Chapter 72

Song - Treat You Better by Shawn Mendes.

Status - Chapter song not summary song.

EMILY POV:

"Surprise!!!"

I jump in fright at the sudden noise and crowd of people, I could briefly see my actual friends but the majority of the crowd here were familiar faces that Charlie had obviously invited. Everything suddenly makes sense, the outfits, Dale bringing me here, Charlie needing 'help' with her 'shoes.' But most of all, the reason why no one had messaged me 'happy birthday' today, everyone that I would have wanted to hear from was here.

Charlie steps out of the crowd excitedly, holding a cup of something that was obviously alcoholic. She passes it to me with a huge smirk on her face and I take it, still in shock.

Charlie looked amazing as usual, she wore a tight grey skirt with a black body suit, her hair was down in waves and her makeup was dark and immaculate. She wore ankle heeled boots to tie the outfit together.

"Happy Birthday Em, let's fucking party!!" Just like that, the quiet atmosphere turns fast tensed, music begins playing and everyone goes off in separate groups, most of them coming to say happy birthday to me.

After about 20 minutes of standing there awkwardly as people wished me a happy birthday, I was left alone with Charlie and Dale.

"So baby, are you surprised?" Dale grins.

"Yes!!! Thank you guys so much, I can't believe you pulled this off." I laugh, the sound of it barely heard over the loud sound of music.

"Sorry about all the people, I couldn't have a party without inviting half of the school but at least I didn't invite Tiffany," Charlie laughs.

I laugh with her, "this is perfect, thank you so much Charlie."

"Hey, I helped!!" Luke grins, coming into view and wrapping me in a hug, "Happy Birthday Emilia."

"Thank you Lukas," I smile, hugging him back.

"I didn't help but I wouldn't mind a hug," another familiar voice says from behind me. I turn around and nearly shreik in excitement when I see Miles.

"Hey Little E, happy birthday."

"I'm so happy you came Miles," I admit, hugging him excitedly.

"I wouldn't miss it," Miles grins, getting eye contact with Dale for a split second.

I smile at him warmly.

"Oi Dale, can you show me around, I haven't been here in years and I have a feeling my little bro and Charlie will be too busy," Miles smirks teasingly.

Charlie blushes a bright red and Luke rolls his eyes.

"Sure, you gonna be alright babe?" Dale asks me.

"Yeah," I smile, "I have a whole party full of people to talk to."

"Alright, call me if anything happens, I have my phone," Dale warns.

"Scouts honour," I promise jokingly.

Dale grins and Miles kisses me on the cheek before they're off, Dale had been here many times since we met him so it's no surprise at all that Miles had asked Dale to remind him of the place and show him around.

"There is someone here to see you, he didn't want to come at first but thankfully he changed his mind," Charlie smiles.

I look at her curiously, but instead she walks towards the living room. I see him before he sees me, his blonde hair was wavy, and his cargo jacket looked comfortable.

It was Justin.

He was sitting in a group holding a red cup and laughing, Mason was there along with Victoria and Noah. I smile at them all, hugging them. I had missed Vic, I had even missed Noah who was the cliche shy nerd.

"Hey Emmy, wanna go for a walk?" Justin offers, holding out his hand. I smile at him warmly, taking his hand and waving goodbye to my old friends, promising them I'd see them again later during the night.

"I'm so sorry Emmy, I hated how much of an asshole I was to you and how we left things, I didn't want to come because I was still hurt but I'm alright now, will you accept my apology?" Justin questions as we move to sit on the steps near the door, the party seemed to be everywhere now but this was the quietest place I could see so it was good enough for me.

"Of course!! I forgave you the second it happened," I smile. Justin looked as good as ever in his grey shirt, beige cargo jacket and blue jeans. I couldn't deny that Justin was exceedingly attractive but he just wasn't my type anymore. I guess my type was bad boys that would never feel the same way about me as I did them.

"I still don't think that he's good for you though," Justin whispers after a second.

It doesn't take a genius to figure out who Justin means by 'he' but I sigh anyways; "whatever he and I had is over."

"What?" Justin asks, suddenly looking very happy.

"He's back to being a player again," I admit.

"Oh?" Justin questions.

"I'm not sure if he's here tonight but if he is then you'll see what I mean," I explain, hating how sad my voice sounds.

Before Justin can reply, I hear the front door open and the whole party goes silent, obviously, this gives away exactly who had just walked in.

Aiden enters the main entrance, followed closely by Carter, Blake, and even Katherine. None of them had seen me yet and I can't help but wonder where Toby is.

I stand up on instinct, Justin stands beside me and that's when my light eyes meet the dark ones I had fallen in love with. I always thought it was cliche when people said that sometimes when 2 eyes meet, the whole world stops, but that's exactly how I felt.

Aiden stares at me, I stare at him, he continues staring at me, I move my gaze beside him to Katherine who watches us curiously, his eyes follow mine. When he sees who had interrupted our gazing, Aiden rolls his eyes and then he walks off, probably to hit on a girl.

I sigh quietly but by the way Justin tenses beside me, I knew he had heard.

I walk down the stairs to greet the newcomers, giving them all - including Katherine - a hug. They wish me happy birthday and I thank them.

"So, where's Toby?" Carter questions.

"I haven't seen him yet," I admit.

"Really? He's here with Amy, Liam, Cooper and Alex somewhere," Blake replies.

"Amy and that are here?" I question in surprise.

Carter looks at me in confusion, "Yeah, they're with James but Finn couldn't come."

"I didn't know that!!" I say excitedly, I was so excited to see James and Amy.

"Wait, who's James and that?" Katherine questions reminding me that she didn't know who they were.

"James is someone we met on a school camp but I think these guys knew Amy, Liam, Cooper and Alex before camp," Justin explains.

I go to elaborate about meeting them at the tracks but a sharp look from Blake stops me.

"Yeah we did," I stick to. Blake nods at me.

"Come on, we'll go find them," I grin, I desperately wanted to see James!!

"Alright Emmy, I'm gonna go back to the group but come and hang with us a bit later," Justin says with a small smile that doesn't reach his eyes.

"I will," I promise as he walks away.

I begin walking outside in search of James, Amy, and the rest of them, the others following me as we fall into a conversation. So many male heads turn to look at us and it doesn't take a genius to figure out they were ogling at the blonde beauty beside me who wore a black scrunch dress and silver heels. I didn't blame them.

I see Amy's bright red hair and grin, "over there," I say as we walk over to them.

As soon as they see me they crowd around, hugging me and wishing me a happy birthday but perhaps the most excited person is Toby, followed closely by James.

"I missed you Mills!!" Toby grins, spinning me around. I laugh as he puts me down, he greets the other boys but no one misses it when he ignores Katherine, I wondered why Toby decided to come with Amy instead of Aiden but then I remember their alpha battle and I have to refrain from rolling my eyes.

The guys and Katherine sit with them around the fire pit that had been lit for the party, Charlie went above and beyond for me and I was forever grateful, I also knew that this area outside with 3 different large fire pits would be where most of the night was held, majority of the crowd had already found their way out so it was only a matter of time before the 3 fire pits were all crowded around.

"Happy Birthday Em," James grins, pulling me into another hug.

"Thank you," I grin back as he releases me.

"Shall we go for a walk, I'm dying to hear all the gossip," James grins at me.

"Sure," I laugh, I ignore the pounding of my heart at knowing I would have to tell James about everything that had happened but he definitely had a right to know.

We walk to one of the less crowded fire pits and sit far enough away that the warmth still reaches us but we're out of anyone earshot before leaning against the wall of the shed.

"Before we get in to everything, you have to tell me, who the fuck is Katherine and is she single?" James begs.

I smile at him sadly, "well here's the thing..."

I don't know how long I had been talking to James for but somewhere in between, I had finished my drink.

"Wow Em, that fucking sucks, I didn't know Katherine was Aiden's ex or that they still sort of had a thing," James says as I finally finish my story.

"I know, it does suck, I still love him and that sucks even more," I reply sadly.

"Of course you do, a love like that doesn't just disappear you know, but if I'm being honest Em, I don't think it's as over as you think it is," James responds.

I look at him curiously, "what do you mean?"

"I know that Aiden was an asshole and you saw him with Katherine the night after the trip but I'm sure as hell that he was just as into you and you were him, I know he's being an asshole again but I just think that what you guys had wouldn't end so quickly. A love like that is worth fighting for." James attempts to explain.

Tears threaten to spill from my eyes but I know that in doing so, my makeup would be ruined and that was the last thing I wanted so instead I smile at him and pull him into a tight hug.

James reacts immediately and I knew how much he rooted for us. He lets me go and we begin walking back to the group but I see something from the corner of my eye that makes me want to go back and actually cry.

Aiden was sitting in front of the fire in a group of footballers with a stunning brunette on his lap while he made out with her like his life depended on it. I notice Katherine also staring with an unfamiliar emotion swirling in her eyes, it didn't seem like jealously to me, and the fact somehow breaks my heart even more, I guess in a sense he had played both of us.

"Let's go somewhere else," James says as soon as he sees what I had, he grabs my hand and tugs me away. We end up back inside so I smile at James, "go back to Amy and that and tell them I'll come out later, there are a few people in here I have to say hi to and then I might stay with Justin and that for a while.

James nods after looking me over for any signs of betrayal. I thank him for our talk and bringing me in here before I focus my attention back on Jordan who was sitting near the keg with Lindsay. I grin at him and walk over to them.

"Hey sexy," Jordan grins.

"Hey Em," Lindsay smiles.

"Hey," I grin back, I grab another drink and sit down with them.

"You look so amazing girl," Lindsay compliments.

"She's right!!" Jordan agrees.

We fall into conversation and soon enough, my cup is once again empty. I don't feel much yet so I grab another drink before leaving Lindsay and Jordan and walking over to Justin and my old friends.

"Hey!!" Vic grins, "cool party!!"

"Thank you, it was all Charlie," I grin.

"Luke is super hot now," Vic grins. I see Noah look at her from the corner of his eyes and Vic grins at him; "but not as hot as my sexy ass boyfriend."

Noah turns a bright red and I can't help but laugh at his adorableness.

My old friends fall into another conversation and I grab my phone from my bag to see the time. I laugh at something Vic said before turning it on but I feel like I'm about to throw up when I see a message from my father.

From dad;

Hi Emily. Happy Birthday. I am sick of you ignoring me, I have given you all the space you need and it's time you grow up and talk to me, you're 18 now and you're stepmother and stepsiblings would love to see you. Enough with the childish antics, it's time you act your age.

I freeze, I had to be seeing things, there is no way my father just messaged me that. I'm delusional, he's an ass but he's not so much of an ass that he would actually send a message like this.

Taking a deep breath, I close my eyes and then open them again before turning my phone back on and my eyes water on their own accord before I can control myself.

"Emmy?" Justin asks, concern lacing his every word. He puts his hand on my arm and I stand up quickly and begin walking somewhere that I could be alone so I could let my emotions out. Unsurprisingly, Justin stands up and follows me. I allow him to accompany me, maybe having company would be good in this situation. As I walk up the stairs to my room here, I down the contents in the red cup that was still pretty full.

Justin continues to follow me as I see the spare room that used to be Maddi's, having a rich auntie could be useful sometimes. I open the door quickly, just wanting to be alone but I'm frozen again when I see Aiden lying on top of the brunette girl I had seen him with earlier, she had no shirt on, and neither did Aiden.

Aiden looks up at me, when he sees my expression something unfamiliar forms in his eyes but I don't give myself any time to focus on it. I quickly shut the door, tears actually falling from my eyes and all but run to my room, Justin right behind me.

As soon as we get in the room, I close the door and lean against it.

"Em, what's happening?" Justin asks gently.

Instead of replying, I take the red cup from his hand and down the remainder of its contents, which once again, was pretty full.

Justin POV:

🎶🎵🎶

She looked as stunning as always, the blonde girl she was with was definitely attractive but in my opinion, she had nothing on Em. Everything about Em was perfect, she was the perfect girl and I hated that she left me and took my whole heart with her.

When I found out about Aiden on the island I felt as though my heart had genuinely been ripped in 2. She was everything to me.

She told me earlier that her and Aiden weren't anything and I don't think I had ever felt as happy as I did in that moment, but then I saw the way they looked at each other, the way she looked at him when he was with that blonde girl.

I had let her go with the guys, wanting nothing more than keeping her for myself but I couldn't do that to her, not when I knew that she wanted to see James so badly, I even managed to not follow them out which was an improvement to me.

She was just grabbing another drink before she makes her way over to us, I pretend that I hadn't been staring at her the whole time she had been inside and quickly engage myself in the conversation.

"Hey," Vic grins, "Cool party."

"Thank you, it was all Charlie," she grins and my heart beats rapidly at her smile. I missed that smile more than anything and I hated that I was no longer the reason for it.

"Luke is super hot now," Vic grins,"but not as hot as my sexy ass boyfriend."

Em laughs at the comment and I fall even harder for her, how could someone be so perfect?

Everyone begins talking again, but I was focused on Em's body sitting right beside mine. It felt right.

She checks her phone and I instantly feel her tense and see her pale, I look at her, I hoped she was okay.

I'm about to ask her about it when I notice her turn off her phone, close her eyes, and take a deep breath. She opens her eyes again but this time her eyes water and I can't pretend I don't notice anything any longer.

Emmy?" I question in concern. I put my hand on her arm but she stands up abruptly, I don't think she notices when the group goes silent and watches her in curiosity. She begins walking somewhere, swaying a little and I don't know if it's because the alcohol had begun kicking in or she was just in shock from something.

I follow her up the stairs, wanting her to be okay, she downs her drink quickly before she heads in a direction, she seems to change direction half way through because she opens a door quickly, she probably wanted to go inside. She seems to freeze even more with what she sees and she quickly closes the door again, I get a quick glimpse of what was happening in the room as she shuts the door, Aiden was making out with a girl.

Tears actually begin to fall from her eyes as she moves quickly to a door a few up, she opens it again and steps inside, I follow her quickly. She leans against the door with her eyes closed but I still see tears falling down her face.

I wanted nothing more than to take all her pain away, but for some reason I couldn't forget that one of the reasons she was obviously upset was because of Aiden, I thought she was done with him?

"Em, what's happening?" I ask gently, wanting her to tell me that not everything was about Aiden. Instead of replying, she grabs the red cup from my hand and downs it as well.

"My father is texting me," she whispers, the tears falling faster.

I stare at her in shock, the one that abandoned her after Maddi? She didn't deserve this, she didn't deserve anything bad to happen to her in her life.

Em moves silently to the bed, I sit down beside her.

"Em, you're the most beautiful girl I've ever known and you're everything to me, you are so much more than your father, you don't owe him anything at all," I admit, staring at her to try to show her that I meant everything I was saying.

She stares at me, sadness so evident in the eyes I had fallen for 100 times and would fall for a 100 more, "obviously not Justin, we weren't good enough for him, he left us when Maddi was dying and never looked back. Maybe I deserve it, maybe I deserve everything he says to me."

Tears fall from her eyes and my heart shatters, if I thought it hurt when I found out that her and Aiden were a thing, it was nothing compared to how I felt now.

"Look at me Emmy," I demand, grabbing her face with my hands and wiping away her tears, "you are the most beautiful girl I have ever laid my eyes on, you're heart is so pure and you're intentions are nothing but good, I have never met anyone as amazing, strong, pure and so much more as you are. You don't deserve this, you deserve so much more, more than your father and definitely more than Aiden." I find myself saying.

Em looks down, her face still in my hands but I had meant everything I had said.

I would do anything for this girl and that's  exactly what she deserved, I was better for her than Aiden was, I knew her better, I was the better man. I can treat her better than he could.

I would actually be there for all these times, I would never leave her side and when she cried, I would hold her for as long as she would let me. I was so in love with her, I had been since the moment I first saw her when she started at my school looking as broken as she did right now but I fixed her broken pieces. I would do it again in a heartbeat. I would do everything all over again if it meant she would be okay. If she liked it here then I would move here for her, or if she would prefer to do long-distance then I would do that for her, I would do anything for her.

I would support her next year at university, I would do anything in my power to lessen her pain. If she lost a piece of herself then I would give her a piece from me to fix her. I would never let her feel this way because I was so fucking in love with her and she deserved nothing but the best.

I might not be the best but I would know that. I would never take her for granted and I would cherish her every moment, even though she deserved better than me, I was at least better than Aiden.

Somehow in the middle of my thoughts, I had found myself leaning in towards her. She stayed completely still, knowing what I was doing. She hadn't moved away yet so that was a good sign.

My lips finally reach hers after what seems like an eternity and my heart explodes when she still doesn't move away, it takes her a couple of seconds to respond but when she does, she moves closer to me. I can taste the salt from her tears but for some reason, it's sweet. My heart continues to shatter for the beautiful, stunning, sweet goddess as I feel her pain through the soft and gentle kiss.

I don't know how it happens but I'm suddenly hovering on top of her, kissing her to show her how much I would cherish her, love her.

She responds, her soft lips so gentle. The kiss was soft and light but my stomach was a fucking party.

She tugs at my shirt gently and I instantly slide my jacket off followed by my shirt. We take a second to breathe and Em uses this time to undo the straps on her back.

I kiss down the tear-stained lines on her face where the makeup had faded. She was beautiful, stunning, everything I could have ever wanted.

I knew very well that this wasn't the first time that Emily and I had slept together but that didn't change the longing and need I felt for her.

I loved this girl more than anything, I would do anything for her.

_____________

PLEASE DON'T YELL AT ME!!!!!!!!!

I'M SO SO SO SO SO FUCKING SORRY!!!!

Please don't hate me!!!!!

And before you ask, no, this isn't a dream, just a vital part of my story that needs to happen, I've had this scene planned since before I even wrote my story when I was planning it.

The next chapter will be this scene in Em's POV so hopefully after reading that you hate me less.

I cannot tell you how sorry I am for this chapter but it only gets worse.

I love you all, even if you hate me.

Maybe for this chapter, I should say that vote if you hate me now, that'll probably get me a fair few votes...

At least it was a super long chapter though right?

I'm so sorry guys.

- Jade xx