As I headed back into the club, I followed behind Aster while Pierce followed shortly behind him. I started to walk up to the bar but was stopped when I heard Tucker yell my name. I tried to ignore it, not wanting to face him and continued to approach the bar where the bartender hadn't carded anyone all night.

"Shot of tequila," I said bluntly to the bartender and he nodded as he grabbed the bottle behind him and allowed the liquid to pour into the glass shot before sliding it in front of me. I didn't hesitate before picking it up and downing it. It burned but the burning wasn't anything I hadn't gotten used to. 

"Aspen." Tucker's voice said breathlessly as he stood behind me. I let out a sigh and closed my eyes shut as I muttered "Shit." under my breath. Turning around slowly, I stood before Tucker who looked a mixture of confused and angry. "I don't want to talk about this right now Tucker-" I started but he stopped me before I could finish "No Aspen. We do need to talk about this, I mean what the hell you just run out on me. Then have Pierce go out to comfort you?"

"I didn't mean to run out, I've just been going through a lot right now. You know that. The touching just went too far-" 

"Oh but the guy who's dad gropes you and the same guy that threw you into a room with some stranger is the one you're going to console in?" Tucker shook his head in disgrace "Seriously? I thought you were better than that Ambrosia."

"Why are you doing this?" I asked, not in the mood for confrontation right now. 

"Doing what?"

"Putting me in such an uncomfortable position. I told you I wasn't comfortable and now you're guilting me? I thought YOU were better Tucker. And Pierce came out, it's not like I asked him too. God, it's like you're obsessed with him." I spat, as I watched his facial expression fall.

He looked away for a second, biting his lip before turning back to me. "Aspen I'm sorry, I didn't mean it like that. I shouldn't have said that it's just..well it's just that I really like you and I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable. I'm trying to make you comfortable with me, and with Pierce. I don't know it just feels like every girl I've liked he always gets. You and Pierce, it just seems like you guys go together but I want to be the one for you." 

I had to take in everything he had been saying to me, I didn't know what to say back to it. Tucker was a nice guy, he did make me feel comfortable but a part of me was screaming no whenever he said he had feelings for me. I didn't want things to become complicated and I didn't want to draw a line between Tucker and Pierce. 

There was a silence between us and the lights in the club dimmed, while the music slowed down. I had recognized the song immediately as it had been one of my favorites, Tucker noticed the spark on my face once it had started playing.

"Dance with me?" He asked, taking my hand and pulling me back out to the dancefloor where everyone had been gathered along with a partner. His arms wrapped around me, while I placed my hands on his shoulders as we started to sway back and forth. 

"Tell me, something girl.." Tucker hummed lightly with the song. It was the song shallow, one of the top songs that I listened to on repeat. My lips tugged up into a small smile, looking up into his big brown eyes. They were warm and welcoming, something I didn't know exactly how to explain. 

"Why do you like me?" I asked blatantly. It was a question I actually wondered about though, it felt as if Tucker barely knew me. I couldn't help but think how different my life would be right now if I was still in Washington and with my ex-boyfriend Cayde still.

"Why do I like you?" Tucker cocked an eyebrow at me, seeming to be genuinely surprised "I mean why wouldn't I? You're beautiful, you're sweet, you're smart, and you're still badass. I could go on forever about you Aspen. The minute you moved here from Washington I couldn't take my eyes off of you."

After everything that went down with Cayde, I wouldn't let any guy like me. He had done so much emotional damage to me that I couldn't believe that any guy could possibly like me after all the stuff he put into my head. I had glanced over to Pierce who Mercury had dragged out. His eyes met mine in the distance and he shook his head slightly, a glare holding in his pupils. 

"Come back home with me tonight? I'll take you on a whole date tomorrow, it'll be everything you could want." Tucker asked, flashing me a pearly white smile. "Oh Tucker I don't know-" I started "It's just really soon-"

"I promise you won't regret it, Aspen."

"Uh, ok..yeah sure, why not?" I pressed my lips in a thin line, not knowing if I was going to regret this tonight or not. Tucker pulled me closer to him as we continued to sway back and forth and I rested my chin on his shoulder. 

Pierce's eyes wrapped around Mercury as she had kept her body pressed against his. She was practically attached to him, claiming her territory. I forced myself to look away and the song ended moments later. I pulled away from Tucker in which he said he was going to use the bathroom then we would get going. 

Aster hurried up to me and pulled me aside to the bar as the fluorescent lights flickered above us. "What the hell Aspen?!" He exclaimed "What are you doing? I saw you kiss Pierce out there and now you're dancing with Tucker?"

"Wait you saw?" My eyes widened in fear that my brother had actually seen Pierce and I kiss. "Yes I saw, be lucky Archer didn't." Aster rolled his eyes at me "Look I don't know what the hell you're doing but you can not go from guy to guy or have one at all, you know the rules with dating in a game."

"Ready to go?" Tucker walked up before I could say anything back to Aster. I nodded slightly and Aster sent me a warning look. Tucker took my hand in his and led me outside of the club as we parted through people dancing. The sky had been pitch black with nothing but the street lights to give any sort of being able to see. 

I glanced back at the club as the door had slammed shut behind me and we headed towards Tucker's charger that had been parked a couple of feet away. The door had opened back up only to reveal Pierce jogged towards us. 

"Tuck, I can take her home, don't worry about it." Pierce insisted as he nodded his head over towards his challenger. "Nah I got her Pierce, she's coming back with me." Tucker's grip on my hand had tightened, the words of what he had said replayed in my head. 

Pierce's eyes moved from his to mine, the look on his face became emotionless. His jaw clenched and his eyes stayed on me before pulling me to the side and away from Tucker. "What the hell Aspen?" Pierce's eyes bored into me "Never took you as one to go from guy to guy, but here we are."

"It's not what it seems like-" 

"Seems like? Really because it seems like I just fucking told you everything and now you're just going to go walk away with some other guy as nothing had ever happened." Pierce shook his head in disgrace "Whatever Ambrosia, do whatever the hell you want. But don't come crying to me."

"Pierce please-" I tried to stop him but failed to. With his final words said he had turned around and headed back inside of the club. I let out a sigh as I watched the door slam shut, the sound making me jump a bit. Tucker approached behind me with a curious tone "What was that about?"

"Nothing." I ran a hand through my hair as I turned around on my heels in order to face him "Just talking about the stops we have to do this upcoming week, new routine because of the Coinston's and everything."

Tucker didn't seem to buy it but I wasn't in the mood to do any convincing. Luckily for me, he just agreed with what I had said and we walked towards his car. I entered the car and Tucker immediately turned his vents towards me while he blasted the heat in order to get some warmth. We had hit the road and I watched as flurries had fallen down from the sky. 

The car ride was filled with silence and I kept my eyes fixated on the road ahead. Before I knew it we had pulled up to an apartment complex. Parking the car, Tucker and I had both gotten out of the car and head into the building before walking up a few staircases. 

Tucker pulled out his keys in order to unlock his door and I walked into the apartment as I scanned over it. It was small but it was well kept and cleaned, not what you'd expect out of a teenage boy's apartment. Tucker had taken my jacket from me and hung it up as I followed him into the living room where I took a seat on the couch. 

"Did you have anything to eat? You name it and we'll make it. Pizza, spaghetti, whatever you wish." He clapped his hands together and I gave him an amused look "Pizza sounds good right now." He nodded in response and we both headed towards the kitchen where Tucker had gotten all of the ingredients out while I preheated the oven. 

He handed me a spoon in order to scoop out the sauce which I slathered all over the crust. "Jesus, sauce girl I see." Tucker watched me scoop out all of the sauce and I nudged his side with my elbow "Hey leave my sauce alone."

"Whatever you say." He chuckled and we both completed our pizzas and stuck them in the oven to cook. Tucker turned around to face me and his lips tugged up into a smile before reaching out and wiping some sauce that had ended up on my cheek. He inched closer to me, making me stand up straight in response. 

He cupped the side of my face with his hands and I closed my eyes for a moment as I knew where this was about to lead to. I looked up at Tucker as his brown eyes stared down at me and he inched closer to me, his lips meeting mine. Tucker kissed me softly and it took me a moment before I responded. 

His hand dropped from my face and grabbed the sides of my waist before picking me up and placing me on the counter, his lips staying on mine. The kiss became gentle and soft to fast and hungry. His hands stayed at my hips and I rested mine on his chest as his body hovered over mine. 

Nothing...

No spark or anything. 

I pulled away and Tucker looked at me confused. "I-I'm sorry...I just don't want anything to go too fast." I admitted the feeling that came with Tucker wasn't anything that made my heartbeat spike, not even the butterflies in my stomach. I didn't know what to do or what to say. "Ok..my bad, I guess." Tucker backed away from me slowly as he leaned back on the other countertop. 

"Movie?" I suggest, trying to break away from the awkwardness and hopped off the counter before heading towards the living room and grabbing my phone off the coffee table. My phone had what seemed to have a bunch of notifications. 

Aster: Text me where you go

Juniper: So I saw you leave with Tucker, how is it!!!

Triston: Remember to be safe ;)

I quickly texted Aster where I was and Tucker joined me on the couch and turned on the TV. There was a silence that had filled the air, and I knew this had been a mistake to come. Tucker surfed through a bunch of different movies and I continued to shrug at each. 

My phone vibrated aside from me and I picked it up to see a text message from Greyson's number. I unlocked my phone screen and clicked on the text that showed a picture of Mercury and Pierce kissing at the back of the club.

My breath hitched at the photo and I couldn't believe he'd actually be so stupid. I placed my phone down and stared straight ahead. Why would she even send me that picture? 

I tried to erase the image from my head and not focus on it while staring ahead at the TV screen. "So what kind of genre are you in the mood for?" Tucker broke the silence.

"Anything you're in the mood for." I forced a smile and we ended up agreeing on watching a Christmas movie since it was coming up in a few weeks. Tucker rested his arm around me, pulling me closer to him

~ ~ ~ ~

My eyes flickered open when I heard a consistent banging. I grabbed my phone to see it was four in the morning. I sat up in the bed and shook Tucker awake. "Someone's banging on the door," I whispered, while Tucker had got out of bed and rubbed his eyes before grabbing a pistol that was sitting on the top of his dresser and heading out to the banging.

I pushed myself out of the bed and followed behind him, flicking the living room lights on. Tucker and I ended up watching a bunch of movies and enjoying our pizzas but nothing more happened than that but he insisted I stay overnight.

Tucker looked through the peephole and muttered "Fucking shit." Before placing the gun down at a near table and unlocking the door to reveal a very drunk Pierce.

"Pierce?" I asked surprised "What the hell are you doing here?"

He was visibly drunk, his eyes were dark and I could tell he was barely holding himself upright. Pierce said some words but it was nothing more than a slur.

"Help me get him to the couch." Tucker sighed and we both helped Pierce over to the couch as his body slammed down into it while he continued to sit upright.

"Has this happened before?" I asked Tucker and he shook his head in response. Tucker went to grab his phone before calling Xander to let him know how drunk Pierce was and showing up at his house.

Pierce looked up at me and I kept my arms crossed over my chest while I looked down at him in complete shock. I knew what this was about and why he was like this. It wasn't me, it was he was reliving everything after he told me and all the memories were so painful he was trying to numb it.

"You're so beautiful." He slurred and I shook my head at him in response "No Pierce, you're drunk."

He reached his hand up and grabbed my wrist in order to pull me closer to him. I stood above him but tore my grip away from him before he could do anything. Tucker walked out of the kitchen and back into the living room as he said a few last words to Xander.

Tucker hung up and let out a groan as he ran a hand through his messy bed head. "Well, I guess he's just going to have to crash here." Tucker said unpleasantly "Lay the fuck down Pierce."

Tucker grabbed a pillow and blanket and tossed them at him in response. I felt bad and didn't want to say anything to Tucker about why Pierce was drunk and almost passed out on his couch but knew it wasn't my place, especially if Tucker didn't already know.

Pierce laid down and I laid the blanket over him and he soon closed his eyes and was out like a light. Tucker walked back to the bedroom and said nothing else, but who wanted to talk at four in the morning when one of your friends shows up ass drunk at your door.

I sighed as I looked at a sleeping Pierce, and knew that this sort of thing wasn't just going to blow over. I followed Tucker back into the room and tried to force myself back to sleep. 

* * * * * 

The morning couldn't come soon enough, while I wanted to just go home of course Xander and Archer texted us for an emergency meeting. When I woke up this morning Pierce was already gone and off of Tucker's couch. Tucker and I didn't talk much this morning, especially after the incident that happened with Pierce. While I knew the real reasons he was drinking, Tucker blamed it on him being quoted a "jealous prick." 

We had finally arrived at the warehouse and I wasn't ready for what was to come. I pulled on my leather jacket and stepped out of Tucker's charger while I looked at the surrounding environment that was covered in snow. Tucker said nothing to me and walked inside, I could tell he was pissed off. I knew how I acted last night was going to upset him but for my sake, I couldn't force any feelings. Sure, he was a sweet guy but I don't think we could be anything more than friends. 

I headed into the warehouse and walked up the steps to see everyone sitting anxiously while Xander and Archer stood in the middle to get everyone's attention. Everyone's eyes snapped towards me and I could tell something wasn't right as I sat down. Taking a seat between Juniper and Triston they both sent me looks.

"How was it?" June whispered to me and I just shook my head in response so she got the hint. She left at that and didn't poke at it anymore while we all waited for Archer to start. Aster sat on a barstool chair and sighed as he stared down at the ground. 

"So you're probably all wondering why you're here," Archer started, his tone not very pleasant "It has come to my attention that there have been numerous romantic interactions going on within the gang."

Please don't say it...

"As of last night, I had witnessed Pierce and Aspen kiss in the back of the club. Tucker and Aspen then went home together. And I witnessed Mercury and Piere together on several occasions." Archer announced to everyone. I let out an exhale as I bit my lip and closed my eyes before looking down at the ground that it was now out. 

Everyone knew about Pierce and I now, and especially Tucker. 

I could feel the eyes on me and I glanced up to see Tucker's face fall. Pierce rubbed his temples as he leaned forward on the couch and kept his eyes averted from everybody. While Mercury's eyes went directly to me with a glare as she glanced between Pierce and I. 

"What a whore." Greyson muttered under her breath and I bit my tongue back to not say anything because I was in no position to get myself in trouble anymore. "Just kick her if she can't keep it in her pants, obviously can't." She finished off her remark.

"At least I didn't sleep with a guy that had a girlfriend." I snapped back not being able to just sit there and take it anymore. "And I didn't sleep with either of them." 

"It also has been told to me that Pierce showed up at Tucker's at four a.m. visibly drunk." Xander spoke up as he stood up "Pierce this is not acceptable behavior, and it better not happen again."

"If any other romantic incidents happen again, you will be kicked. There is no discussion." Archer finished off the meeting "We have rules for a reason, do not make me enforce them with greater consequences. You are all dismissed."

I watched as Tucker got up immediately and headed out of the door. "Tucker! Tucker, wait!" I yelled after him, as I hurried down the steps to catch up with him outside. "Tucker please just wait," I begged him and he eventually stopped, whirling around to face me.

"What do you want Aspen?" He gritted at me, but I couldn't blame him because he was hurt. I took a deep breath in as I stared at him with the same saddened expression. 

"Tucker I'm sorry. I didn't mean for all of this to happen, it just kind of happened between Pierce and me." I explained but he shook his head and scoffed out a laugh "Bullshit Ambrosia. Nothing just happens with Pierce, he does this every time. Always steals the girl I want, never lets me have anything. And you're just like every other girl."

"Don't say that." I shook my head back and forth, in refusal that I was just like every girl that gets stolen away by Pierce.

"Say what? The truth?" He scoffed "You don't even begin to understand. I cared about you, I tried to be nice and sweet, but you go back to the asshole who has done nothing but hurt you? You ran away from me at the club and who did you go outside and kiss? Cause it sure as hell wasn't me. No fucking wonder he showed up at my apartment this morning."

"I'm sorry." 

"You're sorry? Do you even like me, Aspen? Did our kiss last night mean anything to you?" His words pushed me to reveal everything, but I was scared to worsen the situation by saying the truth. 

"Tucker I think you're a really sweet guy and a really good friend, it's just..nothing sparked for me when we kissed last night," I admitted the truth, knowing I was in a position to lie.

"Nice guys always finish last, right?" He rolled his eyes "Well you can go have your little love affair with Pierce, see what a shit I give. He's a fucking prick and will never treat you well. Why do you think all his exes are so mentally damaged? It's no coincidence." 

Tucker paused for a moment and I pressed my lips in a thin line as I stayed silent, not knowing what to say next. "You're a slut, Aspen Ambrosia." He gritted at me, his once saddened expression turning into one filled with anger. 

"Excuse me?" I was taken back at what he had just said. "You heard me, you're a fucking slut." He spat at me and before I knew it Pierce had approached us, standing behind me. I held back the tears in my eyes, as the words stung. 

"Don't fucking talk to her like that." Pierce stepped in front of me, placing his hands on Tucker's shoulders and shoving him back. "Or what?" Tucker tested, shoving Pierce back. 

"Just back off Sutton." Pierce warned, "Or I swear to god, you talk to her like that again and I will bash your head into the ground faster than you can even say the word sorry."

Tucker glared at the both of us, saying nothing else before slowly walking away and getting in his car. I watched him drive away and the guilt came over me while my heart fell, I never wanted to hurt him. I understood why he was mad and upset, it was true that every girl he liked Pierce always stole. He was a good friend and there was no denying that, but he couldn't blame me for not having the same romantic feelings. 

"I told you to stay away from him," Pierce muttered under his breath before turning around and starting to head towards the door of the warehouse. "Hey!" I yelled after him "Do not walk away from me! Don't you think we should talk about this."

"Talk about what?" Pierce whirled around and headed back towards me, raising an eyebrow as he impatiently waited for me to speak. "Last night..everything you said, why I got a picture of you and Mercury kissing in the back of the club from Greyson, why you showed up drunk at Tucker's at 4 a.m. today." 

"What do you want me to say?" Pierce shrugged in response, and I was already frustrated at him for ignoring my questions. "The Truth, Pierce." I narrowed my eyes at him, wanting to get answers out of him and what everything meant. 

"We kissed, I don't know what you want me to tell you? Got caught up in the moment, so what? I told you to stay away from Tucker and what did you do right after? You went home with him. And why does it matter what happens between Mercury and me? We're not dating Aspen, it's none of your business." Pierce went on "And I ended up drinking a little too much and just happened to be in the area, must've stumbled over there somehow."

"I don't believe that." I crossed my arms as the cold was making me shiver at this point "You don't just drink a little too much and end up as drunk as you did last night. You were trying to numb something Pierce, don't lie to me."

"Well that's what happened, so I don't know what to tell you, Ambrosia." 

* * * * * *  

A://N Happy Early Update!

I probably will not be able to update the rest of the week, we are getting 24 inches of snow as of tomorrow where I live, so my boyfriend will be here the rest of the week in case he loses power at his apartment.

I also have two more finals left, but after this week hopefully updates will stay rapid! I have struggled with writers block though a lot lately.

Dedicated @hey523

What'd you guys think? Yay or nay?

What'd you think about Aspen going back home with Tucker?

Why do you really think Pierce was drinking?

Why do you think Greyson sent Aspen and photo of Mercury and Pierce kissing?

What do you think about the rest of the gang now knowing about everything, do you think the dating will become an issue with Archer and Xander?

Do you side with Tucker or No? Do you feel bad for him?

That's it for this chapter, if you have any ideas you'd like to see happen, Please COMMENT them and I'll try to make it happen, plus keeps me motivated seeing you guys look into the future of this book!

~ Ash