It was Valentine's Day once more. Every since my ex broke my heart two years ago, every act of romance soured my stomach -- literally. I couldn't stand to be physically near any public displays of affection. When friends and co-workers talked about being "in love" I had to leave the vicinity. It was a true test of wills for me to not smart off to all these fools. Sure, I had been one of them. I was more of a fool then they were for loving him as long as I did and for what. So one day he could tell me that he didn't care anymore and it was over. Not to mention the new girl that showed up a few weeks later. Yeah. I was a fool. So now I'm embittered, miserable and lonely with a deep hatred for all things romantic especially Valentine's Day.
So what was I doing at a Valentine's Day party the Friday night before? Good question. Simple -- my best friend Aiden and a side of guilt mixed in. Good thing there was plenty of alcohol flowing. I was seated in the corner nursing my third drink of the night hoping I would pass out soon. Or at least my best friend Aiden would have pity on me and let me go. It was his party after all. I noticed he was a great host. The party wasn't that big and of course I knew all his friends, which was nice. Too bad I was not in the mood. I'm sure he noticed my attitude, since he kept glancing at me as he socialized. Just thinking of him brought memories of how I got coerced into going.
* * * *
"Come on, El," Aiden said exasperated at me. We were seated on my couch eating pizza and watching a martial arts movie. It was a ritual of ours and had been for the four years we'd been friends. We had been discussing parties and what not and he once again brought up his annual V-day Bash shindig. He was excited that this year Valentine's Day fell on a Saturday. Not only could we get blitzed the night before, but also all the hung over people got one more day to recover before work on Monday. Every year, he threw some kind of "love is in the air" bash. He had even before we were friends. I used to help him set things up or give him ideas on what to do. But every since my ex, I flat out refused to have anything do with his party. In fact, he was actually getting pissed off at me at the moment because of my attitude about it.
"Look, it's been two fucking years. I know he hurt you... bad... but get over it already. You've got to stop being such a bitch about it. I'm saying this as your friend," he stated bluntly to me. My eyes started to water at the harshness of his tone. Even though he meant well, it hurt to hear those words at of his mouth. He cursed when I turned from him. I knew he knew that he made me cry. In a flash, he scooted over to me and tried to wrap his arms around me. He always comforted me whenever I hurt, especially because of something he did or said.
But, it made me mad and even though I would regret it later, I pushed him hard. I jumped off the couch and ran to my room, slammed the door and locked it shut. I flung myself onto my bed and cried my eyes out. I really didn't know why I was crying. It was only the truth he told me. And as my best friend, it was his duty to tell me these things. I did the same for him. I bitched him out when he was being an ass. Why was this any different? Because it was about my ex and because I knew he was right. Still it hurt to hear him cussing at me. I heard him pounding on the door and apologizing but I didn't want to deal with any more tonight. So I ignored him. After awhile, he left me alone. He had a key to my place so when I heard the front door open, close and lock; I knew he finally went home. I ended up crying myself to sleep.
When I woke up the next morning, guilt made me call him and apologize. He listened and then asked me nicely to please come to his party. I felt bad so I agreed -- which is why I was sitting here in the corner trying my damnedest to get drunk off my ass. There were too many couples sitting around making out. Even his friends had found some dates. I was the only single one next to Aiden. Damn him, I thought to myself. He used my guilt to "persuade" me that I had to attend and short of dying, there was no way out of it. As if the whole romance crap wasn't enough, I still felt out of place among his friends, especially the girls.
All of Aiden's other female friends were the usual blonde hair blue eyed Barbie doll type that made guys drool. I was the only Asian girl in his circle of friends and I was short and curvy to boot. At five feet two and a healthy size eight, I felt I didn't fit the standard profile that Aiden and his friends liked to date. Instead of using my difference to my advantage, it made me feel like an outcast so I tended to be a wallflower all social gatherings I attended. I usually didn't mind as I got to people watch. But tonight, I just wanted to be alone and preferably in the bathroom. With that thought, I left to go to Aiden's bedroom. He had a private bathroom that no one was allowed to use, but I knew he didn't mind me using it. I shut the door and slid down behind it. I tried to not cry, but between getting drunk and seeing the others enjoying themselves, it was hard. So I gave in and lay down on the cool floor and cried -- and then passed out after that.
I woke up the next day with a fierce hangover and in Aiden's guest bedroom. Guilt set in as I realized he had taken care of me last night. I vaguely remembered passing out. Oh shit, I thought when I remembered him holding my head over the toilet -- which explained the nasty taste in my mouth. I hoped for the best but braced for the worst as I made my way down the hall. When I stumbled into the kitchen, he was there with a glass of water and aspirin. After that, he made some coffee and sat next to me.
"Elizabeth," he started. I winced. He only said my full name when he was really pissed off at me. "I have had enough of this shit. Enough is enough and you are going to see that one way or another today. Finish your coffee. We're going back to your place so you can get freshened up and then we're coming back here. I'm going to go make some phone calls. And don't you dare think of leaving before I get back," he finished with the meanest glare I had ever seen on his face. Frankly, at this point, I was freaking out. I had never seen this side of Aiden before. And a part of me was kind of turned on. That surprised me. I stared at him as he stomped out of the kitchen. Being the coward that I was, I didn't dare disobey him. I did exactly as he asked and sat there until he returned. Then, we left.
A half hour later, we returned. I had gotten a shower and some clean clothes. I brushed my teeth and hair and put some shoes on. Then, Aiden pushed me out the door and locked up behind us. Now back at his place, he didn't say anything but walked directly to his bedroom. I meekly followed behind him. I was so afraid to have him yell at me again. He stood at the door waiting so I took that as a signal to go on in. As soon as I walked past him, he shut the door behind him. That caused me to turn and look at him. Now, I was really getting scared. Even though Aiden was a damn good-looking piece of ass and I fantasized about him all the time, we never had that kind of relationship. Yet, here we stood in his bedroom and I was thinking all those thoughts that I probably shouldn't be.
He strode purposely towards me and grabbed my arm. He dragged me to the bed and then pushed me onto it. At this point, I didn't have a single clue as to what was going on. I opened my mouth to speak, but he glared so furiously at me, I physically cringed away from him.
"You are going to take a nap," he ordered me. I nodded wordlessly. He glared at me until I pulled down his covers and crawled under them. When, I settled my head on his pillows, his gaze softened. He surprised me by kissing me softly on the forehead before he left. Now, I was really confused, but since I still felt like shit and really, really tired, I figured a nap would be a good idea. I snuggled further down into his huge bed. I sighed as my nose caught remnants of his aftershave on the pillow. It was comforting in an odd way. Before I could think some more on it, I was asleep.
* * * *
"Is she sleeping?" Paul asked Aiden. He nodded in reply.
"You sure this is a good idea man?" Grant asked.
Aiden was having second thoughts, but he was tired of seeing El hurt all the time. She was becoming so bitter and cynical, he was afraid she would never be the happy sweet girl he met all those years ago. He, Paul and Grant were her closest friends. But the other guys knew that Aiden loved her more than a friend. He had when she was with the ex. But he never told her and now, it was eating him up seeing her hurt all the time. They talked about it whenever she wasn't around. And as they watched her being miserable last night, they didn't know how much more they could take as well. Aiden finally told them that it was up to them, her best friends, to get her to move on. She deserved happiness and love. She just had to be forced to see it from the ones who cared about her the most. And this weekend they hoped their plan would work.
"Let's go," Aiden said firmly. He had switched an aspirin with a sleeping pill so he knew she wouldn't wake up when they walked into the bedroom. The three of them moved quickly and as quietly as they could. As one, they pulled the covers off of El. Then, Paul and Grant moved to tie ropes around the posts of the bed as Aiden moved her to the center of the bed and carefully rolled her onto her stomach. He was glad she wore sweats instead of jeans. He pulled those off and had to sigh as a red lacey thong came into view. Grant smacked him to get him moving again. With a grin, he finished pulling her sweats off and they proceeded to tie her arms to the posts. They left her legs unbound and put the covers back so she wouldn't get cold. Then they stepped out of the room and finished making plans.
* * * *
I heard my name being whispered in my ear. A voice was telling me to wake up. Groggily, I forced myself to obey. I realized it was Aiden whispering to me. He sounded very close to me. I slowly opened my eyes to see his face right in front of me. He smiled when I looked at him and I couldn't help but smile back. Then I frowned as I tried to turn over but couldn't. Why did my arms feel strange? I tried to turn my head but I couldn't either. I tried moving my arms again, but realized with a shock that I was tied to his bedposts.
