Some Way

by Tiffany Jade

  "Aw look, your guard dogs are here." Aaron starts laughing, "Good puppies!" I stare at him in shock. I don't know this person at all. In all our time together I had never seen this side of him. Dax walks up to him as I try to process.

  "I'm going to let that one slide and chalk it up to the amount of alcohol you've had to drink tonight and whatever else you took, but I'd suggest you head out bud," Dax tells him calmly. The room is dead silent.

  "Come on bro, let's go." Max shows up and grabs onto Aaron's arm, but Aaron quickly shakes him off. He almost tips over in the process but the girl he came out of the room with shows up at his side and he leans on her to stabilize himself.

  "No! I got some more shit to say! Fuuuuck her!" He slurs his words as he points over at me. Grayson's hands tighten on my shoulders.

  "She acts like she's soooooo amazing. Like I'm lucky to have her. HA! She's not even a virgin but she refuses to sleep with me! ME! LOOK AT ME! I could get any girl in this school, and I wasted my time, trying to get inside—" in a flash Grayson's hands have left my shoulders and he's got Aaron pushed up against the wall by the throat.

  "Yeah, I wouldn't finish that sentence if I were you." Dax laughs as Aaron gasps a little bit for air.

  Aaron starts glancing around nervously as Grayson's grip doesn't loosen.

  "You listening to me, bro?" Grayson asks, sarcasm and hatred dripping from his voice. Aaron nods as well as he can with all the pressure on his neck. "I'm going to let you go here in a minute, not cause I want to, cause trust me, there's nothing that I would love to do more than break that jaw of yours so that you can't talk anymore," Grayson pauses as he lets his words sink in. "But because I've had enough shit to deal with today and I have a feeling that once I start hitting you, I'm not going to want to stop and I don't want to have to take the time to make your death look like an accident."

  Holy shit.

  Grayson's voice is dead calm as he speaks to Aaron. I snap myself out of my thoughts and head to him, gently placing my hand on the arm that he has Aaron held up by. He glances down at me and winks.

  "Don't worry, Queen, everything is good," he loosens his hand just a bit. "Aaron is going to leave now right?" he asks.

  Aaron nods his head. Grayson removes his hand from Aaron and takes mine gently, he guides me to stand behind him. Max rushes back over and grabs Aaron, helping him head for the door that Dax is already standing by and holding open.

  "Good puppy," Dax tells him, right before shutting the door on him.

  Chapter 6

  As Dax shuts the door in Aaron's face my body starts shivering. The adrenaline courses through me from all the drama. I feel Jenna's arms wrap around me in a tight squeeze. Grayson has disappeared somewhere.

  "Are you ok?" Jenna's voice is in my ear as I try to process what just happened.

  "Actually," I pause for a moment as my thoughts clear. "Yeah. I think I am." Jenna lets me go and gives me a weird look.

  "Seriously?" she asks, obviously confused.

  "Yeah," I nod my head as a small grin appears on my face. "I mean, that's not exactly how I thought we would break up. The things he said, definitely sucked, but I don't know. Like, I'm not even mad about him cheating on me for some reason...I kind of feel," I pause again, searching for the right word, "free?" Jenna shakes her head at me, but begins to smile too.

  "So, shots for the single lady?" Grayson asks with a smirk as he reappears, the bottle of Jack I brought in his hand. "Or should we shut the party down early?" Dax reappears too and they both wait for my answer.

  "You guys would shut the whole party down for me?" I ask. Aaron's words earlier telling me he didn't trust them, cross my mind. I barely knew these guys, they were clearly players on a whole new playing field, yet they both looked genuinely concerned about what had happened. I was so confused.

  "Of course," Dax replied with an easy smile. "It's up to you girls." Jenna glances over at me, looking just about as confused as I am. What are these boys playing at? They must just not want to upset us since we are living across the hall from them. But, flashbacks of the fight push forward the reminder that in the midst of everything Dax had put himself right in front of me to keep Aaron from touching me, Grayson's hands had been on my shoulders, showing me he was there for me. And when Aaron had gone way too far with his words, it wasn't one of the guy friends I'd known for years who had been willing to fight for me. It had been Grayson, shutting Aaron up, and placing me behind him to keep me safe.

  These boys may have looked like trouble, but deep down there was a lot more to these two. And I'd be lying if I said my curiosity wasn't peaked to see who they were behind the playboy fronts.

  "Queen?" Grayson's voice pulls me out of my head. I glance up at him as he steps closer to me. "What do you want?"

  "A strong drink and loud music," I answer with a smile. A few cheers erupt and I finally notice that everyone in the apartment was surrounding us, and they had all been waiting on my answer.

  "As you wish." Grayson grins at me as he hands me the bottle. Dax heads over to get the music going and the room is full of noise again.

  "How 'bout I go make you a drink instead of you just downing the bottle," Jenna says as she takes the bottle of Jack from me laughing, I nod my head and she heads into the kitchen, leaving me standing there with Grayson.

  Cue the silent awkwardness. He glances around, clearly as unsure of what to do as I am.

  "So," he says after clearing his throat.

  "So," I respond. Witty, I know.

  Grayson takes a deep breath and looks me in the eye.

  "He's an idiot Liv," he whispers, almost so low I can't hear him. I look back at him and can't think of a thing to say.

  He takes another deep breath and goes to say something else but just shakes his head and walks away.

  Well alright, not sure what to do I look around. A pretty large group has gathered in the living room, opening the balcony door to include the deck in the festivities, a bunch of people are dancing and enjoying themselves.

  I smile as I notice Hailey and Sam dancing to the music, I had met them through Aaron and they had become great friends too in the past year. I watch for a few minutes and smile as Sam's arms wrap around Hailey and whatever she whispers into Hailey's ear makes her blush and giggle. They'd been together for as long as I'd know them and were honestly one of the cutest couples I'd ever seen. They notice me watching them and wave me over to join excitedly.

  "You good?" Hailey asks as I join them, they both stop dancing, waiting for my answer.

  “SO good.”

  I had to get the fuck away from her. It had taken every ounce of my strength not to pound that douche into the ground. Every second of my years of "training" had been rushing through my brain.

  If Liv hadn't been watching, he wouldn't have walked away. Why the hell I felt that strongly, I still don't know. The instant I had figured out it was her yelling, my heart had started pounding so fast. Seeing her face as she watched him with his arm wrapped around a rando. Watching her shoulders drop as he said those things to her. I had never felt the need to protect a woman like that before, other than my mom and sisters.

  Well and...no I'm not thinking about her.

  Shaking my head I turn the music up in the truck. After my dumb ass had let the words, "He's an idiot Liv," slip out of my mouth I realized I needed to step away.

  I felt kind of bad but I had practically ran from her and ended up outside and in the truck, looking for a distraction. Taking a drag from my smoke, I relax back in my seat and close my eyes.

  "The fuck you hiding out here for?" Dax's voice forces me to open my eyes. He's standing on the sidewalk glaring at me.

  "Just needed a smoke," I respond, waving the cig around for emphasis.

  "You quit forever ago dumbass." He starts walking closer to me. I get out of the truck and take the final drag, throw the butt to the ground and smash it under my shoe.

  "Bitches be stressful," I shrug.

  "You need
to get laid," Dax laughs as I walk to him and we both start heading back upstairs to the party.

  "No shit," I respond, "I've just been a little busy, you know, choking jocks, protecting damsels in distress." Dax raises an eyebrow at me.

  "She's getting under your skin bro, you need to put a stop to it." He stops me in front of the door to the apartment. "You know what Dad would say if he knew how much this girl was distracting you."

  "Well good fucking thing Dad isn't here than huh?" I give him a pointed look, daring him to say he was going to tell Dad anything, I know better though, Dax has always had my back, just like I've had his. "And dude, you were there to protect her just as much as I was," I remind him.

  "True," he nods in agreement, “something about her huh?" My turn to nod at him.

  At least it's comforting to know I'm not the only one with some weird pull to her.

  He better stay the fuck away though. "Bro, chill, I don't want her like that.” Dax sticks his hands up.

  "Huh?" I ask, confused. He points down at my hands, which are balled up into fists.

  Well fuck.

  "She's just one of those people who makes you feel like you've known her forever, like I get mad little sister vibes from her. She's cool," Dax explains.

  I wish I got little sister vibes from her, that would make my life a hell of a lot easier. We walk into the apartment and lucky me of course the first thing my eyes settle on is the gorgeous little brunette, in the middle of my living room, in that fucking dress, with her hands on her body, singing and dancing along to the music.

  I need a drink.

  I had danced for so long I was actually out of breath. Signaling to the girls I needed a break and some water, I wander into the kitchen. Glancing over to the corner of the dining area I see Dax and Jenna standing in a corner talking. She looks up and upon seeing me, winks.

  Well, she's wasting no time. Smiling at her as I shake my head I end up bumping into somebody.

  "Oh my, I'm so sor—" I begin to apologize to the girl I had bumped into, but she isn't even paying attention to me as she is completely focusing on getting her tongue down...oh my God, Grayson's throat.

  Yep that's Grayson. Making out with a very pretty redhead, well I think she's pretty, her face is kind of covered. But yeah, I guess they finally realize they are being watched as she pulls back and glances over her shoulder at me. Grayson's eye glance up and after a moment, his lips lift in that classic smirk of his.

  "Having fun, Liv?" He clears his throat and asks as he tucks the little redhead into his side. I was right she is pretty. Her green eyes are glaring at me, as I look her up and down. I turn back to Grayson with a smile, a fake one, because for some reason seeing this hurts.

  "Yeah!" I exclaim, a little too excited. He laughs a bit, I shake my head. I have no right to feel this way. I'm the one who said friends. He was just being a friend earlier, defending me.

  "I mean, it's not every party where you find out your boyfriend's cheating on you by practically walking in on it, so yeah it's a party for the books." Oh my word, where the hell did that come from? Grayson's eyes fall as I speak.

  Shit.

  I amp up my smile. "I think I'm going to head home though. Enough excitement for one night, ya know," I give him a little wave and turn around.

  "Liv," he says my name as I step away. I take a deep breath, steel myself, and turn around.

  More ice from the redhead.

  Grayson glances down at her and back up at me, a look in his eyes I can't understand. "Uh, be careful getting home."

  Fucking lame.

  ‘Be careful getting home?’ That’s the best you can do dumb ass?

  A huge part of me wanted to shake this girl off of me. Tina, no Tara, shit Trina? I don't even know. She threw herself at me and I needed the distraction. Story of my life.

  But what? I shake her off of me to take advantage of Liv after everything she went through tonight. I was an asshole, but that was cold.

  Liv stares at me open mouthed for a minute before she starts laughing.

  "Gray," she called me Gray, that's not cute or anything, nah.

  Wait 'cute,' the fuck!? Why is this word now in my everyday vocabulary? That's like three times now.

  Jesus, since when do I have full blown conversations with myself in my head?

  "I think I can make it across the hall." She smiles at me, pulling me out of my internal argument. "Have a good night you two." She turns and walks away.

  Why do I want to follow her?

  "Finally. She was annoying." The girl tucked under my arm finally speaks up. She turns herself and begins kissing my neck.

  "She's my friend," I tell her, surprising myself as the words leave my mouth. She backs up a bit.

  "She doesn't look at you like a friend," she smirks, "but you're mine tonight Grayson." She steps back in and resumes her assault on my neck. What does she look at me like then? Not that it matters. I block her out as I try to focus on whatever the hell T name I'm standing with.

  "My room?" I ask her as I notice Jenna staring at us from over in the corner her and Dax have been hanging out in for half the night. T girl nods her head and smiles big. Yeah, yeah score for you.

  I grab her hand and guide her to my room, pretending not to notice Jenna shaking her head at me.

  Chapter 7

  "You look like hell dude," I chuckle as Jenna stumbles out of her room.

  I've been sitting at the kitchen table for the past two hours, sipping coffee and trying to make sense of last night.

  I hadn't gotten far, even though I was now sober.

  Shockingly, I still wasn't too hurt about the whole deal with Aaron. Seeing Grayson with that girl had hurt more than I still wanted to admit, but being neighbors I would just have to get used to seeing him act on his player ways I guess.

  Through it all he had proved himself to be a good friend last night, sticking up for me and all. It was just a crush on the new guy in town. The super hot, really tall, tattoo covered, muscular, funny, protective, new guy in town.

  Yep just a crush, it'll go away soon.

  "Fuck you," Jenna finally replies, after filling up her own coffee mug and slowly making her way to sit across the table from me.

  "Have fun with Dax?" I ask her, wiggling my eyebrows at her. She sips her coffee and simultaneously rolls her eyes at me.

  "We were just hanging out, he's fun to talk to." She sets her cup down and lays her head down in her arms on the table.

  "Mhmm, sure." I have to tease her, even though I know I have no room to talk.

  "What are we going to do today?" she asks as she raises her head, clearly done with talking about her twin. Not that his brother was my twin. Just.

  Anyway.

  "We can just have a lazy day, you look like you need to recover." I know she isn't going to let that one fly, but it's worth a shot.

  "Hell no, we need to celebrate your new singleness!" she exclaims, and then flinches. "After I take some painkillers for this headache."

  "And maybe a shower," I wrinkle my nose at her, she glares, but then nods.

  "Ya, you're probably right. Go get ready, I won't be long."

  "Call me?" Tina, yes I finally figured out her name, looks up at me as I walk her to the door. Her hair is a mess on her head, last nights eye makeup smudged all around her face, clothes wrinkled, and high heel shoes in hand. Enjoy that walk of shame sweetheart.

  "Yeah, sure," I lie as I open the door for her and all but push her out. She quickly tries to turn around.

  "But you didn't get my num—" I shut the door before she can finish her sentence. Fuck, just go.

  "Asshole," I hear her mutter through the door as she starts walking away.

  "How was it?" Dax asks as he stumbles out of his room and down the hall.

  "Fan-fucking-tastic," I mumble, pushing past him and back into my room to tear my bed apart.

  "Well you obviously aren't feeling any better." Dax leans up against my doorframe as I rip the she
ets off the bed and bundle them up.

  Of course I'm not feeling any better. She wasn't what I wanted. I couldn't have what I wanted. I don't like when I can't have what I want. I glare at him as I walk by him and head for the laundry room.

  "Nope," is all I can manage as he waits for me to answer. I shove everything in the washer and slam the lid shut. Dax has given up trying to talk to me, and I can smell the coffee he has started to brew. Maybe that will help. After I shower—I smell like cheap perfume and bad decisions.

  Walking into the kitchen both smelling and feeling better, I actually crack a smile in Dax's direction.

  "There's my bro," he comments as he pours me a cup of coffee. "Your truck is at the dealership, they called while you were in the shower." He hands me my cup and my phone.

  "Coffee first," I sit and take a drink. "So, Jenna huh?" I smirk in D's direction.

  "Don't even," he defends himself so fast I start laughing.

  "Bro, she's hot, do your thing." He glares at me over the rim of his own cup.

  "Maybe I just want to try this whole 'friends' thing too."

  "What would Dad say?" I repeat his own argument as I raise an eyebrow at him, but he says nothing else.

  He finishes off his coffee and heads for his room. "I'll be ready in ten smart ass."

  "You ready?" Jenna pops her head into my room as I finish lacing up my Converse.

  "Yep," I answer, grabbing my keys off my dresser and following her to the door. We had decided to go grab lunch before deciding how we were going to 'celebrate my singleness' as Jenna put it.

  "Where to?" she asks, opening the door and heading into the hall.

  "I've been craving a sandwich from that one place, um, you know the one where they have the rainbow macarons?" I turn to Jenna, racking my brain and trying to remember the name of the restaurant I want to go to.