"I'm surprised your mom even got you a car," I gasp as I look at Brittni's sixteenth birthday present.

"She's trying to make up for something," she rolls her eyes, beckoning me into the new Ford Focus.

"What's that?" I ask, buckling my seat belt.

"Everything," she smirks at me and I laugh.

Today is Friday, Brittni's birthday and a huge football game. As you can tell, this is the awesome present she got from her mom, and I'll be giving her my gift at the party tonight.

"Hurry up!" Brittni yells at a few of the freshmen cheerleaders that wanted to ride with us to the game. Brittni acts like she hates it, but I know she doesn't mind. She loves driving.

As far as my driving test, my instructor is usually the one pressing the brake. Oops.

"You do realize that they could just ride the bus, right?" I tell her, looking in the mirror to fix my make up.

"Of course," she turns to me with a smile. "But I'm a nice person."

"Right," I drag out and wait until the freshmen on our team get in the car.

The car ride seems excruciatingly boring with these young girls talking about hot upper-classmen. One of them being Colten Mathews.

I haven't talked to him much these past few days. I'm disgusted by what he did on Tuesday and it hasn't left my system the way he was smirking about it. Then, I heard later on that Brianna Gala 'hung out' with him that night. I only know because Angelique was throwing a tantrum about it the next day at practice. Gross really.

On that note, he hasn't been around the house much either. Him and Jackson still talk, but he doesn't come by like he used to. It's upsetting sometimes because I feel like my whole world is changing. I hadn't noticed how nice having their company was until it was gone.

I didn't fully forgive Jackson or Brittni, but I couldn't go my whole life with this grudge. If their happy, okay, I won't talk about it. Frankly, it grosses me out and makes me want to vomit all over the two of them, but they manage to keep their lovey-dovey stuff away from me.

"I'm glad to be away from that," I groan, adjusting the strap on my shoulder while we walk to the field.

"I know," Brittni huffs. "They're like a more annoying version of us at that age."

"True," I nod. "But I didn't really know much about the guys conquests, except my brother and Colten."

"That's also very much true," Brittni agrees. "Speaking of Colten, he's been a bit pissy lately. Do have any idea why that might be?"

I swallow, looking away from her as the heat crawls up my cheeks.

Why do I blush so easily?

"Nope," I finally answer. "Maybe he's PMSing."

Brittni nods, not seeming convinced, but she doesn't drag it out. I take a deep breath in relief and we both make our way to the rest of the team.

Colten and Jackson both have their helmets off and are throwing the football back and forth in the field. That's until my brother spots Brittni and he says something to his friend before heading our way.

My eyes instinctively take in Colten's appearance, and I feel his eyes on me. Something stirs in them, making my stomach swirl with excitement.

What the hell?

"Hey, babe," Jackson smiles at his girlfriend, kissing her forehead, thankfully. "Having a good birthday?"

"Yes I am, actually," she smiles "Thanks for the flowers and chocolate in first hour. And then lunch. And then a teddy bear after school."

"There's more where that came from," he winks at her and I gag.

"Okay," I twist my face in disgust. "That's enough. Come on, Brit let's go practice."

"I'll see you later," Brittni smiles at my brother before following me. "Sorry."

"It's fine," I swallow. I still hate the way this feels. Watching them be so happy together when I'm not apart of it. I know it sounds selfish, but I can't help it. I always thought I was a separate friend to both of them, and now they're each other's Rock.

•••

As the game whines down, my legs are shaking and my teeth are chattering. I feel like I may just freeze in this blistering cold, so once the buzzer rings Brittni and I are out of there.

"So why is James throwing this party and not Jackson?" I ask, fixing my make up as we head to the party, both of us still in our uniforms.

"Jackson's helping," she rolls her eyes. "I guess his house is bigger, but I think that's just an excuse for not wanting to clean the mess."

I laugh. "Probably."

"I don't mind," she shrugs, pulling up to the house. "I'm not used to having a birthday party anyway."

"That's not true," I shake my head, thoughtfully. "You had that huge blow out when you turned five."

She turns at me, giving me that 'are-you-kidding-me?' look.

"Okay," I agree. "But this is you're sixteenth birthday, it means something!"

"I know," she replies. "I just wish my mother would put as much thought into me as you and Jackson."

"You and me both, sister," I sigh.

It sucks not having parents around, especially with birthdays. Usually, I always get a late card with a hundred dollars in it or something. Never anything thoughtful. I guess that's what happens when your parents want to live out their life while leaving their adolescent children at home.

"Okay, no more sulking, let's go party!" Brittni cheers and I get out of the car with her.

Once we get inside, it's a huge difference than the cold October air. Sweaty bodies mash together grossly and couples make out against walls and couches.

"There's Jackson!" Brittni shouts over the music, pointing to my brother who is on a couch talking to his friends.

I follow Brittni over to her boyfriend, letting them say hello before Jackson hugs me.

"You're not drinking tonight right?" He asks, looking stern.

Of course that's what he would say first.

"Nope," I smile falsely at him. He frowns and I look around the room, trying to find anyone else I know so I won't have to be around the love birds to long.

I'm about to walk away when something stops me in my tracks. How'd I know this would happen?

My eyes can't seem to leave Colten and his flavor of the night as they make out on the couch. I swallow harshly, trying not to think to much of it before walking away, towards the kitchen.

I grab a Dr. Pepper out of the cooler and welcome the ice cold burn that it brings to my dry throat.

The image of Colten with that girl flashes in my memory and I try to push it away.

I should not be feeling like this. Why would he ever want a fifteen year old anyway? He has many seniors he can go for, I don't understand why I'm feeling hurt. Sure, we kissed twice, but that doesn't necessarily mean anything does it? How could it? He went off and slept with another girl right after it.

"You okay, there? Looks like your killing your soda." I turn around in time for Dustin to steady me. He's smiling.

"Oh," I cover my hand over my heart. "It's just you."

"Just?" He teases. Guys and their egos.

"That's not what-"

"I'm kidding," he smiles, taking a sip out of his cup. "What have you been up to?"

"Nothing much," I shrug. "Just the normal fifteen year old things."

He laughs and if it isn't the sexiest sound I've ever hear. "Cool, cool. You want to explain to me why your brother is with your best friend right now?"

I follow his thumb gesture to where my brother and best friend are snuggled up on the couch, laughing about something.

"They're dating," I take a sip of my pop with a grimace.

"Really?" He says in shock. "When'd this happen?"

"A week ago for me, about two or three for them," I explain. The facts pour off my tongue sourly.

"How do you feel about that?" He asks genuinely curious. "To me it seems pretty fucking weird."

I giggle. "It is weird. I don't like it at all, but what am I supposed to do about it? They make each other happy."

"Wow," he smirks. "You're so cool with this when you know Jackson would freak if he even found out you hugged a guy."

He's got that right.

"Eh," I shrug.

I guess I'm being pretty calm about the whole thing when I know for a fact that Jackson would have a coronary if I ever did this. I guess that's just where my brother and I are different. He's the hotheaded and irrational sibling while I'm the more calm and understanding one. It's a perfect combination.

"Would you like to dance?" Dustin asks, sipping the last of the liquid out of his cup.

I'm about to say no when I look over to see Jackson and Brittni gone. I spot them heading up the stairs and I almost throw up.

"Sure," I smile at him, chugging the last of my pop.

I grab Dustin's hand and lead him to where the mass of dancing bodies are.

I turn around and start rubbing my backside against Dustin, my intentions only fueling when I see Colten is whispering something into the girl he's with, making her blush.

I grind my teeth together and focus on my movements against Dustin. His hands are on my hips and even though it's a feeling I welcome, I can't help, but imagine they're Colten's.

When I look over at him again, he's all over the girl. My anger and something along the lines of jealousy burn through my body. I blame this on why I turn to Dustin as soon as Colten looks up at me.

"What're you doing?" He asks when I grip the front of his shirt, pulling him flush against me.

"Shut up and kiss me," I demand and he smirks before leaning in. Our lips barely brush against each other when I'm ripped away from the muscular man. I watch as Colten shoves Dustin away.

"I thought I told you to stay away from her," Colten growls, gripping Dustin's shirt. "Now here you fucking are, you piece of shit-"

"Colten!" I shriek, finally coming to my senses and pulling him away from Dustin Capri. "Stop, what the hell is your problem?"

"My problem?" He snarls, his eyes flaming into pits of fire.

"Yes you're-"

Colten growls and grips my wrist, dragging me behind him.

"Hey!" I shout, trying to stick my heels into the ground, but he won't stop. "What are you doing?"

"Shut up," he snaps making me growl. "Get in the car."

I didn't even notice we got outside.

"No," I stubbornly say, crossing my arms over my chest.

"If you don't get in the fucking at right now, Nikki, I'll tell Jackson all about what you've been up to this past year," he growls lowly, my insides turning uneasily.

I try to keep up my confident facade even when I get into his truck. He slams the door after me, hopping in a minute later.

"You're lucky I don't go back and kill him," Colten angrily says, gripping the steering wheel.

"I don't see why you would," I snap, feeling the anger course through me as well.

"You're joking right?" He bites back, looking at me for a second.

"No," I narrow my eyes at him. "I'm not."

"Well, then you're a lot more stupid than I thought you were."

His hurtful words tear something inside me and when we pull up into my empty driveway, I hurriedly get out.

"Nikki!" He shouts after me, a slam of a car door following.

"Go away!" I shout back. "I don't even know why you are still here!"

"Don't walk away from me," he demands, grabbing my arm as soon as I open the door.

"Leave me alone," I growl through clenched teeth. The last thing I need is Colten bugging me after he deliberately tried getting me in trouble.

"No," he says. I try to push passed him again, but this time he doesn't take it lightly. Instead, I'm pushed against the wall with a debatable amount of force. My back stings from the sensation.

Colten leans his forearms on either side of my head, his body pushed against mine making me bite my lip to hold back a moan. Why do I always feel this way around him?

"I'm not letting you leave again," he whispers, his eyes darting down to my lips then back to my eyes. "Not again."

My breath hitches in my throat as his face gets closer to mine. I don't even try to stop. I let his lips cover mine in such a way my toes curl inside my shoes.

___________________