The glare Mason is giving Felix is murderous. I can see his chest heave up and down from just how angry he really is. I can't believe Felix is asking to join a group of people that includes both Aiden and Mason.

The world must really have it out for me.

"Felix. Of course, sit." Jessica motions for Felix to sit down right where I just was, right next to Aiden.

I assume she's still angry with him over the comment he made about me drinking.

He wastes no time to sit in my seat before setting the tray of waters on the table in front of us, leaving me clueless on where to sit next. The only other option is right next to Mason, who is still seething with anger.

"I don't think we've met before. I'm Felix, Corey's brother." Felix reaches out his hand to shake with Aiden's and after a few awkward seconds, he finally takes Felix's hand in his own and introduces himself.

"Elle, aren't you going to sit down? Or is the alcohol already hitting you." Alec half laughs and I feel myself shift awkwardly under all the stares.

I don't know what to do with myself. I'd rather stand than have to sit next to him, but it seems I'm left with no other choice. I walk over past the table and sit down, ignoring how tense Aiden's body now is.

I ignore the way my heart picks up speed just from his body being so close to mine again. I shudder from the closeness, and swallow, trying not to focus on the throbbing feeling in between my legs.

He's close enough for me to smell the cologne lingering on his skin, and I find myself inhaling through my nose and reveling in the familiarity of it.

"So, Aiden, are you the designated driver tonight?" Felix's words bring me out of my thoughts.

"Uh, I suppose so. But I'm not here as her designated driver." Aiden says matter-of-factly and I narrow my eyes at him, mentally begging him to stop embarrassing himself. It's clear that Felix is just toying with him, and Aiden being too naive to see it is not a good look.

"Oh, so she's yours then?" Felix leans over, placing his elbows on his knees, looking interested in what he might say next.

Time stops, all the noise drowns out as I wait for his answer. Would he really call me his? In front of everyone? 

I can count how many times I've seen him in the past three weeks on one hand.

Jessica seems too busy in her own conversation with Corey and Alec to notice how frozen in place my body is. I can feel my throat start to go dry just as Aiden opens his mouth to answer.

"She is."

I can't believe what I'm hearing. The Aiden sitting a few feet across from me isn't the one I don't recognize. I feel my heart thundering in my chest; not from Mason sitting so close to me, or the look Aiden is giving me right now, but because of the lies I just heard him speak.

I always knew Aiden was jealous ever since he found out about that night between Mason and I, but I never thought he'd take it upon himself to publicly claim me.

I'm speechless, at a loss for words.

But all the fired nerves in my body are extinguished when I feel Mason's hand on my lower back.

I breathe in a sharp breath, and feel my whole body flood with warmth. I wait for him to remove his hand, to pull back and laugh and tell me that was only an accident, but he doesn't.

And I nearly choke on my own breath when I feel him pinch the material of my dress, and bring me closer to him. It's subtle, not much for anyone to notice but me. The distance between us is closed as his leg brushes against mine.

Oh God, what is he doing?

My heart flips in my chest as he grabs a hold of me, never letting the grip onto me go. It reminds me of the time Aiden caught Mason and I together the first time we went to Freddie's Bar. He kept his hands locked into the back of his sweatshirt so I was unable to move.

At the time, it confused the hell out of me. Nice to know some things haven't changed.

"Elle's a very beautiful girl." Felix says with his eyes on me, and Mason's grip tightens. "I bet you have loads of competition."

Felix is clearly enjoying getting under my skin, and Aiden's eyes flick over to Mason's momentarily.

"I'm sure it's there." He says.

"Oh trust me, it's closer than you-"

"Aiden," I blurt out, interrupting Felix and all eyes fall on me.

Corey, Jessica and Alec who were previously deep in their own conversation fall silent, and I feel a couple glares from random strangers around us but choose to ignore them. I chew on my bottom lip, suddenly feeling nervous.

"Did you want to dance?" I ask him, my eyes pleading for him to get me out of here.

"Yes! Let's dance, I'm ready to put this body to use." Jessica cheers, already starting to slur her words as she stands up from the couch.

I stand up, using more energy than I should just for Mason to release his grip from me and hurry over to Aiden, grabbing his hands and pushing him towards the dance floor before he even has time to respond.

We make our way past the sweaty bodies before finding a good enough spot for the group of us. Well, everyone except Felix and Mason.

Oh no.

I snap my head back to where we were just sitting and find the two of them talking to each other. From the look on Mason's face I know it isn't going well, and curiosity runs through me as I wonder what they might be talking about.

I feel hands on my waist and whip my head to find Aiden bringing my body closer to his. He gazes down at me, his eyes flickering to my mouth and back up to meet mine. His touch only sends even more emotions through me, and I find myself questioning how I managed to get myself into this mess in the first place.

A part of me misses when it was all so simple, when it was just Amy, Jessica, Natalie and I. No boys, mothers, or grandmothers. When I used to hate the taste of alcohol and would refuse to drink it without a chaser, or when wearing something this provocative would make me feel uneasy.

When having sex in a garage at a party was the riskiest thing I'd ever done.

And now here I am, dancing in a club with the guy who used to be the boy of my dreams and I feel nothing.

But then again, the other part of me never wants that unpredictable, safe and innocent girl back.

The person I miss is the girl that I am when I'm with him, all the others are merely melancholic carbon copies.

My hips sway to the music as I let myself go, pushing all of my pessimistic thoughts out of my head and saving them for another night. It seems as though Aiden is doing it too, dancing all of his dubious feelings away.

After the third song ends, I release Aiden so I can catch my breath. I feel beads of sweat heavily resting upon my forehead, and use the back of my hand to wipe it away. My eyes go back to the same spot hoping to see Mason with Felix but there both gone.

Panic fills my gut and I look around the club for them. I know the two of them don't necessarily get along but he wouldn't do anything, would he?

I spot the familiar dark hair in the crowd and see Mason walking towards something-actually someone.

Even from a couple feet away I can practically see the smoke coming out of his ears, his cold eyes hardened on Felix in front of him who doesn't seem to notice the man charging towards him.

The room begins to spin and I turn myself back to Aiden, "I'm going to go to the bathroom. I'll be right back."

He nods his head and plants a kiss on my cheek and I have to force myself to let him finish before making a run for it over to Mason.

I squeeze past the intoxicated people getting lost in the music and my eyes never leave Mason's as I watch him continue to charge forward. My stomach sinks as I question if I'll make it in time, and it only makes me move quicker, speeding past the warm sweaty bodies.

I reach him just before he makes it, tripping over someone's foot in the process and my face bumps into his hard chest. I slowly move backwards, suddenly feeling a bit embarrassed and look up to see a pair of angry green eyes staring down at me.

He attempts to move past me but I block him, "Mason. Don't do this."

"Why shouldn't I, huh?" His voice is already raising and I gulp down the saliva building up in my mouth.

"Because I'm asking you not to." I plead and he scoffs.

"Is that supposed to mean something to me?" I feel my body start to shrink shorter from his hurtful words but I stop myself from letting it go on any further.

He's only saying this because he's hurt, Felix must have gotten to him. I knew leaving them alone wouldn't be a good idea, and now here I am being punished for it.

"Do you see the way he looks at you? How all the guys here look at you? You don't even want to know all of the disgusting, vile things that's going on in his head." He spits, eyes flooded with so much rage I feel like he might lose it at any second.

"If I didn't know any better, I'd say you sound jealous." I respond, my voice calm and collected compared to his.

His eyes flicker back to mine, "I'm not. That would require me to care which I don't, remember?" His body ticks with agitation and for the first time tonight I don't believe a word he's saying.

"That's a lie." I argue.

"So what? We fuck a few times and now you think you got me all figured out?" He runs his hands through his hair and I stop myself from letting his words hurt me.

"No, I know you care because I've seen it." His furrowed brows relax, "I've seen the good in you Mason, even though you try so hard to keep it hidden I know it's there and you can't convince me it isn't."

He looks into my eyes, and I nearly drown in them. The anger that swam through them has vanished, leaving me with nothing but those beautiful green orbs of his. He looks at me for a few moments, his eyes studying me closely and I question if he's going to touch me or not.

I'm terrified he can hear my thoughts and see my heart thundering in my chest. I drink in the sight in front of me, the inquisitive eyes and mouth that has explored every single part of me. My inner animal whines but I ignore her, forcing myself to remember everything he's ever done to me.

The good and the bad.

The lies, control, secrets, spiteful and malicious words.

But even as my thoughts recollect every painful memory, the look he's giving me now is enough to erase them all.

"Just don't do anything stupid." I say, breaking the sexual tension floating in the air all around us.

"Yeah, but stupid is so much more fun." He whines, his body towering over mine.

I flick my eyes to his, heat spreading over my cheeks over how close he is to me. His lips curve upward and I'm forced to press mine into a straight line just to keep from smiling, and shake my head over how much the man in front of me likes to start trouble.

He leans into me, and my body feels as though it's on fire when his lips graze the shell of my ear.

"Get a drink with me."

"What?" I question. He can't be serious.

"Get a drink with me." He says again, only this time louder and in a more cocky manner.

"Your mood swings are starting to give me whiplash."

"You don't want me to go after that piece of shit right?" He looks at my lips for a brief moment, "So distract me."

I contemplate what he's saying and direct my eyes back toward Aiden on the dance floor, he seems to be lost in the music so I reconnect my eyes with Mason before answering.

"One drink, and you're buying." His lips curve upward and the sight of it sends chills down my spine.

The last thing I want is for Mason to go after Felix and cause a scene, one drink isn't so bad right? It'll be quick enough to not have Aiden notice, but long enough to savor being alone with him.

He doesn't say a word, just nods and leads me over to the bar. I feel his hand find its way onto the small of my back again as he guides me through the people. His grip is gentle and yet so dominating.

I ignore all the looks from the women around us who Mason doesn't seem to notice. And once we're both sitting on the barstools I nearly fall off my seat when he orders me shirley temple. The memory of Freddie teaching me how to make them comes rushing back, and I feel my heart clench in my chest.

We sit in silence until our drinks are placed in front of us, and I reach over and grab my cup, fiddling with the straw before I take a sip.

"So, you moved out?" He asks me and I slowly bring my gaze up to him.

"I didn't think you'd notice." I say honestly even though it's nearly impossible for him to not.

"Of course I noticed."

My heart skips a beat and I look away, going back to fiddling with my straw. I move it around the glass cup, the ice cubes clinking together one by one and bring my attention back to Aiden for a quick moment.

I see him talking to Jessica, next thing I know they're both looking around the room and I feel my nerves spiking.

"And Aiden?" My focus goes back to Mason, "He's here as your...date?"

The words almost look painful coming out of his mouth. I sit there confused about the questions he chooses to ask me. The man who ripped my heart out telling me it doesn't matter who he fucks is now concerned about who I spend my time with?

"It's not like it really matters now, does it?" I try to keep my voice as steady as possible, but still it comes out as a snap.

"So it's true.. You're his?" His eyes stay locked on me, eyebrows furrowed as he waits for my answer.

I shift uncomfortably and let out an agitated huff, "I'm nobody's."

There it is, the painful reality of it all.

He nods, acknowledging my answer and as always, I can't tell what he's thinking. I don't know what it'd take for him to let his guard down for me, I'm not sure how much else I can give just for him to stomp on.

"Amen to that, baby." A voice interrupts and I snap my head towards it to find Felix standing in between Mason and I.

He has a glass in hand filled with liquor, I assume. A cheeky grin is plastered on his face and the pit in my stomach only grows.

"Oh, my bad am I interrupting something?" He asks, knowing damn well he just did.

I can see just how amused he finds this situation and shoot him a warning glare hoping he'll back off, even though I know the chances of him doing that are very slim.

"Have you already forgotten our most recent conversation?" Mason asks, his body language already shifting into rage.

"You mean your whimsical threat? Don't worry it was duly noted. Anyway, I'm not here for you." Felix turns his body to me, "I'm here for her."

"Me?"

"And what the fuck do you want with her?" Mason asks, already standing up from his seat.

"I just came to get what's only fair... My turn."

My heart falls into my stomach and I swallow the bile rising in my throat. It's clear he's drunk, I can tell how hard he's trying to not slur his words. But even then his behavior is sickening and it only makes me worry about what's to come next.

"You're what?" Mason asks slowly, stepping towards Felix and I grab a hold of his arm only for him to brush me off.

I let out an exasperated sigh and look around me to find Alec, Corey, Aiden and Jessica already taking notice of what's going on and making their way toward us.

"The bathroom is only a few feet away, just let me have my fun with her and then she'll be all yours- or actually is she Aiden's? I can't seem to rem-"

Felix isn't even able to finish his words because Mason's fist connects squarely with his jaw and I gasp as he falls to the ground. Mason doesn't stop there, he manically lunges toward him and continues to throw punches at the defenseless body with all his strength.

His movements are terrifying; how easy it is for him to make a body only look like a lifeless pile of bones and flesh.

Something inside him snaps, and although Felix throws some punches in as well, Mason dodges them all.

"Mason, stop it!" I plead as people around us are scrambling to get out of the way.

I wince every single time Felix attempts to throw a punch, unable to even risk seeing Mason get hurt in front of me.

Corey and Alec push through the crowd of people, and immediately separate the two. Alec grips onto Mason, holding him back from doing any more damage.

"Don't you ever fucking talk to her like that again!" Mason says, still trying to push Alec off of him.

I feel Aiden's eyes on me but I don't care to look. All I'm focused on right now is Mason, and even though what just happened should drive even more anger into me, I'm still not able to control the way my heart swells over his words.

"Mason, what the fuck man!" Corey says confusedly, maintaining the distance between him and Felix.

"Corey, you better keep your fucking brother in check or I promise I will end him myself." Mason yells and all Corey does is nod, acknowledging the threat he's just been giving before forcing Felix through the crowd of people toward the exit.

"Are you alright?" I hear Jessica beside me, who's eying my trembling body in front of her "What the fuck just happened?"

Before I get the chance to respond I feel a hand around my wrist.

"I'm taking you home." Aiden says and Jessica grabs my other wrist, pulling me toward her.

"Wait, just hold on. Elle, you're shaking. Are you okay?"

"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine don't worry." I lie, and look over in Mason's direction to see him shrugging Alec off of him.

"Get the fuck off of me." He says, and Alec instantly removes his hands before throwing them up in surrender.

I remind myself to breathe, this night has been a total disaster and all I want to do is curl up in a ball and die.

With all of Aiden's jealous remarks, Felix's impudent efforts and Mason's ceaseless threats and impetuous violence I feel like the club's four walls are closing in on me and everything around me is crumbling to pieces.

I look around us to find the crowd already clearing, and feel relief wash over me. It's finally over and out of all the emotions running through me, I feel an ounce of happiness over it. I couldn't stand the thought of Mason somehow getting hurt.

Imagining it physically causes me pain.

"Elle, let's go." Aiden begs, his voice sounding agitated and I let out a long sigh before whipping my head back to Jess.

"Do you want a ride?"

She shakes her head, "I'll just catch a ride with Alec. Text me when you get home, okay?"

I nod and she gives my free hand a small squeeze. I instinctively flick my eyes to Mason, who's in the process of walking towards me just as Aiden tugs my hand, dragging me out of the club.

I nearly trip over my own feet multiple times on our way out, and all he does is tighten his grip.

Once we walk out of the double doors I find myself letting out a breath I didn't even know I was holding in. The cold air makes my body shiver and I wait for Aiden to stop manhaldeling me but he doesn't.

I rip my wrist out from his grip, "What is wrong with you tonight? Why are you acting like this?"

"You shouldn't be at a place like this, Elle. All the drinking and fighting? Is that really how you want to spend your Thursday night?"

"I'm sorry, I didn't know any of that would happen-"

"What do you expect from people like that?" I bite my tongue as he goes on, "I'm starting to think Jessica might be a bad influence on you."

"She had nothing to do with this." I argue, "If you're so repulsed by it why did you agree to come out with me tonight?"

"Because I wanted to be with you." He answers and I remove my eyes from his. "Elle, normally I wouldn't care what we're doing as long as I'm with you. But this," he motions towards the club, "This isn't you."

Reality sinks into me from his words. Even though I don't entirely agree with what he's saying, he's right. The girl he fell in love with years ago would have never agreed to go to a 21+ club in the middle of a weekday just so she could get drunk and attempt to have a good time.

I sigh as he brings his palm to my cheek and gently rubs it.

"I'm sorry for making you come tonight." I apologize and he shoots me a small smile.

"Don't worry about it, at least now I know just how much clubs aren't my thing." He jokes and I can't help but laugh. "I'll go get the car, okay?" I nod and he let's go of me before finding where he parked his car.

As I stand there and wait for him my mind goes over his words. As much as I feel myself growing accustomed to this new life, the new me. I know that deep down this isn't the girl I want to become.

The girl that relentlessly strives towards the bad guy, even after every horrible thing he's done to her.

In the back of my mind I know that I need to let that girl go.

I can't ignore any more signs, especially when the one boy who's never left my side through all of it has been standing in front of me the whole time.

I close my eyes as a single tear falls from my cheek, nothing in my life can be easy, can it?

My eyes snap open when I hear the front door to the club close, and loud thundering footsteps behind me. I turn around just as Mason catches up to me, and clench my jaw shut.

"Congratulations, you practically traumatized Aiden in there with all of your reckless decision making. He's never going to want to go back now." I snap at him, focusing on the anger inside of me.

"Good, he stuck out like a sore fucking thumb in there anyways." He says and I scoff, rolling my eyes and turning around so my back can face him.

I hear him huff as he circles around me, "You're not seriously mad at me are you?"

"Of course I'm mad at you, I'm always mad at you!"

"So you'd rather have me let him take you to the bathroom instead?"

"That's not the point, Mason. You can't keep doing this, we can't keep doing this. The back and forth bickering, the incessant yelling and all the fucking tears in between. I'm sick and tired of it. We're bad for each other, Mason."

"What are you saying, Isabelle?" He asks me, throwing his arms up in defeat.

I look up at him, the man who I've spent the past couple weeks with. The man who has kissed me on every part of my body, hugged me until I've fallen asleep, made me smile more times than I can count.

But also the man who's made me cry, hurt me, lied to me, and somehow all of that finally sinks in, destroying all of the good things.

"I'm saying we can't see each other anymore."

His face softens, his eyes blink rapidly as if he's trying to understand what I'm saying, and he opens his mouth to speak but I beat him to it.

"Can't you see that I'm hurting here? Not being around you is hurting me, but being around you hurts me even more. When are we going to stop pretending that we actually get along? I just... I have to let this go." I blink away tears, "I have to let you go."

I can feel my heart slowly breaking, and the longer I look into his eyes the more painful it feels.

What's best for you isn't always easy, and it's taken me awhile to see it but what Mason and I have isn't what I want for myself.

I deserve better.

"If that's what you want." He says to me, and I see a glint of hopelessness in his eyes.

Of course it's not what I want, what I want is for you to fight for me.

"It's what I want."

He slowly nods his head, tearing his eyes away from me. I see Aiden's headlights and seconds later he pulls up next to us and it hits me that this is it.

Whatever it was, it's over.

I turn my gaze back towards him, and he doesn't return it. Instead he looks into me, never giving me a second glance.

I suck in a breath, readying myself for what comes next and open my mouth to speak.

"Goodbye, Mason." I say, and open the passenger door to Aiden's car before closing it behind me.

I can't help but look at him one more time, and when I do his body remains in the same position, frozen in place.

I tear my eyes away from him and feel another tear fall just as Aiden drives off, leaving everything I thought I had known shattered into a million pieces.