walking past Caleb and Pogue and to his girlfriend.

"Is everything ok?" She asked curiously; wondering if he would let her in on what was going on outside.

"Everything's fine… just Caleb and Reid's weekly fight…" He shrugged his shoulders, taking a quick glance behind him to make sure that his three friends were following him.

"Do they do this every weekend?" She asked with a small laugh.

Tyler glanced down at her and gave her a small nod, "Afraid so…" He smiled placing his lips to her temple in a sweet gesture. "So how was dinner?" He asked.

"It was ok, I guess…." She answered with a melodramatic sigh.

"Ok you guess?" Tyler asked taking a seat at a table close to where Sarah and Kate were sitting.

"Aaron was just getting on my nerves a bit, that's all…" She shrugged off the feeling in the pit of her stomach as his hand brushed hers.

"Well, if it makes you feel any better, I'm glad you're here…" Tyler whispered leaning in to her.

Hailey smiled and brushed her lips against his, "Me too,"

Please remember to R&R:)