If this is Karma, I'll have to be careful about who I'm talking the next time. I was here, bitching about Aaron to Sam, and here he is, showing up at my flat as if he has any right to be here. 

"How did you even know where I live?" I ask Aaron suspiciously. He leads himself into the flat, going past me. Sure, why don't you make yourself at home, boy?

"This is America, Brooke. Nothing is hidden," Aaron replies, looking around. "Cute," he comments.

"Cute?" I snort, looking at the flat, too. "Okay, why the hell are you here?" I ask him with my hands on my hips, standing in the middle of the room, putting a great distance between us. I don't really trust myself around him.

Aaron stares at me with his green eyes. His hair is dishevelled, probably from the wind blowing outside and his eyes look sunken. "I really need to talk to you, Brooke. I also think I owe you an apology."

I point to the couch and say, "Let's sit down, then. Want anything to drink?" I ask. 

"Juice if you have. Otherwise, water will be just fine." I look at Aaron in question because he actually sounds nervous. 

I go to the kitchen for two glasses of orange juice and take it to the living room where Aaron is seated, waiting for me. I sit down and when Aaron opens his mouth to speak, I cut him off, "First of, I don't think you owe me any apology. We said there wouldn't be anything serious between us and if you kiss anyone else, that shouldn't matter to me. However," I continue seriously, "I don't think I can be that girl."

Aaron nods his head seriously. "Alright. That's precisely why I'm here today." 

My mouth perks up at the corner. "Yeah, that's a bit creepy, by the way." 

Aaron hangs his head and I see a small smile playing on his mouth. "I think I want to try," he announces, biting the inside of his cheek. He avoids my eyes, but I keep my stare on him.

"Try what?" I ask softly, curiously.

Aaron looks at me then, slowly lifting his eyes to mine. "To have more. With you." 

My head slowly cocks to the side, wondering if we're thinking about the same thing here and if he's really implying on what I think he is. 

"I don't think I can offer you a relationship as for now, but I think I want to be with you enough to try and have something ... more." 

"What does that mean, Aaron? If you don't want a relationship, what is this 'more'  you're talking about?" I want to know. 

Aaron sighs, going through his hair with his hands. "Well, it would mean that we would see each other exclusively."

I raise an eyebrow. "That's what a relationship is, Aaron," I say patiently. 

"Yeah ... I know, but I don't want to put any labels on what we have ... will have," he responds.

I curl up on the couch with my legs on it and place my elbow on the back of the couch, resting my head in my hand. "You're really so sure that I'll accept your offer?" 

Aaron gives me a boyish smile. "Well ... I hope."

"What would I get out of this?" I ask him, actually thinking about accepting his offer. I'm playing with fire again and I don't even care. 

Aaron's mouth perks up. He knows he's got me. "A hell of a good sex?" he offers charmingly.

I full on laugh at this because I kind of expected what he's going to say. I narrow my eyes on him. "No kissing other girls, then? Especially not my flatmate." I shudder at that. I won't be able to look Rory in the eyes if Aaron kisses her one more time. 

Aaron shakes his head in shame. "Rory is now taken, anyway. By your brother out of all people," he says dryly, not giving anything away, but I know the thought doesn't sit so well with him. Especially since he kissed Rory right in front of Braden. 

"And they're quite happy together, I believe," I comment wistfully. 

Aaron hums but doesn't comment on the subject any further. He grabs my hand instead, putting his warm hand over my cold one that I have on my leg. "So, what do you say, Brooke? Are we giving us a chance?" 

I look away from Aaron's gaze. "I ... don't know, Aaron. I'll have to think this a bit through. It's a big deal for me." 

Aaron presses his lips together and nods. "I need to use the bathroom," I tell him and rush there. I go straight to the kitchen after, refilling both of our glasses with orange juice. 

I hear voices and I realise Braden and Rory must have returned from wherever they went. I go back to the living room, confused as to why is Braden looking so mad and why is Rory holding him back. "What's going on?" I look from Aaron, who's smiling, and then at Braden who looks like he's seconds away from killing Aaron. 

"Yeah, Brooke. What's going on here?" Braden hisses, not turning his murderous gaze anywhere else than Aaron. 

Rory looks at me and we both look at each other with confusion, only that our confusion is not about the same thing. I shake my head to myself. 

I sit down beside Aaron and put my hands on my knees, leaning forward. "What did you do?" I turn my face towards Aaron.

He lifts his hands in response. "Nothing, I swear. He's really easy to piss off!" he defends himself, his eyes laughing.

I hear Braden lets out a low growl in response. He's looking at Aaron with narrowed gaze. "It wouldn't be easy to piss me off if you stopped flirting with my god damn girlfriend!" he bellows. 

I turn my gaze to Rory, looking at her with round eyes, my eyebrows rising in a question. Rory just shakes her head, but I don't know if she's answering my silent question or if she's just telling me not to say anything about it. I turn my fuming gaze on Aaron. "You did what?" I question with an icy tone.

Aaron completely sobers up from my stare, his eyes finally getting serious. "It was a damn joke!" he exclaims.

If I had a knife right now, I'd throw it at him. "What a funny excuse, Aaron! 'Oh, I flirted with her for fun, no biggie'!" I mimic him, my voice rising. "What a fucking idiot!" And to think he suggested we try to have something more. 

"Brooke?" Braden asks me quietly, calmly, looking at me with his head cocked to the side.

I slowly turn my head to look at Braden and Rory. I feel my bottom lip tremble.

"Brooke -" Rory starts, but Braden cuts me off with a deep, dangerous voice.

"What really is going on here?" He pierces me with his eyes. 

I smile a fake smile that doesn't come up to my eyes. "Nothing. Apparently," I mumble the last part to myself, casting one more look at Aaron before I stand up and go towards my bedroom. 

  ◊  

I didn't cry because of Aaron. Nope. I went to lay down and fell asleep again, waking up later when it was already dark to someone texting me. I wasn't in the mood to talk to anyone, but my curious ass still opens the text to see who's it from and what they want. 

Rory: Hey, B. Everything alright w/ u?

I sigh to myself, rolling over on the bed.

Me: Yeah

Rory: Wanna come to the bar and grab a drink? It's on me

Going to the bar where Aaron is working at? I think I'll pass. 

Me: Not if A's working.

Rory: Ignore him. Come for me, not him. + you gotta tell me what's the deal between you 2

I smile a bit at her response. When she puts it like that ...

Me: Okay. See you soon. x 

I get myself ready, mentally preparing myself to see Aaron again tonight. This man has a talent for pissing me off, apparently. And I understand he liked Rory before, but if he wants to try with me, he can't go on and flirt with her every time he sees her, even if it's just a joke. That doesn't make it okay. 

I don't take long to get ready and the instant I come to the bar, I spot Aaron. Right beside Rory. I take a deep breath and try to get through the crowd to come to the bar. When Aaron notices me, I see how he tries to catch my eye, but I purposefully ignore him. 

He tries to come to me when I arrive close to the bar, but Rory stops him - thank God, shaking her head at him. I pointedly look at Rory and she moves to Aaron, saying something to him and touching his shoulder. I roll my eyes at that gesture, my jealousy higher than normal tonight. Aaron slowly nods and walks away with his head hung.

Rory, as if she was a mind reader, places a shot of vodka in front of me and shouts to me, "Start speaking!"

I down the vodka in one gulp and she gives me another shot. I look at her, wanting to pretend I don't know what she's talking about, but I know I'm not fooling her. When I try to drink the shot she placed there, Rory grabs my hand. "Stop this nonsense, Brooke," she pleads me.

"I can't talk to you here and now. Get me drunk first." I push her hand away and down the next shot. Rory bites her lip, but doesn't say anything.

She pours me another shot. 

  ◊  

As the night goes on, coming to an end, I can barely remember my name. I'm still at the bar with my head in my hands. A lot of men approached me tonight, but I quickly shot the down, clearly showing them that I wasn't interested. I know Aaron has been watching me all night, but I tried really hard not to look at him.

I don't even realise when Rory disappears somewhere and the bar empties. But I notice Aaron sitting down beside me. "Brooke, talk to me." 

I stare down at the empty glass, wishing it was still full, wishing I'd be drunker than I am, drunk to the point where I wouldn't feel anything anymore. 

"I'm sorry, Brooke. I messed up, okay? But I meant what I said. I wanted to try with you." 

"You have a funny way of showing that," I turn to glare at him. 

"Honey -" He touches my shoulder and I move away from his touch as if he burned me.

He tries to touch me again and I lose it then. "Don't touch me!" I scream, sobbing out after. Aaron wraps his arms around myself, not doing what I said at all, rather holding me in his embrace. "Please ... don't touch me ... just don't," I say brokenly. I wipe the tears from my eyes and start to fight out of his hold. 

He releases me, thankfully. 

Someone puts a hand on my shoulder and I tense up, wanting to peer it off instantly. "Brooke," Rory says softly. "Come on. It's time for you to go home," she says, helping me stand up.

"Can I do anything?" Aaron asks weakly. 

I turn my face toward him, in my deep drunken state and hurt, I say the words I would never, ever think of saying to anyone otherwise, but right now, I can't stand to look at him. "Yeah, kill yourself," I spit out fumingly.

"Brooke!" Rory instantly yelps out, horrifiedly, completely shocked. 

I see how much the words actually hurt Aaron and when I realise what I actually said, I hate myself for it. "You don't mean that, Brooke," Rory says softly to me. She should hate me, too. Everyone should. Or everyone already does. Who knows. 

I starts crying even harder. "Not really. I don't." I put my head in my hands again and start full on crying. My emotions are all over the place whenever I get drunk. Everything comes out and it's hard to manage it. "Please take me out of here," I mumble. I cast one last glance at Aaron's broke expression. "I'm sorry. I didn't really mean what I said." I want to hug him and apologise to him, but I just want to get the hell out of here. 

I've messed up enough.

I clutch Rory's shirt as I sob in it, my legs all wobbly. Rory sighs, brushing my hair softly, soothingly.

"Where did you park?" Rory asks.

I point in the direction of my car and she takes us there. When I try to go to the driver's seat, Rory pulls me back. "Oh, no, you don't. Give me the keys."

I pout, but I give her the keys willingly. She helps me get to the passenger seat, buckling me up and the closing the door.

By the time Rory starts the car, my sobs die down, but I'm still not completely calm.

"Brooke," Rory says, grabbing my attention. " Will you tell me what's going on with you? And mostly, with you and Aaron?"

I close my eyes and lean my head back. A few tears fall down my cheeks. "There's nothing going on with me and Aaron. Absolutely nothing," I mumble, staring out of the window.

"Brooke," she warns me impatiently.

I sigh and wipe my tears. "He really likes you, you know," I say quietly, my voice breaking at the end. 

Rory scrunches her eyebrows together. "Aaron?" she laughs, shaking her head. "Well, I like him, too. As a friend," she points out.

I look down at my lap. "Why do you think he kissed you, then?"

Rory gasps. Got ya. "You know about that?"

I only nod.

"Brooke ... that kiss ... was a complete mistake. There are no feelings between us." 

She tries to grab my hand, but I move it away. "There are feelings, Rory, at least on his part. But you're just too stupid to see it!"

Rory gapes at me. "Brooke, what's gotten into you?"

I sit up straighter. "What's gotten into me? Maybe the fact that a guy I like likes you instead! The guys I slept with probably imagines it was you laying beneath him!" I cry out, furious tears falling down my cheeks. 

"What in the world are you talking about?"

"It's good to know it, huh? That every guy wants you. That you can get any guy you want. What, are you doing that to my brother, too? Whoring around, kissing and fucking other guys, but sticking with Braden because he's got money and power?"

Rory steps on the brakes and stops the car completely. "That's enough, Brooke!" she bellows. "I don't know what the fuck's your problem or what's gotten into you, but you're not going to talk to me like that. If other friends let you do that, I won't!" She looks me straight in my eyes to prove her point.

"Yeah, but my friends aren't really stealing the guys I like, eh?" I say bitterly, my tone sarcastic.

"I'm not stealing anyone away from you, for God's sake, Brooke! I have Braden - do you really think I would go behind his back?"

I smile deviously. "Honestly? Yeah, I do. You struck me as a whore." I shrug carelessly.

Rory grips my wrist and makes me look at her. "I don't care if you're drunk and it's your car, Brooke, but I'm seconds away from throwing you out and leaving you here.  Don't tempt me. I don't know what's going on in your head, but if you're showing your true face right now, let me tell you, I never once imagined you as a bitch you're acting right now. If that's who you really are, Brooke, I can see a reason why Aaron wouldn't want you.

"And just one more thing, dear friend," Rory seethes, "Don't ever try to accuse me of whoring myself around while I'm with Braden or with anyone for that matter without any proof. I have everything I've ever wanted with Braden. He makes me happy more than any person in my life can. He makes me complete. I'm not a cheater. I've been cheated on and I don't plan on destroying someone that way, yeah?" 

My lips lift up in a smile at her words and Rory leans away from me, looking at me as if I'm crazy. "That's the sweetest thing I've ever heard anyone say." I pause. "But I'm still not forgiving you for stealing Aaron away."

Rory groans out loud. "I'm not stealing anyone from anyone. Are you deaf? I'm with Braden. Braden Campbell – your brother, Brooke. I'm friends with Aaron. Jesus!"

I start crying again. It seems like I can't help myself. I'm on a self-destruct mission tonight, trying to destroy everything and trying to hurt everyone I care about. "But you're still the only one he wants," I sob out.

Rory sighs desperately. "Brooke, come here." Before I can even protest, she wraps her arms around me. "Will you tell me what happened between you? Talk to me before accusing me of anything."

"I ran into him on Tuesday and he remembered me. We talked. He invited me for a coffee on and I accepted.'' I chuckle. ''To wrap things around, we went to his place afterwards and hooked up.'' I shrug. ''Then on Thursday, he apparently kissed you. He told me so yesterday when he came to the store. He also said that he knows you're not available, but he wants to try it with me.'' I laugh dryly. ''What a fucking joke on me. And what happens when you come home? He flirts with you. In front of Braden! Like he has no shame.'' 

Rory pats my back. "I ... uhm, I really don't know what to say to that ... other than he's an asshole."

I get away from her hold, releasing her hands from my body. I wipe my eyes and don't say anything, just staring ahead. 

"That's not my fault, Brooke. I never gave Aaron any hope. He always knew I'm with Braden and I always referred to him as nothing but a friend. I'm sorry. I don't know what to do to help, though. You're a great girl Brooke, and if one fool doesn't like you, it doesn't mean it's the end of the world," Rory says. "But," she continues, "You didn't have to be a bitch to me about it," she states.

I huff out the air through my mouth. "Yeah. I know. I'm so sorry, Rory. I'm really hurtful to everyone today. I'm bitter, but I really didn't meant the words I said to anyone today," I say, looking into her eyes, my own filled with tears.

She only nods. I see that she's still mad at me. 

"Rory ..." I say on the verge of tears again. What the hell is with me and all this crying today? "Please, I swear I didn't mean it. I understand you're mad at me, and please, be mad, because I deserve it, but I don't want to lose you as a friend because of my stupidity." I wipe the tear from under my eye. 

She sighs heavily. "You're not going to lose me over this, Brooke ... But your words still hurt like hell. You have no idea how many times I've called myself that word in my head since me and Braden started going out," she admits. She lowers her head.

I sit up straighter. "What do you mean with that? Did Braden ... Did he make you feel that way? Or even worse – said that you're a whore?" My eyes are wide and full of rage.  

She smiles reassuringly at me. "Your brother didn't do anything wrong on my behalf, Brooke. He's the greatest man I know, who treats women with all the respect they deserve." She smiles dreamily.

I let out a relieved breath. "That's good to hear." I draw my eyebrows together. "But then ... why would you think of yourself like that?" I ask carefully, not understanding. 

She shrugs, avoiding my eyes.

"Rory ..." I warn sternly.

She huffs the air out of her mouth. "Because ... I don't even know ..." She shrugs again. "Recently, I ended a bad relationship of two years and then just days after I met Braden ... you know ..." She blushes.

I clear my throat uncomfortably, knowing exactly what she's referring to. "Yeah. But you shouldn't feel like that because of it. You're a woman and you have every right to enjoy as being one. You didn't do anything wrong. You don't sleep with many men and they don't pay you to do it, so in my book, you're nowhere close to a whore."

Rory suddenly charges forward and throws her arms around me. "Thank you for that, Brooke," she whispers in my shoulder.

"You don't have to thank me for anything, it's only the truth I've spoken."

"Maybe we should head back. Braden's going to worry about us," I speak, predicting he's waiting for Rory already.

Rory pulls back from the hug. "Yes, of course."

She drives us back to our place, this time with a comfortable silence between us. I really regret the hurtful things I said to her because I was hurting. She didn't deserve I attacked her like that because it's not Rory's fault for anything that's happened. I also know that if I was in her place, I wouldn't forgive myself easily. 

I called her a whore for God's sake! A gold digging whore ... Fuck. 

When we get to our flat complex, Rory helps me out of the car and helps me climb the stairs. I'm not that drunk anymore, but I'm still swaying and walking unsteadily.

She gets us both into the empty flat.

We both head to shower. Rory comes into my bedroom with a glass of water afterwards. I'm sitting on the bed, staring at nothing particular, just going through the events that happened tonight. My head lifts up when I hear her come in.

"I brought you a glass of water so you're not going to have a hangover in the morning," she says, giving me the glass.

I smile. "Thank you. Is Braden here?" I ask.

Rory's smile falters. "No, he isn't." I can just hear the disappointment in her voice. 

"I'm sorry. Something probably held him up," I try to comfort her, but I think there's no use. She's not stupid - even though I called her that before - and she knows Braden is just being an asshole again. 

"Yeah. I guess." She shrugs.

"Do you want to sleep with me tonight?" I question hopefully, trying to apologise her in my own way, hoping she'll forgive me. 

Rory snorts. "Wow, you already changed the field? That was fast, but I'm glad you chose me, although I have to disappoint you, but I'm taken," she jokes.

I roll my eyes. "Not like that, you dumbass. I very much like the male population, thank you. Well, maybe not so much in this moment," I mutter the last part.

Rory laughs. "In that case, I'll gladly spend the night with you." She winks.

I put my palm on my forehead and laugh. "You're such a dork, Rory," I say in between laughter.

"You love me," she sings out.

"That I do. Very much," I admit with a smile.

"Okay, enough of this lovey-dovey crap, let's go to the bed. I'm beat." She jumps on the bed and I join her.

I sigh after some moments. "I'm glad you have Braden in your life, Rory. He cares very deeply for you."

Rory smiles into the darkness. "Yeah. I know."

"I hope I'll find something like that in my life, too," I say wistfully. Rory only squeezes my hand, but doesn't say anything. 

It takes me a long time to finally fall asleep.

Fun fact; updating so many stories on wattpad and radish that I had to set up reminders on which day I have to update which story so I don't forget. There are only two days in the week that I don't post an update! 

Also, I started hiking a lot. I started to love it and if you follow me on twitter on instagram, you got to see a few pictures from my adventures haha! 

This chapter is longer than usual and yeah ... still many before Damien comes back lol sorry.

Also, if you were wondering why this story is slow-paced it's because I wanted to write in the way that could be understandable for everyone without having to read the previous two books, that's why Braden and Rory are in this story, too. 

Ok, have a nice day, everyone!

x

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