Alexa's Point of View

I sat in Aaron's car. He was driving but there wasn't any music playing. It didn't seem to right to play music and enjoy ourselves meanwhile one of my best friends was suffering.

"What did Kathy want?" I asked knowing what she wanted but was desperate for a conversation.

"To thank me for donating to the fundraiser," He said.

"Oh," I said. "How much?"

"A thousand dollars," He said nonchalantly.

"Damn," I said, I was still surprised by it. "How do you.. have so much money to spare?"

"I'm a criminal," He said flashing over his pearly white smile.

"Seriously Aaron," I let out a small laugh.

"When my dad passed away.. he left me all of his money," Aaron said.

"Oh," I said instantly regretting asking. "I'm sorry Aaron."

He shook his head, "At least he's in a better place. Right?"

I nodded my head, "Definitely."

"We should go to my place," He offered.

"But I don't think your mom-"

"I don't even live with her anymore. I haven't since that night," He said.

"Really?" I asked in shock.

I felt really bad for not even knowing where he was living. Even if he was at home, it wasn't the most healthy environment.

"I live with my friend Ben," He said.

"Ben who?" I asked.

"Benny Bellson," He said.

"In Chico?" I asked.

"No," He shook his head. "Paradise."

"That's not that bad," I said.

Paradise was a town only twenty minutes away from Chico. It was a very expensive neighborhood to live in. I'm not surprised that Aaron, being rich, surrounded himself with rich people.

"How do you know Ben anyways?" I asked.

"His dad and my dad were business partners," Aaron said confirming what I had thought, Ben was for sure rich.

"Would it be weird for us to just show up in funeral attire?" I asked.

"Not at all," He shook his head.

"Okay," I said.

He put his hand on the radio and turned up a knob slightly which allowed for a slight tune to play in our ears.

***

"Hey Benny!" Aaron called as he walked inside the house.

"Hey Aaron!" Ben said. "Who is this?"

"Alexa Miller," Aaron smiled.

"Oh Alexa!" Ben beamed. "I heard so much about you." He winked at Aaron.

I could tell Ben was a complete fool, "I'm flattered."

Ben pulled me into a hug, "Hey I heard about.. today. I'm sorry for your loss."

"Thanks," I said giving him a sincere smile.

"I get it if you just wanna relax today. But we should all go out and go crazy," Ben said. "Distract you guys. Yeah? How does that sound?"

"I don't know.." I looked over to Aaron who had a slight smirk on his face.

"There's no harm in trying to make you happy. Right?" Aaron asked pulling me close to him.

"I guess not," I said smiling.

I looked around me, admiring my surroundings. Ben's house made Aaron's look like a little cottage home. And Aaron's house was huge.

"It's a big house I know," Ben said. "But sometimes, it gets lonely."

"Really?" I asked.

"Yup, that's why I bring girls home!"

I laughed at his comment and so did Aaron.

"What do your parents do?" I asked.

"My mom is an anesthesiologist," He said. "And my dad does.. something.. I don't really now all the details."

"Maybe I'll become an anesthesiologist," I laughed.

"She makes mo-ney," He said spacing the word money.

"I can imagine," I said moving my arms to motion towards the house. "You gonna follow in your parents footsteps?" I asked Ben.

"Nah," He shook his head. "Kinda wanna do music but.. I don't know."

"You totally should!" I encouraged him. "Sounds amazing."

"Eh," He shrugged. "What about you."

"I don't know what I want to do," I shrugged. "I really like the place I work at now. Maybe I can climb up the ranks..?"

"Where do you work?" He asked.

"This little diner," I said. "It's retro themed."

"Oh you should see her uniform," Aaron said rolling his eyes back.

"Oh my god stop it!" I said nudging his arm.

"What?" He laughed.

"That's actually not a bad idea though," Ben said. "Food industry pays."

"I'm gonna just go to college for nursing," Aaron shrugged his shoulders.

I don't know why, but I found it so attractive that Aaron wanted to attend college for nursing.

"What college?" I asked.

"Probably a local one," He shrugged.

"Dude go away for college," Ben said. "You get.." He looked over at me. "..Life experience. Y'know?"

"No thanks," Aaron said shaking his head.

"You have the money for it," I said. "Could be fun."

"What is this some, kind of test?" He asked.

"No of course not," I laughed. "Just a suggestion."

But what if Aaron did go away? How would I handle myself. By August, when it's going to be time for him to leave, I'll be stuck in Chico, having to do my senior year, and he'll be.. gone.

"Let's pop some bottles," Ben said as he walked away, to the kitchen I'm assuming. "Invite those friends of yours."

"Haley," I said to myself not knowing if I even was comfortable yet seeing her.

"I'll text them," Aaron said. "You can uh.. text Hamzah?"

"Oh sure," I said pulling out my phone.

Me: hey hamz wanna pull up to aaron's friend's house. u can bring haley

Hamzah: who??

Me: his name is ben. he lives in paradise.

Hamzah: we must look so broke next to all of haley n aaron's rich friends

Me: i knoww!

Hamzah: send the addy

Me: ew hamzah i absolutely hate when u talk like that so stop

Hamzah: 🙄🙄 girl bye ✋🏼🦶🏼

I laughed quietly to myself and looked over at Aaron, "Whats the address?" I showed him my phone.

Aaron picked up my phone and typed in the address.

"Give me my phone back," I whined as he moved my phone every time I reached for it.

"No," He shook his head laughing.

I jumped up and snatched it out of his hands, "Not funny."

He smirked at me as Benny came back, "What's your drink of choice Miss Miller?" He had a fake posh accent.

"I don't know," I laughed at his accent.

"Then take my advice," He said setting all the bottles down on a table nearby. "Drink this wine."

"Wine," I scrunched up my face in disgust.

"I thought women liked red wine," He shrugged.

"Yeah, if they're forty and day drinking at the beach," I said.

"Okay then.. beer?" He asked.

"A teenager's drink of choice," I smiled as he swung me a can of beer and then another to Aaron.

We drank and joked around, time flew and before I knew it everyone started to show up.

"Hey Chase," I smiled and wave.

"Oh hey Alexa," He smiled.

Haley walked over to me and pulled me into a tight embrace, "Hey Alexa."

"Hi Hales," I smiled. "Want a drink?"

"Duh," She said as I passed her a can.

Hamzah smiled at me from afar and waved. I waved back but that was it. I guess it was kinda awkward for us to be super friendly in front of Aaron now.

We all just drank and hung out. I surprisingly talked to Claire a lot, she wasn't what I expected. Claire and I have barely talked in my short few weeks of being friends with everybody. Same with Chase and I. I mainly just stuck to Haley's hip and Aaron's. I wonder if Hamzah got along well with Clare and Chase.

Aaron's phone was buzzing, "Be right back," He said as he stood up and walked away from the living room.

"Wonder who that was," I whispered to myself.

"Probably that blonde girl," Benny laughed, he was super intoxicated.

"What blonde girl?" I asked.

"The one he brought home last week," Benny was still laughing.

"Huh?"

"I forgot her name.. I think it was Rosalie or something," He shrugged as he stumbled onto me.

"Rosalie?" I thought as my heart sank.