The party

“I wish it could be so that God would grant my plea… In your place, love, death would take me.”

"Sometimes I don't understand this guy!" Spitting in frustration under my breath, I saw one more taxi passing my side.

Standing in the middle of the road, I waited for a damn taxi. But thanks much to my luck, it won't stop even if it was empty.

Absent-mindedly, my hands wrapped around me as the cool wind whizzed past me, sending a shiver through my body. I didn't have any clue that it was going to be this chilly tonight. If I knew, I would have carried an overcoat with me.

Since I was going to the party- for which Aiden said a clear no! But did I listen to him?

No! Of course not, I would not agree to whatever he said, unless he explained the reason.

Wearing a simple light green dress, with white flowers on it, I knew the dress was a bit favorable to wear on sunny days, but as Isaac said I look pretty, I wore it, how could I deny my boy?

Chuckling at the face he pulled at that time when I said it wouldn't be good for tonight's party… While I was deep in my thoughts, suddenly a car came at full speed and stopped right in front of me.

Gasping, I stepped back with a hand on my chest, "Aiden? Want me to die, huh?!"

He rolled his eyes, saying, "Get in."

Squinting my eyes at him, I huffed and walked towards the passenger seat, and buckled myself up. The warmth in the car started relaxing my tensed muscles under its heat. Aiden on the other hand did not utter a single drive and started driving.

"Izzy was asking about you," I started to catch his attention as he never ignored any topic related to Isabella, she was his princess.

But tonight, he did not answer even if I talked about Isabella, sighing, "I thought you were not going to come." I said, looking outside the window.

"I know you, Rose, even if I said no, you'll still go. And I already talked to Bella." He spoke.

A small smile formed on my lips; see I told you he could never ignore her. But later his words registered in my mind as I turned, narrowing my eyes at him, "So you're implying, I don't listen to you?" I asked.

"Of course, you do, Rose." He answered, glancing at me. Turning his eyes on the road he mumbled under his breath, "Sometimes."

This did not go unnoticed by me as my eyes widened, after giving a hit on his arm, "You're mean Aiden Wellesley." I huffed.

Beside me, Aiden started chuckling, "I know how stubborn you are, Rose. And how can I leave my partner on a deserted road to fetch a cab in this chilly weather." He joked as I smiled and shook my head at him.

"Anyways, I would have listened to you, but I promised Alexander... he's a little kid, I can't break my promise, Addy," I said, tugging on my pendant with my right hand.

Sighing, Aiden took my left hand in his, his eyes still on the road, "I understand, Rose. Just... don't pressurize yourself. Will you do that for me?" He asked, looking at me sincerely.

Smiling, I nodded, "Yes. "

Lacing his fingers with mine, he drove towards the destination as the rest of the ride went pretty much silent.

Soon we reached an apartment building. A frown took over my head as I thought the party was going to be at their beach house.

Shaking the unwanted thoughts, I got out of the car after Aiden parked the car in the parking lot reserved for guests, outside the building.

Well, everything about this building screamed 'extravagant', the walls were painted white, and every balcony had an antique railing, giving it a 90's look.

When Aiden came by my side, he took my hand in his which he did all the time, and I didn't mind either. Walking inside the building, I registered that the inside was much more polished. Shining tiles beneath us, yellow LEDs giving a warm look to the lobby.

The moment we entered the elevator, my nervousness grew as I didn't know on which floor the party was organized.

"Relax, I'm here." Whispered Aiden into my ear as he knew about my fear of heights.

The ding sound echoed through the corridor followed by the parting of the golden doors. Looking at the number, I registered the floor number as five.

Soon we entered into another elevator that could accommodate more than twenty people. I saw Aiden pressing the button of the penthouse. Before the door could close, I saw two more elevators opposite to us, the difference was they were silver in color.

"Are we in a private elevator?" I asked, absent-mindedly.

"Hmm..." Aiden answered, who was busy looking at his phone. I stared at him until he looked up from his phone and kept it back in his pocket, "Yes, the building is owned by Mason Anderson, organizer of this party." He elaborated.

My lips formed a 'o' shape to the new piece of information, I leaned a bit to Aiden's side after a few moments, the gradual increase in height was making me nauseous.

"Who did you ask to babysit kids?" He asked.

"Linda of course. They have school tomorrow, so I asked her to sleep with them tonight." I replied.

Even though I was talking to Aiden, I felt someone's gaze on my back. Before I could turn my head and look back, we reached the penthouse as Aiden tightened his grip on my head seeing the goosebumps on my hands.

Stepping out of the elevator to a huge area decorated in the theme of white and red.

There weren't a large number of guests invited, it looked like a family gathering. Some people were laughing and sipping on their wine, while some were busy in discussion.

"Rose!" A loud feminine voice made me turn my head to the opposite side and I saw a brunette walking towards me with the widest grin I had ever seen on anyone's face.

Approaching me she took me in a bear hug, "Ah-um… Hello?" I greeted awkwardly, which somewhat came out like a question.

Squeezing me for another few seconds before releasing me, "I'm Katherine, you can call me Kat." She said, and I saw a hint of a sad smile on her face.

Why was she sad?

Smiling at her, "Hello, I'm Rose, you already know that" mumbling the latter to myself, turning towards Aiden, "This is Aiden." I said, looking at Aiden who was glaring at something behind me with a hard look.

Turning around, I followed his line of sight and came in contact with the familiar forest greens. He walked towards us with a smile, "Thank you for coming." Xavier said, looking at me and then at Aiden.

"Well, Mr. Williams did call us earlier, we had to come. And how can I break my promise to Xander." I added.

Soon Marcus arrived with Carolina, and I chatted with them before Alexander came running towards me, "Rose!"

Colliding with my lower body, a chuckle left my lips as I kneeled down in front of him, pulling a hard face, "Xander, I told you not to run. What if you fall and get hurt?" I asked.

He tilted his head to a side, "You'll be there to pick me." Alexander answered, in his innocent voice.

Did a ten-year-old just say something this deep?

I went speechless for a few moments and kept looking at him, how do I answer this? Will I always be with him?

"I…" my voice trailed as I pulled him into a hug to which he circled his hands around my neck, "Yes, I'll be there," I said, rubbing his back.

Pulling away, he kissed my cheek, as I said holding his hands, "But, you'll not run like this, okay?"

Nodding happily, he said, "Okay."

With that, I ruffled his hair and stood up at my place, and Alexander went towards Xavier.

Before Aiden could say something to me, he got interrupted by a call as he excused himself and went to attend the call. While I looked at father-son's bonding, Katherine pulled me towards an empty table, "How are you?" She asked.

Although a smile lingered on my lips, a frown accompanied it, "I'm good, why do you ask?" I asked.

"It's been years and-" Katherine stopped midway as she realized something.

"Years?" I pressed; my smile disappeared as a look of confusion took control.

When Katherine started to stammer my confusion deepened, "Hey, I'm Mason Anderson, Katherine's husband." A man came beside Katherine and extended his hand.

Though he sounded tough and confident, his hazel eyes held millions of emotions and…. unshed tears. There was a fake smile on his face, covering his sad and relieved one.

Mason… his name sounded a bit familiar. Actually, no! They both looked a bit familiar… like I met them before.

Did I?

"Rose," called Mason, cutting the train of my thoughts.

Looking at his extended hand, I took it as he held my hand gently, although his hands were as cold as ice but sent warmth into my being, just like Marcus. Smiling at him, "Nice meeting you Mason." I answered.

"I'm Aiden Wellesley," said Aiden walking by my side and shaking hands with Mason.

"Thank you for coming tonight," Mason said further.

"Thank you for inviting us." Replied Aiden, shoving his hand back in his pocket.

Even though I wanted to ask Katherine about what she meant by 'years', I restrained myself as I didn't know the consequences of this mere question.

Did she know me before my accident?

"I'm hungry!" Katherine said, suddenly.

"You just ate, Kat," Mason said, rolling his eyes.

Katherine gasped dramatically and looked at her husband, "What do you mean Mister? Do you mean I eat a lot?" She asked angrily.

Why did they start fighting? I thought.

Mason parted his lips to answer, but before that, "You know what just don't answer that!" Katherine yelled and stomped away.

"What happened?" I asked in concern.

"Hormones of a pregnant woman," Mason said, with a shake of the head.

Oh! Now I get it.

Aiden and I couldn't help but chuckle slightly. Soon Katherine came back with a plate of white sauce pasta. "Mm... it's yum." She moaned, looking at her husband with a grin.

"Really!" Mason said sarcastically which went unnoticed by Katherine, luckily.

At this point, Aiden burst out laughing.

"No one can understand my pain," Mason said jokingly as I pursed my lips tightly from laughing out loud.

"Trust me Man, I do-" Aiden said, when he looked at me rolling my eyes, he laughed out loud. When his laughter subsided, "Do you see this woman here-" pointing at me, he started, "She made me run for ice cream at four in the morning." He said as I hit his arm.

"You ate it when I strictly said no." I defended myself.

"Yeah, but at 4 AM?" He asked with a look of disbelief.

"You should have said no then," I answered and looked away.

"Really, then you would sit on the couch with an empty bin and cry your eyes out. Trust me, running on the streets is better than that." He said, making me hit his arm, again.

When we noticed the silence between us, I glanced at Mason and Katherine who had shock on their faces, "Is everything alright?" I asked.

"A kid?" She asked with wide eyes.

My face lit up as I said, "Kids actually, Isaac and Isabella."

Katherine gasped as Mason wrapped his hand around her shoulders, "Is something wrong?" I asked.

That seemed to snap them out of their thoughts, "No.." Mason answered with a smile.

"Enjoy the party." He added and walked away with his wife.

Strange.

I looked at Aiden who himself had a confused expression, "What was that?"

"Mood swings," Aiden answered, looking at their trail.

Giving him a hit on his shoulder, "Ow- Rose." He exclaimed, rubbing his shoulder.

"Don't make fun of me in public, idiot," I spoke.

Before he could say something, his phone started ringing again, "Who's calling you Addy?" I asked.

Looking at his phone, "Mom," he mumbled and excused himself as I nodded.

Mr. and Mrs. Wellesley were in town and Aiden was already tensed about how Mr. Wellesley would react to his work.

I hope everything is fine.

The ding of the elevator grabbed my attention, two boys or I would say men exited the elevator. One looked a lot like Katherine, and I presume he was related to her. As another had a dark aura around him, his hair was messed up and the sleeves of his shirt were folded until his elbows.

He looked really out of place and had glasses on his eyes. But one thing that made me frown was his aura that screamed, 'Don't mess with me!'

"If he didn't want to be here, why was he here?" I mumbled under my breath and turned to find Aiden.

As I was busy looking for my best friend, someone tapped on my shoulder to which I turned around and saw Xavier with the arrogant man who now pulled off his glasses and was busy looking at his surroundings with a bored expression.

"Rose, this is Ethan. Ethan, this is Marcus' wedding planner, Rose." Xavier introduced us with a smug smile.

The arrogant man turned his head with the same bored expression, but when his blue eyes met mine, his expression changed, and something stirred inside me…Something related to hate.

Why do I hate him at first sight?