At this point, why do I even bother driving to school anymore. 

And don’t even get me started on my mother. What kind of parent is okay with Jetting their daughter spend a night away from home with a boy! 

Mine apparently. 

“Where are we going?” I asked for the tenth time in a row. Aiden pursed his lips in annoyance, but ultimately didn’t say anything. 

“Aidennnnnnn.” I continued in a sing–song voice. Maybe if I annoy him enough, he’ll tell me. “Where are we going?” 

“You know this is considered kidnapping, right?” 

However, he didn’t budge at all and his attention remained focused on the road. 

When it became clear that I was wasting my breath, I took the moment to stare at his profile as he drove us. He had discarded his jacket and rolled up the sleeves to his long sleeve shirt – the veins in his arms seemed to be accentuated today. He had one hand was on the wheel, while the other rested against the door with his cheek slightly propped against his knuckles. He was also subconsciously biting his lip, no doubt thinking of ways to get me to shup up. 

I didn’t realize I had been full on staring at him like a creep until Aiden finally pulled into a large parking lot and shifted the car into parking. “Like what you see, Princess?” 

“Pst! You wish.” I stammered against my own words as I quickly unbuckled the seat belt and got out of the car. As I stretched out my aching muscles from the long car ride, I took in my surroundings. The parking lot was pretty packed for a Thursday night. There was a Jewel Osco to the right of where we were parked, and a White Castle and Culver’s chain directly behind us. I was confused as to why Aiden would drive an hour outside of the city to go. grocery shopping, but the moment my eyes landed on the building to the left I had answered my own question 

Paintball. 

You have got to be kidding me. 

“This has Caroline written all of her it.” I mutter to myself. 

“Actually,” Aiden said brushing his hand against my lower back and nudging me towards the entrance. “This was my idea.” 

“But –“I began protesting. “Paintballing hurts!” 

He rolled his eyes, holding the door open for me. “They give you protective gear.” 

Walking into the building, it was the smell that hit me first. Spilled gasoline. It wasn’t particularly awful, but it was 

Contract: Dive Dorniests to Let YOU Go!! 

64.5% 

Chapter 108 

strong enough to make me scrunch my nose in disgust. 

The reception area was large and empty for the most part. Directly in front when you walk in, there is a mesh wall separating you from the actual obstacle course. To the left is the check–in counter where three associates were huddled together talking. It was painted black with a deep shade of bright blue. While the walls were painted white, there was large graffiti style writing covering the walls from top to bottom. Lastly, to the right side of the entrance was a small waiting area with a couple of tan chairs that currently sat Carolin Brooke, Naomi, Lucas, Alex, María – Alex’s girlfriend, and Cody. 

“Happy birthday, Scarlett.” Aiden’s lips brushed against my ear he pulled me towards the rest of the group. 

When Maria spotted me, she immediately jumped out of Alex’s lap and skipped over to me. “It’s the birthday girl!” When I met her the night she picked Alex up after we all went ice skating, she and I totally hit it off. She’s the same age as us, but goes to a private school in the suburbs. 

In a matter of minutes, I was swarmed by everyone else all hugging me and wishing me a happy birthday – even Cody was being polite. 

As our instructor finished going over the rules, he handed us each a black vest, face shield, and a paintball gun equipped with the paint bottle. We had decided to play boys against girls, so the girls each got a yellow band to put on their arm while the boys got green bands. 

“Ladies, are you ready to lose?” Lucas asked as he came to stand next to us. I was currently trying to tie the vest the instructor had given us but I was having trouble reaching behind me. 

“Just like you beat us during dare night?” Brooke teased him. Lucas immediately went beet red at the mention of dare night. Apparently, Lucas thought that if he made the last dare be to kiss someone in the group, changes were . either I would kiss Aiden or Caroline would kiss him – he didn’t factor in Brooke into this equation. She saw right 

through his plan, which is why she’s the one that kissed him that night. 

– 

“Are you guys ready?” The instructor asked us before he led the boys down one path and another instructor led us girls in a different direction. 

Two hours later, the girls and I walked out of the obstacle course each covered in paint from head to toe and limping in our own way. Caroline was the only one who had the least amount of paint on, but that’s because she refused to come out from the hiding spot once she got hit the first time. Lucas managed to hit me right in the side where my vest was not adjusted properly, and now it hurt to breath.