"Vodka, beer, or will you like to take it light and have soda?" Kayla asked with a tease in her voice.

I narrowed my eyes towards her.

"Vodka it is." She said pouring us each a drink.

We were currently standing in the kitchen. There weren't much people here because most were in the living room area. Kayla handed me the red cup.

"Are you ready to let loose a little?" She asked taking a sip from her cup.

I put the cup to my mouth and downed the cool liquid in the cup.

"Ugh." I said with my face twisted as the liquid burn my throat.

Kayla looked at me with wide eyes. "Whoa! It's not juice Lee. Take it easy."

"Did that answer your question?" I asked with a smirk on my lips.

Kayla smiled. "Hell yeah! Let's have some fun!" She said downing her own drink. Her facial expression mimicking my own. "I really don't know how people like this so much."

She grabbed my hand and tugged me to the center of the dance floor. "Now my friend, let's dance the night away!" She yelled over the loud music.

She took my hand and twirled me around in a circle causing me to break out in laughter.

Allowing the the music to take a hold of me. I followed the beat of the song, swaying my hips to it.

Somehow Ian and Luke made it to the dance floor for a few moments. I was able to introduce them to Kayla who was star struck. I don't blame her. Then they left saying we'll catch up later, but not before I stole Luke's drink. Which he was not happy about, he pouted his whole way off the dance floor.

Kayla somehow always finds a guy on the dance floor to dance with and that's what happened. But I didn't mind, I gave her two thumbs up and mouth 'Get it, girl'. To which she just shook her head to.

I felt a pair of hands grab my waist and twirl me around. "Jake Livingston?" I questioned looking at the tall hot blonde in front of me. Wow he's good looking. In any other instance I would have smacked the guy who did that, but I was shocked to see the person in front of me .

"So you do know me." He said with a boyish smile on his lips.

"Um, everyone knows you." I told him shyly. Ugh, why am I acting this way?

"But do I know you beautiful?" He questioned. I glanced over his shoulder to see a pair of darkened hazel eyes staring deep into my soul. Jace was leaning against the wall, a red cup in his hand. He brought it to his mouth taking a sip of what I assumed is alcohol. His eyes never leaving mine.

I smirked and focused my attention back to Jake. "Leah."

"Well Leah, will you dance with me?" He said holding out his hand.

I smiled at his gesture and place my hand in his. He twirled me around allowing me to face him. We danced for two songs and I'm not gonna lie I didn't know Jake Livingston had moves. He was a complete sweetheart while we danced, never tried to move his hands passed my waist.

"I didn't know that you can dance." I told him.

"Well there's a lot of things you don't know about me." He said with a smirk on his lips.

True.

"How about you get to know me?" He added.

I quirk an eyebrow at him, not quite sure what he meant.

Jake chuckled. "Just hang out with me for a bit. We can play some beer pong, dance, whatever you like."

I thought about it for a moment. "Sure, why not?" I said giving him a smile. "I never tried beer pong before."

Jake had a shocked looked on his face until it was replaced by a bright grin. "Awesome!" He pulled me off the dance floor and towards the table where the game was being played.

Jake and I ended up on a team and we faced off against two other guys who were on the basketball team. Jake helped me perfect my throw for the first couple of shots and after that we were on fire. Taking down the guys in front of us in a blink of an eye. We joked around a bit while still playing the game. He wasn't a bad guy.

Kayla seemed to have joined by my side for a bit chatting with Jake. They seemed to have hit it off.

Jake and I played a few more games, but he seemed to be getting more and more distracted by Kayla and I didn't mind at all. After our last game ended, I gave Kayla a thumbs up which caused a slight blush to rise to her cheeks.

Wow, she must like him!

I walked away trying to maneuver my way through other people and on top of that I was extremely thirsty after whooping ass in beer pong.

Almost at the kitchen, I came face to face with a hard chest. I looked up to meet dark blue eyes.

"Nate." I breathe out.

"Leah. Are you having fun?" He asked politely handing me the drink in his hand. It's like he read my mind.

I downed the drink in one gulp. "I am actually. Are you?"

"A bit, but I'll have more fun if I got one thing." He said.

"What's that?" I questioned.

" If you dance with me." He stated giving me his dazzling smile.

I quirk an eyebrow. "You want to dance?"

He nodded.

Nate is my friend. I'm sure one dance won't hurt. "Okay." I gave him a bright smile. This could be a step forward to being back to what we use to be.

Before Nate moved, whenever we went to any party he would be dance partner. We would dance the night away and forget about the people around us, even if it's a formal gathering.

He grabbed my hand and led me onto the dance floor. My eyes met Kayla, her eyebrows furrowed in confusion. I shrugged my shoulders and so did she and returned her attention back to Jake.

Nate placed his hands on my waist pulling me in close but still keeping a distance. We moved to beat of music, letting loose, our bodies following the rhythm.

"Remember when we use to dance the night away at all those formal parties?" Nate asked reminiscing.

I smiled. "Yeah, we didn't care who saw us or what we looked liked."

"How about that party that Mrs. Jenkins held?"

I laughed remembering that party. "Yes! How could I forget? That was the night we decided to come up with new dance moves. I don't think she liked the robot turned worm move."

Nate let out a laugh. "Yeah, not after I accidentally knocked a plater of shrimp cocktail out of the waiter's hand and onto Mrs. Jenkins."

"She was as red at the cocktail sauce." I added and Nate nodded a smile still evident on his lips.

We fell into a comfortable silence as we danced. It felt great to talk to Nate like we us to be. Like friends.

We danced for a few more songs until a slower paced song came on. I was about to excuse myself of the dance floor, but Nate grabbed my waist and pulled my body close to him.

My breath hitched.

His hand was on my lower back guiding my movements and his other clasped my own. Keeping a distance between us was hard, but not impossible.

Nate spun me out and back to him. My back now against his chest and I froze. After my attempts to not get this close, it still happened. In this position I could feel heat and the muscles of his body. My heart seeming to pick up its pace.

His hands made it down to my hips as he leaned in close to my ear and whispered "You look absolutely stunning tonight."

I can't do this.

He can't do this.

I tried to walk away, but a strong arm pulled me back. I faced Nate, his dark blue eyes stared into me. So many emotions swirling in them. I could pinpoint one. Regret? Desperation? Love?

Not love.

"Leah." He said softly taking a piece of my hair and tucking it behind my ear.

And just like that all the memories flood back in.

The denial, the rejection, the pain. I could feel the tears start to rise.

I turned around so fast and literally ran off the dance floor.

I ran into the kitchen. There wasn't anyone there as everyone was in the main area of the party. I grabbed a red cup and poured myself a drink, downed it and poured another.

I jumped on top of the counter and sat there reeling in my thoughts.

I promised myself I wouldn't cry over this. I did all my crying two years ago. But the pain filled my heart once more.

I took a sip out of my cup, when I saw Jace enter the kitchen, I seemed to have forgotten about him but not fully as he lingers in the back of my mind. I internally groaned. "Why are you here?" I just wanted to be left alone.

Jace placed his cup on the counter and walked over to me. His aura held dominance causing me to sit up straight. Whoa.

The thoughts of Nate took the back burner.

"Did you think your little dance and talking to the jock out there was going to make me jealous?" He asked standing right in front of me, we were now face to face.

His hazel eyes stared deeply into me. I was intrigued by them.

I smirked at him. "If it didn't, would you be here?" Seems like I'll be driving the beautiful car sooner than later.

Jace's lips morphed into a devious smirk.

"You know, not everything I do is to make you jealous."

"Oh? But it seems like you know how to play the game just like I do." He said leaning against the island across from me.

I shook my head at him, this is his game. But that doesn't mean I can't master it.

I smirked at him. "Are you scared that I might just beat you at your own game?"

Jace let out a deep chuckle that sent tingles down my back. "Sweetheart, I'm here to remind you of one little thing."

"And what's that?" I asked with a raised eyebrow.

He walked between my legs as I was still seated on the counter which surprised me. His hands grabbed my waist and pulled me closer to him. A soft gasp left my lips from his sudden movements.

He never broke eye contact. "That even in this little game, you belong to me."

Before I could say another word, he crashed his lips against my own.