“Don’t you find it weird coming here and being in a room full of your old flames?” Aiden teased.

“Half of LA is full of my ‘old flames’,” I winked.

“Yeah, but all in the same place at the same time?” he asked.

“They’re not all here,” I laughed.

“No, they wouldn’t all fit in the building.”

My eyes flicked around the room again, not noticing a single person who I hadn’t seen in there before.  I was bored of the place – in fact I was bored of my life and the whole of LA.  Nothing seemed new or interesting to me any more.  There was nothing I hadn’t done or tried at least once, and there seemed to be no one new who caught my attention and held it for longer than a quick screw and a speedy departure back home in the early hours.

“I’d better warn you – Madison and the gang are coming here tonight,” Aiden frowned.

“What!?” I cried.  “Why the hell did you bring me here?”

“I believe the choice was actually yours!” Aiden reminded me.

“So? You could have at least told me!  At least that way I’d have been prepared for her shit!”

“That may be true, but you’d have still come here, wouldn’t you!?” he said smartly.

“Yeah, so?”

“So what difference does me telling you now as opposed to a couple of hours ago make?  You still know she’ll be here before she gets here!” he stated.

“I’m just so not in the mood for her right now,” I sighed.

“So ignore her,” he said, as if it was the easiest thing to do in the world.

“Okay, but if she gets all up in my face you’re gonna have to take it upon yourself to hold me back, okay?” I demanded.  “I’m holding you personally responsible for my actions, Aiden!”

“Okay, okay!” he cried, arms raised in surrender.  “God, women are difficult,” I heard him mutter.

“Yup, and that’s why you love us.”

_____________________________________________ 

“Aid, can you watch my drink for a minute?” I asked, suddenly standing up.

“Where you going?” he asked, looking confused.

“Bathroom,” I said, leaving the table before he had time to respond.  I wanted to get some space in somewhere a little more quiet before Madison and her cronies arrived.  I needed to mentally prepare myself for the onslaught of shit that was no doubt going to be directed at me as soon as she arrived, and I knew from experience that Aiden would just sit and listen, never stepping in to support me.  He was a wimp, and I was jaded, therefore neither of us were going to put up a particularly good fight that night.  I was bored of Madison’s tired attempts at trying to wind me up, and allowed her to rile me out of sheer habit, rather than her actually being capable of getting to me.  The only one able to get to me was me, and I was at a professional standard in comparison to the queen cheer-bitch.