Is this destiny?

~ Dallas, Fort Midnight nightclub ~

Noah is sitting in a booth with three other young men: Thomas, Paul and Henry. Four of them are friends from high school.

They all attended an elite private high school in Austin, Texas area which is reserved for the people with a specific status and money that can cover sky-high tuition costs. Scholarships are not available at that institution for privileged youth.

Two young men approached Noah and his three companions.

"What is this? High school reunion?", tall young man asked when he reached the booth. He has handsome features and a very good physique. Just while walking to the booth, he attracted attention of several females in the club.

"Just sit, Aaron…", Liam, who came with Aaron, nudged him into the booth and sat next to him.

"Are we all here now?", Thomas asked Noah when everyone had their drinks in front of them.

Noah nodded. "Patrick said he can't come. So, we are all here."

If Aiden can see them now, he would identify six young men as six out of seven whom he called friends (Patrick is missing). They are the ones he referred to when explaining to Sarah that he designed the island for eight people. In Aiden's words: "…I thought I had seven friends. When I started on this (he refers to the villa on the island), my intention was to make a hangout place for us. Before this place was done, we were not friends…"

Back to what is happening in the nightclub…

"It's not that it's not nice to see you… but why are we here?", Aaron showed impatience. "I had to cancel one appearance. This better be important."

"Yes, yes… we all know you are a famous model now. But you can't forget about us either." Paul teased Aaron.

Aaron rolled his eyes. "Not just a model, you prick. I'm a graphic designer as well. Two jobs!"

"Graphic designer in your father's company… not like you had to work hard to get that job." Paul continued throwing jabs at Aaron.

"You are not the only one who canceled things to come here." Thomas said to Aaron. "I lost my whole afternoon and came from Chicago."

"Yes, yes… we are all busy. But this is important." Liam interrupted quarrel in the making.

They all looked at Liam, waiting for him to start talking. He is the one who asked them to gather here.

"I believe we all got invitations to the wedding of Jeffrey White, right?" Liam asked.

His four companions nodded while Aaron squinted.

Aaron didn't want to talk about anything related to White family. "Why are you bringing that up? Do you want us to wear matching outfits?"

"Calm down Aaron, and listen to what he has to say." Thomas pacified Aaron while thinking that Liam better have a good reason for calling all of them here.

Liam looked at everyone seated before starting: "We all know that one person will be there. One against whom we all have scores to settle with…"

Aaron's face contorted with anger. "Is that why you called me? To talk about that asshole?" He stood up abruptly while trying to push Liam so that he can get out of the booth. "I don't want to have anything to do with that fucker! I'm not even going to that wedding!"

Liam stood up and placed his arms in front of Aaron, blocking him from leaving. "Not even if you know that Aiden has a girl he loves?"

Aaron straightened his back and paused. "I'm listening."

"Sit first…" Liam gestured to the booth.

Thomas squinted at Aaron who got seated again. "Don't tell me you didn't see Aiden's updates on his social media?"

Aaron shook his head. "I don't have him as my friend, so even if he posted something, I don't know about it."

"I don't use social media." Paul interjected. "It's a waste of time."

"I saw that his status changed to engaged, and he posted a photo of hands…" Henry added. "He didn't post anything about any girl ever, and then only hands. I assumed that it's either a joke or his parents pressured him to do something responsible."

Liam shook his index finger in the air, indicating that Henry is wrong. "I saw him with her at two events. Jeffrey's birthday, which was five-six months ago, and one more recent party at Lake Tahoe. And he is very protective of her."

"Engaged? Don't tell me that he is in love…" Paul laughed.

"If you don't believe me, ask Noah… he was at the Jeffrey's birthday also." Liam turned to Noah.

Noah's eyes darted over faces of his companions. What should he say? He knows that if he says 'yes' all these people will try to get their hands on Sarah… on his Sarah. Oh, that beautiful demon girl who got him excited beyond belief, and he can't get her out of his head for more than five months. But, can he lie and say 'no'? They will find out one way or another…

"Why are you so quiet, Noah?", Aaron growled, irritated by Noah's reluctance.

Noah had no other choice than to speak. "Yes. He has a girl."

"How do you know he cares about her?" Henry was suspicious.

"Because Noah wanted to grope her, and Aiden broke his arm." Liam said confidently.

All eyes were on Noah. He told Liam that it was Aiden who broke his arm, because he was ashamed to say that it was Sarah who did it. Liam was unconscious, so he didn't know who did it, anyway… And Noah has no intention of saying now that he got beat up by a girl. "Yes. Multiple fractures. He was out of his mind, and I didn't even touch her."

Liam looked around the table and was pleased to see that all his companions have good expressions. "So, what do you say? Are we going to get our revenge?"

Thomas looked at Liam. "What revenge? Other than few harmless pranks, I don't remember him doing anything to you…" Thomas narrowed his eyes. "I just want to make sure you also have a reason for going against Aiden and are not plotting to betray us."

Liam could not say that his malice is not directed toward Aiden, but it's toward Sarah. She is the one who made him pee himself twice!

Noah came to the rescue: "He was with me at the Jeffrey's birthday, and he also got hurt."

Liam vigorously nodded, happy that Noah didn't mention wet crotch area.

"The girl is mine!", Aaron announced.

"Oh, so you are coming to the wedding, after all?" Liam smirked. He does not care who gets to hurt Sarah, as long as she gets hurt and humiliated, he will be happy.

Aaron responded with a smug smile. His companions started talking about different strategies to get back at Aiden, while Aaron finished his bourbon in one big gulp, and ordered another one.

All surrounding noise became an indistinct buzzing while Aaron's eyes narrowed, and he remembered his biggest humiliation… Jessica. The most popular girl in high school. He courted her for months. And they dated for more than a year when one day he came unannounced to visit her, only to find Aiden next to her bed, pulling his pants up. And Jessica didn't know that he is coming, otherwise she would get out of that bed and put some damned clothes on! Aaron clenched his fists until his knuckles turned white while thinking how for more than a year he danced around that slut for few kisses and she spread her legs for Aiden without even dating him! And Aaron cared about Jessica… he really did. He even thought how they will go to college together, and then get married. And Aiden came and ruined everything! Bastard even had the audacity to tell him that he did him a favor!

Aaron smirked at the thought how now Aiden has someone he cares about… and it's time for payback!