“Aimee we both had to go to this dinner it was required so for us to go separate would have been crazy.”
“I just don’t want to cause any problems.”
The light turned red so Aiden stopped just as his phone rang. He had it hooked to blue tooth so Aimee knew it was Ava.
“Hey Ava.” Aiden sounded upbeat.
“Don’t hey Ava me. Where are you?”
“On the corner of Main Street and Maple Avenue.”
“You know what I mean.”
“We are on our way home.”
“I can’t believe you. How could you make such a fool of me?”
“Ok, not sure what you are talking about. What did I do?”
“Don’t play dumb. When you told me you was taking that America girl to the dinner you left out a lot of details.”
“No I did not Ava I told you everything about tonight.”
“You didn’t describe her to me.” Ava was beginning to yell and Aimee felt totally uncomfortable right now.
“You didn’t ask.” Aiden seemed to enjoy torturing her.
“Well the photos I just got shows me a lot Aiden. How can you take out someone so sleazy looking.”
“Ava that’s enough she is not sleazy looking and I have no idea what photos you are talking about.”
“It was so embarrassing receiving those photos on my phone. I was with some of my friends. They saw them.”
“What photos Ava.” Aiden turned down the street and parked the car at a coffee shop.
The phone clicked and then beeped that he had a message. Aimee looked down at his phone and laughed. “Oh my Gosh.”
Ava called right back. “Ava I can explain everything. The food tonight was horrible. Aimee had just tasted a horrible appetizer and was afraid to try her soup so I gave her taste of mine to show her it was ok.”
“I don’t want to hear any dumb excuses Aiden. American girls all want to marry themselves a Prince and she is just trying to get her claws in on you.”
“Ava she is in the car with me. I am driving so we are using the blue tooth she can hear you.” He winked at Aimee.
“Hi Ava.” Aimee smiled and used the nicest tone she could.
“Hi Aimee.” Ava’s voice did not sound so nice.
“Ava I promise I am not going after Aiden.”
“Whatever Aiden call me when she is not around.” The phone went dead.
Aiden went through the drive thru of the coffee shop before getting back on the road. Aimee just looked down at her feet or out her window. When they got back to the flat Aimee went to get out of the car but Aiden took her arm.
“Wait.” He shut off the car and went around to her door. “Let’s walk down toward the beach for a minute.” Aimee slipped her shoes off when they reached the sand.
“Aiden. I am sorry about tonight. I don’t want to cause trouble with you and Ava.”
“Trust me when I say you are not causing problems. She is just using you as her reason to start a fight.”
“What do you mean?”
“Ava likes the status that comes with dating me. At least that is how I am starting to see it. She is all about being in the public eye. And I get her there.”
“That’s not right. She should not treat you like that.”
“I know that is why she is so mad about the photo if someone sees me with you then they will think we are over and she loses her status.”
“And you’re ok with her treating you this way.”
“No. I am just figuring this out. Ava and I have a lot of things we need to work on. My friendship with you is the farthest thing from my and Ava’s relationship problems.”
“Ok. If you need to talk I am here to listen.”
“You said in the car you was thinking of two things. What was you other thought?”
“The other question we heard a lot of tonight was everyone asking why I had choice to study in Neahovia. That seems weird to me.”
“Yeah I thought it was weird too. I don’t know why everyone keep asking you that but I’ll find out for you.”
“Thanks. You have a phone call to make. I am going back to the flat and order us a pizza.”
“I’ll walk you back.”
Aimee walked into the living area alone. Colin laughed as she walked in. “We are just ordering Pizza.”
“Great I am starved and so is Aiden so order two?”
Lexi jumped up from her chair. “What? You just came from dinner how can you be hungry?”
“The food was gross.” Aimee headed up the stairs.
“I heard you spit your appetizer into your napkin.” Colin was waving the phone.
“I was wondering why you started laughing when I walked in. Who told Aiden or LJ?”
“LJ.”
“Order the pizza Colin.” Aimee headed up the stairs with Lexi and Sophia right behind her. When she opened the door Piper finished her phone call.”
Aimee went to her dresser and took out a pair of pink lounge pants and a T-shirt to match. “Help me out of this dress.” Lexi was right behind her.
As soon as Lexi undid the back hooks Aimee went to change her clothes when she came out all three girls where sitting on her bed.
“Did you seriously spit your appetizer in a napkin?” Piper sat grinning.
“In my defense it was the grossest thing I have ever stuck in my mouth.”
“That is such a slap in the chef’s face.” Sophia shook her head in disappointment.
“Sophia it was pickled beets and goat cheese.”
“Ok that’s nasty.” All three girls said.
“The poor chef, Sheridan said he was new and they had argued all night. The chicken was too spicy the vegetables bland. The only food that was any good was the soup and strawberry dessert.”
Aimee sat down and Lexi began unpinning her hair while she removed her make up.
“So you met LJ.” Lexi started putting the pins into their container.
“Yes.”
“How did that go?”
“Ok. Why?”
“He can be a bit over barren.”
“Yeah I can see that”
“So where is Aiden?”
Aimee bit her lower lip. “On the phone with Ava trying to do damage control.”
Piper looked up from her phone. “What damage?”
“Ok I told you about the appetizer.” Aimee cleared her throat. “Well I was afraid to taste anything else, so when they brought out the soup I was reluctant to taste it. Aiden tasted his. He said it was good so he offered me a sip of his. Actually he fed me a spoonful of soup.”
The room filled with laughter. Piper was holding her side. “He feed you soup.”
“One spoonful. Anyway somebody took a photo and sent it to Ava.”
“Seriously.” Lexi started laughing harder. “I bet she is livid.”
“Yeah. She is pretty mad.”
“Hey hot intelligent lady. Pizza is here so you and your friends need to come down.” Colin yelled from the stairs.
“He is so dead.” Aimee headed for the door.
“What is this about?” Piper was right behind her.
“LJ.”
When the girls made their way down to the kitchen. Colin handed Aimee a plate. “I can feed you if you prefer.”
“She playfully hit his arm. “I can manage.”
“I guess only Aiden gets that pleasure. Sounds like you had a good night Aiden feed you soup and you put LJ and his dad in place.”
“How long did you talk to LJ?” Aimee glared at Colin.
“Not long. But long enough to torture you for days.”
Aimee turned to Aiden. “Everything ok?”
Aiden gave her a side hug. “Don’t worry she is not mad about you anymore.”
Colin hit Aiden on the back. “How did you manage that?”
“I told her I was not going to the Fall Ball.”
“Why not?” Lexi asked.
“We have testing the Monday after and two reports due as well.”
Colin sat at the table. “Man you are going to pay for that.”
“Give Ava a break guys she cannot be that bad.” Aimee was wanting to give her the benefit of the doubt.
“It’s ok Aimee. They are right.” Aiden answered.
“Ok, then. Is this pizza good or am I starved.”
Colin pretended to give her a bite. “Both.”
Sophia sat up straight. “Someday Aimee I will make you a real gourmet dinner.”
“No pickle beets and goat cheese.” Aimee grinned.
Sophia giggled. “I promise no pickle beets and goat cheese.”