It was around two by the times my friends turn up. Kyle was the one standing in front of the door and when I saw him there I hug him, much to Anna’s annoyed. I hug Matt but I can tell from the brace that he wasn’t so happy about it. Kyle places his hat on my head and I thank him and let them all in. Nicole hugs me and she says in my ear.

“Alright I calmed the boys down, Haley seems how much you care about Aiden and so she won’t say anything. Anna is another story.” She says and kisses me on the cheek. I was happy to see all my friends and that’s when Oscar came into the room. His eyes stay on Nicole a little too long but as soon as he saw the ring on her finger he says.

“You do realise that half of marriages end in divorce?” He looks towards Mason who is now glaring at Oscar. Mason has always been rather protective over Nicole and I knew having another guy look her up would make him a little annoyed.

“Don’t mind him. Although he is nice most of the time. Anyways Nicole is the girl you were checking out. Mason, the guy next to her is her fiancé, and then there is Haley. Kyle the one out the front, Anna next to him and then my cousin Matt. This is Oscar’s house and this is Oscar. He like Aiden best friend.”

“I adore your house. I mean what do you do and how come you live although out here, when all your friends live in the city.” Haley says and I look at her a little confused. Haley was the last person I expected to be happy about this, but when I saw her eyes I knew that she was checking out Oscar.

“Honestly, I just wanted to have the tennis court. Anyways it’s a great party house, but my parents still own it. I just do all the finance stuff for my dad, so they just pay me by buying stuff for me.”

“Oscar why the fucking hell did you invites Cody. Have you lost your fucking mind?” Aiden shouts walking into the hall. He doesn’t look at any of my friends, but throws a glare at Matt.

“Cody is part American and well I thought with Isabelle and her friends being all American then maybe they could celebrate the fourth together. Aiden remember it’s important to them.”

“If Vanessa turns up you better tell her to piss off and never come here every again. Get your dog on her or something.” He says and Oscar just shrugs his shoulder.

“Aw you have a dog.” Haley says and I look at her, Aiden turns to face her and looks at her and says.

“Oh it’s you. I forgot that Isabelle was friends with a girl who can’t keep her mouth shut.” He snaps at her and Haley throws a glare in his direction and I know she would run at him but I can see Mason is holding her back. Aiden notices this and walks to Mason and says. “So which girl do you really want? The one with the rock or the one who can’t keep her trap shut.” Nicole pulls him back, preventing Mason from hitting him. Anna throws me a look, I know she is scarred by my relationship because she doesn’t want me with a boy that bad.

“Aiden, look I understand that for some reason you are pissed but could you try and be polite just for once, even if you think that is totally impossible.” Matt smirks by my words but Aiden just snaps ‘fine’ before he storms out the room. At the moment Oscar leads everyone in the back garden. Anna stays before muttering something to Kyle. He nods his head and followers the rest of the people. Anna looks at me and she says.

“And this is why as much as I think Aiden is hot I really don’t like you with him. I mean Isabelle he raped a girl. He was in prison this year for a suicide attempt.” This statement made me mad, I know she didn’t know but even still when dealing with suicide it wasn’t something you throw out there. I walk towards her and I feel the tears come down my face and I say.

“Anna, it wasn’t so much you not liking Aiden, it was the fact you made no effort to try and get to know him. also don’t mention his suicide attempt in front of him, it make him break down.” I snap at her and she looks a little hurt by my words but I lead the way into the garden. Aiden was by the stove. Connor and Gracie were talking with my friends, and Oscar was talking with Haley. I walk over to Aiden and wrap my arms around his waist and say into his ear. “Are you okay?” he nods his head and turns around to face me pressing his lips to mine.

“Yes I am fine Bella. Although I am never going to see eye to eye with your friends.” He says kissing me again and his eyes flicker to the hat, still on my head. “That hat looks ridiculous.” I hit him on his shoulder and he smirks at me before he says. “Just being honest.” He gives me another kiss and then turns back to the food, which is sizzling away.

I walk over to my friends, and Gracie is talking about her job and I notice that Haley is rather interested. I sit between Nicole and Kyle, and Nicole leans over and says.

“You guys are cute together, even though he has a little bit of a reputation.” I roll my eyes by her comment and I tap my fingers on the table. I then see Cody coming around the corner and I get up from my seat and go over to him before kissing him on both cheeks.

“Hey, Isabelle. Actually be nice to celebrate this year.”

“what you don’t normally.”

“My dad is American, my mum is English. When they got divorce I lived with my mum and so I don’t think I have thought of the day since I was a kid. Also I actually know your friends rather well and when I told them I saw you they did ask. They don’t hate you; they just don’t like what you have done.” He says and then he pulls something out of his bag and says.

“Apple pie, I use to have it every fourth when I was a kid, thought I would have a tradition.” I hug him and mutter thanks before taking the pie and walking over to my friends, by this time Aiden was handing out food. Matt didn’t seem to want to eat his and he throws a glare at Aiden, and I say.

“Matt you’re a guy, you love your food.” Matt looks at my hand and says.

“I think I would rather have apple pie.” He says honestly and I see him looking at the food in my head. There was something about apple pie which made everyone in America seem so happy. “Cheer Cody, I didn’t know you can cook.”

“I can’t one my friends made it, Vanessa you may have seen her around the club. Red hair, dresses like a stripper. Most likely having sex in the center of the room.”

“You should have brought her, Aiden clearly doesn’t like her.” Matt says and I know Aiden wants to hit him but after throwing me look he knows he can’t.

“Vanessa is my ex, and well she okay but we don’t exactly get on and therefore I didn’t want her here. She is a stripper and that’s why she dresses like one.” Aiden says and I look at Matt and he clearly wants to say something but keeps his mouth shut.

“Well she is still really nice, also she is an amazing shopping companion.” I say sitting on Aiden’s lap. Cody slides in my previous place and starts talking to Nicole. She nods her head and smile and I can’t hear the words they are saying.

***

The conversations are forced as soon as Aiden and I join in, Anna keeps sending glares in Aiden direction and Matt just pretends we are not there. After we eat Oscar mentions about using the pool, everyone agrees but say about swim stuff. Gracie and I both have some of our swim stuff here but Oscar tells us to grab stuff from his sister’s room. So Nicole, Haley, Anna, Gracie and I made our way up the stairs. Oscar’s sister was a still in school, and she was in her last week before she comes home from being at boarding school.

Her room was very pink, every part of her furniture is pink, I open the wardrobe and it’s a walk in which Nicole and Haley are both every happy about it. They walk in and Anna hangs a little back as Gracie goes through the door.  Anna looks at me and pulls out a camera and she passes it to me.

“Isabelle I may not like what you are doing with yourself this holiday but I am not one to let a tradition fade into something. So everyone will act like we like you and Aiden but until you begin to notice who you are really hurting then I think this will be the last time.” I nod my head and I then snap a picture of her.

“I just want to be a good girl again, so if we still act like friends then it all be fine.” The second time I take a picture of her, she giving me a peace sign and sticking her tongue out.

“If you get the reputation you once had it be fine, so you just have to eve Aiden out and not be caught getting drunk or smoking.” I nod my head, knowing that seems about right. We can act like friends but won’t be until I am good again.

We spend twenty getting ready and taking pictures. It felt like a normal fourth well plus Gracie, although we didn’t normally go swimming but that mainly because my dad didn’t really want the pool to be used. So we were going to enjoy the sun while it was here in England. I took loads of pictures of the four girls before Gracie took over, I still had my hat on but it was a tradition for the past few years and I wasn’t about to break it.

I was the first to get out the room and Aiden was waiting for me, he was wearing swim shorts but still had his shirt on and I snapped a picture.

“So you got a camera.” I nod my head and wrap my arms around his neck and letting his lips press to mine. When we broke apart Aiden began looking down my bikki top and I push his head up and kiss him on the cheek. “Also do you have to stay in that outfit, can’t you know go to our room and take it off.” He says murmuring against my lips as he takes them with his. There is a cough and I look over Aiden’s shoulder and see Matt standing here. His eyes flicker over me and he sends a glare. I walk to Matt and snap a picture of him, he throws me another glare and says in a low whisper.

“God you really have turned in to a slut.” I hit him on his shoulder and he says. “Look Bella I love you and all but you are going to end up getting hurt or something like that.”