"Hello?" I answered my phone, which was ringing for last ten minutes, as soon as I came out of the shower barefooted. I was still wrapped in a towel and my hair was dripping with water.
"You have no right to own a phone Matthews." Sam shouted from the other end of the line.
"Relax Sam. I was in the shower. I came out as quick as I could." He scoffed.
"Anyways, we are coming to your place."
"Cool. Who else?"
"Jen and Chaz."
"Great. How long?"
"In fifteen to twenty minutes."
"Okay. Grab some chips on the way for me."
"I'll think about that."
"Mean," He chuckled. "Now let me get ready. See ya later."
"Okay bye and you better be ready."
"Yes sir."
I took out the black caprie and peach colored sleeveless top from the cupboard and laid them on the bed. I quickly changed into them and walked to my chestnut dressing table. I sat on the chair and looked in the mirror. I applied some mascara and light shade of black kohl. I let my dark
brown hair loose to dry on its own. I threw open my window and saw Aaron in his room. He was roaming around with phone on his ear and he was smiling while talking. A smile appeared on my lips on seeing it. He turned around and saw me looking at him. He waved at me and I did the same. He was wearing grey shirt and his hair was tousled.
I was sitting on my bed reading Allegiant when the door burst open and in walked Sam, Jen and Chaz. We hugged each other and Sam sat besides me on the bed and Jen and Chaz on the couch.
"Where is Irelene?"
"Still at her aunt's home." He sighed.
"Missing her?" I teased and he gave me a goofy smile.
I'm comfortable around Chaz now and same is the case with him. He talks freely with me about anything even about Irelene. I guess I'm completely over him now. All those feelings long gone as if they never were there in the first place. He is back to being my good friend.
"Where is Black?" Chaz inquired.
"I saw him earlier. He was in his room talking on phone."
"Kayla," He mock gasped "You are stalking him now."
I pulled out my tongue at him and he chuckled.
"Let me call him." Jen said taking out the phone from her pocket.
"You guys haven't told him already?"
"Nope. We thought you will tell him." Jen answered with her phone over her ear.
Jen called him and in five minutes he was in my room.
"So what should we do today?" Aaron asked after we ate the chips and talked and laughed about some random stuff.
"Let's go to the beach." Sam suggested.
"Good idea." We all agreed.
After three hours we decided to leave for the beach. I was walking down the stairs when my phone rang. It was
Aiden.
"Hey." Aaron was one step ahead of me and he turned to look at me.
"It's Aiden," I mouthed at him.
He rolled his eyes and turned away.
"Hi. How are you?"
"Great. You?" I asked.
"Me too. Umm... I was wondering if
you could come out with us." He sounded nervous.
"Us?" I was confused.
"Me and Addy. She was insisting on seeing you."
"I would love to but I'm going out with my friends."
"Umm... Okay." He was disappointed.
"Hey you two can join us. We are going to the beach."
"What?" Aaron mouthed clearly not
happy with my idea.
"Please." I mouthed back.
"Whatever." He scoffed and said goodbye to my mother.
"Sounds cool. When are you leaving?"
"Just leaving."
"Okay. See you there. Bye."
I got in the car after kissing my mother goodbye.
"Is Aiden also joining us?" Jen asked as soon as I got in.
"Yes. I invited him. I hope you are okay with that." I said hopefully.
"I don't have any problem."
"Me neither. He seems like a nice guy." Chaz chimed in.
"Sam?"
"Cool with me."
I turned to ask Aaron but he turned the music very high and started singing along and I gave up.
'What's his problem?' I thought.
When we reached the beach it was
little crowded. Aiden and Adelaide were waiting near their car. Adelaide was sitting on the hood of the car and Aiden was standing near her. They were laughing about something. Adelaide was the first one to see us. She gave me a huge smile showing her perfect little white teeth. I waved at her. Aiden looked at us and smiled. He was wearing blue T-shirt and brown cotton pants. I smiled back. We walked towards them and he hugged me. I felt Aaron stiffen besides me. Adelaide jumped into Aaron's arms and he hugged her. He then threw her in the air and caught her again. She laughed and then hugged me tightly. I did the same and planted a kiss on her cheek. I introduced her to my friends and they took instant liking to her. Aiden shook hands with them all.
Adelaide held my hand and we walked towards the sea. Soon we were joined by Aaron and Chaz.  Aiden was talking to Jen and Sam was setting the chairs, that we took from my house, in circle. Aaron ruffled Adelaide's hair and held her other hand. Chaz ran in front of us and started clicking photographs of three of us walking. Adelaide ran towards the sea with Aaron and I watched them play in water. Chaz was clicking them continuously.
Adelaide was throwing water at Aaron and he was letting her. Adelaide looked at me and waved and I sent a flying kiss in her direction. I was watching them with a smile when I felt a presence behind me. I turned and saw Aiden.
"Hey."
"Hello." I said with a smile.
"You look beautiful."
"Thanks." I said with a blush.
We were silent again and continued watching Adelaide and Aaron play with each other. Adelaide was chasing Aaron and he ran towards Jen. She hugged Adelaide and started playing with them.
"Thanks for inviting us."
"No need to say thanks. I wanted to see Adelaide again as well."
"And not me?" He raised his eyebrows.
"You too. All my friends already like you both." I said with a smile.
"Addy more than me." He pouted.
"She is a charmer. She is a beautiful and loveable child."
"Yes she is." His voice was filled with love for his sister.
"Kayla? Kayla?" Adelaide came running towards us and held my hand.
"What is it love?"
"Come play with us." She said pulling my arm.
"Sure."
"But she is playing with me." Aiden said looking adorably at his sister.
"Aaron asked me to bring her along. He wants her to play with us."
"Aaron sent you?" Aiden asked and looked at Aaron who was looking back at us.
Adelaide nodded. "Come Kayla."
"Okay but Aiden will play as well."
"Okay."
We were chasing Adelaide who was running with Sam. I went to drink some water which were placed on one of the chairs by Sam. I sat on the other chair and started drinking water. I was joined by Jen who took another chair.
"Aiden likes you."
"I don't know."
"But I know. The way he looks at you says it all."
"He haven't said anything yet."
"But he may."
"I don't want him to."
"Why?"
"I don't know."
"Is it because of Chaz? Because if it is then-"
"No. It's not about Chaz." I cut her off.
"Then?"
"I don't want any relationship at present." My eyes wandered towards Aaron who was walking around with
Adelaide on his shoulders. I smiled seeing them like this. Aaron looked so adorable. He was good with kids. Any girl will be lucky to have him.
"Hey come back to this world." Jen snapped her fingers, breaking my train of thoughts.
"Sorry. You were saying?"
"I was talking about you and Aiden. He is a very nice guy, good looking, likes you already, hot and not to forget, rich. Then why not?"
I sighed.
"You are right. He is all that but I don't know. May be I'm afraid of getting hurt again and I don't think I'm ready yet. I mean I have liked only one guy all my life and got my heart broken. Now that I have finally recovered I don't want to rush into things and get my heart broken again."
"Okay. I get it but life is full of risks. Unless you take a risk you won't know the outcome. It can be good. How can you be happy if you don't try."
"I'm happy Jen."
"Fine whatever you say. Now come and let's join them."

"Come on Kayla." Aaron shouted. He was in water up to his waist. They all were except me. Sam and Jen were playing with Adelaide in water and Aiden was swimming towards Aaron.
"Yes Kayla don't be a baby and join us." He shouted nearing Aaron.
"I'm afraid."
"Nothing will happen. I'm here."
He answered back.
"No. No. You guys have fun. I'll sit here and look after your shirts. All four boys were shirtless. They took them off before going in water. Their bodies were glistening in the sun.
"Our shirts don't need babysitting. Besides, our phones are already in the car so even if they get stolen, we don't care." Aaron said with a smirk.
"I'm not coming in there and get myself drowned."
Saying that I walked back towards the chairs. I was only halfway there when someone lifted me in their arms and
threw me over the shoulder. I screamed in shock. Aaron chuckled.
"Let me go Aaron." I shouted at him, hitting his back with my fists.
"You are so light, like a feather." He
sounded amused.
"Thanks for the compliment but let me go." I said through gritted teeth.
"No baby. Today we are going to drown together."
"Seriously? Drown together? Drown? Is that suppose to calm me?" I said
sarcastically.
"No."
"Please Aaron. Let me go." I was
screaming like a baby. Everyone was staring at us but I didn't care. I was petrified. Aaron dropped me and my back hit the water with splash.
"Aaron Black." I shrieked. They all
laughed. "I'm going to kill you." He laughed even harder.
"You should see the look on your face. Too bad we left our phones in car." He said in between the laughter. I rolled
my eyes.
"See? You are alive." Aiden teased me.
Aaron started throwing water at me and soon we all were throwing water at each other. I was having fun, the fear long forgotten. I was sitting few steps away from others with my feet in water and looking at the setting sun that was slowly lowering in water, bathing everything in golden color. Aaron came and sat beside me. He placed his hand on mine that was resting on the sand and I intertwined our fingers together. I laid my head on his shoulder and watched the water dance on the rhythm of the setting sun.
"Thanks." I said finally breaking the peaceful silence that had engulfed us.
"For what?" He tilted his head and I lifted my head from his shoulder and looked in his eyes. They were so beautiful and held a certain pull that I
got lost in them forgetting why I was thanking him in the first place.
"For being in my life." He smiled and gave my hand a squeeze. I rested my head again on his shoulder and we sat like that for some time observing the
beauty in front of us and finding solace in each other's presence.
"Kayla? Aaron?" Sam called us and I groaned. I lifted my head from Aaron's shoulder and we turned to look at him.
"What?" Aaron asked, annoyed at him.
"It's getting late. We should go."
Aaron got up first and extended his
hand towards me. I held his hand and got up.
"Umm...Kayla?" Aiden asked when we reached his car.
"Yes?"
"Let me drop you home." His eyes filled with hope.
"We can drop her. We live across each other." Aaron answered before I could have said anything.
Aiden looked at me for an answer. I looked at Aaron and he was looking at me, also waiting for my answer.
"Fine. I'll come with you. I want to spend some time with Adelaide." Aiden's face brightened with happiness and Aaron looked hurt. Adelaide dropped Jen's hand and held mine.
"Bye Aaron." Adelaide waved at him with a smile. He ruffled her hair and bade her good bye. Aiden and I said goodbye to others. Aaron gave Aiden a fake smile and walked towards Sam's car without a second glace and completely ignoring me. My heart dropped a little.
Halfway through the drive Adelaide
fell asleep in my lap. She was snoring lightly and her chest was rising and falling in synchronisation with her even breath.
"Kayla is something going on between you and Aaron?" Aiden asked all of a sudden. I was silent for a while. It took me some time to process what he was saying.
"No. Why?" I was confused.
"Nothing. It's just that you two seem very close. You two share a different bond and it is more than friendship."
"Yes we are close but he is just a good friend." He nodded but didn't seem convinced so I told him about Chaz and what Aaron did for me.
"Since then we became very close to each other. He is a very important part of my life that I can't bare to lose." He smiled, finally believing me.