A New Life

The Gala

(Scarlets POV)

Me, Rachel, Christian, and Xavier entered the gala, and as I looked around, I was in awe of how beautiful everything was. Huge chandeliers were hanging down from the ceilings, people dancing and talking and drinking champagne along with another drink of their choice. Everyone seemed so cheery, like none of them had any problems at all. It made me wonder if I would see my old friends if I would see Aiden. Would he talk to me? Act like everything is just fine? Will he even look my way? It's probably best I stay away from him. I know he wants nothing to do with me anymore, and no matter how much that hurt I have to accept that.

"Hey, you alright?" Christian asks me and I nod and send him a smile. I need to have fun tonight. I need to forget about my past I have changed, and who I am now is not someone Cassy or Sabrina or Jason or even Aiden would enjoy being around. I'm not the person they remember. I turn to Rachel and give her a big smile and nod.

"Let's do this," I tell her and she immediately jumps up in glee and drags me over to the bar that was set up in the corner of the huge room. She ordered up a few drinks making me down them all quickly, so we could "get this party started" as she says. Rachel lives to have fun and drink and party. She says it's the only thing that keeps her human after having to live her lifestyle. After an hour or two, not exactly sure how long, the doors to the huge room opened, and in came the people I was dreading yet also pleased to see. They all stood tall and looked around the room with no exaggerated expressions. All but one looked completely calm. The girl with the wild pink hair with a glorious blue dress on. She looked amazing and I couldn't help but feel guilty as she looked around the room as if searching for something or someone. When she looked my way I immediately turned my head away. I knew if I looked right at her she would come running up to me wanting to talk. Of course, I should have to know that just avoiding her glance would not be enough to stop her from speaking to me. I continued drinking and talking with Rachel until she left to go hit on some guy. I knew that I had to leave quickly to stop Cassy from reaching me but who am I to think that I could avoid her forever.

"Scarlet stop. I need to talk to you" she says from behind me making me freeze in place.

"I'm sorry Cassy, but I can't speak to you," I tell her and I try to take another step but she grabs my arm preventing me from going anywhere.

"The hell you can't. We all have been searching for you frantically, why did you leave without saying anything to us?" She asks trying to keep her voice at a steady and neutral tone, trying not to make a scene.

"It's a long story Casey and I can't get into it" I start to walk away but what she says next made my heart sink and my body stop all movements.

"Aiden's been a mess since you left. He never leaves his office anymore. He was pissed that you were taken from him. He blames himself for you being kidnapped." I felt my eyes start to water but I held them in and took a sip of my drink as I faced her once more.

"We all thought you had been killed, Scarlet. Why didn't you at least tell us you were alive and well?" She asks and I have no real answers for her. I was told she was my enemy that I wasn't allowed to come in contact with them. I was told they were bad people, but in reality what makes my family any better?

"I'm sorry Casey. I really am, but I can't change what happened. You have no idea how much I miss you guys Cass, but I finally have my family. I have a brother and a father that look out for me and cares about me and I can't let that go... Can't you understand that?" I tell her and I see her sigh and look to the floor. I knew she understood.

"I'm really glad you found your family scarlet and I don't care what all those rivalry shit says if you need someone I'm here. Always. Ok?" She says giving me a measuring smile and I couldn't help but smile back as u took her into an embrace.

"Thank you, Cass" I whisper in her ear and she releases me from our hug.

"Anytime girl. Now you need to find Aiden" she tells me and my eyes go wide.

"No, I can't. He gates me." she laughs at my response which confused me.

"Hates you? Please...the way he's been worried about you and the way he's been acting, even the way he's looking at you know. That ain't hate. That's love girl." And I couldn't help but smile internally yet be stunned and in shock. The way he looked at me at the school. It definitely wasn't love. We were friends and I betrayed him.

"Cass that's ridiculous. We were friends and now all he sees me as is his enemy" I tell her earning yet another laugh from her.

"Aiden had always had a thing for you. Since the moment you showed up at school. Everyone knows it. And whether you admit it or not you have always had a thing for him too." She was right. I did always like him. I couldn't help myself. He always made me feel good about myself and when I spent time with him he understood me. That's when I realized I couldn't let him go without a fight I needed to do something about this. I needed to talk to him I need to do something and I have to do it tonight.

"Your right Cassy you always gave been right. I need to see him I need to talk to him and explain" I hugged her one more time before leaving to search for Aiden. I wandered around the room searching for Aiden but he was nowhere to be found. I ran into multiple people but none of them was the one I was searching for. I was starting to give up, realizing just how ridiculous this was. If I did find him what was I going to say? Io had no plan. As I walk towards the balcony to get some fresh air, that's when I saw him. His back was turned to me but I knew it was him by his broad shoulders and the slicked-back black hair. I walked out to the balcony starting to get nervous about what I was doing and what I was going to say. I had no idea what I was doing. But Cassy was right I needed to try and if he rejects me then I'll live.

"Aiden?" He turned to me and I could feel my heart start to beat faster.