PAST

"Is that you, Ash?"

"Yeah, Mom." I call back as I step into the living room and shut the door behind me. I take my shoes off and go into the kitchen where Mom and Dad are sitting. "Why are you guys awake?"

"We wanted to hear about your first high school dance." Mom grins. "How was it?"

"She wanted to hear about the dance." Dad interrupts, yawning loudly. "I would have survived waiting until tomorrow."

I snicker as Mom reaches across the table to smack Dad's arm. She ignores him and turns back to me. "Well?"

"It was lame, Mom." I roll my eyes. "I already knew it would be."

"That's what I stayed up for?" Dad gapes. "You might as well cough up more details if I'm already awake otherwise I'll cry over the sleep I lost."

"You're so dramatic." I snicker as I sit down and join them. "I'm telling you — it was nothing special."

Mom frowns. "Well, that was anticlimactic."

"He didn't even take a date." Dad points out.

"Because I didn't want one."

"Did you at least dance with someone?"

"Just with Ria for a bit and then her and her date went off."

"I see." Mom takes another sip of her drink and eyes Dad over the rim. They share one of their looks.

"What?"

"Nothing." They say simultaneously.

"That's bullshit. What aren't you guys saying?" I raise my brows expectantly.

"First of all; language." Dad reminds me but his lips twitch because he knows I won't listen. I've been cussing since I learned how to talk and it's a habit I can't seem to get rid of. I was constantly surrounded by adults that didn't know how to raise children and minding their language always seemed to be a weaker suit of theirs. I picked it up naturally and no one in the system really stopped me, either. Mom and Dad were the first ones that made me realize that there was such a thing as bad words. The first time I cussed in front of them was a week into them fostering me. We'd all been having dinner and I dropped my fork, absentmindedly mumbling, "Fuck. Sorry guys."

Both of them choked on their food, gaping at me. At the time I froze too for fear that they might hurt me because I apparently said something wrong but they set their utensils down and calmly explained that there are some words that I'm too young to use. I was a rebellious kid and it only angered me that they were trying to tell me what to do so I would purposely swear more than I already did. I honestly gave these two a hard life but they stuck with me and even now, years later, that's surreal to me. If someone had told me when I was a kid that I would be sitting in the kitchen with my adoptive parents and talking to them about a fucking high school dance I would have laughed until I pissed myself. It just goes to show how crazy life can be.

"Second of all," Dad continues and I snap out of my thoughts. "I still don't get why you didn't ask Aria to the dance."

"Because it's not like that." I groan. My parents have been pestering me about mine and Aria's friendship ever since we started high school. They think we have something going on but that's crazy. She's my best friend and I love her but...not like that.

"You could have went as friends." Mom points out.

"That's even lamer." I roll my eyes. "Besides, some dude asked her and she really wanted to go with him so that was that. I didn't need a date, anyways."

Which is honestly the truth. I barely tolerate hanging out with other people and don't really consider anyone except Aria and Nate my friends. The guys on the boxing team at our school are decent and we hang out sometimes but that's as crazy as it gets. Aria calls me a "lone wolf" and I guess that's true. That's why the thought of having a date sparked up annoyance in me more than anything else. I don't like the idea of having to be stuck with one person the whole night when I could just go by myself and do my own thing. Besides, it's not like not having a date meant zero action for me. I'm no stranger to hooking up. Samantha Simmons let me get to third base tonight and if this keeps up, I have a feeling I won't be a virgin much longer. So really — I was all set.

"I can see for myself that you didn't need a date." Mom says drily and looks pointedly at my neck. I glance down and cough awkwardly when I notice the hickeys. Shit.

"That's...uh..."

"You are only fourteen, Asher Pryce. If you get any girl pregnant any time soon I'll whack you with my slippers."

"I'm sorry." I hold my hands up in surrender.

"I take it back — this was definitely worth staying up for." Dad looks between the two of us with a shit-eating grin.

"A little help?" I mutter under my breath. Mom could be really fucking scary sometimes.

"Sorry, kiddo. She's right." Dad shrugs. "You oughta wait a little longer and not let your hormones get the best of you. I didn't lose my virginity until I was seventeen."

"To an absolute bimbo." Mom rolls her eyes.

"Oh come on, honey. Are you still upset about that? How was I supposed to know she was your cousin? We hadn't even met at the time."

"You lost your virginity to Mom's cousin?" My eyes widen. "Sheesh, Dad."

"I didn't know." He repeats loudly, throwing his hands up. "Besides, if that didn't happen then I wouldn't have even met your mother."

"Did it have to be Liane? I've always hated her. There's a reason I refuse to acknowledge we're even related and it's because she's pure evil."

"What did she do?" I ask, genuinely curious.

"Like I said; she was a total bimbo. She was always super competitive with me growing up and when it came to boys, she was just plain crazy. Any time she found out I liked a boy or thought he was cute she would go after that guy specifically and get him just to prove something to me. She was a bitch."

I snort into my fist when Dad makes a meow sound and claws the air. The smile on his face instantly slips when Mom turns her glare on him.

"My bad." He leans back in his chair. It's safe to say we're both scared of her. "But she's the reason we met in college so I can't say I hate her entirely."

"Only because you were obsessed with her and followed her around campus like a lost puppy."

"Seriously, Dad?" I snicker. I can't imagine being that obsessed with a girl. Girls are fucking crazy, sometimes.

"It wasn't one of my best moments." He admits. "I finally gave it up when your Mom got in my face one day and told me to stop acting like Liane's bitch and go do something productive with my life. I fell in love instantly."

Mom rolls her eyes but now she's suppressing a smile. "I used to think your dad was a complete loser but the more I got to know him I somehow fell in love with him, too."

"Damn, guys. I never knew that." I laugh at their unconventional story. It honestly fucking rocks to have parents that are in love with each other. The idea of love doesn't always seem so hopeless when I think about them.

"When you fall, you fall." Mom smiles at me and there's something knowing in her eyes. "We don't always get to choose who we have a connection with and sometimes it's the last person we expect but that's kind of the beauty of it. Nothing is quite as satisfying as the unexpected."

"I guess?" I have no idea what she's talking about. I'm hopeless when it comes to relationship and I have no interest being in one anyways. "I'm gonna head to bed now."

"Okay, sweetheart." Mom leans forward to kiss my forehead. "Goodnight."

"Night, kiddo." Dad squeezes my shoulder.

"Night, guys." I leave them in the kitchen and head on upstairs to get out this formal wear. I hate being in anything except my sweats.

I change into a pair and ditch wearing a shirt because today is a warm night and flop onto my bed, sighing in relief at the feeling of my skin on the cool sheets. Today was a long day and I'm ready to call it in already.

I've nearly dozed off when I hear a faint noise. It sounds sort of like whining and I sit up in bed, trying to make out what it is. I listen with irritation as the sound only increases in volume and I finally recognize it as crying. Someone's crying.

I stand up from bed and move towards the sound. I go outside to my balcony and peer down, wondering if someone is outside my house. I can't see anybody, though. I'm pretty much about to give up and head back inside when movement in Aria's room catches my attention. I squint my eyes so I can try and see through the darkness and faintly recognize a hunched figure. If I really concentrate, I can tell the shoulders are slightly shaking and the sounds are definitely coming from over there which means...it's Aria who's crying. My gut sinks heavily when I realize it.

Princess.

Shit. I need to go to her. Why is she crying? Who the fuck did this to her?

I'm equal parts livid and worried as I quickly climb the branch outside my balcony to get closer to hers, jumping down and landing on my feet perfectly. I've been doing this for years now and it's practically muscle memory. Her French doors are closed but her curtains are open so I can see her. I knock quietly, not so loud that it would wake anyone up but just to get her attention. I see her head snap up but still can't see her face because of the darkness of the room. I take one step as she slowly makes her way to me and opens the door even slower. My stomach only tightens when her tear-stricken cheeks and puffy eyes greet me back.

Who did this to my Ria?

"What happened?" I whisper and hug her to me when she starts to move away. I hate that she feels embarrassed crying in front of me. She should know by now I'll always be here for her to make things better. I'll always protect her.

"It's nothing." She tells me through a thick voice. "I'm sorry if I woke you up."

"Shut up." I mutter and immediately shoot down her attempt to play this moment off. She should know we don't have to pretend in front of each other, either. "I've got you."

My words seem to do something to her because she suddenly sags against me and starts crying into my chest. Her arms come around my torso, her fingers digging into my back, and she holds on to me like I'm her strength. I close my eyes and rest my head on top of hers. I love being her strength. I love that she depends on me and shows me parts of her she doesn't show anyone else. It makes me feel like I have worth after spending a lifetime believing I was worthless. What else was I supposed to think when no one wanted me growing up, always sending me off because they'd reached their limit?

A breeze passes over us and Aria shudders a little. Shit. It's getting cold out here but I don't want to let her go so instead I bend my knees, hooking one arm under her legs and lifting her up before walking us both inside. I use my foot to kick the doors closed before sitting on her bed and adjusting her beside me. She leans her head on my shoulder, her knees drawn up to her chest, and she takes a deep breath once she finally quiets down.

I kiss her forehead, keeping one arm tight around her. "Better?"

"A little, yeah." She whispers and sighs deeply. "I don't even know why I'm crying. It's so stupid."

"May as well tell me." I nudge her with my elbow. "You know my sole source of entertainment is your stupidity."

She smacks my shoulder. "Don't be an asshole."

"That's literally all I am." I deadpan.

Her lip curls for a moment before slipping, sobering up. She looks down at her eyes and after a moment of silence finally admits, "AJ kissed another girl at the dance."

I blink at her admission and digest the words, trying to make sense as I put two and two together. "But he took you as his date."

She nods in confirmation and I continue to gape.

"So he took you as his date...and made out with another girl while you were still his date?"

Another nod.

My face sets like stone and I clench my fingers so tightly they crack. "You do realize I know where he lives?"

"Asher." She quickly stands up in front of me and blocks me from getting up. I stay seated on the bed as her finger accusatively points at my face. "Don't. Don't go and beat him up. You can't do that every time some guy messes with me, Ash. You've beat up four guys since the school year started and it's only December."

I can't help grinning at the reminder. That I did and it felt damn good each time. Nobody messes with Aria and gets away with it. "What's your point?"

"Ash." She groans, her head falling back. I stare up at her in amusement and tug the front of her shirt playfully, forcing her to meet my gaze again. "I don't even know why I'm trying. You're going to beat up AJ, aren't you?"

"Yup." My grin widens and she shakes her head. "I can't believe he doesn't know by now not to mess with you. He's so fucking dull."

"Well, I liked him." She sits down beside me again and sighs deeply. "Didn't work out too well, though."

Ah, fuck. I hate seeing her upset and I hate the douchebag that did this to her even more. Is he fucking stupid? Why would he mess around with Aria of all people? There isn't a girl in our school who's prettier, smarter, or funnier than her. He scored the jackpot taking her as his date and royally fucked it up. What a dumbass.

"I'm sorry, Aria." I tell her honestly. I might hate the guy but she doesn't and it sucks that she's hurting. "You didn't deserve that. Don't think it was your fault, okay?"

"I won't but..." She breaks our stare and bites her lip nervously.

"Stop." I softly command and use my thumb to free her mouth from her teeth. She's always had a bad habit of chewing her lips off when she's nervous. "Use your words, Ria."

She smacks my hand away and rolls her eyes. Her showing attitude is another one of her defence mechanisms. I usher an impatient hand for her to continue, not understanding why she's so hesitant about sharing details with me. What is she so scared or embarrassed of?

"It's just..." She blows out a breath and starts wringing her hands. "What if there is something wrong with me? What if I'm just not good enough and that's why these dudes keep playing around with me?"

I'm shaking my head while she's still talking and the look on my face forces her not to keep going. Her eyes widen slightly and no doubt she can see how pissed off I am. How could she think like that?

"No." I state simply. "There's nothing wrong with you. If you can't find someone who won't appreciate you and respect you exactly as you are then that means you haven't found the right person yet. We're still kids, Ria. The guys you're dealing with are fucking children so don't let them break you down or think something about yourself that holds absolutely no truth."

"Really?" She asks timidly. Aria is usually really confident about herself and seeing her like this is breaking my damn heart.

"Really." I tuck her her behind her ear, something weird twisting in my chest.

It's unbelievable how beautiful she is and she just seems to be getting prettier and prettier. Her once outrageously frizzy hair has calmed down to soft waves that reach her back, the reddish colour becoming more and more brown as she gets older. Her features are getting sharper and more symmetrical and her body...sometimes I have flashes of inappropriate thoughts and it makes me feel like a creep. I shouldn't be thinking that way about my best friend but it's hard not to notice the curves and swells that didn't used to be there before. She's becoming more of a woman and it's honestly freaking me out because I became best friends with Aria when we were kids. We're different now but...nothing will change with us, right? She's still my best friend and although some things in our relationship are different, at the end of the day she's just my friend and that's all there is to it. It's weird to even consider we could be something else.

"Are you sure you're not just saying that because you're my best friend?" Her questions snaps me out of it.

"Of course I'm saying that because I'm your best friend. It's my job to make sure you don't fall for anyone's shit. Nobody knows you better than me and I'm telling you there isn't a damn thing you need to change about yourself. You're perfect exactly the way you are, okay?"

"Promise?" She whispers and holds her pinky up.

I love that she uses pinky promises now and that she needs them as much as I do. To everyone else it may seem childish but Ria gets it. She gets me.

I wrap my pinky around hers and it comforts me like it's my safe place. Hell, it probably is. "I promise you, Princess."

"Okay." Her smile is finally back in place and I feel like one proud motherfucker knowing I put it there. "I believe you."

"You better." I warn. I span the rest of my fingers out until our hands are lined up and hold on reassuringly. She squeezes my hand back, tossing me a half-smile.

"What would I do without you, stupid?" She teases.

I grin and lie back down on her bed, my hands linking behind my head as I get comfortable. "I know right? I've got it all."

"Yeah, everything except a shirt." She mutters and her eyes dip down to my body for moving away.

"Right." I realize my state of undress. "It's too hot for clothes."

"It's December." She looks back at me with wide eyes like I'm insane.

"Must be my hormones or something."

"I can see that."

"Aw, man." I cover my neck with my hand but I know she already saw the hickeys. "I need to cover this shit up."

"She does it on purpose, you know?" Aria rolls her eyes and lies down too. I turn my head to look at her and she does the same. "Samantha. She likes leaving her mark on you because it makes her feel like she owns you or something. She tells all the girls in our grade that you're hers, anyways."

"That's a little much." I cringe. "I've already told her a million times I don't want to date her."

"What's with you and dating? Why are you so against it?"

"It's just not for me. I don't like planting my feet in one place and just believing that they'll always stay there. I grew up moving around and sticking somewhere too long freaks me out. I'd rather leave than get left behind."

"Would you do that with us?" She whispers so quietly I almost don't hear her. The look on her face is vulnerable, even more than when she was admitting what happened with AJ. "We've been friends for a long time. Would you leave if you were scared it wouldn't last?"

"What? Ria, come on." I use one elbow to hold myself up above her and make sure she's looking at me. "I could never leave you. You and Nate and my parents are the only people I'll ever trust and love. I have everything I need with you guys and I'm not interested in any more relations, at least not now. That's all."

"Just...just don't give up on us if things get hard, okay? I know not all friendships last but I'd be a wreck if I didn't have you in my life anymore, Ash."

"Hey." I say softly. "You're worrying about something that's never going to happen."

I don't know if it's everything that happened with her tonight but Aria's feeling more vulnerable than usual. That's fine with me as long as she talks to me about it so I can tell her the things she needs to hear.

"Relax, brat." I lean down to kiss her cheek when she still doesn't seem convinced. My lips are still on her face when I feel her cheek stretch and I know she's smiling now. I pull away and for a split second our noses brush. I get this weird feeling in my chest, like somebody just punched me from the inside, and quickly pull away. What the hell was that?

Aria doesn't seem fazed at all when I meet her eyes so it must be me. I guess this day has officially gone on too long. A yawn escapes me when exhaustion hits and my tiredness seems to distract me from what just happened.

"I've got to sleep." I sigh and collapse on her bed again. It's small as shit and it's getting harder for us to share it but I'm too tired to try and climb out the window right now. "Can I crash?"

"You're already half-asleep." She snorts and I mumble something incoherent in response, dozing off faster than I thought I would. I'm fucking spent.

I briefly feel cool covers slip over me and a moment later the bed dips with Aria's weight. We've done this so many times that my arm automatically seeks her out, winding around her waist and pulling her into my side. She nestles her head on my shoulder and her warm breath tickles my bare skin when she sighs.

"Night, Ash." She says through a yawn.

"Night, Princess." I barely manage to say before sleep completely engulfs me.

Like always, it's a sleep where no nightmares are found as long as I have Aria in my arms. She doesn't know it but she protects me, too.

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A/N

GAH! I cannot decide if I love present Aria and Asher more or past Aria and Asher!

These two are absolutely killing me but I'd have to say their past relationship is just too sweet! It's giving me all the feels writing about what their relationship once was. It makes their present connection that much more believable.

New favourite couple? They might just be.

Please VOTE, comment and share if you liked this chapter!

Happy Reading :)