Either I had just came so hard a couple minutes before that I seemed to have shifted realities or I just saw my ex-girlfriend - and only ever girlfriend - in front of me.

I hadn't heard from her since she moved to Louisiana junior year of high school, but I would remember her face anywhere. She still looked the same. Those freckles that filled her face and her long red hair. Her features were a bit more mature now obviously, but she looked exactly the same.

I didn't even realize that I had still been standing outside the restroom in shock until Xander put his arm around me and told me he needed a teammate for beer pong. "Don't tell me you haven't had sex yet?" His brows furrow in disappointment. That is what I had been doing before I ran into Novalee.

A little bathroom fling never hurt anyone.

"Done." I reassured him. He smirked and patted my back before motioning his head downstairs for me to follow. I don't know how but I got my legs to hold me up on the way down the stairs. I was still in shock.

I don't want to sound like a dick but that's exactly what I was in high school. Nova and I were never going to last, and I knew that from the moment I started dating her. Yes, I asked her to be my girlfriend, but to be fair, I had no idea what the hell I was doing.

We had been friends since the sixth grade because we had the same friend group. I always had a thing for her but I kind of thought it would be better for my ego if she had developed any kind of attraction to me 'first.' It started off freshman year of high school which was when we got closer.

One of our mutual friends admitted she had a crush on me so I figured I'd tease her about it, but she didn't react the way I hoped she would. She was confident about it and told me straight up that it was true. I guess that kind of made it easier for me to make my next move, so I didn't complain. I wasn't really looking to have a girlfriend my freshman year, so we agreed to friends with benefits.

It was occasional make out sessions until it was more. We lost our v-cards to each other, basically.

As time went on, I noticed her change in the way that she wanted to be around me more. A lot more than I ever intended. She was a nice girl don't get me wrong, but I was a freshman playing for the varsity football team for fucks sake. My opportunity with women was high and I didn't want to be held down.

Regardless of that, I asked Nova to be my girlfriend at the beginning of sophomore year. I could tell she had been waiting for it and I almost instantly regretted it, but it was too late. As the year went on, I started getting distant and didn't really act like a boyfriend to her.

To be clear, I never cheated.

Long story short, I was a huge dick to the girl, and she didn't deserve it. Eventually she got tired of my shit and broke things off with me and that same month her dad got a job in Louisiana. She didn't really keep in contact with anyone from Georgia to be fair.

I didn't think there was any bad blood between us anymore. We were juniors in college now, meaning it had been almost five years since we last spoke. Then again, girls hold grudges for the stupidest shit ever. I can't count on both of my hands how many women don't like me for certain things.

Let's just say, I don't tend to ask for forgiveness when I've done something wrong. The only woman I'd ever apologize to is my mother.

Xander tosses me one of the balls we're using for beer pong. Turns out we're going against Max and D'Andre, two of our teammates. "Let's go, pussy." Xander tells D'Andre across the long table. He gives him the finger and shoots the ball into one of our cups at the same time. I roll my eyes as Max pats him on his back.

Xander takes the shot of beer in the cup easily. I don't know why I always find myself playing beer pong. My friends always ask me even though they know I absolutely cannot stand drinking beer. I would prefer drinking tequila out of these cups, but the guys always insist on beer.

I don't pay much attention to the game since it's not my turn yet. Instead, I scan the crowded room for a petite redhead. I don't know why I feel like she's gonna throw a jab at me from behind. I'm unlucky as I don't seem to find her anywhere. She's probably still upstairs.

My friend smacks my arm as it's my turn to throw. I close one of my eyes as I pick up my arm to throw the ball into one of the cups. Luckily, it goes straight into one of the cups in the back. I chuckle as both guys groan, Max takes the shot.

Again, I don't pay much attention to the game until it's my turn. Nova is nowhere to be seen. She's not in my vicinity at least.

"Yo, Chris? Shoot the ball man, stop getting distracted." Xander says, his dark brows furrowed at me. I can tell by his face that he knows something is up. Xander had been one of my best friends since our freshman year here at Oak Hill. I met him at football camp for the first time and we clicked instantly.

We both made a comment about how Coach Carter's wife is a MILF.

After that, we were inseparable. Everyone always tells us we might as well be twins since we're so damn alike. I've never had a best friend like him. He knows my deepest, darkest secrets and I know his. There's really nothing that I can think of that could ever come between us.

"My bad." I say, shooting the ball. I make it again. Despite hating the game, I'm a fucking pro. So far, we've managed to take away four of their cups and they've taken one of ours.

My mind keeps shifting back to Novalee. I can't stop thinking about where she is right now. If it wasn't for this damn game, I'd be looking for her right now. I know Xander can sense that I'm feeling a bit uneasy.

He won't bother asking me about it until later though.

We had only been at the party for a little over an hour, but I wanted to go home. I wasn't thinking straight at the moment. All because I saw some girl I had a thing with sophomore year of high school. I didn't know why I was letting it bother me so goddamn much.

Maybe because she got hot as fuck and now you want to fuck her.

Again.

My eyes scanned the house again and I noticed Rhys in the corner of the kitchen, making out with a tall brunette. He was our DD tonight, so I hoped he was sober. It's not like he needed alcohol to hook up with a girl, but you never know when it comes to him.

+

We didn't leave the Sigma house until about three in the morning. I drove in the passenger side next to Rhys and CGC and Xander passed out in the back seat. They were drunk. I had gone completely sober after my run-in with Novalee. Rhys was completely sober.

I slapped Xander's thigh as we parked in the driveway. He flinched a bit and opened his eyes lazily. "We're home." He groaned lightly as he pushed open the door to Rhys's car. Everyone went to their respective rooms immediately, but me and Xan stayed back in the living area.

He grabbed some ibuprofen and a cold water from the fridge. He threw both pink pills to the back of his throat before chugging some of the cold water. Immediately after swallowing them, he spoke up.

"You okay? You seemed off tonight." He asks as he walks over to the small table where we eat dinner sometimes. He sits down on the bench and looks across the room at me. I shake my head. "No, yeah I'm good." I lie.

I didn't exactly think I'd have to tell him about it. Oak Hill was a big school, I don't think I'll see her ever again.

"Is it about that girl you fucked earlier? Was it a bad fuck?" His lips formed a frown.

It was not a bad fuck at all.

I shake my head again and let a chuckle escape my lips. "Definitely not. I guess I've just had a lot of shit on my mind, becoming captain and all." Even though I'm lying, it seems like something he'll believe. And he does.

This time, it's him whose shaking his head. "Cgc could've been named captain, but we picked you. You're gonna be great, bro. You already are." Xander reassures me. I smile.

I'm honored that my teammates picked me as this year's team captain. Usually, it's given to seniors or whoever plays Quarterback aka Cgc. Luckily, the guys seemed to think I was fit for the job. I wasn't going to disappoint. We were going to win a Nation Championship this year.

No question.

No one was getting in my way of focusing on that. I didn't care if I had to carry the whole team to get there. It was happening.

Oak Hill was going to have another National title added to its name because of me.