Lizzie's POV

Lizzie hurried her pace, exiting the loungeroom, she travels past the staircase and straight down the hallway, hoping that no one would be lurking outside in the back garden.

Pressing the answer button as she reaches the end of the hallway, Lizzie prays that Henry was still waiting at the end of the line.

"Hey Lizbeth"

Lizzie releases the sighs of relief that she didn't know she was holding. From the carefree lilt to his voice, Lizzie knew that he was okay.

"Henry how are you?" Lizzie says, glancing behind her to ensure that Kat hadn't followed. His real name was still a secret, and with the unending hostility for Everdale, she doubted that she'd ever reveal his identity.

"I'm good, I'm sorry about last night, someone ended up throwing a brick through my window".

"On the second floor" Lizzie questions her face scrunching with uncertainty as she glances self consciously behind her, the music was still blaring but it felt like there was some semblance of privacy at the end of the house.

"Yeah, crazy right. I went to go investigate and I'm so sorry I completely forgot about calling you back".

Lizzie's gut twists at his words. Henry would never have forgotten to call her. He would've known how worried she'd been. Why was he taking such a casual and dismissive tone on the subject.

"I heard an animalistic growl though before the line was disconnected" Lizzie presses, hoping for an honest answer.

Henry burst into laughter, "Lizzie you make me laugh, why would there be an animal in my room? I must've left a horror movie on"

Lizzie's heart sank at his words, she thought their friendship was stronger than this, that distance wouldn't affect them. His Father had informed her that he'd been watching animal documentaries, but even he had sounded like he'd been lying. Henry hardly watched nature programs and he rarely watched horror either.

But though she tried she couldn't dismiss the terrifying growl over the phone, the sound had haunted her dreams nearly the entirety of last night.

She couldn't understand why he would lie to her, but unless she saw him in person there was no point arguing over the phone.

"Yeah, I guess it was my imagination" she mumbles quietly as Henry recovers from his laughter.

"Where are you? Is that music I hear, Lizbeth are you at a party? The disbelief in his voice, irritates her slightly, however the thought of informing Henry whose party she was attending, was enough to feign connection problems and slowly disconnect from the call.

"Yeah I am, can I call you tomorrow night? It's difficult to hear with the music"

It wasn't a total lie with the music blaring in the background, she had to strain to hear Henry through the phone. She shouldn't even really be talking to Henry at Kat's party it was disrespectful.

"Whose party are you at?" He asks ignoring her suggestion, his voice clipped as if he already knew the answer.

"I'm at Kat's" Lizzie responds stifling her sigh. This whole night was causing her more stress than enjoyment, she should've just stayed home.

There's a long pause before he responds.

"It's not safe at his house, but I know you won't listen to me and I don't want to argue with you". He sighs disappointedly that shame begins to build inside Lizzie.

"Henry, I"

"Don't try and make excuses Lizzie, I thought you trusted me more than them" The disgust evident in his voice.

Lizzie's heart pounded against her chest as she tried to calm herself down, he had never spoken to her in this manner.

"However, since you're there" Henry continues his tone still disgusted. "You could do me a favour"

"Sure I guess" Lizzie replies sub consciously, still in complete utter shock at his tone. This wasn't her friend that she was speaking with, in the space of a minute, Henry had completely changed. She almost mistook him for Jack.

His hatred for Norhaven was rooted so deep that their friendship meant nothing.

"I need you to find Aiden's Father's office and once you're in there I need you to" She cuts him off immediately

"Are you serious" She demands finally coming to her senses. Henry was her friend but that didn't mean she couldn't think for herself.

"I thought I was your friend not your spy, why would you drag me deeper into this mess that I'm not even involved in and that you refuse to tell me anything about". She screams into the phone

"Lizzie" He demands, his voice raising "You don't understand, this is for the greater good". She brings the phone away from her ear as Henry continues to list his reasons. She grits her teeth as she tries to focus on anything but screaming at Henry again. He wants her to stay away from Aiden but also snoop through his Father's stuff. He was delusional.

"Honestly Henry, call me back when you can treat me like your actual friend" She hangs up before he has a chance to answer.

"Who are you talking to" A voice asks from behind startling her that she nearly drops her phone.

Aiden was standing mere inches from her, concerned as he glances between the phone and her.

"No one of importance" Lizzie says keeping her eyes down, trying to mask the pain she was feeling. She couldn't believe how Henry had treated her, he was her best-friend, without him she didn't have anyone.

Lizzie attempts to walk by Aiden but as expected he stops her.

"Were you talking to someone from Everdale?" Aiden keeps his voice even but his clenched fists revealed his true emotions.

"Yes, it doesn't matter. Please let me go Aiden, I'm not in the mood"

"Please tell me you weren't talking to Henry Castill"

Lizzie chocked at she looked up at Aiden, his features darkening.

"You can't be serious" He says pinching the bridge of his nose. "You're not allowed to talk to him" He says meeting her gaze, his eyes darkening.

"I don't think I'll be talking to him anytime soon" She mutters, taking a deep breath, to quell the rush of emotions. She couldn't handle all this animosity. She quickly wipes away the stray tear that leaks. She wasn't equipped or prepared to handle all this drama in the space of just an hour.

"Lizzie" Aiden says his tone soft as his eyes flick to the stray tear that Lizzie had quickly wiped away.

"I'm fine" Lizzie says ducking her head as she quickly wipes the next few tears that had spilled.

"You're not fine" He gently pushes her chin up until she's forced to meet his gaze. "I'm sorry" He says flustered, "I didn't mean to upset you, I just don't trust Henry"

Lizzie laughs half heartedly, still wiping away stray tears.

"Oh I know, after this conversation I've lost trust in him aswell" Lizzie shakes her head trying to swallow the lump of emotion building up in her throat. "I just can't believe he was asking me to.."

The sound of something crashing causes Lizzie's head to turn towards the lounge room, the crash is followed by laughter and then someone ordering them to clean the mess up. That person sound a lot like Jack.

"Asked you to do what" Aiden probes his eyebrows knitting together.

"It doesn't matter, let's just return to the party before Kat tries to find me". 

To tell Aiden what he asked would be a death wish.

She expects Aiden to press but he instead takes a step back.

"Why don't you instead take a moment to collect yourself, use my bathroom upstairs, you won't be disturbed"

"Thanks" Lizzie says slightly stunned, this is the last thing she expected him to say. "I think it'll be good to take a breather before returning to the party" She smiles, as she tries to quell her nervous beating heart. Aiden motions with his head for her to follow him as he leads her upstairs.

She passes a few people at the party but unlike before no one gives her a passing glance as she follows Aiden up the stairs. Her entire plan for the party had completely derailed, she was supposed to stay by Kat's side the entire night but instead she was following Aiden into his room.

She couldn't entirely blame herself, she hadn't expected Henry to completely turn on her. She stifles her sigh as she wipes another tear away.

As they reach the top of the stairs, Aiden leads her down the hallway. It was styled similarly to downstairs with photos of people spanning back from generations. She passes an ornate mirror and gasps at her reflection.

With just a few tears, her makeup had smeared everywhere, she looked like an absolute mess.

"You look beautiful" Aiden comments a warm smile playing on his lips as he stands outside his door. "Kat's got lots of spare makeup stored in my bathroom, you can borrow some of hers"

Lizzie nods her head as she follow him in.