-

To say Luella was pleased to see me was an understatement. To say she was very much unimpressed to see me with Rayne, was an even bigger understatement.

She wasn't talking to me.

At all.

She just kept sending me mini glares across the room as I sat on Rayne's lap on the sofa.

Which I know was slightly inappropriate, but there wasn't space besides him as Cal and Claire were sat next to us. So I was sat on his lap and we were mainly just talking between ourselves.

The flat was pretty crowded, and it would be much easier to drink, but I decided it would be best to try and not get drunk tonight. Plus, I was being supportive of Luella, even if she was sending me mini glares.

She was stood beside the table, Trev besides her and August to his right.

August was in a pretty good mood tonight and I was happy for him.

"What about him?" Rayne whispers in my ear, nodding to a guy in the corner who was lent up against August's bedroom door, talking to a girl and I shook my head.

"Six." I whisper and Rayne laughs loudly, making my body bounce.

"Emersyn you are so fussy. He's at least an eight."

I shake my head. "You just are desperate."

His hands poke my side, shaking his head at me and I look around the room, nodding to the blond who has big curly hair, it was cute. And he was really, really tall.

"Now he's an eight." I whisper and Rayne follows my eyes.

"He's too pretty looking." He whispers. "I'd say a seven."

I huff.

We'd been doing this for a while. Which was slightly, I don't know, bad. But we weren't harming anyone. Everyone was beautiful in their own way, just some of these guys get points deducted from previous experiences.

"What about..." He nods to Trev and I narrow my eyes.

"Trev is gorgeous but he's Lue's so I canny rate him." I admit and Rayne laughs, nodding back at me.

Rayne being opening attracted to guys, tonight, him just sat here with me and not looking at all uncomfortable was such a huge step and I was excited about it. Like I was honestly in such a good mood.

I knew I had every right to still be mad at him, and I also knew me sat here, whispering with him and laughing our asses of told him I was fine now. Which I sort of wasn't. But I am not going to be rude, or a bitch, this him right now is my friend and that is all I've wanted for the past month... I wanted my friend back.

"Trev is definitely a nine. But he needs a haircut." Rayne says and I gasp.

"That is what I said."

Rayne chuckles and looks back at them. "What would you rate August?" He asks and I laugh, leaning against the edge of the sofa but mostly against him.

"Definitely a ten."

"Emersyn." Rayne groans and I laugh loudly and I look back at them, Luella shaking her head at Rayne and I's closeness and August and Trev actually looking up at the loudness of my laugh.

Whoopsies.

I send them a grin and then whip my head around to Rayne.

"You can't get with my brother." He chuckles. "Your crush needs to stop."

I sigh dramatically, slumping against him. "Honestly though he is a ten."

"shut up." Rayne laughs, shaking his head at me. "Your obsession needs to chill."

I wasn't obsessed. I didn't actually have feelings or anything for August. Just he was good looking and it was just funny. It was funny the little narrative in my head, it was funny to flirt with him and it was funny to wind Rayne up.

I just like it because he looks at me as if I've grown three heads when I'm nice to him and even when he's nasty August I just find it comical. Well apart from when he's like actively angry at me.

I need to find the balance.

"Well it still seems like we are together anyway." I pout. "He won't look at me when he thinks I am with you."

"If I know August, he'd never do anything with an ex of mine anyway." Rayne says and I dramatically sigh, dragging a finger down my cheek to imitate tears.

Rayne laughs, knowing I am joking but he had a fair point. Even though Rayne and I are now apparently broken up, there's no way August would do that. Plus well, it's me and it's him.

Plus, Jeez the terror I would feel if he flirted back again. Like I almost lost it on the stairs and he just said my hair looked good.

I was pathetic.

But it was also slightly amusing so I didn't mind.

"Do you actually-" he starts and I laugh, shaking my head.

"Not at all. I don't even really like him. It's just funny."

Rayne nods, smiling at me and he looks around looking for another person and I just follow his eyes.

"Uh oh. You have competition." Rayne whispers and amused I follow his eyes to a random girl who was at the kitchen counter making a drink. She was beautiful, her skin dark and perfect under the glow of the kitchen spotlights and I frowned only when I saw Luella had gone over and started talking to her.

"For Luella?" I ask amused and Rayne snorts, shaking his head.

"That's August's girl. Sorta anyway. I don't know if August does relationships. But she's the only one that I've actually met."

I laugh at that, looking at her and then back at Rayne.

"She's annoying pretty." I admit and Rayne laughs, nodding too.

"Nice as well."

"Well shit." I deadpan and Rayne snorts, squeezing my hip.

"You are pretty and nice too Em."

I roll my eyes. "I know this." I mumble, amusement radiating from me as we both watch this girl and her beautifulness walk from the kitchen towards Trev and August.

"I can't watch this." I whisper dramatically, exaggeratedly turning around and facing Cal and Claire again and my eyes widen when they are full on making out next to us on the sofa.

"He didn't hug or kiss her, you are in the clear." Rayne says playing along and I grin at him, secretly happy even though I was mainly just joking.

To be fair, it is his birthday, he should get whatever he wants.

"What's her name?" I enquire, fully curious now and Rayne smiles at me.

"Nia."

I pout. "She even has a pretty name. God damn it."

Rayne laughs loudly and then pushes my hips up so he can stand. "You are heavy, I need to get a drink."

I shrink a little at being called heavy, being too sober to just take that joke on the chin and then I decide to try and shake it off, telling myself I was being silly.

"Okay so ima go talk to Luella." I say but pause when I see the girl still stood with them.

"Go for it, ima get a drink."

We head our separate ways and I weave around people to go and get a hold of Lue, stepping up to them and smiling brightly when all four eyes turn to me.

"Don't be mad at me Lue." I whisper and she just huffs, shaking her head.

"Oh goodness what did you do?" Nia says, being so freaky welcoming to their little circle and I send her a little grin.

Don't be intimidated.

Does anyone else get intimidated when pretty girls talk to them? Like it's scary.

"She forgave her boyfriend for being an absolute-"

"Lue." I say, looking at August and then shaking my head.

I should probably say we broke up.

But I didn't want it to be a major thing. Plus it was August's birthday.

"Supportive friend remember?" I say and she just shakes her head at me and grumbles about not wanting to be supportive.

But she opens her arms for me and I laugh, giving her a quick hug.

"I didn't know you were coming." She says. "Like you literally told me no, eight times."

"August invited me." I tell her, which was explanation enough for her and Trev. Like they get it.

"Happy birthday." I say to August. It was now officially past midnight, so I felt like It had to be said.

"Thanks." He says and then he nods in greeting to his brother who was walking up behind me.

"Your mates are scary." Rayne says to his brother and August lifts his lips in amusement but only slightly.

"It's nice to see you again Nia." Rayne offers and Nia smiles brightly back at him.

"You too." She smiles and I step away from her so he could come more into the circle.

"You free next Friday mate?" Trev asks and Rayne does nod or shake his head.

"What's up?" He asks and Lue grins at me in excitement. My eyes just widen because I dunno what she's so happy about.

"Gig, could use with the help." Trev asks and Rayne shrugs.

"Sure, I don't see why not."

"You're going to come to your first groupie session." Luella grins and I raise an eyebrow.

"Basically, we stand at the very front and hype Trev and that up."

I just smile and nod. "Sure."

"We're gonna play beer pong." Phoenix says walking up behind us. "Emersyn you've never played so you're playing and I guess your boyfriend can come too."

My lips part, throwing Phoenix a look and he just sends me a grin.

"I am not drinking tonight." I share. "But yeah, Rayne you can drink the drinks."

"You have good aim anyway, we'll win."

I laugh. We most definitely wont.

We bid the guys goodbye and head towards the big kitchen table they have. Which fair enough was set up for beer pong and well, lets just say I was competitive. And I tried my very best.

But Rayne was now very drunk.

And as we sit back on the sofa, we all fall into conversation and I can literally feel Rayne falling asleep under me.

We should somehow get back home.

But that whole trip thing would have to be figured out later.

It was always nicer when the party died down, when people were drunk but calm, when we talked and laughed and when the group got smaller and smaller.

"You're sleepy." I whisper and Rayne shakes his head.

"I am sick." He admits and I groan.

"Raynie don't you dare."

"I am trying." He swallows and I look around and honestly my only thought is that Trev will have a meltdown if Rayne is sick here.

I look around for August and he's stood in the kitchen with Nia, cool amusement clouding his face and I cringe getting up and walking quietly over there.

"August." I whisper and his head turns to me.

"Em?"

I smile a little at that. And then get serious.

"Rayne's drunk and mumbling about feeling sick. I can't get him to a bathroom and Trev will-"

August laughs, like I thought he was going to be mad but instead he looks actually warm when he squeezes Nia's hip and moves around her, heading towards his brother who was now sat up on the edge of the sofa.

"You wanna go on a trip to the toilet bro?"

Rayne drunkenly smiles at his brother and I feel bad because well- if I was better at beer pong Rayne wouldn't be so pissed right now.

August pulls Rayne up and I follow them into August's room. August has his arm under Rayne, taking him into his bathroom and I cringe when I see Rayne's 'oh shit' face.

"Emmie you've killed me." He says and I just lift my hands, apologetically sorta.

"This is your fault?" August chuckles, his eyes lifting to mine as Rayne falls to his knees besides the toilet. August lifts the lid and settles his brother there and I just lean against the doorway.

"He drank for the both of us." I say sheepishly and Rayne starts to kneel up, cradling the bowl and I know he's going to be sick.

"You can go back now, I got it." I say to August and he shakes his head.

"My brother Em, you can leave if you wanna."

"I am good here." I whisper and August leans against the other side of the door frame, our eyes connected, for some reason almost challengingly.

Rayne's gagging breaks our little staring contest and although both August and I should be concerned, we both exchange an amused look as Rayne is sick.

"You're supposed to look after my brother Em." August laughs and I just pout a little at that.

"He's your brother, not mine."

"I mean, seeing as you and him have been all over eachother all night, I am glad he's not your brother."

I pull a face. "August you call me the innocent one but then you say me sitting on his lap as being all over him."

"You are awfully coherent for two in the morning." August says, referring to the fact I am sober, and ignoring my other reply. You could tell August had been drinking, but his pupils were big, wide. I wonder what he'd taken, he's pretty like normal, maybe a little kinder than usual. But he's definitely on something.

"Thought it was better if I didn't drink." I say and August's eyes flash in amusement.

"To keep me safe from drunk you?"

I smile. "Of course."

Rayne flushes the toilet and he turns to me. "Stop flirting and help me."

I laugh and help him up, but August is slightly taken back by that statement. I didn't care, it was funny.

Not being able to cope with Rayne's weight on me, August takes him from me but Rayne pushes his brother away and then I grin when Rayne falls face first onto August's bed and is practically passed out in the next second.

"You two are the same fucking person I swear." He says but instead of getting angry like he did with me he takes off Rayne's shoes and then flicks the light off.

"You coming out?" August says and I stare at him through the dark, surprised at how fucking nice he is being.

It is his brother Em.

"Yeah sorry." I mumble, walking towards him and he opens the door, pushing me out.

"I am thirsty." I say, walking past him and towards the kitchen and August just follows.

"Have a proper drink. You sober is weird." August says and I shake my head, looking for something to drink.

"I just want-"

"Emersyn it's my birthday..." He says and I pause, turning around to look at him.

"And?"

"Aren't you supposed to be extra nice to people on their birthdays?"

"I am being nice to you."

"Have a drink, it would be rude not to."

I laugh at that and he just watched me continue to look around the messy kitchen.

"Seriously." August says and he grabs a hold of my hand and I am pulled back towards him, and some how he moves in front of me and grabs a hold of my hips. "Jump." He whispers and I just follow he freaking instruction and I am easily lifted and placed on his kitchen side.

Dizzy.

I should definitely not drink.

"Sit here, I'll make you a drink."

Curiosity gets me, sue me. "Okay."

Leo turns around and finds a clean cup.

He turns to look at me. "Plastic because your track record suggests the need."

I pout and he rolls his eyes and then I watch is slight horror when he starts adding random ass spirits and fruit juice and then lemonade and I just shake my head slightly when he walks towards me and hands me the red cup.

"You're trying to kill me." I whisper and August is amused.

"Only fair when you literally killed him."

"I didn't kill him." I laugh and lets just say I was really, really trying not to have a heart attack when his hands come to hold either side of the kitchen side I was sat on.

I take a sip.God damn it I just needed it.

Then I coughed, it was fucking disgusting.

"August this is bad."

He chuckles, reaching for it and I try again to chill my shock when he raises it to his lips and takes a sip.

"Yeah you're right. It's bad."

I nod, watching his face. He was- being intense.

I look over my shoulder and my eyes make contact with Lue's and I hate her because she smirks at me and then leans into Trev, shaking her head at me as if I was doing something really bad.

I mean, it did just look like I put my boyfriend to bed and then the next second I am sat up here with his brother almost between my thighs.

I take another sip. For the strength.

"This dress is interesting." He whispers and I take in a small breath, utterly fucking nervous.

August what are you doing and how do I stop it because if I don't stop it I might just melt?

"Interesting?" I say and he nods.

"Yes very interesting." His hand slides closer to the edge of my thigh, still gripping the kitchen counter but my breath hitches when he hooks a thumb under the material which was tight against my thigh and slowly almost absentmindedly, his thumb starts to rub the area he was touching.

He was high.

I should move.

I almost sighed in relief when his freaking- god know what- comes over to us. I expect his hand to move but it doesn't.

Not at all. He blatantly just has his thumb hooked under the skirt of my dress and he doesn't batter an eyelid.

She does though.

Nia stands beside him, looking at me too and then she turns to him.

"Are we staying here babe?" She asks, her eyes trained on his hand too and I honestly am just holding my breath because I decided if I truly can't breathe properly in a time like this, I don't deserve to breathe at all.

"Nope. Rayne's passed out in my bed."

She nods slowly. "You wanna go back to mine then?"

He shakes his head, his eyes looking at me and I just blink wide eyed at him.

His eyes are heated.

I need to escape.

Damn it August we sorted this. See my crush on him was chill when It was one sided. Not when he's high and horny and trying to be weird.

I pout, stressed. But I mean, I could just push him away.

Instead I part my knees in front of his freaking ex, or whoever she is, and he chuckles staring at me still, not even looking at her and he steps up to me.

She is shocked. My eyes lowered in freaking guilt and embarrassment and she walks away.

"You are red." He mumbles and I lift my eyes up to his.

"You're stressing me out." I whisper and I try and close my legs, to push him out and August's hands slide off the counter to hold either one of my legs.

Shit.

My eyes are wide.

And he laughs, loudly.

"You are so fucking responsive."

I let out a breath, letting him hear my stressed out breathes and he cocks his head.

"I am just being affectionate." He smirks and I shake my head at him.

He was so god damn hot.

He needs to go away.

He's gonna be cold and stressed tomorrow.

"You are drunk." I say and he nods.

"And high."

"Go away." I whisper and August squeezes my thighs.

"Okay."

He steps away from me and I immediately close my legs so I wasn't like exposed to him as he leant against the opposite kitchen side.

All his friends were in the front room, sat around, talking, messing around but August was just fucking staring at me amused.

"Have you got underwear on tonight Em?"

I swallow.

Red. Honestly, I was probably bright fucking red.

I wanted to tell him to check for himself.

And that thought shocked even me.

"Yes." I snap, shaking my head at him.

"You're funny." He says. "It's fun to make you all flustered."

I rub my forehead in frustration. "It's not very fun for me."

"But it's fun for me."

"It won't be fun for you when you remember your actions in the morning and then get all weird."

August smirks and pushed himself off the counter and back towards me and for goodness sake I part my thighs for him again. It felt good to have him stand between them.

Honestly, I hate myself.

Emersyn get a grip, be strong. Push the boy away.You wanna be friends and this will result in another fight.