As I continued to walk towards the door I could faintly begin to hear music. Why was there music blasting at a barbeque? Were Aiden's parents okay with this? I sped up faster and walked up the three stairs leading to the porch. As I raised my hand to knock on the door, the door swung open and brought me to a familiar face.

"Oh, hey, Jessica said you'd be out here." Aiden said with a smile on his face. I smiled back as his eyes directed to Mason who was standing right beside me. Aiden brought his right hand out in an effort to greet him.

"I'm Aiden nice to-" before he could finish his sentence Mason walked past Aiden and walked directly inside the house.

"Meet you?" Aiden finished. His eyes looked back at me as his brows furrowed in confusion. Of course Mason would be an ass to Aiden, he couldn't just play it off smoothly like I asked.

"He's not much of a people person. Or... anything person." I said out loud in realization, and Aiden brought his arms around my back and pulled me in closer.

"Well then he's going to love this party." I smiled at his response and wrapped my arms around his neck.

"I'm sorry for bringing him here. He's Jessica's cousin, and he's new I-"

"It's okay." Aiden said, ending it with a laugh. "The more the merrier. You're the only person I cared about coming today."

I smiled at his words and leaned in, giving him a quick kiss. Maybe Jessica was right, as long as I'm with Aiden, Mason won't be able to ruin things. 

Once I felt the relief wash over me, I was able to fully take in my surroundings. I was right, the music was blasting from inside. There were red cups everywhere, and Aiden's house was filled with people. Oh no.

"Wait... did you say party?" Aiden lowered his hand off my back and nodded at my question. "I thought this was a barbeque. You know, small gatherings with family and friends?"

"What? No." he laughed at my thought. "It's sort of a welcome back party. It was my dad's idea."

"Well I feel overdressed." I said looking down at my sundress and sandals. If I knew it was a party I never would have worn something so desperate looking. I could feel the eyes on me and I sighed in embarrassment.

"You're not. I think you look beautiful." Aiden comforts. 

I appreciate him trying to make me feel better, but honestly it doesn't. Before I can say anything back to Aiden an arm gets hooked around his neck and dragged down.

"Matthews!" I hear the guy whose arm is snaked around Aiden say. I recognize him from Aiden's group of friends, along with three other familiar faces standing behind him. Aiden laughs as his friends joke and mess around with his hair. I smile seeing him happy with his friends again. It's been a long six months and I know everyone has missed him.

"Elle," I hear beside me. I turn my head to the right and see Jessica standing right beside me. "Look who's here." She says, pointing straight ahead. I directed my head to where she pointed and saw Shawn standing with a group of his friends.

"Are you going to be okay?" I ask her. I know that Shawn and Jess broke up two months ago, but it can't be easy unexpectedly seeing your ex at a party.

"Yeah of course." She says, nodding her head. I watch as she snatches a red Solo cup filled with light brown liquid from a guy walking past us.

"What the hell?" The guy says as Jessica tilts her head back and downs the alcohol that was inside. Taking every sip in with ease. Once she's finished she places the cup back in the guys hand and I can't help but laugh. Oh, Jess.

"I need a drink." She says to me as I turn my head back onto the crowd. 

I quickly glanced over to Mason but I can't fully see him through the crowd of people. I wasn't expecting him to mingle with anyone here. To my surprise I notice blond hair next to Mason, I direct my eyes to him and try to navigate what's going on through the crowd. Some guy sitting on the couch across from him stands up and walks away, and now I'm able to see who Mason is mingling with. Or actually, what he's mingling with. 

Sofia's sitting on Mason's lap with her arm wrapped around his neck, whispering things into his ear and I am filled with disgust.

"I'll come with you." I say to Jessica, and we make our way to the kitchen to find ourselves a drink.