" Why would he do such a thing? It's not like I cheated on the guy or anything!" Aubrey cries into her pillow.

Now if you thought that this guy was Jackson, you were mistaken. Aubrey broke up with him yesterday after she had found out that Eli would be staying permanently in town for a while. The special guy would be Eli.

We were sitting on her giant king-size bed in her bedroom, with her basically smothering herself in her pillows while she's laying down and me facing her while sitting crisscross at the end of her bed.

" I'm sure he'll come around. He liked you once didn't he?" I say, trying to comfort her even though the guilty part of me wanted to tell her, but I couldn't even do that.

She has been crying too much already over him.

Aubrey raises her head up from her pillow, mascara smeared under her eyes, " You think so?" She asks me and sniffs.

" Of course. Why wouldn't he want you? You're perfect."

I wasn't lying when I said this. Why wouldn't Eli want Aubrey? It's not like her being his best friend's sister stopped her before. The only thing I could think of is that she talks a lot, but sometimes that's not a bad thing.

" I know right? I have everything anyone could want! I'm beautiful, I have money, I'm not a bad kisser. Why does he not like me?"

She goes back to crying into her pillow and I sigh, lying back on her bed. This is going to be a while until she calms down.

Then an idea pops in my head.

••••

" Can you be any slower? I already puck out your clothes to wear do got want me to dress you too?" Aubrey scolds me as I close are car door and set my school bag in between my feet.

" Sorry. I had spent all night doing homework-"

" Excuses excuses. Look, we have more things to worry about. Do you know that girl Harley?"

Aubrey puts the car in gear and begins to drive. Glancing at the mirror every now and then to see if her lipgloss was applied perfectly in the review mirror.

" Uh duh. I was the one that-"

" Anyways, I was thinking that I should give her a welcome party. Like, for going to our school and stuff."

I raise an eyebrow. Aubrey usually isn't interested in Harley. Every time I have tried to talk to bet about it she would just say "cool, " or "that's nice, " even though I know she always zones off every time I say her name. Why would she just now want to throw her a party?

The more I think about it, this might actually be a good thing. The only people she really talks to at our school are me and occasionally Jasper. Hopefully this "welcome party" will help her make more friends.

" Since when did you care about Harley and giving her a welcome party?"

" Since I saw that she needed more friends than just you. If you ask me, it seems like she is just another burden for you."

" She's not a burden. She's just shy."

Aubrey puts a hand on my shoulder and smiles, the same smile she gives to everyone else when she thinks she's smarter or better than them, but at the same time, she still seemed to be concerned about me.

" I've seen how stressed you've been the last couple of weeks. I know that you've been trying to help your friend and everything but its too much, isn't it? I'm doing you a favor for both of you."

" That's not..." I trail off.

Even though Aubrey is my best friend, her parents still run the other bakery, and if I tell her that our bakery isn't doing well then her parents will find out and probably make us go bankrupt and I'll lose Eleanor's.

I can't risk it.

" Nevermind, " I sigh " Ready for the chemistry test today?" I ask, trying to change the subject.

" Not until you give me your answer. Are you going to be able to go to the party? It's on Saturday."

Damn it. How did she know? I can never change the subject with this girl!

She pulls up to our school and puts the car in park then looks over at me, still waiting for an answer.

I sigh again knowing that I won't be able to get out of this and nod, " I'll try."

Aubrey squeals out if excitement and grabs my hand, " This is going to be a night she won't ever forget! I'm so excited!"

" I can tell. Now let's hurry before we're late for class."

" Oh Chlo, always such a goody-two-shoes."

" It's better than getting a D on her last test."

" Hey! I got it back up."

" Yeah with the help of your parents."

" Whatever works."

••••

" Hey, Harley! I made- what the heck are you doing here?" I ask as I walk into the kitchen, hearing the bell ring as do. I stand there confused when I see Eli in the kitchen making...is that Apple pie? He turns his head to look at me and gives a sheepish smile.

The pie didn't look bad at all, and it definitely didn't look like it was his first time baking either.

" Hi, Chloe. Thanks for letting me have the job. Sorry it was on such late notice, but Jasper said that you needed more help anyways."

I look from Harley, raising an eyebrow but Harley just shrugs. I fold my arms and sigh out of annoyance,
" You don't happen to know where he is, do you?" I ask, trying not to sound as ticked off as I am.

Eli shrugs and Harley gives me a questioned look. I give her a one-second gesture and then walk off to find my apron since it wasn't hanging on the hook like it usually was. Where could I have put it?

I look behind the cashier and finally find it under a pile of old cookbooks that my grampa had left me. I then hear the doorbell ring and footsteps walk up to the cashier and I quickly jolt up, thinking it was Jasper.

To my surprise, it wasn't Jasper.

Hello! I literally wrote this at 11:00 p.m. so I apologize if there are any mistakes. I hope you liked this chapter! Happy holidays! You all are so amazing! I'm so grateful to get to have this opportunity to have others read my stories and support me! Thank you so much! Love you all!