Zachary

I do not want to be here and I absolutely do not want to talk to this girl whose name I forgot five seconds after she told me. It's obvious she knows who I am. It's also very obvious that she is flirting with me.

When Alice, one of my exes, but current self-proclaimed friend called me ten minutes ago and told me to better get my ass down here or else she was going to come up to my room and drag me to Alpha sig herself, I didn't have much choice except get my ass to the goddamn frat party. I should just be glad for the fact that she is one of the few exes of mine who is still talking to me.

As soon as I reached the party I greeted Alice and went straight for the drinks. I got a beer and sat down on one of the stools beside the kitchen counter. Just as I was getting done with my first beer a blonde haired girl with bright red lipstick came over to take the stool next to mine.

She gives me a flirty smile. I return a grin. She gives me a name. Something starting with T? And then she starts to talk. And that's when I start zoning out. I still don't have a clue why I am here. Jesus Christ, what the hell is she talking about? It's been at least half an hour of this bullshit. I only speak when I feel like a question is directed at me. She doesn't seem to mind. One of her hands move to my knee and stays there. I don't even bother to move it. Just as I was going to tell her something I feel someone staring at me. I turn.

Oh. Sweet mother of fucking Jesus. Everett Garcia in the fucking flesh. Only problem, he looks goddamn amazing. His dark blonde hair is messy and his shirt is a size too big. He probably came with that annoying roommate of his. It doesn't matter how good he looks though, he still makes me want to rip him a new hole.

I tilt my head at him to give him my signature smirk. His lips press into a tight line. I bring my beer bottle up slightly to him in greeting and take a sip, eyes still locked in his. He scowls at me. I don't give him any more attention and turn to the girl who is still talking, completely oblivious to our stare off. I give her a small smile.

“Well sweetheart, I think I might need a bit of fresh air, after all you do make every guy a little breathless,” I wink at her. God, that was bad, even if I am buzzed. She still flushes, so I guess it doesn't matter.

I put down the bottle and move towards the back exit of the house. A whole group of kids are shirtless, covered in glitter, howling a song so out of tune that I can't even make out if they are singing the same thing. Most of them are at the pool, getting wet for no reason. This is exhausting. I find a corner in the backyard where most of them can't see me. Take out a cigarette, light it, then put it in my mouth and take a deep drag. Slowly letting it out after I lean back on the wall.

Alice would give me her pissed off glare if she caught me having a cigarette while hiding here. I stand there in the dark taking my time with the cigarette as the noise gets louder and louder. I take a last drag. Just as I was going to put it down to stomp on it a figure comes out from the dark. He stops in front of me and then surprise overtakes his face.

This day couldn't get any better. Everett stares at me for a whole ten seconds before he scowls. It took him ten seconds, I am impressed. Usually it doesn't take seconds. He must be a little drunk.

“Well isn't this a pleasure, the golden boy could handle all the worshiping?” I ask him.

He groans. “At least I am not hiding from an ex who dumped me.”

News definitely does travel fast.

“Which ex?” I ask, innocently.

He glares at me. That's when I notice the glitter on his right cheek, going down his neck towards the inside of his shirt. Silver glitter, a contrast on his lightly tanned skin. Irradiated by the pale light coming from the window of the house. That's fucking sexy. I immediately slap myself in my mind. I am definitely buzzed alright.

“You smoke?” he asks.

“Oh, are we having a conversation? That's new.” I can't keep the mocking tone out of my voice.

“And you're deflecting.” he points out. Can this guy get any more punchable?

“Sometimes,” I roll my eyes at him.

“Those things will give you cancer,” he says.

“Now you're worried? Too many hits on the head while on the field did that?” I smirk.

“Who says I am worried? If I could get away with it, I would have killed you myself.”

“Fuck you.”

“I am sure you don't need to add one more person into your already huge fuck list.” He smirks.

“Don't be so jealous.”

“I wouldn't fuck you if you paid me.”

Well, at least my question is answered. He can get more punchable. We glare at each other, I am surprised neither of us have raised our fists yet. It wouldn't be the first time.

“Who says you'll be the one fucking?” I snap back.

He looks mildly surprised but then his lips curl up in an obnoxious smirk. “So you want to pay me to fuck me? Too bad I don't want an STD.”

Walked right into that one, didn't I? Dammit.

“Not getting laid much, Garcia? Since you forgot about protection.”

“Some of us have an actual life.” He says.

Ouch. He isn't wrong. This really is exhausting.

“Yeah, okay.” I say finally. I walk away before he can say anything more.

Everett

I freeze. As soon as those two words fall out of his mouth. Zachary admitting that I am right about anything is a scenario I never thought I would ever experience. But what made me halt is the way he lost that fire burning in his amber eyes till then. They just deflated.

We have had these bickering sessions for two years and never once has he ever just given in and walked away. Not until one of us got the end word in or started shoving each other. We have said worse things to each other. We have even raised our fists at each other two or three times. Not that we actually hurt each other bad, but a punch is a punch. So why now of all times did he just walk away? He looked shaken, his shoulder muscles tensed and his body stiffened. And that's so unlike him.

Why the hell do I even care? I shake my head to clear my thoughts. Someone calling my name draws my attention and I pivot to check who it is.

“Everett? Thank god I found you! Pierce will set the goddamn kitchen on fire if he keeps doing what he is doing.” Casey looks at me relieved. I sigh and she gives me a sympathetic smile. Casey knows exactly how troublesome having Pierce as a best friend is. She used to date him before Adam came along and they both fell head over heels for each other.

“Is Sloane in there somewhere?” I ask hopefully. If anybody can get Pierce to notch down a bit it's our badass best friend.

“She is here...yeah,” Casey says.

I raise my eyebrows at her hesitant answer.

“She's in the bedroom,” Casey flushes slightly.

I groan. “Which one?”

Casey's eyes grow wide at my question. “First floor, second room on the right.”

I bid Casey a goodbye, then head up the stairs. I reach the room and notice that it's locked. So I knock. No answer. I knock louder.

“Jesus fuck, get another room you asshole,” a female voice comes from inside. There she is, I smirk at her reply.

“Are you cheating on me babe?” I ask.

“We are in an open relationship also, bitch you're gay!” she says.

I laugh at her ludicrous response. Then I hear some male voice whispering from inside. This makes me laugh harder. “Well you should know that Pierce is setting the kitchen on fire.”

The door immediately flies open to reveal a slightly mused Sloane. Her black hair falls messily on her forehead and her lips look swollen.

“Pierce that motherfucking cockblock!” she grunts out. I laugh. A figure steps out from the bedroom and rushes out annoyed. She doesn't even turn to look at the guy.

“Oops?” I smirk at her.

“Fuck you!” she says, but her lips twitch into a grin.

“I Don't fuck girls, sorry.” I tell her.

She rolls her eyes. “Let's put out a fire and then our best friend.”

Pierce better look out for himself since he is going to have his balls kicked to oblivion today. I smirk at her. “Amen.”

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