. Also I love that so many of you are rereading the other books it makes me so happy :)

"I tried to bake this cake three times before this one." I say, swinging my legs as Henry stood at the opposite counter smiling at me. I was sat on top, just finished dishing out cake to drunk people.

"I am sure you did." He mumbles.

I frown. "What is that meant to mean?"

He pauses. "You like perfection."

I pull a face. This is not a conversation that tipsy Em needs to get involved in.

"Well I like you don't I?" I joke instead of engaging.

Henry narrows his eyes at me. "I mean, apparently not."

I grin, laughing at him and he shakes his head at me.

We um, cleared a few things up yesterday. I was really honest. I kinda expected him to be severely awkward around me today. This evening. Instead, as usual he hasn't really left my side. But I breathe easier knowing he knows exactly what's going on in my head.

It's Luella's birthday. This morning she had to go back home and see family, but she came back around six and we all did presents and August and T came up and we had some dinner, like take out.

It wasn't awkward with August. We didn't speak directly much, but we were fine together. It was okay.

T and August stayed for the party. Luella invited Rayne as well, and Jude and Henry.

Luella also invited a few people from her course, there was a girl called Iris, with really fair hair, cut just under her chin, another girl called Yasmine who was just quietly sat on our arm chair crossed legged and vibing to the music and a guy called Elijah. He was beautiful. But we didn't get to talk much because he just came up to drop her a gift- which was alcohol but then he left saying he had been called in to work.

Anyway because there wasn't like loads of us, we were all just sat around the front room, drinking, playing games which was Luella's favourite thing to do.

But then I decided everyone needed cake so now I am sat up here still, Henry watching me.

"I like you very much." I correct him.

He just smiles and rolls his eyes at me. "You are drunk."

I blink at that. "No I was just saying I like you as a friend, I wasn't confesing. We just went over-"

He steps forwards and his hand lifts to my lips, his eyes wide as he mutes me. "I meant because you were swaying."

I laugh behind his hand and I drag a hand through my hair when he steps back.

"Henry this isn't allowed to be awkward."

"Em you're making it awkward."

My lips part and I lift my foot to kick him away, he just chuckles and helps me down from the side.

"Come on, stop being weird and lets join everyone."

"Yeah whatever." I say, moving past him and there's a small gap next to August as he sits on the carpet by the coffee table and I just go and sit down in it.

"Uh oh drunk Em coming near me is not a good sign." He whispers, leaning down into my ear and I pull away from him in shock.

Why do these boys-

I straighten my amused face. "Leo which one of us keeps coming onto the other? It's not me."

His jaw ticks in shock and then his usual smirk appears on his face and he turns back to the group, ignoring me.

I nod. I think I won that one.

Luella and Trev are sat together on one of our arm chairs, Luella on his lap but the chair is wide so it looks comfy and then on the sofa, Rayne and Jude are there, Jude then next to that Iris girl who apparently almost everyone knows.

I recognise her name. But I don't know where from. She's really nice though, witty.

Then Henry was sat beside her, he was on his phone, blinking in confusion down at it.

The it was Yasmine, who seemed either really drunk or was just having a really good time.

Then on the opposite side of the coffee table was August and I.

I was pouring a drink at the coffee table when Henry's phone starting ringing and he pratically flew up, walking over to my room and just letting himself in, away from the music.

Which was fine.

But should I check if everything's okay?

I guess so. So I jump up and step over August, he just leans back to give me room and I don't think anyone else really notices that we were leaving.

I walk into my bedroom and I laugh at Henry, he was laid over my bed, his head hanging off the side as he was so long and he just smiled at me when I came in.

"Yes Zo. I told you, she's not always the best person to be around."

I whack him incase he was talking about me.

Gently.

He chuckles but pushes my hand away and I just sit down by his head.

Zoe.

I am not allowed to feel a certain way about this.

"You can come here?" He offers.

My eyes bug.

He looks up at me. "She can come here right?"

I guess so. I nod. It's Lue's birthday but she won't mind. Although I did tell her- so I hope she doesn't say anything. She won't. I will warn.

"Emersyn's."

I hear Zoe decline.

"Tell her we have cake and alcohol." I whisper.

"We have cake and alcohol. Two thing I know you like and enjoy."

She says something more and then he starts smiling so I assume she said yeah. I just get up and head over to my mirror. I just had a loose fitting dress on, it was a white smock dress and it was pretty see through so I actually had to wear things to keep my modesty tonight. My hair was down my back, pinned out of my face and T said I looked pretty.

I felt good today. Positive. And I felt pretty, so I was just going with this feeling and not letting my head get the better of it.

I left Henry there and went back to join the people out there. They were playing a word game. I just sat back down with August and watched. I don't know what they were doing. But people were shouting, laughing, even August seemed amused as the chaos.

I just poured myself a drink.

Then Henry emerges from my room. "Luella." He says and everyone pauses in politeness.

"Mm?" She says, looking up.

"My friend is going to come up, is that okay?"

"Which one?" She asks amused. "I assumed all your friends existed inside this room."

My lips part at her bitchiness but Henry, assuming that was just Luella, roll his eyes and gifts her a smile.

"Her names Zoe. Jude and Rayne and Em have met her. She-"

"Henry honestly it's fine." Lue says, nodding and he smiles and then tells us he's going to go grab her.

I just pour myself a drink.

"Competition?" August whispers close to me and I elbow him.

"You are trying to get a rise out of me and for what?"

He looks amused. "You're the only person here who amuses me."

My lips part. "You mean the only person who's reactions to things make you laugh."

He nods.

"Sociopath."

His amusement increased. "That doesn't make sense."

"Well you're some sort of pathy." I mutter.

"We know what sort of pathy I am." He chuckles and I just scrunch my nose up at him.

I look up and find Iris watching us, I give her a smile and she looks slightly surprised but smiles back.

She looks guilty.

I think.

Her eyebrows are drawn together, a sort of sheepish look settling on her lips.

"You know?" August says and I turn to him. "Your dad laughed so much when you didn't hug me the other day."

Right so August is tipsy enough to bring that up. Should I cut him off? Sounds like a good idea.

I look at him. I wonder if people are listening, it doesn't seem like it, everyone's just talking. Apart from us two, who are whispering.

"How'd he know?"

"Well I told him."

I pull a face. "Why on earth-?"

August blinks at me confused. "He asked why I was in a mood."

"That put you in a mood?" I say quietly.

"Well no. I was already annoyed. That didn't make me happier."

I cross my arms over myself. "My job on this earth is not to make you happier August."

"I know." He says immeditaly. "I don't have a problem that you didn't wanna touch me. Makes more sense than when you would. I am saying your dad was way too amused."

"Well dad also let you spoon me on the sofa so-"

I didn't spoon you." He mutters. "You were the one on me."

"No. I was peacefully asleep on the sofa until you came and disturbed me."

"You weren't asleep you were pretending to sleep."

"I was asleep."

"You weren't doing your sleep noises."

"Well... well... I was almost asleep."

"Yeah and then I joined and you fell straight asleep."

"What is your point?"

"My point is your dad's a prick. I don't know how we got to the other stuff."

"My dad is not a prick." I say immeditaly and he looks shocked at me retort.

He smirks. "He is."

"My dad would give a leg and an arm to make sure you are alright." I say harshly and August watches me.

"I disagree."

I huff. "My dad practically considers you his child."

August pulls a face. "I know. Does that make us the incestuous-"

I push his shoulder away and he laughs, like a proper August deep chuckle and I listen shocked and then I realise he was just trying to get a rise out of me again.

"Can someone swap, August is an asshole." I announce to the group and everyone laughs at August's offended look.

"Emersyn don't-" He starts and then stops because Henry walks back through the door with a very tired looking Zoe behind him.

I look at her, she looks at me. And I decide to smile. She looks like she needs a friend and well she probably feels really really awkward.

"Zoe." I smile. "Come come."

She walks over and I tap the space next to me, moving up so she can sit down and then Henry just gives me a smile, grabbing her coat from her and he goes and puts it with the others.

"This is Zoe everyone." I say. "Would you like a drink?"

She nods and I go about making her a Jack Daniels and coke.

"You remembered?" She asks and I just give her a small smile and nod.

"Yeah, I assumed that is what you drink?"

"Yeah it's cool." She says softly.

August is watching me, I can feel it. I lift my eyes to his and he looks heavily amused. It's behind his eyes, his face is straight. But his eyes are swirling and I just narrow mine at his and his lips tug up into a smirk.

I wanna sit on him.

I want to squash him. I wanna suffocate him.

August just chuckles at my deathly glare and he leans forwards and grabs himself another beer.

He's staying away from hard spirits. Apparently. Thing is his body is used to like vodka, and the harsh stuff. He hasn't got a tolerance for the lighter things.

Whatever.

As August and I stand off, Henry is introducing everyone to Zoe and she moves to get move comfortable on the floor besides me.

I hand her a drink and I warn her. "I put an extra shot in so like, it's strong. But I felt like you might need it. Plus you have to play catch up."

She just gives me a small smile and Yasmine gets up off the sofa and plomps herself down besides Iris, throwing her legs over the girl. I assume they know each other. Anyway Yasmine did this so Henry could sit on the arm chair, and I watch as Zoe moves closer to his legs.

I don't think it was intentional. Just a comfort thing.

But I watch for a little too long and I feel August lean into my ear.

I stop him before he says anything.

"August Parker I swear to fucking god, any more comments and I will murder you in yoru sleep."

Everyone laughs, meaning I said that rather loudly and he leans back, watching me.

"Retract the claws. And plus, we both know I would like that."

Everyone laughs but I just glare because him saying he'd like to be murdered doesn't sit right with me.

"Plus my names Richardson now."

"I hate you."

He hums. "Mhm sure you do."

"No I do." I say quietly, leaning across him to grab Luella's glass that is on the floor. I was going to top hers up for her.

He leans into my ear.

"You smell nice."

I sit back up quickly and I look at him shocked.

Is he flirting? Is he winding me up? I decide I don't really care.

"Put your dick away Leo, we're in public."

People snort at that, listening still and he just gives me a small smirk. Not at all embarrassed.

He was drunkie. I am cutting him off.

Well like I don't have that power. But whatever.

"Let's play never have I ever." Luella says and I just glare at her because of course. It wouldn't be a freaking gathering if she didn't announce this.

"Oh god." Zoe mutters and I give her a small smile, nudging my shoulder into hers.

"Don't stress." I say.

"I cant be the only one who stresses about these games." She says quietly, smiling at me and I shake my head.

No she's not. I nod at Henry who was too, refilling his drink with a frown. "Our Henry isn't a fan."

She just looks at me, searching my face and then she nods.

She gulps her drink and I well, I am not her mother, so I just smile and decide she needs it. Whatever.

Yasmine goes first and I am surprised at the way she jumped at the opportunity.

The first person always sets the tone of the questions.

She smirks.

Oh god.

"Never have I ever... sat on someone's face."

Oh God indeed.

Everyone splutters at the intensity of the first question and then we all laugh as she grins.

Yasmine is bold bold.

It is now I realise the crudeness of what I was thinking earlier about wanting to sit on August. I did not mean like that.

Luella drinks, easily. T has a smirk on his face and I cringe internally, looking away quickly and well I cringe even more when I see Jude drink, I fall back covering my eyes and August laughs at me. No one else notices. Yasmine is just talking about how it's a fun position and Iris is laughing at her, trying to get her to shut up.

When we move on to Henry's question I laugh because he looks stressed.

"Angel just say something that you haven't done and watch who drinks." Is what Luella throws at him. Catching onto his confusion.

"Okay. Well. Um. Never have I ever shop lifted."

We all smile at him, because well he is cute. I drink, August does, T and Luella do too and well so does Jude and then Zoe.

Everyone loosk at Jude shocked.

"I was a young teen okay, it was fun. We all did it at the corner shop. Right Zoe?"

She nods too. "Apart from Henry who well... was terrified."

"Nice christian boy." I stage whisper and he turns his head to me and he glares. It was almost shocking. If it wasn't so funny.

"Well like, yeah, stealing is wrong. What on earth did you shop lift?" He asks me.

I smile. "Um, well... Luella was really high and we needed some art supplies and well I cant really rememeber the reason why I didn't pay but I promise it was a good reason."

"It was because you were trying to break out of good girl mode." Luella says.

I just nod. Smiling sheepishly at Henry. "Do you still wanna be my friend?"

He just rolls his eyes and then nods to Zoe.

She looks awkward. But then shrugs. "Never have I ever been caught by my parents?"

Trev cocks his head. "Caught having sex or caught masturbating,"

He's so blunt. I can't . I need to drink more. I take a sip. A gulp. Golly.

Everyone looks at me surprised and I look confused back at their faces.

Oh.

"I wasn't drinking! I wasn't drinking to that. I just needed a drink." I splutter and Luella grins at me, shaking her head and I just lower mine embarrassed.

"Um, either." Zoe says.

Pretty much all the boys drink and I look around shocked.

"Why are you all drinking?"

"It's like a teenage boy staple of being caught by your parents wanking." Trev says. I just look confused. "Like mornings before school..." He says and looks around. All the boys nod.

Oh god.

I look between Rayne and August. "Oh God poor Ivy."

Rayne splutters a laugh and August shakes his head. "Was never caught doing that, just got caught with a girl once so like-"

I ignore and look at Rayne.

He cringes. "It scarred me."

"I am sure it scarred her too." I say.

"Oh god." Jude laughs at me and then he nods. "Your go Emmy."

I just smile back. "Okay so um, never have I ever sent nudes."

I say this because I never have. So-

Almost everyone drinks, even Zoe and I watch as August, Trev, Luella, Jude, Rayne, Iris, and Yasmine too.

I look at Henry and I wiggle my eyebrows. "You wanna exchange pics later, seems like we're the odd ones out?"

The blush that rises on his cheeks makes me laugh loudly and then I look at Zoe as I grin and she doesn't nearly look as amused as I do.

I just sober up and widen my eyes at her. Like well I am sorry.

Oopsies. I was just joking.

I look back at Luella and she is grinning at me, I just send her a quick amused grin back and then I nod to August.

He raises an eyebrow at me.

Whatever.

"Never have I ever... swallowed."

Pig.

Trev chuckles as Luella tries to kick August. I look around and I just feel the heat on my own cheeks when it is only me, Luella, bloody Rayne and Yasmine who drinks.

She leans across the coffee table to high five me.

Like what.

I lift my hand to high five her back and then Rayne and I make eyecontact.

He cringes. I cringe.

We don't say anything.

Which actually makes me laugh a little under my breath.

Then I look at August.

He is smirking at me.

"Calm your tits." I whisper.

He lifts his hands to his nipples and pretends to calm them.

Drunk August is silly August, it's the August I saw only a few time, when he was drunk or when he was playful in his room.

Goofy August also reminds me of mania August.

I look down at my lap.

He was in a good mood.

But he was drinking so.

I don't know. God I just worry.

"Never have I ever... slept with anyone here." Trev says and I look up at him, a little unimpressed.

He looks back at me confused. Then his eyes widen when I drink. When August does. I forgot he didn't know. I assumed Lue would have shared.

He looks betrayed and I laugh at that. He pokes Luella whispering to her and my eyes jump back at the group.

Jude and Rayne drink. That's like normal. But what was um a little surprising was that Iris drank.

Then it hit me. Where I knew her name. August at one point mentioned her name.

I watch August drink.

He doesn't look at me.

I just feel myself deflate a little. Not because they slept together like- August has slept with a lot of people. But because I am pretty sure she is one of the girls he slept with during that week where we weren't really talking.

I take another sip, stronger.

"Are you ok?" Zoe says quietly, leaning close to me.

She's sweet.

"Mhm." I hum. "Boy's are shit." I whisper.

I guess I just thought Leo may give me a heads up. Like he did with Claire. Maybe not. plus I was letting it go.

It's gone. No longer offended.

It's chill.

"Yeah I know." She whispers back and to this I squeeze her leg a little.