;I hope the memory of me kills you

"Haven't you got people to be entertaining? Being the star baller an all." I mused, glancing around the make shift dance floor that is the living room.

He shrugs. "I'd rather be in your company."

My heart picked up hard beats against my chest as Maddox pulled me in closer, resting his defined chin on the top of my head.

I had no option but to move my arms and wrap them around his solid muscular torso and drop my head in the middle of his pecks.

"Remember the night at the bar?" He mumbled into the top of my head, a hot wave of breath fanning my hair.

"I do."

"I hadn't stopped thinking about all the fun we had. Honestly, I haven't had fun like that in the longest time."

I crane my neck to look up at him.

The soft and genuine look his eyes were giving off showed me he wasn't mocking me, he wasn't using a line to get in my underwear, he was as serious as an heart attack.

It brings me to think back to that night too.

The only reason I was at that beach was because I had a fight with my mom and needed some air to cool off.

Yet again, the argument was about why they dragged me and my brother out here and away from our home in New York, and yet again, she wouldn't give me an answer.

Maddox made me forget about all that for the night, he took every bad emotion and thought I had and replaced them with something real and good. I had to - somewhat- respect him from that, because even though he didn't know, he really did ease my mind when I needed it the most.

"I had a lot of fun too." I admitted.

"That drink you made me was absolutely vile, by the way." He grimaced with a laugh.

"The bartender really shouldn't of let me loose with the booze on that dare." I giggled.

"No, he definitely should not of."

We shared a laugh and honestly, it was really nice.

Dancing with Maddox tonight was eerily similar to the night I spent with him; many, many laughs, a lot of jokes, a flowing conversation and not one minute of it was awkward.

I was pissed off that I was enjoying myself while being in the company of thee one Maddox Hunter.

I don't know how many songs played while we were together, and I really didn't care, I was having fun - that is until a presence was felt behind me - de ja vu, am I right? - I couldn't help but notice the way Maddox's chiselled jaw tightly tensed, his eyes were hollow, void of any emotion as he looked over my head.

I gently and slowly removed myself from Maddox's arms and turned to face the person that had Maddox turning tense as fuck.

"Mind if I cut in?" His low voice sounded as out. Eyes burning into mine.

The music was drowned out by the pumping beats of my heart that echoed in my ears. My throat turned dry and began to swell up giving me a suffocating feeling.

"We're busy. Move along, Rose." Maddox grumbled.

Pulling my back into his chest and placing his hand flat on my stomach.

"Tori, plea-" Mason couldn't get a full sentence out before I cut him off.

"Maddox just told you - we're busy - and even if I wasn't, I'd rather suck Frankenstein's big toe, than dance with you." I'm surprised at how calm and put together my voice sounds, shame my trembling hands are a dead give away.

I'm guessing Maddox notices the shakiness I can't contain which is why he takes my hand in his large, strong ones instantly calming me in some odd and foreign way.

"Bro, just walk, away."

I didn't need to see Maddox's face to see he was close to loosing his shit.

But why?

That's the question I had to ask myself.

Why was Maddox so against Mason being close to me?

It's not like he knew what had happened that night at the bonfire. It's not like he knew the real reason why me and my brother couldn't stand the sight of him.

Mason Rose's mere presence alone had killed my entire mood - and night - snapping me back into my logical way of thinking.

I don't date jocks.

And Maddox Hunter is a jock.

Worse, he's the team captain of a bunch of jocks.

This was all fake.

A ruse to get into my pants.

I wasn't about to fall for that.

I'm not a fool; not for Jack Holland, not for Mason Rose and certainly not for fucking Maddox Hunter.

Mason had left with his head tipped backwards as he pushed his way through the crowd, and into the kitchen.

With him being gone, I had no reason to stay in Maddox's presence longer than I had to. It was time to remove myself from this party, and from Maddox Hunter's protective grip.

I hastily detangled myself from the ballers colossal arms and stepped away. Confusion washed over his pretty brown eyes, but I had to push that aside and leave. Fast.

"Thanks for that, but I should really go," I stepped away from him, cautiously moving backwards. "I have an early class."

Before Maddox could say another word, I elbowed my way through the sea of drunks and headed for the front door, stepping out into the cool breeze of the a Miami night and found my light feet rushing me down the garden path.

"Tori!"

Don't stop. Don't stop.

Go, he's a jock. He's just like them.

"Tori, I'm talking to you." His tone was bitterly rough as he spun me around with a firm grip on my wrist.

The strength it took me to hold back tears was something even hulk would struggle with.

"Just don't Maddox. I appreciate you getting rid of Mason, but I honestly just want to go home." I responded, firm and respectful while attempting to pull my wrist from his hold.

"I know what happened," He rushed out. "With Mason, I mean."

Sinking.

"You think you know, but you don't, you don't have a clue, Maddox." I spat out. "You can't possibly begin to comprehend what it's like to be treated like you're a piece of meat that's only here to bring pleasure to others. It's sickening. So don't give me that bullshit spiel about you know, you don't."

I couldn't stop the words flying at my mouth with pure adrenaline fuelled hatred towards men like Mason Rose and Jack Holland

The fight against my waterworks failed miserably as my face was now soaked and leaving me with me a warm, salty taste in my mouth.

Before I could hastily wipe them away, Maddox reached up and dried my eyes for me with the pads of his thumbs.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to blow up on you like that," I sniffled, slowly lifting my head up. "It's just.. I don't know, I just got a lot going on and I can't seem to continue this whole being strong act." I captured his soft brown orbs in a gaze that feels somewhat intimate.

Tori? Shut the fuck up.

Why are you opening up to this baller?!

He's the enemy!

Without saying a word, he pulls me into his broad chest and wraps me up like a snuggly blanket, my head buried between in his arms, the soft scent of his aftershave surrounded me, lingering in the small area around us.

"We may not be friends or anything, but I'm here if you ever wanna talk, Bella."

"No thanks, you've got the mind set of a 15 year old boy." I playfully restored, sniffling quietly, the gently vibrations reacting against my cheek as he chuckled.

"I didn't mean it anyway, I was just being polite." He teased, swaying us side to side.

"I'll pretend I believe you have a polite bone in your body, hmm." I responded.

"You'd be surprised."

I couldn't help but giggle a little.

Maddox wasn't so bad, I suppose, but I'm going to continue to religiously abide by my one rule.

"Everything okay out here?" My brothers voice peered behind me. "Jason saw you two rush out."

Eli - a little too late now, bro.

I stretched myself away from Maddox and turned to look at my brother who had a face full of mixed emotions; confusion, worry, flushed cheeks from the alcohol.

Red lipstick kiss marks staining his cheek and neck.

Gag. Fucking sicko.

"Yeah, fine." I replied with a tight smile. "Maddox was just comforting me."

"What for?" My brother rushed towards me, checking me over to make sure I wasn't harmed in any kind of way, for some reason - but I laughed, it was a cute brotherly thing to do. "Are you hurt? Did someone hurt you? I'll break their necks! Who was it?"

Placing a hand on my brothers clammily damp forearm, I say. "I'm fine, I'm not hurt," my features suddenly softened. "Maddox knows.. About what happened."

The look on my brothers face turned from frantic worry to downright sorrow, etched with a little confusion. "You told him about Jack?"

Oh god, no! No, no no no no.

"No," I snapped, cutting him off before he could say anything else that would land me in a lecture from one Maddox Hunter. "He knows about Mason." I glared, praying he gets the hint.

"Jack? Who's Jack?" Maddox asked curiously from beside me, tucking his hands into the front pockets of his dark wash, blue jeans.

"He's my old teammate. He and Tori," Eli began until he got one of my elbows in his ribs cutting him off, while I smiled like nothing happened.

"He's no one." I smiled.

Eli tried to capture his breath, groaning in pain. "Yeah. No one." he grunted breathlessly.

Maddox didn't look convinced, but luckily after tonight I'll be keeping my distance.

I can't allow myself to become anything more to this guy. Not if I have anything to do with it - which I will.

I have the will power of a fucking suffering mother trying to feed her child.