🌟🌟🌟

🌟🌟🌟

"You look beautiful!" Roxy saunters over wearing a mini red skirt and dark fishnet tights. Roxy is one of those girls who are obsessed with Halloween, she would gladly celebrate the holiday every day of the year if she could.

She embraces Marnie while looking over at me, pouting her black-painted lips. "He never dresses up no matter how many times I tell him. You're so stubborn, Reese."

I fight the urge to roll my eyes, grinning softly. Marnie giggles, the sound of her voice like music to my ears. I loop an arm around her waist, noticing how her small frame fits perfectly next to me.

"Did you find her?" Roxy asks JJ as he walks over to us. I notice the irritated look on his face and then he shakes his head once.

"She left with some big-looking guy on a motorbike." I know exactly who they're referring to without asking.

"What? Why would she just leave?"

JJ sighs, looking utterly defeated. "Because Harley is selfish. She never listens to us."

Roxy's eyes narrow at JJ, the heavy grey eyeshadow giving her a scary look. Heck, I'd be scared right now if I were JJ. "That's my best friend JJ."

"Yeah Rox, I know." he replies in a bored tone.

The thing Roxy doesn't realise is that Harley is self-centred and extremely reckless at times. She loves attention, and when she isn't in the spotlight, she runs away -- expecting us to chase after her.

Of course, I would hate anything to happen to Harley. As much as the girl infuriates me, I don't understand why she puts herself in danger with a group of criminals.

It's not the first time she's run off with a few guys from a motorbike gang. Girls like Harley like the thrill of danger. One day she's going to get herself into big trouble and we won't be there to help her.

"I'm going to call her." Roxy takes out her phone, leaving in a huff and JJ follows after her, looking regretful. "Wait, Rox!"

Marnie turns to me, concern swirling in her eyes. "Is everything okay?"

I shrug my shoulder. "I don't know. Let's not ruin our night over it." I take Marnie's hand in mine, "Do you want a drink?"

We end up drinking some sickly sweet drinks and cheap buffet food. We decide to hang out a little longer before going straight to the after-party.

We pile into JJ's Volkswagon. Matt continued to flirt with Sky the entire time. I've never seen Matt get rejected by a girl since I've known him and judging by the determined look on his face -- I don't think he's giving up anytime soon.

The party is already alive by the time we walk through the front door. Marnie tells me she's going to socialise with Sky for a little bit.

Frankly, I was a little disappointed and miserable. Nonetheless, Marnie wasn't my possession. She has every right to be with her friend instead of hanging around me and my band.

Grabbing a bottle of beer, I head over to my friends who are playing a drinking game in the middle of the living room. I walk up to JJ who looks a little worn out. "Hey, dude. Is everything good now?"

He takes a long drink of his beer and shakes his head. "Harley decided to run off with that guy. Roxy was trying to persuade her to come to the party. The girls ended up in an argument and I pulled Rox away."

"Is she okay?" we look over at Roxy hanging out with a few groupies on the other side of the room. Although she is smiling, her eyes are rimmed red and her cheeks are puffy. "I guess so. I'll keep an eye on her. Don't worry man, you have fun."

I would if I had my girl with me.

"Where is Marnie?" JJ asks.

"She wanted to spend time with her friend." JJ nods his head with a small smirk on his lips.

"It's good to see you settled dude." What?

"What? I'm not settled." He chuckles, amusement clear on his face. Asshole.

His ocean eyes grinned at me. "Believe me, I felt the same way. I never thought I'd be committed before I met Rox. I've seen the way you look at Marnie, it's the same way I look at Rox." my eyes widen with realisation.

Do I have feelings for Marnie? Is that what's happening to me? How have I turned into one of those guys?

"I'm happy for you. She's a nice girl." my lips tug upwards before sipping on my beer. She is a nice girl. She is also beautiful, caring, funny, smart, selfless and--

"You're thinking about her right now, aren't you?"

"Shut up." I shove my arm against him and we laugh.

Another hour goes by, I glance around the room in search of a pretty blonde Angel. I still can't get over that amazing kiss. I want more.

I keep thinking about my talk with JJ and he's right. I do have feelings for Marnie.

Should I tell her how I feel?

I know I need to give her space to socialise with other people, but lately, I can't get her off my mind and now I can't keep my hands off her either. The way she felt in my arms at the dance and the way she kissed me.

Fuck.

Although I assumed it was most likely her first kiss, it was the best fucking kiss I've had in my life. If this is how I feel over a simple kiss, I don't know how I'm going to react if we take our relationship to the next level.

I decide to play another game with my friends when I feel someone brush their leg against mine. My heart rate increases and my hands yearn to touch her.

I smile widely, turning to face Marnie when my eyes connect with a girl with strawberry blonde hair and bright turquoise eyes. She's wearing a short red dress and a flirtatious smirk. Kira.

"Hey, Reese." Kira bites her bottom lip.

"Hey." I nod my head and she pushes her chest further into my side, her eyes batting seductively.

"You look lonely over here, is everything okay?" she rubs her hand up and down my leg and I gulp uneasily.

Like her touch burned me, I remove her hand and place it away from me.

"Yeah, I'm good." clearing my throat, I stand up. "I need to use the bathroom, be right back." I practically run out of the room in search of Marnie. I sigh with relief, it's good to get out of there.

I decide it's time to check up on my Angel.

I walk into the kitchen. She isn't there.

She couldn't have gone upstairs, could she?

Shit, I hope no one took her upstairs.

I notice Ashley's honey blonde hair in the distance and I stiffen. My eyes snap over to the guy she's making out with. I'm shocked to see it's none other than Jaxon Harrison pulling her body flush against his, her arms circling his neck.

At least I don't have to worry about that asshole messing with Marnie tonight.

As soon as I turn to leave the room, a lanky guy stumbles in from the back garden. "Hey everyone! Some blonde chick is stripping outside and jumping in the pool!" I furrow my brows. Blonde chick.

Something doesn't feel right. Maybe I should go check this out.

I head outside, it's already dusk and cooler than inside. Fairy lights surround the house and I could see a few people hovering near the pool.

When I get closer, I squint my eyes in the dark and I could see the silhouette of two males and a female. The boys are in their underwear and the girl is fully dressed, she seems unsteady on her own feet.

The boys are tugging on her dress. I zone in on her face, drawing a sharp and uneven breath.

My heart drops when I see it's Marnie, red-faced and giggling uncontrollably.

The next thing I know, she stumbles back and loses her balance, causing her to fall into the pool. With a splash, she hits the water and a few people laugh, including the two boys at the edge of the pool.

I stand frozen in my spot, my body shaking with pure rage. My fists clench as the pair of assholes who got Marnie into this state, watch her in amusement. Do they know who they are messing with?

"Hey, I don't think she can swim!" someone shouts.

My head snaps back to the present. Suddenly I'm on high alert. My heart racing as I surge forwards, not giving a damn that I'm fully clothed. I jump into the pool, my eyes stinging from the chlorine and a substantial amount of water filling my mouth and nose.

Where is she?

I glance around the murky pool. Luckily they have the pool lights on otherwise I wouldn't see a thing. When I see Marnie struggling for breath at the bottom of the pool, fear strikes my heart.

Oh, God.

Her eyes roll back and suddenly she stops moving. Her body becomes motionless.

I swim forwards, grabbing onto her waist and dragging her up to the surface. I could hear screams around me. I pull Marnie out of the water, her head falling forwards and I begin to panic. My ears rang painfully.

Fuck.

No no.

"Reese! What happened?"

"Is she okay?"

"Should I call an ambulance?"

Marnie, please.

Please be okay.

Please wake up.

🌟🌟🌟