Perfect revenge plan.

AUTHOR’S POV. 

Aiden’s living room was messy but warm.

Empty soda cans were on the table. A big box of pizza sat open in the middle. The smell of cheese filled the air. The TV was on but no one was watching it.

They were all sitting on the floor. Peter sat between Riss and Ava. Ava was almost glued to him. She had one arm around his shoulder like she was protecting him from the world.

“You don’t deserve that idiot,” Ava muttered, biting into her pizza. “Daniel is trash.”

Peter sighed. “Can you not?”

“No, I cannot,” Ava snapped. “He cheated on you. I am allowed to curse him.”

Peter rubbed his face. “Ava, please. I’m already tired.”

Riss leaned back against the couch. “She’s been cursing him for the past hour. I’m surprised Daniel hasn’t felt it spiritually.”

Ava glared at him. “This isn’t funny.”

“I didn’t say it was funny,” Riss replied calmly. “I’m just saying Peter said he’s fine.”

Peter nodded. “I am. I’m happy I’m here. With my friends. And my favourite cousin.” He bumped Ava lightly with his shoulder.

Ava’s expression softened for two seconds before turning hard again. “That doesn’t mean we let Daniel go scot-free.”

Peter groaned. “There it is.”

“Yes, there it is!” Ava said. “We should make him jealous. Crush his heart. Let him feel pain.”

Riss shook his head. “That is stupid.”

Ava gasped dramatically. “Excuse me?”

“It’s childish,” Riss continued. “Revenge doesn’t fix anything.”

Ava folded her arms. “It worked for me.”

Riss raised an eyebrow. “Of course it did.”

“I made my ex cry,” Ava said proudly. “He thought I moved on in two days. He was miserable.”

Riss laughed lightly. “Men who fall for that are stupid.”

Ava turned sharply to him. “Oh really? What did you do when you found out your girlfriend cheated on you?”

Riss blinked. “My girlfriend has never cheated on me.”

Ava rolled her eyes. “Sure. So why did you two break up and never spoke to each other.”

“I’m serious,” he said. “My last girlfriend and I broke up because she moved to another city. She wanted big fame. I wanted a simple life. So we ended it.”

“That sounds boring,” Ava said.

“It was peaceful,” Riss replied. “Not everything has to be dramatic.”

Aiden was quiet the whole time. He sat on the armchair, elbows on his knees, staring at the floor. He hadn’t touched his pizza.

Ava turned to him slowly. “Aiden.”

He looked up.

“Has your girlfriend ever cheated on you?”

The room went still as everyone turned to him. 

Aiden opened his mouth but nothing came out.

Ava’s eyes narrowed. A slow smile spread across her face. “Interesting.”

Aiden looked away.

Riss watched him carefully but said nothing.

Just then, the front door opened and Ryder walked in.

“Hey,” he said. 

“Why are you dressed like that?” Riss questioned. 

Ryder sighed. “Went to meet my family.”

“Woah, is luxury the new casual?” Riss joked. 

Ava waved immediately. “Perfect timing. Come join us.”

Ryder glanced around, then stepped inside fully. He removed his jacket and dropped it on the couch. “What are we discussing?” he asked.

“Betrayal,” Riss replied.

“Daniel,” Ava corrected.

Ryder took a slice of pizza and sat on the floor near Aiden. 

Ava leaned forward. “So we’re planning revenge.”

“We are not,” Riss said quickly.

“We are,” Ava insisted.

Ryder chewed slowly. “What kind of revenge?”

“Make him jealous,” Ava said. “Destroy his ego.”

Peter shook his head. “I just want to breathe.”

“You can breathe after we break his heart,” Ava replied.

Ryder swallowed his pizza. “Jealousy works.”

Riss looked at him. “Don’t encourage her.”

“I’m just saying,” Ryder continued calmly. “If Daniel sees Peter happy with someone else, he might realise what he lost.”

Peter looked uncertain. “And if he doesn’t?”

“Then you know he never cared,” Ryder said simply.

Ava pointed at him. “See? He understands.”

Riss sighed. “Or we could try talking like mature humans.”

Ava frowned. “What do you know about being cheated on?”

Riss smirked. “I guess you know a lot about that topic.”

Ava’s eyes widened. “What does that mean?”

“You seem experienced,” Riss said lightly.

Ava tossed a pizza crust at him. “I break hearts. I don’t cheat.”

Peter laughed softly despite himself.

“I just want to breathe,” Peter repeated. “Everything feels heavy.”

Ava turned to him gently. “Do you want to know if Daniel really loves you?”

Peter hesitated. “How can I know?”

Ava’s eyes slowly moved to Ryder. A dangerous smile appeared.

Ryder noticed. “Why are you looking at me like that?”

“I have an idea,” Ava said.

Riss groaned. “Here we go.”

“A fake boyfriend,” Ava announced.

Peter blinked. “What?”

“We make Daniel think you’ve moved on,” Ava explained. “Fast. With someone better.”

Ryder immediately shook his head. “Not me.”

“You haven’t even heard the plan,” Ava said.

“I don’t need to,” Ryder replied.

“You’d be perfect,” she insisted.

“No.”

Ava pouted dramatically. “Why?”

“Because Peter isn't my type,” Ryder said, glancing at Aiden briefly. 

“Ouch,” Peter said. 

“Yeah, he's my cousin, but I agree with you,” Ava shrugged. “But we aren't talking about that. It isn't really. Just something fake.”

“Aiden is fit for that role,” Ryder insisted. 

“Aiden is a better actor.”

Everyone turned to Aiden.

He stiffened. “I’m not doing that,” Aiden said quickly.

Riss leaned back thoughtfully. “Actually… Ryder is too predictable. Daniel will know it's fake.”

Ryder nodded. “Exactly.”

“But he would also know if I go with Aiden because Aiden's not gay,” Peter said. 

“He doesn't need to know,” Ava said, her lips curled into a mischievous smirk. “That's if Aiden's a stranger.”

Aiden shook his head. “No.”

Peter looked at him with wide eyes. “Please?” He pleaded. “I think this might work.”

Aiden froze.

“It’s just pretending,” Ava said softly. “Just for a few days.”

Riss nodded. “We don’t even need much. Just pictures. Maybe one public appearance.”

Peter’s voice was quiet. “I just want to know if he’ll fight for me.”

Silence filled the room.

Ava leaned closer. “So? What do you say?”

Aiden swallowed. “This is a bad idea.”

“Probably,” Riss agreed.

“But you’ll do it?” Ava pushed.

Peter grabbed Aiden’s sleeve. “I know you hate this. But don't you want to get back at Daniel as my best friend.”

Aiden closed his eyes for a second. Then he sighed. “Fine.”

Ava screamed happily. “Yes!”

Riss rubbed his forehead. “This will end badly.”

Ryder leaned back, studying Aiden’s face.

Aiden avoided his eyes.

Peter smiled. “Thank you.”

Aiden nodded once. “We keep it simple.”

Ava grinned. “Oh, it won’t be simple.”

Riss muttered, “I need more pizza for this disaster.”

They all laughed lightly.

Aiden leaned back, his heart beating loudly. 

“This is a perfect opportunity to get Peter to myself,” He muttered.