"You going to CJ's party tonight?" Monica asked while they were in class. It was the last period of the day, and everyone was buzzing about their basketball team's recent win, achieved by her brother and the team captain, CJ Hartfeld. A lot of people suspect Chris was going to take over as team captain once CJ headed off to college, despite Spencer Hayes being co-captain. Him and Spencer have been butting heads lately but regardless, they still worked together pretty well.

And because of last night's victory, CJ was having an open invite house party to celebrate, meaning booze, dancing and possibly some third base action. "I️ guess so," Maya shrugged. "I️ mean, if Chris is going..."

Just then, she caught sight of Nick in the hallways. He nodded towards her as he passed her by, acknowledging her presence. She gave him a small smile before continuing on her way.

"No way," Monica gasped, "since when are you and Nick Brewer friendly?" She asked.

"I️ mean, I babysit his brother so, we're cool I️ guess," Maya offered as an explanation. "You think he's going to the party?" She asked her.

Monica laughed as if she asked a silly question. "Are you serious? Nick Brewer is the keg king," she emphasized. "Whenever's there's a party, Nick's there," she says. "You going?" She asked.

"Yeah," she sighed. "If my brother's going, I️'m going," she stated. The bell rang, and Maya said, "See you tonight?"

"How about I️ come over and we get ready together?" Monica suggested, making her smile.

"That sounds like so much fun. I'll see you later then," Maya waved before heading to class. On her way, she spotted Nick talking to Alicia Fuentes, although it looked more like flirting than talking with the way he leaned in closed and she giggled at whatever he was saying. She then let her hand linger down his chest before leaving him hanging , making him turn to watch her walk away. They lock eyes in the hallway once more before she turned away.

* * * *

"The rules are simple," Chris said as he drove both his Starr and Monica to the party. "Stay out of my way. Don't embarrass me. Don't leave without letting me know," he listed out. "You got that?" He asked her.

"Mhmm...." she simply hummed, looking out the window.

"Maya this is serious. I️ don't want to have to tell mom and dad I️ lost their child because you refused to listen-"

"Don't worry so much Chris," Monica stepped in, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder. "I'll be by her for most of the night," she promised.

Chris looking reached a stop sign and looked over at her with a raised eyebrow. "Most of the night?" He questioned.

"Okay, the entire night. You happy now?" Monica sassed him.

He relaxed a bit when she said that. "Better," he said as they turned into CJ's street. A mixture of nervousness and excitement bubbles in the pit of her stomach as she got out the car alongside Monica and her brother. She didn't go to many parties, it just wasn't her scene. The thought of loud music and crowded homes made her uncomfortable. And she didn't like alcohol, the idea of acting like an idiot in front of your friend didn't sound appealing to her. But at least they couldn't film people's drunken actions and show as many people as possible.

They entered the party and immediately, her brother was engulfed warmly by her basketball buddies, with her being greeted as a formality and an afterthought. She followed Monica's lead towards the kitchen where the drinks were and she happily poured herself a cup. "You want one?" She offered.

Maya shook her head no and said, "Maybe later." The house was decked out with streamers hung around the room, balloons all over the ground and confetti. Some people were already very drunk and were hanging off each other in the middle of the living room as Prince's "When Doves Cry" blared from CJ's state of the art speaker system.

They greeted all their classmates as they wove through the crowd to make their way outside to the backyard where it seems like all they action was happening. Kyler Martin and few others from his gang were holding Nick upside down over the keg. She had never seen someone do a keg stand before. She watched as his hair was hanging above him, the curls catching the last of the sun's rays. His blue button up was completely open and was subsequently hanging around his head as he hung upside down. Maya had to bite her lip as her eyes ran across the taunt muscles in his arms as he held some of his weight himself.

There was a round of cheers as he dropped back to the floor and through his hands up in the air. Someone shoved a cup of whatever tonight's punch was and he knocked it back in one, cringing slightly at the amount of spirits. He smirked wickedly as he met Maya's eyes, immediately making a beeline to where she was stood. Her eyes were glued to the drops meandering down his tan chest as he walked over. "Maya Johnson at a party?" He questioned. "Am I️ seeing correctly or did I️ drink too much already?" He teased.

Maya smiled at him. Was Nick a happy drunk? "Could be both," she joked, making them both laugh.

"I'm gonna go....anywhere else but here," Monica excused herself. "Nice seeing you again Nick," she says as she passes him by, leaving them alone.

"She always this warm and fuzzy?" He asked.

"Only to you," she replied.

They then stood there, looking at each other, not sure what else to do. "You want a drink?" He offered.

"Oh no, I️ don't-"

Nick lets out a snort. "Of course you don't. Don't even know why I️ asked," he mutters, making her face fall. "You are a church girl after all, aren't you?" He taunted. "Probably gotta go home an hour after this-"

"Screw you, Nick," she scoffed, walking away from him. She couldn't believe for like five seconds, she thought he was a decent person. This always happens with him. He'll be sweet one second and then completely harsh the next. She soon found herself back in the kitchen, watching a couple members of the basketball team take shots and laugh drunkenly, having a good time.

She swallowed thickly before grabbing a cup. "Y'all think you can pour me a cup?" She asked.

* * * *

He...was an idiot.

They were getting too close, and it made him uncomfortable. Not in a bad way, just in a way he didn't know how to deal with. So he did what does best. Be an asshole.

And now she was lost among a sea of drunken high school students. He'd be lying if he said he wasn't worried about her. He reached the

kitchen to drink some more. He was too in his head, meaning he wasn't drunk enough. He took a couple more shots, scanning the living room for any signs of her.

His eyes found Monica instead, looking incredibly cozy to Maya's older brother. He debated asking her, and then though against it. Probably wouldn't do him any good to disrupt them, especially her brother. Instead, he just knocked back another shot before his eyes settling on a pretty brunette that he's noticed been eyeing him since he's gotten there. He gave her a sly wink, making her giggle.

Just as she made her move, he spots Maya making her way out the front door, drink in hand. He steps forward and follows after her, although not being able to quite reach her. She walks out the door, and sits on the front steps of the porch, sipping her drink alone. Nick watches her for a bit before deciding to join her, sitting right next to her. She side eyes him but doesn't move.

"Can I️ help you?" She asked, sounding a bit upset and annoyed.

Nick looked at the cup in her hands. "How many of those have you had?" He asked.

Maya rolls her eyes. "Why?" She sniffs. She then stands up, but she stands up too fast and almost falls over. Nick gets up alongside her and helps steady her, but that only seemed to piss her off more. "Get your hands off of me!" She smacked him away from her. "God Nick, what's your damage?" She asks him.

"What are you talking about?" He says. "I️ was just trying to help you!"

She just scoffs at him. "I️ don't get you," she snaps. "One minute you're a complete asshole, the next you're trying to be nice to me. It's confusing!" She yells as him. "You're confusing!"

"You think I️ don't know that? Being around you is confusing!" He blames. "You're confusing me!"

Maya looks at him in surprise. "Oh so what? It's my fault you're acting so weird? Get a grip," she tells him off. "It's not my fault you're so screwed up," she mutters.

There's a long pause between them as her words sink in.

"It's not my fault either," he says quietly before walking off.

Maya immediately felt a pang of guilt. "Wait!" She runs to catch up to him. "Wait, Nick I️ didn't mean that-"

"But you did, didn't you?" He turns to face her as they were on the sidewalk now.

"I'm drunk!"

"Drunk minds speak sober truths or whatever," he replies. "You meant that shit."

"I️ mean, yes but I️ didn't want it to come out like that. I️ just meant-"

Nick stops walking, making her almost bump into him. He turns to face her. "You come into my house, you witness one incident and you think you know everything? Huh?" He flips the switch on her. "You don't know anything. When will you get that through your thick skull?" He shouts.

"But I️ want to!" She yells back. "But you're so closed off! What else am I️ supposed to do but fill in the blanks myself?" She says in a softer tone now.

Nick shakes his head. "You don't know who you're messing with sweetheart. I'll just ruin you," he admits. "You? You're good. You got everything going for you. Now why would you want to mess with, like you said, someone as screwed up as me?" He asked. "You bored or something?" He assumes. "Or do you just wanna piss of your daddy?"

"Maybe both?" She shrugs, making him smile a bit. She then reaches out to touch him, but he catches her wrist, eyeing it before looking at her again. "I️ know there's more to you Nick," she states.

"You can't change me Maya. I'm hopeless," he doubts. She moves closer, but thats when he lets go of her wrist. "Don't waste your time," he mutters before turning to walk home.

_______________________________

He's so annoying.....fuck it's hot.

So whaddya think? Also, if it flew over some of y'alls head...they admitted they liked each other in their own weird way.

So how would y'all think about me adding a second love interest in the present storyline? (And it's not Elijah, Carolina.....or Vijay, don't even think about it. It's someone entirely new.) although if I️ did that, I️ think that would mean I️ would make an entire second book. Oh well, y'all let me know.

Fun fact: I️ posted the last chapter while crossfaded. I️ was like ?????? When I️ woke up and saw comments and then remembered I️ did after I️ came back from a (lame ass) house party.