WILD BUT NEVER FREE

adulthood

My parents had died when I was only seven, meaning that I had spent the majority of my life, living for myself and not worrying about pleasing anyone around me. I suppose when P's mum found out about us, there was a part of me that longed to make her like me, but I knew she wasn't the type to warm to people easily since she had barely warmed to her own children.

The day after we were caught, I still turned up to the Wild house as promised to celebrate P's birthday. Mainly because nothing mattered to me more than keeping my promises to P and because if I was a no show it would have aroused suspicion from Ace.

When I showed up, my heart dropped a little to see Ace at the door but I immediately composed myself and gave my best friend a small smile. As soon as I stepped into the house I was hit by the noise of chattering going on from outside and looked to Ace for an explanation as to why it sounded like there was an army of people outside rather than just the small Wild family.

"It's not just you guys?" I asked as I followed Ace through his hallway.

"My mum invited some family," For some reason nerves filled my stomach. For so long mine and Atlas's rules of not involving family in our friendship had been suddenly chucked out the window. I wasn't good with adults, as last night had proved.

"It sounds like more than just some family." I tried to joke.

"Some of Cassi's friend's are here too."

Brilliant. I was beginning to regret coming, I probably should have turned around and left since after yesterday P probably just wanted to spend her birthday with her friends and forget about the drama I had thrown on top of her life.

"Did you have a good day with Elle yesterday?" Ace asked me as he took me in to the kitchen, opened the fridge and pulled out two beers. He cracked them both open and handed me one whilst I leant against the kitchen counter.

"It was okay, she just came to tell me about a guy she's seeing." I told him after taking a swig of beer.

"So nothing happened between you guys?" He asked with a smirk on his face that reminded me of the way we used to talk when we entered our teenage years. Now we had seen the other side of them and Ace still acted the exact same. I couldn't help but laugh.

"No way, I'm very much over that."

"That's what you always say." Ace said rolling his eyes.

"What do you mean?" I asked, although I already knew what he was implying. I knew I had a track record of running back to Elle when I got bored, however from my perspective it was more of a case of her running into me and me just being in the right place at the right time. That phase was for sure over now, not that Ace could know why.

"You've never been very good at turning her down." Ace said slyly, drinking from his beer and staring at me.

He was right. I smirked despite the fact I knew myself that I was far from over Elle. "She kept things interesting I suppose."

"Interesting is one way to put it. I give you a months tops staying away from her." Ace said confidently. Oh how badly I wanted to tell my naive friend to shut his mouth.

"Stay away from who?" P sauntered into the kitchen carelessly, not even paying me any attention as she headed towards the fridge and grabbed two beers. Once she had opened them she leant against the counter top on the other side of the kitchen, next to her brother who towered above her in height. At that point she finally looked at me, but gave nothing away in her expression.

"Hey, York." She casually smiled, taking a sip from one of the bottles in her hand.

"Hey, kid. Happy birthday" I replied, ignoring how good she looked in her white halter neck top and denim shorts. I had to look away as to not expose the desire for her that was so obviously painted across my face.