Ryder was here, right here, in my front yard. He looked really good leaning against his car.

"Ryder."

"Octavia." he said and I seen his fist clench, why was he mad, shouldn't I be the one to be mad.

"Hey you guys are back finally-" Maya said, running from her house to my front yard but, once she noticed the tension she stopped.

Ryder was so mad, he has no right to be, if I'm being honest. I avoided his gaze as best as I could, it was just too intense for me. Someone has to do something, so I did.

I went to Maya giving her the case of beers I was holding, "Here take these inside, I'll be in there in a minute."

Maya narrowed her eyes and I gave her the same look I gave Jacob that night, making her automatically go.

"Alright you better be, come on Jake." she said, going to the door with Jake right behind her.

I watched them all the way and once they were inside I looked at Ryder. Who I already knew was looking at me.

"You're having a party?" he asked coldly and closed off.

I mentally sighed, "It was Jakes idea-"

"But you went along with it." he stated, almost glaring at me, what's wrong with him?

He's the one who ditched me not the other way around, "Yeah I went along with it because, it seemed fun why do you care?" I asked, my tone steady and serious.

It's crazy how fast he manages to push my buttons ever since the first night we met, "Get in the car." he spoke even more serious than me somehow.

"What no-"

"Octavia." he said cutting me off and opening the car door, I guess he seemed how skeptical I looked, "I'll bring you back in a minute now get in." he said with that authority voice.

I sighed and got in the car as he shut the door and got in the drivers seat, "Put your seatbelt on."

This is all he said to me for a couple minutes. The grip he had on the steering wheel was deadly he still must of been mad. Ryder only drove four streets away from my house. He parked the car in this random drive way but, I didn't get a chance to look at the house. Because, before I knew it my back was now facing it and all I saw was Ryder.

He had me straddled on his hips and my cheeks instantly flushed. I didn't know what to do, his gaze was making it worse.

"I care because, I don't want you to get wasted like the first night I saw you and then have filthy guys try and touch what's mine, that's not okay." he said, all while roaming his hands up my thighs and my arms until he was cupping my face between his big hands.

I felt like I was floating, how could he be so sweet yet so mean. It's not fair, I sighed mentally, but I must of did it out loud because, Ryder stopped touching me.

"What's wrong?" he asked almost immediately, "Is this because of the walk I swear to you, I didn't come because of a-a family issue." he stuttered, but this time I didn't giggle he sounded almost sincere.

When I say almost, it was like I felt he was lying. I didn't want to question him though so I shook my head.

"That's okay, um can we go back now I don't want people showing up and I'm not there." I spoke with a slight smile.

He sighed and gripped my hips as he stared in my eyes. Then he brought one hand up to my cheek caressing it softly. To say I wasn't affected by this small touch would be such a fib. It made my insides melt and my heart ache to be closer to him.

"Can we try the walk tomorrow my love?" he asked and that was enough to have the zoo in my stomach again, not to mention my flushed cheeks.

I bit my lip out of nervousness and nodded my head only being able to hum in response, "Mhm."

He smiled that perfect smile of his then moved his thumb taking my lip from my teeth, "You're so cute."

Could this guy destroy me anymore?

•••

Remember when I said that this party wouldn't get like the movie Project X, well I was wrong. I was so wrong.

The ride back with Ryder was very nice he insisted he needed his hand on my thigh to concentrate, yeah, okay. I personally think he did it on purpose to see me blush. When we were almost there he parked the car around the corner. Then he kissed my cheek telling me to behave myself and to be safe. I thought it was really sweet.

Now things couldn't be more out of hand. I was drunk like really drunk. I was the host so boys and girls, I knew of course, offered me to take drink after drink with them. They were all of my old high school friends, I couldn't deny them. Some guys even got out of control and broke a couple things.

The house was a complete mess and I didn't know where Jake or Maya were. I also found out what my mom wanted to tell me this morning, it was that Liam was coming back. Liam, as in Jeremy's best friend. This night just keeps getting crazier and crazier. I haven't seen him yet but, I have a feeling I'm about too.

I stumbled into the kitchen gripping the counter so I could clear my blurry vision. I then went to grab a beer and made my way back to the living room. That's when I heard another vase break, I'm so dead. I looked at my beer and it reminded me of the encounter with Ryder.

So I decided to call him in which he immediately picked up, "H-hi Ryder." I stuttered, knowing I slurred a little.

"Hi Octavia, are you alright?" he asked, clearly concerned.

"Oh I'm great." I replied, drinking some of the beer from the bottle, "Are y-you alright?" I giggled.

"Yes I'm perfect now that you've called, are you sure you don't want me to come over there?" It may be the alcohol but, I think he really cares about me.

That's when I seen him, Liam.

"Liam." I said out loud in surprise, I didn't mean to I was just so shocked to see him.

He was in the doorway of the house, shaking hands with some guys as he came in. My brother was at his side and I can definitely say, Liam never lost his looks.

"Who the fuck is Liam? Are you with a guy right now? Are you serious Octavia!" I heard him shout with anger in his tone.

It was enough to kind of sober me up. I knew Ryder got mad but I've never heard him like this before.

I seriously needed to learn to say stuff in my head and my head only.