Hello Stranger

Chapter 26

~Aaron's POV~

It had been hours since Andrea came. Hours since I've seen Grayson or her. I decided to make myself busy and workout. Maybe they've finally stopped bickering. She's good for him. Honestly, she's good for all of us in a way. The only girl we're used to being around was Natalie and she just forced herself on us. She always had an opinion and wanted us to do things her way. She was bossy and not in a good way. But Andrea was different. She accepted us. She wasn't afraid around us, and she looked at us like any other person. That's why we haven't told her anything of real importance. I don't think she'd look at us the same if she knew our secrets. She'd probably run far and never come back. Out of all of us, that would destroy Grayson the most.

My phone rang as I was doing pull-ups in our gym. I released the bar landing flat on my feet as I answered my phone. "Hello?"

"Yeah, it's me. We have an issue." E'Claine said on the other line.

"What's going on E'Claine?" E'Claine was a good kid who was dealt a bad hand. He didn't deserve this life, but he got it. I do my best to look out for him, even when he doesn't like it. There was silence for a moment. "Emerson?"

"I'm here. Sorry," He replies. "Natalie is at Andrea's house."

Shit. This couldn't be good. "Does Gray know?"

"Yeah," E'Claine states.

"What'd he say to do?" I put the phone on speaker as I wiped the sweat off of me with a towel and put my shirt back on.

He replies, "He said to call you, Aaron."

"Is he coming?" I ask.

"No. He said there's somewhere he has to be tonight," He answers. "Is everything okay?"

I laugh to myself. This girl is going to save us all, I already know it. "Yes. Everything's fine. I'll be there shortly. You know the drill, don't interfere with anything he does unless it'll affect us, or now Andrea. Otherwise, just don't provoke her and be safe."

"You treat me like a kid."

"You are still a kid."

"I'm a year younger than you."

"I know." I hung up the phone and made my way downstairs. Everyone was downstairs hanging out and watching TV. With the exception of Jackson who was typing away on his phone. But the second I reached the bottom step, everyone looked my way, including Jackson. He stood the second he saw me.

"Nat?" Jackson asked simply. I nod to him and he swiftly is out the door to get a car. All work and no play.

"What's going on? Should we come?" Ethan asks.

"No. Me and Jackson got her," I answer.

"You sure?" Cameron asks.

Ethan adds, "Yeah, that bitch is psycho."

"Who?" Mackenzie asked. We barely knew her, but Ellie likes her and we like Ellie. We want Ellie to feel like this is her house too, meaning she is allowed guests. Sadly.

"I'm sure it's no one you know," I reply heading toward the door. I had just pulled it open when she spoke.

"Pause," Ellie states. I listened because I knew better. "Do not tell me this is that whore who was hell bent on going after my best friend."

"Okay. I won't tell you," I reply.

Ellie untangles herself from Mackenzie and stomped over to me and shut the door in front of me. "Are you kidding me? What's going on?" 

"A misunderstanding. That's all. I have to go," I move Ellie to the side and opened the door getting into the car with Jackson. Ellie was fuming in the doorway but I didn't have time right now. Right now I have to get Cameron's cousin before she does anything stupid and Grayson makes her regret it.