"I want you when the sun goes low, your body warmth wants me close. You say you're always by my side, 'till my blood runs dry. And I know that I won't be the same without you, don't let this moment slip away. I'll take you for a drive. Kiss me on the corner with your hand in mine."—Glades.

"Did you get everything?" April asks me as I grab my backpack from the bed.

"Yeah. I think." I fix the straps onto my back as she reaches for her duffel bag from the ground.

Saturday comes by in a flash, and we are getting ready to head to the pool party at Elviston's Resort. Due to the fact that the only bathing suit I have ever owned is a one-piece with Sailor Moon on the front which I have had since I was fifteen, April offered to get me a burgundy swimwear with matching shorts at the mall downtown. After an hour of convincing me to take the gift, I did.

"Guys, the boys are ready!" Yuna announces as she and Tia enter our dorm room.

I smile at how great they look. Yuna has a large straw hat covering her hair, and tiny beach shorts sits over her yellow bathing suit. Tia seems to be wearing the same designed swimwear, but the only difference is that hers is black, and she chose to wear white mesh pants over it.

They seem to be quite comfortable with their bodies, and I wish I had that level of confidence. I felt like the cleavage of my swimwear was too much and so I threw on my 'I LOVE SLEEP & FOOD' T-shirt over it, deciding that when we get there, I may take it off.

"How much is it to get in?" I ask April, who is currently fixing the strap of her pink bathing suit.

"Oh no dear, Kite is paying for everyone." Tia grins.

I raise a brow at this. "Everyone?"

Yuna giggles. "Yeah, his parents have big bucks." And she brushes her thumb against her fingers for visual.

I am not surprised. His house was humongous.

"Oh, but why didn't he have the pool party at his house though?" I wonder curiously, pulling the strings on my bag so it fits firmly.

"Well he was going to but his parents are going to be home all weekend. So he had to switch the venue." Tia tells me.

"Oh."

"Yeah, come on guys, let's head out."

We leave the dorm room to make our way out to the parking lot.

It is a perfect day for a pool party. The sun is high in the sky, and the wind is cool and refreshing. I brush my hair out of my face, regretting not snatching it into a ponytail or something. The breeze is doing an awfully good job at throwing it into my face.

My stomach does the weird leap it does whenever I see Blaze, and my strides slow down momentarily as I take in the sight of him. He's leaning against his car, unaware of my stare since he's engrossed in a conversation with James.

We spent all week together, and since I didn't have Literature on Tuesday and he had no class on his schedule, we spent the entire day watching movies in his dorm room. I feel like I have gotten a lot closer to him now, and it is indeed the best feeling alongside him finally opening up to me.

His built which I secretly adore so much is evident from beneath the white T-shirt he's wearing, and his natural curls poke out from the black cap fitted backward on his head. He reaches his hands up to fix it properly, making his T-shirt ride up a bit, showcasing the small tattoo along his waist.

"Someone's staring," April whispers, and I return to reality just in time to feel the warmth traveling from my neck to my cheeks.

"I-I wasn't."

"Mm. Right." She chuckles, and I couldn't feel any more embarrassed.

"Damn, April. You look sexy as hell." James mutters, sinking his teeth in his lip while giving her a lustful once over.

She rolls her eyes. "Shut up, James."

"Good morning." Blaze smiles at me, and it takes my breath away for the hundredth time. How is it that I am still alive?

"Hey." I wave shyly then mentally scold myself. Why do I still act so awkward around him?

Yuna and Tia catch onto the shy exchange of greetings between us before looking at each other with soft smiles.

"Okay, so who is riding with whom?" April queries. "I drive, so Yuna and Tia you can ride with me. James is your car here?"

"No, I left it at my parents.' So that means, I will be driving with you, baby." He tries to put his arm around her but she moves away.

"Okay, well Harmony you can ride with—"

"Harmony's riding with me," Blaze interjects as he takes my hand in his.

My heart flips in my chest, but I try to keep it together. He did say once that he can tell how fast someone's heart is beating just by holding their hand, right?

"Oh well, um..." April is smiling, and I can tell the small but intimate gesture has thrown off her whole speech. "I guess that's settled then."

James points his gaze to Blaze and raises his brows with a cheeky grin, and I guess he's still having smutty ideas from walking in on us that day. While he and the girls clamber into April's red Jeep, Blaze opens his passenger's door for me.

"Thank you." I smile politely before sliding in.

I put my knapsack on the backseat and pull my seatbelt as he gets in on his side of the car.

"Thanks for taking me."

"No need to thank me, green eyes." He starts up his engine, and with one hand on the steering wheel and the other striving to snap his seatbelt, he drifts out of Homewood's parking lot.

The windows are drawn up, and it is blazing hot outside. However, the air conditions are high, the cool breeze allowing the subtle yet sweet smell of him to circulate the air.

I begin to regret wearing such small shorts. I am terribly cold now that goosebumps are dancing on my tan legs. I rub my palms against my thighs, and Blaze's eyes drift to the action.

"Are you cold?"

"A little."

"Oh, sorry." He reaches over to his control panel and turns the air down a little. "Is it okay now?"

I nod. "Yeah, thank you."

"What music would you like to hear?"

"Anything is fine."

His gaze darts between the road and his dashboard as he presses a few buttons before rotating a circular one. 'Drive' by Glades fills the space as he settles back comfortably in his seat.

"I thought you didn't like these sorts of gatherings, but you sure are dressed to impressed." He comments. His eyes fall to my legs for a swift second before he looks away.

"Oh, April got me a bathing suit so."

"You look nice," he compliments, and if I am seeing correctly, he's... blushing?

"Thanks." I smile softly.

"Still cold?"

"A little."

He reaches over and takes my hand in his, and his palm is surprisingly warm.

"Your hands are so cold." He titters as he traces his thumb over my knuckles. "Cold and tiny."

The goosebumps have increased, and it isn't because of the chillness anymore, but because Blaze is touching me.

The humid atmosphere doesn't stop the warmth from rising to my face and down to the area between my legs. The intense sexual feelings I had that night while we were watching that erotic scene returns, and I press my thighs together. I have no idea what's wrong with me.

He brings my hand to his cheek while his eyes are still watching the road. "Is it better now?"

"Y-yeah..."

I have never desired anyone in this way before, but as usual, Blaze always ignites a hidden fire within me.

He places a kiss on my hand then rest our intertwined fingers in his lap, and all I can think about is how much I wouldn't want this car ride to end. I think sitting here with him, with his hand in mine, is so much better than a pool party.

••

The party is already booming when we arrive, and as Blaze turns into the parking lot of Elviston's Resort, I set out to locate April's car. The lot is filled with only unfamiliar vehicles, and considering we left Homewood before they did, they probably haven't arrived yet.

Blaze parks into an available spot and we get out. He grabs his knapsack and I do the same before he presses a switch on his car key to lock all the doors.

The resort is huge, and I almost get a headache thinking about how much money Kite spent to rent this place. I can't see myself spending cash on hosting a party when I could use the money to purchase an entire book series and get some manga comics with the change.

We make our way through a long aisle with stone walls on either side of it, and the ground shakes with the beat of the music coming from the party as we approach the venue. I stay close to Blaze as he makes a turn around a corner, and what I see next causes my skin to crawl.

The place is crowded with people at every crevice and corner. Guys are shirtless with only trunks securing their loins while the girls are practically wearing nothing. Insecurity alights in my stomach as I rub my arm in discomfort.

Blaze notices the unease and slips his hand in mine. "You alright?"

I nod and smile faintly. "Yeah."

"Yo! Blaze-motherfucking-Xander!" A slim guy in a red hat, shirtless and wearing shorts struts over to us, dramatically waving his party cup around.

Blaze smiles, but I can tell it's not genuine. "What's up?" He releases my hand to pump his fist against the guy's knuckle. "This place is crowded."

"It sure is." The anonymous guy shifts his nut-colored eyes to me, and I lower mine so that he won't talk to me.

"New sex buddy?" He whispers to Blaze, and I furrow my eyebrows.

"What? Fuck, no." He hisses, and the guy smiles as he puts his cup to his lips.

"Can I have her then?"

"Dude, fuck off." Blaze's forehead creases in annoyance as he grabs my hand and leads me away from the creepy stranger, who's now staring at my legs as we walk away.

As Blaze takes me toward the hotel building, I spot a group of girls at a section of the deck, whispering and pointing in my direction, and I feel my stomach churn. Are they talking about me?

"Do they all think I am your...sex buddy?" I quietly ask as I follow him up a long flight of stairs.

"Don't mind them. We both know you aren't," he answers.

That's true. I am somewhat itching to ask him what we are though, but I know better not to. I need to allow him to make these decisions and understand his feelings by himself. Forcing it won't make it real.

"Yeah, I guess."

"Did Kite tell you what your room number is?"

"Nope."

"We can just change at mine then, alright?"

I nod my head.

The hotel room is even more exquisite than the outside of the building. The bed is king-sized with maroon-colored, Egyptian sheets covering it, and the curtains are the same colors, neatly draped over the large transparent windows. All the furniture appear highly expensive, not seeming to have even a speck of dust or imperfection on them. This room should cost a whole lot.

"This is nice." I beam to myself, then whirl around to see Blaze pulling his T-shirt over his head. His fit body graces my pupils, and I turn away and start changing to avoid looking in his direction.

I tug my T-shirt off. Luckily, the beachwear covers my stomach but the shorts reveals a large stretch of my legs, and that's where all the weight on my body resides. My insecurity threatens to resurface, but I push it at the back of my thoughts, hoping it'll stay there for the rest of the day.

I allow my hair to stay down and decide that I am ready to head out. When I whirl around, Blaze is staring at me intensely.

"What?" I ask, rubbing my arm self-consciously.

His face flushes as he shakes his head. "Nothing..."

Do I look that bad? This is why I hate swimsuits.

I frown. "I should just wear my T-shirt."

I motion for the garment when Blaze plods toward me and wraps his hand around my wrist, stopping me.

"No...why would you?"

I look up into his sapphire eyes and find that his pupils are dilated.

"Because I look weird," I mutter, shifting from one foot to the next.

His gaze is unsmiling, but powerful. "You don't. You look sexy."

I blush at that, unsure of what to say.

"Thanks...so do you."

God! Really, Harmony?

He smiles. "So do you? I am barely wearing anything. Do you mean my chest?"

I redden further. "No-I-I meant..."

He laughs deeply. "I am pulling your leg, Harmony."

I drop my eyes, embarrassed.

"You're too cute. Come on; let's go." Without releasing my wrist, he takes me with him out the door.

As we return to the party, I observe my surroundings. All these girls had might as well come naked; their whole body is on full display. There is a DJ section not too near to the pool so that he won't get his equipment wet, and everyone is either on the sidelines dancing, in the pool dancing, or the hot tubs dancing. Disco illuminated lights are all over the party. I spot a couple kissing in the pool and make a face involuntarily.

Blaze catches on to it and chuckles. "You really don't like these parties, do you?"

I shake my head. "No. I really don't."

His lips turn up. "Well do you want us to—"

"Blaze!" A voice interrupts his speech, and we look in the direction it derived from. A brunette waves her hand ecstatically, her tits dancing as she prances up to us, and I can almost see her entire vagina in the gaunt swimsuit she's wearing. I would never wear that; I don't have the guts to.

"Tie my bathing suit? It keeps loosening." She says as she whirls her back to us. Blaze let my hand go with a sigh to knot the girl's yellow swimwear, and I cross my arms, feeling severely uncomfortable.

When he's done, she turns back around and plants a swift kiss on his cheek, causing a line to stretch between my brows. "Thank you, baby. Been waiting for you all day." She pouts her lips.

I look up at Blaze. Who is this girl?

I want to ask, but I am not in the position to do that because I am not his girlfriend.

"Waiting for me? What for?" He says, clearly uninterested but his response confirms that he does in fact know her.

"Can we talk?" She presses, and I just realize that she's chewing a piece of gum in her mouth. I hate gum-chewing which automatically heightens my dislike for her presence.

"I am busy, Amber."

"Come on, please?" She's batting her fake eyelashes, and it makes my stomach churn. She looks like a bird—in all honesty.

Blaze looks away from her, and she frowns. "Come on Blaze, don't be mean. I haven't seen you since the last time we fucked at your—"

"Okay, okay." He interjects quickly as if to stop her from spilling that, but I already heard. They had sex, oh God.

"We will talk, okay? We will talk, stop running your mouth like a pigeon."

He looks at me, and I stand here awkwardly and deeply hurt.

"I'll be back, okay Harmony? Just stay right here."

I nod like a toddler, whose mother gave her instructions not to leave the supermarket because she's running down the street to get some money at the ATM.

When he walks away with the girl whose ass is barely covered, I let the facade go and allow my face to display my dejection. I really shouldn't have come here. I should probably take the bus and head back to Homewood and wait until they get back.

Feeling shrunken and out of place, I turn away to leave when I instantly bump into a shirtless and sturdy chest.

"Watch where you're going, pretty girl."

I look up, and my face loosens. "Kite?"

He smiles, and suddenly I am not feeling as awkward anymore. It feels good to see a familiar face.

"Hey." I smile. "I was wondering where you were."

"Yeah, I saw you the minute you arrived with Blaze, but I didn't want to impede so I waited until that half-naked girl took him away."

He saw that? I suddenly feel so embarrassed.

"Don't worry about that. Blaze is popular at Jaxton too, so the girls have been dying to see him all day."

I think those words were intended to make me feel better, but they make me feel far worse.

I try to change the topic. "You have a whole party here."

He wraps his arm around my neck, and the subtle smell of apple body wash slaps me in the face. He smells nice.

"Let me introduce you to my friends."

I am not social, but that is far better than standing and waiting for Blaze when I have no idea when he will be back.

We make our way over to where a group is at an area of the pool's dock.

"Guys guys! This is Harmony!" Kite introduces.

The group that consists of three guys and two girls smiles at me while bobbing their heads.

"That's Isaac, Kendal, Rose, Hannah and you know Dustin."

I smile while Dustin grins and waves at me.

"Where's April and everyone?" Kite furrow his eyebrows.

"They'll be here soon, I guess," I tell him.

"You're Blaze's girl, right?" The redhead who Kite had pinpointed as Rose enquires.

"Uh...no, I'm not."

"Oh. I saw you two walking in and automatically thought that you were with him. You know...the only female friends he keeps are Yuna and Tia, and I heard he already fucked them."

"Rose." Kite shoots her a warning gaze, and she purses her lips instantly.

Yuna and Tia had sex with Blaze? The thought sure is disturbing. I hope it's not true.

"Rose is not lying, Kite." Hannah, a caramel girl with curly black hair agrees. "If April wasn't his cousin, he would have probably even had sex with her too."

"You're disgusting!" Dustin shakes his head with a grimace while he takes a drink of his beer.

"Everyone knows he's a sex-machine. But you can't blame him." She shrugs. "He's really good in bed."

Isaac, a kid with blonde hair, laughs as he coils his arms against his bare chest. "Sounds like you had your fair share."

"Of course, I did. We fucked once in junior year, we went to the same high school, dummies."

I am staring at her slack-jawed as the syllables leave her mouth, and suddenly I feel really nauseous.

Hearing Blaze's sexual experiences with other girls are just too much to bear despite knowing that most of it are caused by his inability to love anyone. I know that, but I prefer not to listen to this right now, especially after witnessing him walking away with that half-naked girl.

"When you have sex with him Harmony, sit on top." She continues. "He likes girls who can ride."

"Seriously, Hannah?" Kite shakes his head at her, and she opens her arms obliviously.

"What? What'd I say?"

"Um, sorry I need to go..." I mumble.

Kite looks at me sympathetically as I walk away before his lips tighten as he glares over his friends. "I am never introducing you asses to anyone ever again."