"Do you see what I see?" Clay's voice is full of amazement. He asks without even looking at me. His gaze focuses on the girl, and a smug smile illuminates his face. Yeah, he tried to flirt with her last night, asking for her name and promising to figure it out on his own when she refused to tell him.

"Hey Clay," Layla murmurs, leaning in and giving a quick hug to my best friend. Then, she whirls to me, beaming. She's a beautiful girl, the whole package even: great ass with round hips, big boobs and narrow waist. Her chocolate brown eyes peel to my face, lingering on my mouth. Did I mention that once I helped her to her room because she was totally wasted, and she tried to kiss me? No? Well, I didn't talk with anyone about it, not even Clay. The last thing I need is her brother being on my back. "Hello Colton."

"Hey." I mutter, her fruity scent envelopes me as she hugs me and gives me a loud smooch on my cheek. She pushes boundaries and I don't like it even a little bit.

"Are you going to introduce your best friend to us?" Clay glances between Layla and the freshman. Benson's sister steps back, wraps her arm around her friend's waist and grins at us. Does she know what happened yesterday? I hope this girl kept silent about the slap, for her own sake.

"Looks like you already know everything." She exclaims cheerfully, sneaking a glance at Drake. "My big brother told you about my bestie, didn't he?"

"I did." Drake is pleased with himself, just smiling at his sister and her friend. Did I take his previous reaction all wrong? I frown, keeping my eyes on my teammate. Anything is better than looking at that fucking girl.

"Well, a little introduction won't hurt, right?" Layla chimes. "Even if you met already."

"Meaning?" Her brother asks, furrowing his brow.

"It's not the first time I've met your sister's best friend." Clay's eyes travel her length. "This beauty refused to tell me her name though. Right, Ava?"

"Circumstances, you know?" The girl smirks and my best friend snorts. He's loving their interaction, and how she responds to him, while I feel annoyance spilling in my veins. "I didn't think it was appropriate."

"Why?" Drake insists, and I see as she locks eyes with him. This second it hits me. I'm so right! It gives me an ace up my sleeve because I'm hundred percent sure Layla doesn't have a clue about her brother and her best friend. My body warms up and I almost grin from satisfaction. You chose the wrong guy to piss off, girl.

"Does it matter?" The girl tilts her head to the side, narrowing her eyes on Benson.

"Nope." He scowls, taking a sip of his beer.

"Ahem, so, Clay, Colton, this is Ava. She's my best friend in the whole world." Layla looks at Clay and me in turns, her gaze lingers on my face. "Be nice. She's precious."

"And gorgeous." Clay almost purrs. I wonder how long it will take for Drake to put him in his place. With how his grip on the bottle tightens, I'm not sure he has enough patience. "Say, Ava, can I get you a drink?"

"Rodgers." Drake warns, and I almost feel pity for him. Almost. No matter what I think about this girl, it's not fair to forbid guys from the team from pursuing her... until he stakes his claim, that is. "Wasn't I clear enough?"

"Oh, come on!" Layla whimpers. "Don't tell me you're extending your rules on Ava too!"

"What if I am?" Benson stares at his sister unbothered. She sucks in air, her eyes widening.

"What's going on?" The girl bites her bottom lip, looking between the Benson siblings.

"You're off limits for the hockey team, love." Clay states. "Drake's rules."

The girl blinks, her mouth forms a little o. I fold my arms across my chest, curious about her reaction. She doesn't come across like the type to disobey. She's a good girl, who tries hard to make everyone believe she's a rebel. It's obvious. She takes a deep breath and turns to her right to face her best friend. "I want to dance."

"Um... oh, well... let's go dance then." Layla takes her hand in hers and a second later they both disappear from the view.

"Looks like you're free to do whatever you want." My best friend claps Benson on his back. "Your babysitting hours are over."

"You don't know her." Drake shakes his head, then he runs his palm over his face. "I pissed her off."

"And?"

"And I better go and find myself more beer." Benson sneers and marches away from us.

"I have no idea what the hell is going on here." Rogers lines up with me, staring at Drake's back moving further and further away from us. "You?"

"We will see if I'm right." I shrug, taking a swig of my beer.

"Not going to share your guesses with me? With your best friend?" Clay whines loudly, barely hiding his smile.

"No."

"As always." He rolls his eyes, looking around. "I honestly thought you were going to kick her out of the house. You were fuming yesterday, so I was sure you were going to flip and send her packing... It's even strange that I was wrong."

"There is still time." I have something more damaging for her than just kicking her out of the party. Only if I'm right, of course.

"Let's find the others. They should be outside, by the pool." Clay suggests and I nod in agreement. I came here to have fun, and as long as that girl stays as far away as possible from me, I'm good. I think.

Three hours later, I make my way back to the house. We ran out of beer, and I volunteered to go get it. Not because I want to get drunk, but because I'm the soberest among my crew. I'm not even sure Clay saw me leave. The past 30 minutes or so, he has been too busy shoving his tongue down some girl's throat. Probably another freshman since I clearly have never seen her on campus. Well, we all have bad habits, right? Some weaknesses. My best friend has a soft spot for girls, thinking he's too young to settle down and date someone. He hasn't had a girlfriend since we were freshmen, and he's fine like that. Just like I am.

On my way to the kitchen, I notice Benson. He's in the worst mood possible from what I see. His lips pursed into a thin line and brows knit together, while his arms are folded across his chest. I walk straight up to him and stop by his side, following his sight with my eyes. Why am I not surprised?

Layla dancing among the crowd of people. Some dude has his hands plastered to Benson's sister's hips, moving along with her as she grinds her ass over his groin. If I were him, I probably would have wanted to kill the guy too. Or just punch him in the face. Either way, I have no idea how he's dealing with Layla's behavior. She's full of mischief and has a dirty mind. A very very dirty mind.

"Are you planning his murder?" I ask, and he spins to look at me. "I can lend you a hand, if you want it."

"No." Drake laughs, relaxing a bit. "Just observing."

"The way I see it, Layla is just having fun." I muse, as his sister gyrates and wraps her arms around this guy's neck.

"Nothing unusual. She hangs out with Tray sometimes." I meet his gaze, seeing a smile playing on his lips. "I know the guy."

"Really? Looking at you I thought you were planning how would be the best way to kill him." I comment, and Drake only shakes his head.

"Definitely not." He sighs and then adds. "I wasn't even looking at her."

No? I frown, watching the crowd with more attention, and a moment later I know what he means. The freshman is dancing a bit further away from Layla. She's on some kind of pedestal so it's easy to follow her every move. Very sexy moves.

I shake my head as if I'm a wet dog, shuddering to get rid of water in my fur, trying to clear my mind from this stupid thought. She's not sexy. At all. Yet, my brain begs to differ. I let my eyes wander all over her body, feeling like my veins are ready to blow up from the heat forming in my abdomen. Shit!

Looking away, I grit my teeth. This girl is playing on my nerves. I honestly want her gone. Literally. "Is the bestie a problem?" I clear my throat, my voice sounding husky.

"Not really." I'm not going to listen to him anymore. I'm kicking her out. Now.

Barreling through the crowd of people, I keep my eyes on her, and it's a total mistake. The closer I get, the hotter I feel. My freaking dick is getting excited by just looking at her, hardness pokes through my jeans. Yeah, so much for not being a horny stud. Though I can't help how I feel. The girl has a perfect body, flawless and feminine. She's smaller and thinner than Layla, but her boobs are fuller. Her stomach is flat, and her hips are nice. Clay often refers to girls' asses and hips as Kardashians and Jenners types. Benson's sister is a Kardashian, while her bestie is a Kendall Jenner type. Plus, she's stunning...

I'm definitely off my game. She's stunning?! What the fuck am I thinking?! Jesus with thoughts like that I might as well ask the coach to kick me off the team and go apply for the school's first string quarterback position. It's absurd! I frown, stopping right in front of her. Apparently, she is standing on a table, a little coffee table to be exact.

"Get off the table." I yell, trying to catch her attention through the music. She doesn't seem to hear me or even notice me. She's totally in her element, her eyes are half-closed as she continues swaying to the music. I grab her palm roughly, and she tenses, her eyes open and pupils dilate. "Get off the table."

The girl snatches her palm away from me, her face contorts in anger. "No."

"What do you mean no?" Is she fucking serious?

"No means no." She retorts, ready to turn away from me. I bluff, taking my phone out of my pocket and launching my camera. She quirks her eyebrow at me, nibbling on her bottom lip. "What are you going to do?"

"Get off the table. Now." I don't answer, just insisting on my own. I draw attention to us, and I can feel people's eyes on my back. I need to end this fucking charade once and for all!

Just at this moment, the song changes. The girl freezes for a second, but then her full lips stretch into a smile. She bends down a little, looking me in the eyes. I know what she's going to do, and I really wish she would change her mind. There are consequences... she won't like them.

"Fuck you, and you, and you. I hate your friends and they hate me too..." She lip-syncs, showing me middle fingers. Some people around us start laughing, and it honestly triggers me. Instead of doing as I say, she puts up the show. Well, be ready to be humiliated then.

I wind my hands around her waist, seeing as her eyes become wide as saucers, and lift her in the air. I put her to her feet, and her hand lands on my chest, as she tries to steady herself. We stare at each other in silence. Her skin is smooth and soft under my calloused palms. Her chest rises and falls, the goosebumps visible on her exposed stomach. Up close her eyes look emerald greenish framed with thick black eyelashes. She has a birthmark on her right cheek, and I almost smile staring at it... What the fuck is wrong with me?!

I quickly hide my phone in my back pocket with one of my hands and then pick her up, throwing her over my shoulder. Wheeling around, I trudge straight to the front door, my palm rests on her ass, keeping her skirt down. She wiggles, her knuckles hit my back. "Put me down!"

Not paying any attention to her miserable attempts to stop me, I smile. I am actually enjoying this situation, and her frustration. I'm not sure she will want to go to another party anytime soon. She will probably be hiding in her room because rumors also spread fast on campus, and everyone will know she's my enemy. And no one wants to go against me.

Opening the door, I take a step outside and put her to her feet again. She's fuming. Her cheeks are red and her long brown hair falls on her face. She blows it away, tucking strands of hair behind her ears. I roam my eyes over her face, lingering on her sensual mouth for a moment longer than I should. Shaking my head, I take a step back and put my hand on the doorknob.

"You wouldn't dare..." She whispers, and I only shrug my shoulders. I don't care, girl, you brought this on yourself.

"Bye." With that, I just close the door in her stunned face. Veering around, I edge to the kitchen. It's time to go back to guys, maybe even let loose a little. I deserve it.

"Thompson!" Drake growls angrily, stomping in my direction. "What the hell did you do that for?!"

"Just because." I brush him off, staring at him defiantly. I'm not scared of him, and never was.

"You just kicked out my sister's friend. Humiliated her in front of all these people. Didn't I make it clear she was with me? Under my protection?" He raises his voice, his eyes staring daggers at me.

"Sorry, Drake, this time I'm not going to do what you say. That girl doesn't belong here."

"For fuck's sake!" He throws his hands in the air, exasperated. "She was drinking. It's just her second week here and she doesn't know her way around. What if someone comes after her? Tries to force themselves on her?! Did you think about it before you kicked her out?!"

"I..." I trail off. Those thoughts hadn't even crossed my mind.

"I..." He mimics me, and I glare at him. "You're an ass, dude. A real spoiled ass."

Drake storms past me, bumping into my shoulder on his way to the front door. He opens it, steps further and freezes hearing my question. "Does your sister know you fucked her bestie?"

"Fuck off, Thompson." He hisses, slamming the door behind him. I stare at it for a few seconds, thoughts swirling in my head. I was right about them, his answer didn't leave me any doubts. Strangely? I don't feel excited anymore. At all.

I take my phone out of my back pocket and frown. What the fuck?! Apparently, she must have grabbed my phone, which I guess I hadn't locked when I shoved it in my pocket before carrying her out. The girl left a message for me. I stare at my screen for a few seconds, and then I burst out laughing, squeezing it back in my jeans and making a beeline to the kitchen. It's time to bring the guys the beer I promised. The only thing on my mind is her silly message. 'Duck you.' Autocorrect changed her message, making it completely opposite from what she intended it to be. She's cute. And funny. And gorgeous. And... stop, stop, stop! I need to find a girl to spend the night with. My hard on has me acting irrational and stupid. I really need to get laid.