"How's your nose?" Jackson asks when we get into his truck.

"Sore," I mumble and try not to look at Colten. I'm worried he'll tell Jackson about what happened earlier. Not that he knows anything, but he's suspicious. Anyone can tell that much.

"Okay, well you can take your pain killers once we get in," he nods then turns his attention to Colten. "Am I supposed to drop you off at your house?"

He shrugs. "I'm not heading over to Angelique's until six."

Angelique? The very...exposed and open senior? Colten is hanging out with her? That's not true. Colten doesn't just hang out with girls, he sleeps with them.

For some reason, my stomach stirs unsettling. I don't know what it is, but I don't like it. I don't want him and Angelique together in that way...I just need to figure out why.

"Alright-t," he loudly chants, nudging Colten's side proudly.

Colten smirks, and punches his shoulder. "When are you going to try and get laid?"

Jackson smirks, rubbing a hand over his weeks worth of stubble on his jaw. "Actually, I'm taking Jacqueline out tonight."

"Ooo," Colten grins mockingly. "Jacqueline!"

"Be quiet," he mumbles and we finally arrive home. I almost fall out of the car from wanting to escape as fast as I can. I hate when my brother talks about his one night stands. It makes me sick.

"Nikki!" Jackson calls after me. "What's the rush?"

"I have to go throw up now!" This makes the boys laugh and start playfully wrestling in the front yard.

Boys.

•••

"Alright," Jackson kisses my forehead, grabbing his keys from the table. "I won't be back late. Keep the door locked and no one can come over."

I roll my eyes. "I got you. Besides, I already have a quiz in two days so I'll be studying for that. Have fun with your flavor of the week."

He scoffs. "Flavor of the day, actually."

I slap his chest and push him out the door. He laughs at me obnoxiously so I stick my tongue out at him and slam the door shut.

"Bleh!" He yells through the doors making me giggle. My brother is absolutely crazy.

I walk up to my room and turn on my ihome, playing my current favorite songs. It's when I'm in the middle of studying, I hear my phone beep.

I guess I could take a break.

So, I swipe my finger across the screen that shows up with Adam's name.

Adam and I have gotten along pretty well today, surprisingly, and I don't mind talking to him.

I'm about to shoot down his offer when I realize that I'm extremely bored. Brittni isn't an option since she's out on a date with Nathan and my brother isn't home. The house is rarely left to myself and I'm lonely.

I'm not sure about my idea of having Adam over , I mean this could end badly, but I also think we've been getting along great. As of today, that is. He made me laugh, never brought up what happened between us, and overall was just really awesome to be around.

I don't want that to end just yet. Maybe my reasoning is stupid, immature and selfish, but it's nice to have someone to talk to. Adam was always a good listener. Always good at giving advice as well.

I put my school work away and the second after I turn my music down to a lower volume, there's a knock on the door.

"Coming!" I yell and race down the stairs, opening the door which reveals Adam in comfortable clothing.

"I come baring Doritos," he holds out a bag of my favorite chips, remembering when I told him.

I smile. "Thanks, that's awesome."

I remember I didn't eat dinner and that just fuels my appetite for the best chips known to man.

"We can go up to my room," I tell him. "Jackson isn't home."

He nods and I lead him up to my room even though I know he's been here before. It was only once or twice I let him come to my house, it was when Jackson wasn't home obviously. We didn't do anything, just watched movies, talked and maybe kissed.

I sit down on my bed, while he takes my spiny desk chair. Testing it out, he spins around once, almost tipping it in the process. I laugh.

"Nice," I smile smugly.

"Hey," he playfully glares. "Maybe if you'd get a sturdier chair this wouldn't happen."

I stick my tongue out at him and take the bag of Doritos he brought, already digging in.

"Damn," he whistles. "Nothing is more attractive than a woman shoving her face with nacho cheese chips."

I throw a seasoned tortilla chip at him, hitting him right on the forehead where he squints his eyes and rubs the spot I nailed him.

"Oh my gosh," I laugh, choking on a Dorito in the process. Adam, hurries over to me and pats my back like a maniac, making fun of doctors I guess.

"It's okay," he soothes in a girlie voice only making me laugh harder. "I'll make it better."

"Shut up!" I push at his chest, swallowing the chip that was lodged in my throat.

He chuckles, and then everything goes silent. Our eyes meet each other's, glueing together. The only sound in the room is the soft music still playing from my radio.

"You have such pretty eyes," he mumbles, making me blush.

It's like a magnet forces us together, or some invisible force. Because the next thing I know, my mouth is on his and were kissing each other like our life depends on it.

"Mm..." Angelique lets out a high pitch moan when I lay her on the bed and grind myself against her covered body. "Harder."

I discard what she says and instead start taking off her clothes.

There's something in the back of my mind, though, a voice telling me to stop. There's this feeling that yells at me to go find somebody else. That I shouldn't be wasting my time on this girl.

I look down, but instead of seeing Angelique's face, I'm met with the outline of Nikki's. Her big brown eyes, her plump lips, God...those lips.

I shake my head. Fuck no. I need to stop thinking about her like this. I need to forget all about my messed up feelings for her.

But I can't. Not after the kiss. I could never forget that.

"Would you come save me now, Prince Charming," Nikki whines. I smile before climbing up the small ladder that lead to our tree house.

"Coming, my princess," I said and keep climbing until I'm at the top with her.

"My Prince Charming is that you?" She asked. She was always such a good actress. I loved playing with her, especially this game. It was my favorite only because she looked at me like I was her prince and hero. I loved that. Though I would never say that to her. Besides she was six and I was eight. I thought that she was too young.

"Yes, princess it's me. Here to save you," I said and placed my hand in her's.

"Let's go," I instructed and I helped her down the wobbly ladder without falling.

"Thank you," she said and I bowed. She smiled at me, leaned over and gave me a soft peck on the cheek. I was a little thrown off, but I know now is my perfect chance.

"Nikki, you do realize my lips are right here?" I told her and pointed to my lips. She stood there wide eyed.

"Are you sure?" She asked softly and I took her hand in mine, trying to make it seem like the movies.

"Yes,"I said and she leans forward. Our lips touched and we stayed like that for a couple seconds. Until....

"What the hell are you doing with my sister?!" I heard Jackson yell from the back porch. Oh no. He'd told me many times not to touch his beloved sister. This is the last straw though, I can tell.

Before I could process what was happening Jackson walked up and punched me right in the nose. I fell backwards in pain.

Later that night, he gave me another long speech about staying away from her. Being more clear he said if I ever touched her again I would regret it. So I started being a complete asshole to her. Now she hated me, I don't really blame her, though.

Even as a child Jackson had a colorful vocabulary. His parents used to get on him about it, but that didn't stop him. It became so frequent that they just gave up.

Now, as I think back to that day, I ask myself why I gave up? It wasn't just a crush. It was so much more. It still is. I still want her the same way I did back then, maybe more serious now that we're older, but nonetheless. And back to that feeling, she's with someone right now. I can't feel it.

I need to leave.

"Wait," I pull away from Angelique, rolling my bottom lip into my mouth. "I can't do this."

As I get off of her, trying to find my shirt, she sits up at looks at me in disbelief. "You can't be serious."

I grunt a shit response and slide my shirt back on, as I'm about to leave she grabs my arm and I turn around to face her. Let her down easy.

"I have other places to be," I say not to nicely. There goes the whole letting down easy thing.

"Wh-" she opens a closes her mouth, looking somewhat like a fish.

With one shrug of my shoulder to swipe her hand off me, I'm out the door and into my beat up Ford truck.

I speed away, my tires squeaking against the pavement as I turn on to the main road. Every fiber in my body is telling me to fuck the law and speed to Jackson's. I would too.

I curse under my breathe at the sight of a car in her driveway. It's not Jackson's, either. I'm going to lose my shit in point three seconds.

I throw open the door to my truck, the old hinges squeaking in protest. Even when I slam my truck door shut, I don't release any of my irritation or anger.

I can't live like this anymore.

If she's in there with another guy - like I have a feeling she is - I don't know if I'll be able to hold myself back. Even if they aren't doing anything.

I get my key to their house out of my pocket and test the door only to see its unlocked. She left the fucking door unlocked!

Growling under my breath, I trudge up the stairs, stopping when I hear something that makes me that much more angry.

"Mm...Adam," the soft moan is heard in my ears. I know it's her. I wish it wasn't, but it is.

It'd be different if she was moaning for me.

I clench my fists, throwing open the door, almost letting the sight in front of me waver my appearance.

There - my first kiss - is laying on her bed only in her lace pantie and bra set with a shirtless Adam between her thighs. His lips are on her neck, while her hips are lifting towards him and I nearly blow up.

"Oh my god! Colten!" She shrieks, finally noticing me. She covers up, as Adam stumbles off of her.

Hell no.

I'm lunging at him before I can think logic before reasoning.

____________________