FTB

"I don't know if I can do it." Candice sighed as she walked into the room and dropped onto the bed.

Holiday made a face. "You're gonna do it and be fine. Shut up."

Since the break up, Candice had been staying at Holiday's. Holiday listened to Candice talk day in and day out about Aaron. She was okay with it though, because that's what friends were for. Tonight was Danielle's birthday party. A party that Aaron would be at. Candice growled.

Audrey sat on Danielle's floor, curling the last piece of her hair. Danielle was pacing around the room, making sure she had everything needed for what she planned to wear. Her outfit wasn't going to be a huge deal, she was just a perfectionist. Once she laid out her bra and underwear and socks, she went into the giant room she had that she called her "closet". She was searching for the perfect outfit, even though she knew what she wanted to wear.

"So who will be here tonight?" Audrey hummed, shaking out her curls.

Dani sighed, coming out of the closet with some clothing. "Uh, you, Sam, Holiday, Andre, Kay, Kylee, Eric, Jake, Aaron, Candice, J,"

"Aaron's coming?" Audrey frowned.

"He's still our friend, Aud!" Danielle cried.

"I know, I just don't know if Candice is gonna be okay." Audrey explained as she started her make up.

Danielle pouted as the garage door buzzed. "Well, she's here with Hol so I guess she's okay." She sang as she hopped down the stairs.

She opened the garage door that connected to her house and waved as the two pulled in. They waved back. She walked back up the stairs.

"I'm gonna pass out." Candice sang as Holiday parked in Danielle's garage.

Holiday rolled her eyes. "Danielle's house is big enough to avoid him. Relax." She comforted her friend.

"I'm not, like, nervous to see him, I just haven't gone to a party single in three years." Candice explained as they walked through the garage and into Dani's house. "Like what do I do if a guy flirts with me?"

"Flirt back." Danielle said, walking down the stairs. "Stop worrying so much about tonight."

"Yeah, just have fun." Holiday rolled her eyes.

"When's everyone coming?" Candice changed the subject.

"No idea. Audrey's upstairs right now. I'm gonna go finish getting ready, are you guys coming up?" Dani asked as she walked over to the stairs.

"Nah, we'll just stay down here." Candice waves her off.

As it got later, the house started to become more and more packed. Majority of the team had arrived, and either brought friends or girls with them. Audrey grimaced at some of the girls that were here. Trashy. Trashy girls that were only at the party for one reason. To get some ass. She was pulled away from her judgmental thoughts by lips pressing to hers. She tensed, then relaxed when she recognized them as her boyfriend's.

She wrapped her arms around his neck. "You took forever to get here." She whined.

"I had to pick a couple people up." He mumbled against her head. "Like who?" She leaned back, questioning him.

He frowned. "We literally had to drag Aaron out of his house. He's been a mess since Candice left." He sighed.

"She hasn't been much better." She confessed as she wrapped her arms around his waist.

Elsewhere, Candice was living it up with some of the new guys on the team. They were flirting, and she was letting them. She did just as much flirting in return. Aaron was watching from across the room. His height was a major advantage right now. The inch he had above most people was helping him keep his sight on her. Yeah, they broke up, but he still didn't want anyone else to have her.

Aaron had done well with keeping his distance until he saw Haydn's hand touch her thigh. He finished his beer, crushed the can under his hand, and stomped over. He bumped into everyone as he pushed through. Haydn and Candice both looked up at him as he came over. Aaron shoved Haydn back. Candice shot up.

"What are you doing?" She growled at him.

"What am I doing? What are you doing?" He hollered. "Throwing yourself at this little goof?"

Haydn didn't stand a chance against Aaron. He just sat up and walked off. Candice shook her head and punched Aaron's chest. He furrowed his brows at her as he rested his hand over where she hit. She glared up at him. He took a deep breath.

"Can we go outside and talk, please?" He pleaded.

She rolled her eyes before she nodded. She walked through bodies to get outside. He followed closely behind her. She went to the backyard. It was chilly out. She rubbed her arms as Aaron trailed behind her. He closed the door as he stepped out onto the deck. She crossed her arms.

"What do you want?" She huffed.

"To talk." He shrugged.

"Oh, it's only convenient to talk when you want to, huh?" She snapped, a chill running through her.

"I don't want to fucking argue!" He hissed. "You're cold and I'm sick of this fucking fighting so just hear me out!"

"Fine!" She yelled back.

"I'm sorry about everything I've done. I'm sorry about how I was acting and how I acted the night you left. I'm sorry about how I acted tonight." He began. "I love that you worry about me. I love how much you care about me. I love you. I need you in my life. I need a constant like you in my life."

Candice stared up at him. Her eyes were watering. She let out a son before she pushed up on her tip toes. She grabbed his face and pressed her lips to his. He wrapped his arms around her waist, holding her as tight as possible. He smiled into their kissing. They broke apart hesitantly.

"I'm sorry,"

"No, you're perfect." He cut her off, kissing her lips. "You've done nothing wrong."

Notes