The next night, Adrian and Adam were making their way to Kelsey Kane's party. After getting the address from Brody earlier, Adam was leading them both through the neighbourhood.

"All of these houses are ridiculously nice." Adrian wondered one amazement.

Adrian took in the sight of the trees and hedges meticulously coordinated along with the greenery. The metal gates glistened in pristine condition behind the Victorian style houses. Each house bursting with sophistication, elegance and beauty.

Adam couldn't help but agree. "Yeah no kidding. Ashley said Kelsey's family was rich but this is just... amazing..."

Adrian pointed towards a group of people standing outside the biggest house of the neighbourhood. Drinks in one hand and cigarettes in the other, they all seemed to be in their own world as music could faintly be heard from where they were standing.

"Guessing this is the house, you think everything's going to be alright tonight?" Adrian was hesitant going to a party where the people were going to hate him.

Adam was quick to reassure his friend. "No need to worry Adrian, we're just going to have a great night with some friends and drink a little."

Adam turned to look at Adrian who still looked a little on edge. "I think this party is going to help you unwind a bit mate, you've been a lot more tense recently and a good night out will fix all that."

Adrian thought about everything that's been different with him recently. The conclusion he came up with revolved around a certain pretty boy that he may be crushing on, who kept occupying his thoughts a lot more than Adrian would like to admit.

'But he's a guy...'

Brody was another hockey enthusiast of a player just like Adrian. He was smart as well as clearly attractive. Not only that but his playfulness and caring qualities stuck out to Adrian the most.

'But he's a guy...'

Adrian was brought out of his thoughts with a hand waved at his face.

"Hello? Anyone in there?" Adam knocked on Adrian's forehead.

Adrian shoved Adam gently away from him. "Let's just go inside."

~~~~~~~~~~

As soon as they walked through the door, several pairs of eyes locked onto them but none of them seemed to care or even notice who they really were.

"Coast is clear I guess, time to have some fun." Adam grinned.

The house was just as nice on the inside. The first thing they saw was a huge spiral staircase with exposed brick walls as an archway in between every room. A crystal chandelier loomed over every room with several scenery paintings decorating the walls.

"Hey guys! Glad to see you make it." Ashley greeted them as she made her way through the living room. Walking with ease because of her flat sneakers, Ashley was wearing a black sequin dress which showed of her neckline and slim waist as well as a jacket wrapped around her waist.

"Wow..." Slipped our of Adam's mouth. Adrian looked at Adam to see him still staring while turning back to see Ashley tuck a stray hair behind her ear.

"Here," Ashley handed a shot glass to both of the guys. "You have an hour's worth of drinks to catch up on so you can start with these."

Not one to deny a drink, Adam downed it followed by Adrian shortly afterwards.

"That was our Uber's fault, dropped us off at the wrong side of town so we just walked the rest here." Adam confessed.

"This neighbourhood is something else, who is Kelsey?"

"Does the framed picture, which is almost the size of me, above the fireplace not make it any clearer?" Ashley sarcastically replied as she gestured to the painting.

All three sets of eyes turned to the painting showing a middle aged couple with a hand each on a young woman's shoulder. Sitting in the chair was Kelsey Kane, long flowing curly hair with jewellery boasting their wealth. Her dark skin matched beautifully with the family outfit in the painting.

"And there she is, with Brody." Adam pointed towards the kitchen.

Adrian and Ashley turned at the same time. While her eyes looked on in horror at Kelsey invading Brody's personal boundaries, Adrian's eye locked on immediately at Brody. From the distance Adrian could clearly take in his appearance. Dark navy jeans that hugged his thighs tightly, a light blue cross check shirt where the sleeves were rolled up to show off his forearm and biceps. A flick of hair hung down from his forehead, slightly out of place which made him look even more perfect.

'Wow...' He thought to himself.

"Sorry guys, I need to step in there. Their relationship ended on bad terms, and it seems she still hasn't got the memo after all this time that Brody doesn't like her anymore." Ashley interjected.

"Surely Brody can get out of it himself, no?" Adam asked her.

Ashley shook her head. "Mmmm, he wants to be the good guy and not hurt her by rejecting her. I'm pretty sure she would get over it, but she's very persistent because she wants the title of being the star player's girlfriend to boost her own ego."

Adrian and Adam watched Ashley stroll over to the pair with a wide grin and immediately placing herself in front of the pair's physical space. They couldn't hear what was being said over the music but it seemed to make Kelsey storm off.

When Ashley pointed towards the guys, Adrian swore he saw Brody smile when they briefly locked eyes. That brief second when they locked eyes, Adrian felt the rush and excitement. Like the beginning of a sugar rush mixed with a dash of the satisfaction when taking the first bite of your favourite food. As a reflex he couldn't help but smile at this feeling and seeing Brody.

'Maybe so what I may have a slight crush on a guy? It's no big deal, not like anything will happen between us. Right?'

Adam nudged Adrian in the arm. "Let's go grab a drink."

~~~~~~~~~~

More people started to show up at the party as time went on. It had already been over an hour since they arrived at the party and Adrian was starting to feel buzzed.

Adam had left him when he joined Brody doing a roulette of shots in one of the many occupied rooms. Adrian made his way through the bodies of several drunk teenagers to sit outside on the porch. He found a porch swing decorated with leafy vines around the wooden structure. Taking a seat, he lifted his feet of the ground and gently swung on the swing.

Adrian heard footsteps come closer and turned to see Ashley who joined him on the swing, holding two bottles of beer and handing one to Adrian.

"Cheers." Adrian clinked his bottles with Ashley's before taking a swig.

"Good night so far?"

Adrian nodded his head. "Certainly interesting. I just watched someone projectile vomit over the balcony."

Ashley shrivelled her face in disgust. "Oh my god, that's freaking nasty."

"That didn't stop him from making out with another girl straight after..."

Ashley visibly gagged. "The power of alcohol and horny teens... Kelsey's parties always end up a bit wild."

The pair were soon interrupted by a friend of Ashley who signalled for her attention. "Hey Ash, the game's about to start. You joining?"

Ashley turned to look at Adrian before turning back to her friend. "Start without me Holly, I'll join you in a bit."

Adrian watched Holly leave before he spoke. "You can go with your friend if you want, I don't mind."

"I'll stay with my other friend." Ashley smiled as she bumped her shoulder against Adrian. "Seems like you can do with the company too."

Adrian started scratching the label of his bottle. Smiling behind his bottle before he took another sip, "I'm not that much of a party person. Adam usually would drag me to everything just so I wouldn't feel left out."

Ashley nodded her head as she was listening. "How long have you two been a dynamic duo?"

"At least 10 years. He was my best friend since childhood - still is as a matter of fact."

"Aww that's sweet. You two do seem close." Ashley noted.

Adrian explained. "He's like a big brother to me. Always having my back no matter what, trying his best to take care of me."

Adrian took another drink. "When he invited me to his 7th birthday party, some other kids didn't like me at the time and they were bad mouthing me. When Adam heard them, he cancelled the party and yelled at every single one of them. His parents definitely weren't happy with him cancelling everything and wasting all that money." Adrian chuckled to himself as Ashley smiled.

"We ended up celebrating with just the two of us - all the leftover food and video games all night."

Ashley's heart swelled up at hearing this story. "Wow, for a 7 year old he was very assertive yet considerate."

Adrian agreed. "He still is. Most people see him as this stereotypical jock with a personality of a wet napkin but beneath it all there's just so much more that not everyone gets to see."

"We both kind of hit the jackpot with older brothers by the sounds of it." Ashley expressed.

Adrian asked, intrigued. "You have an older brother?"

"Not by blood but Brody's family to me."

That peaked Adrian's interest. "Wait, you two aren't a couple? You guys just seemed super duper close that I thought you guys were together."

Ashley laughed. "We're close because he's like an older brother to me, I could only see Brody as a brother no matter what."

'I guess I got it wrong then.' Adrian thought to himself.

"You both grew up in foster care together right?" Adrian remembered.

Ashley responded. "I joined the system when I was 9. My parents were never able to take care of me properly so I was placed into care."

"I'm sorry to hear that Ashley." Adrian sympathised with her.

Ashley nodded to herself, thinking about her childhood. "When I first arrived there, I was malnourished and a lot weaker than other kids. Joining a new school half way through the year and appearing powerless and fragile made me a target to some kids."

Adrian saw Ashley's eye begin to glisten against the night light.

"And then Brody started treating me differently compared to the other kids. He would give me half of his lunch so I got extra. Every time we went to our local sweet shop, he would give me his lot if I didn't end up liking what I picked out. He always asked if he could play with me. Brody was always popular as a child so it's not like he didn't have any other friends. He just wanted to make me happy." Ashley took a big drink after reliving all of that.

Just hearing about it Adrian could only begin to feel the impact Brody had on Ashley's life growing up. "That's why I meant what I told you about him outside the Diner the other day. He really is the best person I know. At such a young age, and a vulnerable person himself, he cared for me like no one else had before. Even to this day as young adults he tries to make me a priority."

Adrian expresses his admiration of a very protective Brody looking after Ashley. "He really does sound like the best."

Adrian saw Ashley smile back at him as a tear fell from her eyes before she wiped it off. "I'm sorry about your parents as well."

Ashley weakly forced out, "Don't be, some people just aren't a family oriented people."

"Besides, I had a mother, father and a brother in the shape of Brody all my life." Ashley sweetly smiled at the thought of that.

Ashley took another drink from her bottle. "Anyhow, at least I kind of got some closure unlike Brody."

"What do you mean?" He asked Ashley.

Realising she made a mistake and accidentally let too much information slip. "Forget you heard that just now, it's neither of our business." She held Adrian's arm as she continued. "Please don't mention that last part to him."

Adrian could only agree to remain silent before she continued. "He doesn't talk about them a lot - his parents. But yeah, I think that's all I can say about the matter."

Ashley bursted out with a slight giggle. "Sorry I didn't mean to make this night so emotional. I blame it on being a bit tipsy."

Adrian laughed with her. "You and me both."

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