"I'm so happy that you won!" I shouted gleefully before throwing my arms around Alex in a huge hug. And then I pulled away just as quick. "Ew. You reek."

He laughed and threw an arm around me anyway, not letting go. And God, he smelled awful.

"You came, Sky!" But he seemed so happy too. "What changed your mind?"

I shrugged and smiled back. "Someone convinced me to resequence my priorities.''

"Really? Who?" Alex faced me. "Was it that guy you were cheering so loudly with?"

I managed a small, embarrassed laugh. Alex smiled back, but a bit hesitatingly.

"What?" I nudged him.

He shrugged it off. "Nothing."

"Just to remind you though," I spoke up, leaning back against one of the lockers. "You're dropping me back home."

He opened his locker on the other side and let out a small shrug. "Yeah, I know that."

Blake had to leave just as the match ended, which was quite suspicious. But I wasn't the one complaining.

"We'll have to stop by somewhere before I drop you at your house though," Alex added.

I furrowed my brows at that. Knowing Alex, I was a hundred per cent sure he was talking about the after-match party--which was a bit stupid since it was a school night. School night or not, I never went to any.

"I have school tomorrow." I reminded him.

"I go to the same school, Sky."

"Well..." I trailed off, trying to think of something else. "I'm working on sleeping early these days."

He gave me an exasperated look. "Could you, for a second, not think about your sleep?"

I was about to reply with a no when Coach came barreling in, obviously cheering Alex on how good he was and how much proud he was and blah blah.

I rolled my eyes and once again, backed off against the locker. I loved Alex, I really did, but moments like such just boosted his ego. God only knew how big it already was.

My phone chimed and broke me out of my thoughts. I took it out and was a whole lot surprised to see a text from Caden. Waiting a whole minute sceptically, I finally decided that there would be no harm in opening it.

Caden: Come to the party. Without him.

I read it twice and it left me bewildered each time. Was he being for real?

Then I looked back at the screen, with a lot more doubt this time. Maybe he had meant to send this to someone else. Why would he invite me to such a party when he made it clear he didn't want me near him?

Maybe this was about Blake.

"It's just a party. You never come to any of these after-match parties." Alex glanced at me, rummaging through his rucksack.

I looked up from my phone and realized that Coach had already left. It was once again only Alex and me now.

"I'm not a fan of getting drunk high off my ass like you, Alex."

He grinned at that. "Oh, don't worry about it. I will not let you get drunk high of your ass."

•••••

I got drunk. Way bad.

Way high off my ass.

What else was I supposed to do at that incredibly boring party? Wait around for Caden to show up and tell me the exact reason behind that text message of his?

Alex was chill with the idea of me drinking one of those nice looking vodka shots. And when he was all okay about something, it strangely didn't bother me as well.

Alex was going to be there beside me all night anyway. There was no need to worry.

It wasn't like I hadn't ever been curious. How those shots tasted like, I mean. As much as I knew, I've always heard people describe it as having a burning taste. I never got to know it though.

Until now.

For God's sake, I was nearly eighteen! I needed a burning taste in my life.

That's exactly what had motivated me. Just one shot, not much. And guess what? I ended up drinking approximately seven of them.

"You should stop, Sky." Alex gave me a funny look before snatching the small glass from my hand.

The place we were in was way too loud, and my surroundings were starting to get a bit blurry. I was probably just tipsy, maybe because this was my first time, or maybe it had something to do with those very strong vodka shots.

"Hey, give it back!" I made a pathetic attempt to get it back, only to slump down against the counter. "Give it back, Alex."

He placed the glass away and gripped my arms, making sure that I didn't fall down from the barstool.

"Look, Sky." He was drunk too, but much less than me. "My moral conscience's been telling me that I shouldn't have peer pressured you into getting drunk."

A laugh bubbled out of me. "Too late, bitch."

"Okay?" He frowned. "But I still don't wanna get busted by your parents."

I would get so bloody busted too, I realised, if my parents were to see this state of mine.

But alas, they weren't here.

"Do you throw up just after drinking alcohol?" I asked him, scrunching up my nose a bit as my words slurred. My head was on a rollercoaster, I swear.

"I don't know?" He asked, looking at me. "But you look like you might pass out."

Alex was right. As I blinked and looked around the numerous people, my head swam and it did feel like I might pass out. Or worse, throw up.

There were a lot of people here, almost crowding the place, mostly from our school. I guess I had been too busy getting drunk that I hadn't even noticed someone familiar standing in one corner.

Caden.

My insides, however, lurched almost unpleasantly when I realized that he wasn't alone. I leaned a little against Alex's arm, when I saw the blonde who was stuck by his side. She looked seconds away from snogging him and Caden wasn't even pushing her away.

I guess that's what frustrated me the most. The fact that he was right there, saying something in her ear, not pushing her away, when he was so infamous for doing exactly that to all the girls. Not give a fuck about them.

Would he kiss her if he could? I wondered. He probably would. She was pretty. His type. Totally his type.

I turned back around towards the counter and saw a new line of shot glasses filled to the brim in front of me. Picking one up, I didn't even waste a second before gulping it down, scrunching up my nose at the bitter taste.

Did he ask me to come here just so that I could see him making out with freaking blondes?

"Hey, I'm serious. You really should stop, Sky." Alex spoke up in that completely wasted way of his.

I rolled my eyes and complied.

"The restroom. Gotta use it." I murmured before hopping down from the stool. Alex didn't seem like he'd follow me or give me directions, so I ended up going there myself. Who would even follow me when I was about to throw up really bad?

I managed to find the restroom and walk soberly towards the sink, even though I stumbled once or twice. Splashing some cold water on my face, I looked up in the mirror.

So this is how you look like when you're shit-drunk.

I had this big part of my brain telling me that I'd be in deep shit if Mom and Dad were to come home tomorrow.

And the other part of my brain told me that that wouldn't actually be possible. They were trying to stay away from me, remember?

When I was sure I wasn't going to throw up, I sighed and walked outside, the restroom door swinging close behind me.

"The floor's too dark," I murmured as I looked down at it. "So many people." I urged my eyes to remain steady. "Where the fuck is Alex?"

Suddenly, there was a rush of girls aiming right at me. For a brief moment, I stood there like a deer caught in the headlights, until I realized they were going towards the restroom which was right behind me.

A girl accidentally elbowed me on my side and I stifled a groan, stumbling sideways. When I tried sidestepping, I slammed into someone's back. And when I moved back, I hit the wall right behind me.

"Ow." I moaned.

A hand seized my wrist--a lot warmer compared to the cold surroundings--before pulling me out of that hell. I stumbled forward and collided with a warmer body. Pulling away a little, I looked up.

My oh my...

Those eyes, I thought. I couldn't help but stare into those familiar green eyes. They were that kind of eyes which I could spend my entire life looking into--something that I could never imagine even thinking of, until now.

Maybe that's just because I was drunk.

And he was just about to have his tongue on the inside of that blonde's teeth anyway. I couldn't think about him like that. No way in hell.

Forcing my gaze away from his, I took a staggering step back. Caden gripped my wrist before pulling me aside.

"Where is Alex?"

"Are you drunk?" He asked me with a slight, maybe even a bit curious, tilt of his head.

I looked down at his hand that was still holding onto my wrist. My vision blurred for a second and I blinked my eyes rapidly. "Right. What?" I asked, looking back at him.

His eyes widened a bit before he raised his brows. "This is going to be difficult." I think he was saying that to himself, and not to me.

"What is..." I tried searching for Alex once again. Placing my free hand on one of Caden's shoulders, I stood on my toes and looked around for a familiar blond head. "There are a lot of blondies here."

"Skylar--"

I noticed a hint of Alex's pale blue shirt and squinted my eyes. He was right where I had left him. Silly me. "Found him!" I exclaimed before pulling away from Caden and dwelling into the crowd to reach the bar.

Somehow, I made my way towards Alex and just as I was about to start recalling the great adventure to the restroom where I hadn't thrown up, I froze in complete horror.

"The fuck?" I glared at Alex who was making out with a girl. I was still a bit in my senses to know that this girl wasn't Hanna. He liked Hanna and was making out with another girl?

How dare he?

Before I could've gone over towards him and probably smacked some sense into that thick head of his, Caden grabbed me from behind and pulled me away.

"Don't do what you'll regret later, Anderson." He shook his head at me.

"But he's making out with that girl!" I exclaimed, turning around.

"That shouldn't bother you." He narrowed his eyes at me.

"Of course, it does! That girl isn't Hanna."

He stared at me for a while before inhaling slowly. "How many shots did you have?"

The sudden change of topic made me frown in confusion. "The shots?"

"How many?"

I looked back at Alex. But surprisingly, he had already disappeared. Now, he had ditched me too.

"I don't know. One? No, three." I tried remembering the number of glasses I had clinked on the bar counter. "Five."

Caden looked like he was about to lose the only amount of patience he had.

"Are you sure about that?"

"Look, maybe there were seven of them. Who cares?" I shrugged. "This only happened because of that douchebag who was just making out with that girl." I turned around once again to look for Alex but failed to spot him anywhere. "If only I'd have begged Blake to drop me back home..."

I turned back towards Caden with wide eyes.

"...this wouldn't have happened. I think I might throw up, Caden."

He seemed a little bewildered and my drunk self found that adorable. I was impressed too that he didn't seem the slightest bit disgusted by what I had just said.

"You would've begged Blake." He repeated, his eyes still on me.

I strained to remain on my footing. "Yeah, well, I wouldn't have walked back home. That would've been crazy." I rolled my eyes and that made me feel like I was crazily spinning around in the middle of the room.

Right on time, I saw a guy with two huge beer bottles coming my way without actually looking in the way.

I frowned, stepped a little towards Caden and passed the guy a disbelieving glare. If only my glares could kill people.

"What were you doing with Blake?" Caden asked. And I suppose he now understood that my drunk self needed a little clarification now and then, since he added quite patiently, "At the match. Not here."

My mind drifted off to how close we both were standing, and I guess it was surprising to notice how he didn't smell like booze. Unlike me. He wasn't drunk.

"He insisted to go along with me. And he wasn't being mean about it." I murmured before swaying sideways. Caden was quick to steer me the other way before I could've fallen right down on my face.

"He wasn't being mean?" He asked, raising a brow.

I blinked and looked at him with a frown. "I just said that."

A small, barely-there smile played on his lips, and I couldn't help but stare. Just like that time at my house, in my bedroom, when Caden had let down every inch of his cold exterior. It seemed to take my breath away.

I was just drunk. Was I, though?

"And what did he say to you?" He asked me. A tiny shiver ran down my spine when I felt his arm slowly wrapping around my waist.

"That...I shouldn't let you be my first priority." I said, staring. My eyes seemed to dart slowly in between his own, looking for something. What was I looking for?

Caden was warm, really warm, and I had to force down the urge to step closer and plant my face against him.

No, I will not do that.

He nodded a little like he wasn't surprised. "What do you think about that?"

I rolled my eyes for the third time. I think.

"He was right. You're not worth it, I guess." I patted his shoulder sympathetically.

Yes, he wasn't worth the mess of emotions I had to go through every time he was close enough to kiss. But he was worth something. I didn't know how to figure out what that something was.

Caden looked nowhere near offended by my statement. Instead, the small smile stayed on his lips. And I wish I hadn't seen the way his eyes darkened under the soft neon lights, because that made me forget everything around me. I was way too drunk to look into his eyes and think straight at the same time.

That's pretty much why I didn't notice him leaning a little towards me. But when his warm breath fanned the side of my face, warming up my cold cheeks, my eyes widened.

"Someone once told me everyone wants something." He whispered, and I heard him just fine over the loud noise. "I've been thinking, Anderson."

He pulled back just a little and there was just the green of his eyes that I wanted to see.

"What do you want?"

So much, I wanted to say.

"Nothing." I frowned.

Caden smiled like he knew I was lying. And I actually really almost kissed the dimple on his cheek. Holy fuck, I was so drunk.

Why couldn't I just hate him entirely and make this so much easier for myself?

"Don't let him kiss you on the cheek again." He added, still whispering. "Okay?"

I blinked and my eyelids felt heavy. "Him?"

"Anyone." He said.

I wanted to touch his face. It was a weird urge but I really wanted to.

"'Course. You know, the next time my mother tries kissing me on the cheek I'll tell her 'oh no, ma'am, there's this beautiful green-eyed boy who made me promise never to let anyone do that ever again'." I rambled, then grinned and leaned a little against the strong grip of his arm around me. "My Mom might disown me, but who cares?"

"You do." He said and I don't know why I felt a little sad to see the smile gone. "You do care about your parents. And what they think and say to you."

I was stunned into silence. But since I was drunk and I probably might not even remember this tomorrow, I shrugged. "It doesn't matter. Like I said, who cares."

Caden let out a quiet sigh before letting his gaze dart around, and then he was pulling me towards the empty bar counter until I was sitting on a stool and he was right in front of me.

"I don't have to sit." I slurred and complained.

"Yeah, you do." He kept looking away and every time his gaze came back and stuck to me. "If you throw up on me, Anderson, I won't even care if you choke up on it and kill yourself."

My eyelids fluttered shut for a moment as I laughed.

"That's like, the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me."

And when I opened my eyes to find him staring, I realised that maybe, maybe he wasn't as bad as everyone thought he was. I mean, sure, he could be a jerk. He could hurt people with his words alone. But Caden wasn't just that.

There was more hidden in him. A part that he was easily showing to me because we both knew I was too shit-drunk to remember any of it ever again.

"Caden," I said, lifting my chin to look up at him. "I was..." I trailed off. What was I even going to say? God, being drunk was tiring.

"I meant, you should be more like this." I swayed forward until Caden grabbed my shoulder. "It's nice. I'm pretty sure no one would...might...will hear you--I mean, fear you--that way."

Caden went silent at that. And when I tried looking up at him, I couldn't keep my eyes open. I could barely blink. I felt exhausted.

"Would it be fine with you if I kissed you?" He asked.

I blinked. Then blinked again. Then frowned. Had I heard him right? "Why must you ask me that?"

Caden smelled like lemons. Just that realization alone made me feel like a creep.

Was I sniffing him? Do you become a creep once you got drunk? Why did Alex not tell me that?

"Because I really want to." I could hear the amusement in his voice.

"You want to."

"I want something." He added. "And I'm asking you."

I want to.

His hand brushed past my shoulder and slid behind the curve of my neck, tilting it upwards. I could see him.

"This won't mean anything tomorrow?" I asked him in a hushed whisper.

I saw him blink and clench his jaw briefly. "No."

No.

"And I'll forget this." I didn't want to.

"Most probably."

His eyes still didn't leave mine, and for one second, I wished he liked me the way I liked him right now. "Does this mean anything to you?"

He was silent and all I could hear at that moment was my own heart pounding in my chest. I couldn't even hear the loud music anymore.

"I mean it, Sky."

And it was just a handful of seconds before he leaned down and I felt his lips on mine. Then we were kissing.

And I kissed him back.