Anywhere With You (4 page)

Hailey’s eyes sparkle, “EEEK! I am so excited! Let’s work on tonight’s wardrobe first so that we know we’re covered and then go from there.”

I laugh at her excitement. “Let’s do this thing,” I say looping my arm through hers as we make our way to the Gap. This is where I found the perfect blue jean skirt for tonight. I also purchase jeans, tank tops, sweaters, and shorts.

We spend the entire day at the mall, making multiple trips to my car to unload our loot. We go to Victoria’s Secret and spend way too much money on sexy underwear and bras that I never would have thought that I’d be wearing. Hailey assures me that these items are essential even if no one ever sees them. “They help make you feel sexy,” she tells me. I am still unsure but I trust her judgment, besides this is all new to me. What do I know, all my underwear came from Wal-Mart. I also purchase all new make-up, get my hair cut so does Hailey, and we both get a manicure and a pedicure. I feel like I have been overhauled but I’m excited, I cannot remember the last time I had this much fun.

It takes us three trips to carry everything up to our dorm room.
Yes, we went overboard
. We dump all of our purchases out on our beds. I ended up with four pairs of jeans fifteen shirts/tanks, four sweaters, two pair of shorts, a skirt, a pair of ballet flats, two pairs of flip flops, a pair of puma tennis shoes, and a pair of cowboy boots. Hailey had insisted that we needed them to complete our outfits for tonight. Add in the sexy new bras, panties, the haircut and the mani/pedi, and I am a new woman. Hailey bought almost as much as I did, as I said before, the girl loved her clothes.

“Okay, so I know that you originally bought the skirt for tonight, but seeing all this laid out I am also really liking the white shorts,” Hailey says as we put our purchases away.

I shrug, “I’m new to all of this. I’m so out of my element. You pick out what you think is best and that’s what I’ll wear. I trust you.” I find myself meaning what I say. Over the summer I had talked to Hailey a lot on the phone and via the web and I know that she’s a good person, she wouldn’t steer me wrong.

This makes Hailey very happy. Clapping she says, “Yeah, okay, so I say you wear the white shorts, the purple and white tanks layered and the black cowboy boots.” You can hear the excitement in her voice.

“Are you sure, those shorts are really short.” Hailey had talked me into getting them. She said they would drive the guys crazy showing so much leg. I caved and bought them. I know that I’m decent looking. I had several offers in school, just no desire. I had Gran to think of and my grades, I wanted to make my parents proud. It was time to start living for me, and figuring out who I am.

“Yes, trust me. Now hit the shower, we only have two hours and we both have to shower and do our makeup.” We both had our hair cut and styled so that was done. Mine was cut into long layers. She styled it by braiding my side bangs down the side of my head and pulling all of it in a low side ponytail. It actually looks really good. My thick curls hang down over the front of my shoulder which exposes the braid on the opposite side. I express my worry that it makes me look too young; I still liked it but I wasn’t sure it was fit for a club setting. Hailey assures me, that with my outfit it’s sexy.
I guess we’ll see.

After we both shower and get dressed, Hailey sets me down on the toilet seat so that she can work her magic on my makeup. “I’m telling you right now, you are going to have every male at The Warehouse tonight falling at your feet. You look hot,” she states as she hands me a mirror to view her masterpiece.

I reluctantly take the mirror from her and I’m struck speechless. Hailey didn’t go overboard she went with subtle light purple eye shadow, mascara and a light pink lip gloss.
Holy shit!
I stand up from where I’m sitting and wrap her in a hug. “Thank you,” I manage to utter.

“Hey, none of that or you’ll smear my masterpiece. You’re beautiful, Allie.”

I pull back from her. “I feel beautiful,” I whisper

“It’s the undies,” she winks at me. “You are beautiful! This is a bonus for me because I can assure you that I will not be buying any drinks tonight with you by my side. Now come on or we’re going to be late. I need to go meet my male counterpart, so hop to it missy,” she scolds me.

We arrive at The Warehouse right at eight o’clock. Ace sent me a text telling me that he and his roommate, Mac, were already there. They had gotten us a booth near the back. Hailey and I make our way towards the back while Florida Georgia Line sings about getting their shine on. Hailey and I are already swaying to the music as we walk.

“Hey, there’s my brother. Let’s stop and say hi. Do you see Ace anywhere?” Hailey asks me.

I look up and stop dead in my tracks. Liam is sitting in a booth looking good enough to eat and beside him … is Ace.
What the hell?
They are deep in conversation so they don’t see us until we step up beside them.

Ace, who is sitting on the outside of the booth sees me and immediately. He stands up and wraps his arms around me giving me a big hug. “You look amazing,” he whispers to me. As he pulls away I can see the questions in Hailey’s eyes.

“You know Dash?” she questions me.

“Dash? This is Ace, um well, Aiden, my best friend I was telling you about,” I tell her. Aiden releases his hold on me and sits back down beside what appears to be an angry Liam. Hailey motions for me to scoot into the booth so I do. This left me sitting directly in front of Liam and Hales in front of Aiden.

“So let me get this straight, Aiden here also know to us as Dash, is your Ace?” Hailey is trying to untangle the connection.

Aiden laughs.

“Yes, Ace is the name that I call him. It’s his initials Aiden Cole Emerson. I’ve called him that since I first met him,” I explain. “To me he is Ace, sometimes Aiden, and to you well he is obviously Dash.”

My thoughts drift to the day that I first met Aiden:

Sitting on Granny Hagan’s back porch swing, I scrunch my eyes trying to keep my tears at from falling. Today was the day that I had to say my final goodbye to mommy and daddy. I’ve been trying to be really strong and show that I can handle it, I don’t like for Gran to see me cry. It makes her sad.

Some lady I have never met steps up on the porch. This has happened a lot the last two days. I have met and hugged a lot of strangers. Gran says they worked with my parents.

“You dear child, come give me a hug.” She says as she leans down and embraces me. I can feel the burn in my eyes. No matter how hard I squint I know that my tears are going to come.

She turns and heads for the door mumbling about how I still haven’t spoken to anyone. I don’t really have anything to say. I’m sad, my parents are gone. I wait until she’s in the door, before I bolt of the swing and run to my favorite spot, the large oak tree. I reach the tree and slide down the side, bury my face in my knees, and let my tears fall. My only hope is that Granny doesn’t find me before I can get myself together.

I’m not sure how much time has passed when I hear footsteps in the leaves. I raise my head and see the dark haired boy who was at the funeral. He sits down beside me.

“Hey. My name’s Aiden,” he says to me. “I live next door, we’re going to be neighbors.” he’s trying to make conversation. I don’t want to talk. “What’s your name?”

I keep my face buried in my knees and don’t respond to him. The next thing I know he’s singing. “Aiden, Aiden ,bo-baiden, Banana-fanna-fo-faden, Fee-fi-mo-maiden, Aiden!”

I can’t help the giggle that escapes, he’s funny. He is also the first person who has not mentioned my parents, or how I am the poor orphan girl. I slightly raise my head to look at him.

“What’s your name?” he asks again.

“Allison Shay Hagan,” I tell him and he nods as he starts to sing.

“Allison, Allison, bo-ballison, Banana-fanna-fo-fallison, Fee-fi-mo-mallison, Allison!” he sings.

I lift my head and gift him with a smile, but I still don’t speak. This doesn’t seem to bother Aiden, he just keeps on talking.

“Allison Shay Hagan, hey your initials spell Ash. I think that will be my new nickname for you.” He bumps my shoulder. “What do you think, Ash?”

“My daddy used to call me Princess,” I tell him softly. These are the first words that I have spoken since Gran told me about the accident.

“Well, I like Ash, so that’s what I’ll call you from now on,” he states.

“What’s your name, your initials, I mean,” I ask him.

He smiles at me. “Aiden Cole Emerson, Ace.”

“Can I call you Ace?”

He’s already shaking his head yes. “Yeah, it will be our thing. You’ll be my Ash and I’ll be your Ace.”

Hailey’s loud laugh brings me back to the conversation, “Wow, what a small world. I guess you never put two and two together did ya there big guy,” Hailey says to Aiden.

“Not in the slightest,” Aiden replies laughing. “Ash, also her initials Allison Shay Hagan, this is my roommate Mac, also known as Liam MacCoy, Hailey’s older brother.” Aiden suddenly whips his head towards Liam and gives him a curious look, Liam just shakes his head yes. They must have some kind of super-secret guy language going on.

I am mortified, not only does Aiden know Liam, but he is his roommate and best friend, other than me of course. I told Aiden last night I thought Hailey’s older brother was hot.
Damn.
He’s never gonna to let me live this down.

Aiden and I arrive at The Warehouse about fifteen minutes to eight. We grab a booth near the back. Aiden sends Ash a text letting her know where to find us. We chose to sit on the same side of the booth allowing the girls to sit together to avoid anyone feeling awkward. As we are talking, I look up and spot my sister. Beside her stands Allison and I just about swallow my fucking tongue. If I thought she was beautiful yesterday, today my brain cannot seem to find the right word to describe her. She is wearing short white shorts showing off her amazing legs, a purple and white tank top and her hair is pulled to the side exposing one side of her neck.
All that skin
. My eyes travel back down to her legs and that’s when I notice the black cowboy boots,
fuck me that’s hot!
I am so engrossed in Allison that I don’t even realize that she and Hales have stopped at our table. I am brought out of my trance when Aiden stands up and wraps his arms around her.
What the fuck!
Why is he hugging her? I have never in my life been so happy to hear my little sister’s voice as she questions them.

I sit quietly listening to their explanation. Apparently, my Allison is also Aiden’s Ash.
Well fuck me!
My thoughts immediately go to my conversation last night with Aiden at the same time his must have as well. He turns to look at me as if to tell me that if I hurt her, I am a dead man. I simply nod my head. I understand. He also needs to understand that even with the recent turn of events, my attraction to her hasn’t wavered.
I am so screwed.
So much for using tonight to work her out my system, fuck!

“Well now that we have that all sorted out, let’s get us some drinks.” Hailey smiles sweetly at me. She is only eighteen so I will have to buy them for her. She has been to a couple of our parties and I let her drink but she had to stay there with me. Before I can respond to Hailey, Aiden is talking to Allison.

“Ash have you eaten anything?” he asks concerned

“Yes, Hailey and I went to deli on campus on our way here,” Allison tells him.

I am a little slow on the uptake. “Wait, Allison have you ever drank before?” I ask her concern lacing my voice.

Her face blushes and I think even that is sexy on her. “No,” she whispers quietly.

Her soft sultry voice is going to put me over the edge. I look at Hales, “Maybe you guys should take it easy tonight.” What I really want to say is that I don’t want either of them drinking tonight at all. Not in a bar full of horny drunk college guys looking like they do. I would hate to have to throw any punches; coach would be on my ass. I have to look after Hales, she’s my baby sister. Now I also feel this protective pull towards Allison. These feelings are pissing me off and I can feel my anger increasing at just the thought of someone touching either one of them.

“Ash, maybe Liam is right you should take it slow tonight, considering the crowd.” He peers around the room obviously thinking the same thing I am.

“Fine,” she grumbles. “But what happened to living the full college experience?”

Aiden chuckles, “I promise we’ll have you living the full college experience, you won’t get short changed. Let’s just take it slow for tonight alright?” he smirks at her.

“Okay, okay, start her off on something mild like a weak daiquiri, I on the other hand big brother would like a shot of tequila to start of my night,” Hailey winks at me.

Aiden and I go to the bar and order drinks for the girls. Aiden gets a Corona for himself and I pass just ordering Mt. Dew. “What’s up?” he asks me.

I place my hands on the back of my neck and just look at him and shake my head before blurting it out. “One of us needs to stay sober to keep an eye on them.” I know I am over reacting but I can’t get the image of some douchebag all over them out of my head .