Down Home Girl

Chapter 25:

"Karen...you're...you're Rachel's daughter?" I asked.

"I'm sorry to interrupt, but, do y'all know each other?!" Aiden intervened, letting go of my hand.

"Um yeah, Aiden, Karen and I were in the same foster home." I said. She eventually got adopted by them, unlike the rest of us, and stayed living with them even after I moved out.

"And you're the boyfriend she was completely in love with...you're my brother..." She said, putting the puzzle pieces together.

"Well..." Rachel said. "What now?"

"What do you mean what now? Obviously they just already knew each other, they're already basically like sisters so what does it matter?" Carl asked.

"I guess it doesn't." Aiden said. "Are y'all cool?"

"Yea.." I said softly. The only problem I had was Karen was my bully. I couldn't hardly ever sleep at night be a use she would try to hurt me, or whenever I'd say something about Aiden, she'd laugh and say he's fake. Petty stuff, but it really hurt me at the time.

We got to the table.

"Oh let me sit between my brother and sister!!" She squealed.

"I'm not your sister." I growled and sat down next to Aiden before she had the chance. Aiden fake coughed, catching my attitude. I sighed and he put one hand on my thigh to calm me.

We ate, while she talked. She talked about all her extravagant trips she's been on with her parents. Traveling with my band I've seen some pretty amazing places, but I never gloat about them. I've told Aiden about a few when he asked but other than that I never said anything.

After dinner we went home. I found out she's staying at Rachel and Carl's house, so Aiden and I just went home. We took showers and cuddled on the couch.

"So why were you acting like that to Karen after you figured out who she was?" Aiden asked. I sighed.

"You wouldn't get it." I said.

"What you mean?" He asked.

"She bullied me." I said. "I never felt safe around her."

"Oh." he said softy.

"You don't know what it was like to live in a foster home with people who hate you." I sighed.

"I know." He sighed. "But you don't live in that home anymore. This is your home. We bought this...together. Your home is right here, with me."

My eyes clouded from tears. "She told me you were just using me and never really loved me." I admitted.

"Well she's wrong."

"And I believed her."

"What are you saying?"

"I cheated on you when you were in college."

***

"No Aiden! I'm going to Hunter's studio! And you can't stop me!" I yelled and got in the car.

"You go it's over." He said.

"Then pack your crap and get out." I said and pulled out of the driveway.

When I got to the studio I grabbed Hunter by the arm.

"Woah, what's wrong?" He asked.

"We broke up." I cried.

"What?!" He exclaimed and hugged me. "What happened?" He asked.

"I told him I cheated on him when I was in high school and we started arguing about everything." I said crying.

"While y'all were in high school?" He asked.

"Well I was in high school and he was in college but it's over now. It was my senior trip, with the rest of the class, and we were both sitting outside talking. Aiden and I had argued badly that night, and I confided in the guy I wasn't even friends with." I said. "I only did it once and it wasn't even really my fault. The guy kissed me, and I just went with it."

Hunter sighed. "I'm going to talk him, okay?"

"No don't-"

"I am. I know he doesn't like me much, but y'all have a one in a million kind of relationship. I would hate to see y'all split up." He said.

I nodded. We worked on the song. We ended up changing one of the songs he originally wrote- Rainy Season- and made it a duet.

"Alright, are you ready to sing for me?" Hunter asked. This is the first time I've ever sung in front of them, and I was slightly nervous. I nodded and went into the recording booth.

As I continuously messed up, Hunter got frustrated, in a joking way.

"Someone give a towel so I can throw it at her." He said. Dan, his producer, tossed him a towel and he came in the recording booth.

"You touch me with that towel and I'm gonna hurt you." I threatened.

"You won't hurt me." He smirked.

"Try me." I said.

He popped me in the butt with the towel. "HUNTER!" I squealed and went after him. I managed to grab the towel from him and popped him on the leg.

Hunter chased me out of the recording booth and I fell on the couch. He was tickling me, so I didn't have the strength to stop him.

"Uh.."

Hunter stood up. "Oh! Hey Aiden!"

I got up and walked away.

*Aiden's POV*

I walked in on Hunter running after Sarah, who had a towel in her hand. She was laughing. Sarah fell backwards on the couch. Hunter was on top of her, tickling her side. She didn't have the composure to stop him.

"Uh.." I said to try to get their attention.

"Oh! Hey Aiden!" Hunter exclaimed.

Sarah got up and walked in the other room. It infuriated me, so I followed her. She was getting her bags and walked past me. I grabbed her arm.

"Don't touch me." She spat.

"Then stop and listen for once." I growled.

"What, Aiden?" She asked.

"Sit down."

"I'm not a dog."

"Please sit down."

She sat on the couch and I sat next to her. She refused to look at me, which killed me. I didn't want to just run in and kiss her, that's not the guy I am. I know I'm not the most romantic guy, and I know that's what she wants, but she's known that I'm like this since I started dating her, over eight years ago.

I knew what I wanted to do, but I didn't want to do it here. Not while she's angry with me, especially.

"I'm sorry." I said softly. Sarah looked at me, and didn't say a word.

"You're sorry huh?" she asked. "I'm just supposed to forgive you again?"

I just looked at her, "Sarah don't even go there. You left me, broken, for two damn years, and when you came back I still forgave you, and I'm still with you."

"You broke up with me!" She defended.

"Because you were leaving me!" I said, "You knew how bad I needed you back then, but you still left, for you're own selfish reasons."

I saw guilt over take her facial expressions. I just hurt her, but it was the truth. 

"I-I-I'm sorry." she spoke, not being able to look at me. After a couple silent moments, she walked out of the room. I just went home. 

There's no point in this anymore. And to think, I was going to propose to her tonight.