Leo scowls at me as we pass each other in the hall.

"The fuck are you looking at?" He spat.

I glare over him and his buddies. "A gang, I'm assuming."

Leo scoffs through laugher and glances at his friend, "he's a funny guy."

"We've got fucking Seinfeld over here," Daniel adds.

"Now I see why she liked him."

I chuckle, "Tarzan is still afraid Jane will run back to civilization, huh?"

"What?" Leo narrows his eyes.

"Too many big words, scholarship?"

"Heather's not here. Don't piss me off."

"You really are threatened by me. Is it because in a year or two you'll be in prison, and I'll be...well, you know where I'll be."

"Are you trying to say you'll be with her?" He smiles though I've obviously struck a nerve.

"I doubt you will."

"Mm," he nods, "Have you been in the weight room lately?"

"What does that have to do with-"

"See, I was so busy making her cum, I know that's something you struggled with, but I almost forgot I was on your turf, and once I remembered...I fucked her harder." Leo shrugged proudly, "Have a nice workout, man."

"Is that supposed to bother me?"

"It shouldn't. You just want to be friends with her, right? Heather's just a good friend? So, you don't mind at all."

"Give him some details," the other friend encourages.

"Oh, you want details?" Leo challenges. "How much can you take?" His lips pull into a smirk, "Wanna know how much Heather can take?"

"You know what she sees in me, but I'll never know what she sees in you."

"Well, tough luck. Jane really likes Tarzan."

Smug bastard.

I prefer seeing her happy, I really do, but I can't tolerate her domesticated Neanderthal.

You can take them out of the jungle, but you can't take the jungle out of them, so why don't we return to sender?

I knock on the door and wait a few seconds before opening it without a response.

"Mr. Kendal-"

"Headmistress Sanderson, I have reason to believe there are students selling drugs on campus."

"Pardon me?"

"Leonardo Rylin and Daniel Cole are storing and distributing marijuana here."

"I don't have to tell you that's a serious accusation."

"No, and I stand by it."

"I'm sure you have evidence to support this claim."

"I saw them with the drugs. I chose not to confront them obviously because I would hate to escalate the situation."

"Okay, I will look into this. Thank you, Mr. Kendal. There will be mandatory locker searches tomorrow," she sighs heavily. "A sad day in Addington High."

"Sad, indeed. I would hate to see them lose their scholarships, but what choice do you have, headmistress? No special treatment. Your kindness has been taken for weakness."

"Did you have a nice dance in the rain, Carey?" Trevor crosses his arms.

"Hello to you too, and I did, thank you."

"Will you tell me what you were doing now?"

"Having a very long conversation with a woman I happen to like." I'm on a trial period, but at the end of it, I will have my very own Elizabeth.

He sighs, "Can't live with them, can't live without them."

"Something happen?"

"Nothing I'm in the mood to get into. Her time will come...and what an arrival it will be," Trevor says menacingly.

"...I don't want to know."

"Audrey Juliet Michaels," he smirks when we spot her coming down the hall.

"Trevor, nice to see you," she replies with an amused smile.

"It is, isn't it?"

"Don't push it."

"Funniest thing, yesterday I saw you lip-locked with a girl," Trevor steps in front of her to keep her from leaving. "What's that about?"

"Stalker, much?"

"You were outside, Audrey," he rolls his eyes. "So, you like women now? Our epic love story will never be?"

Audrey scoffs, "like you had a chance before."

"What was the whole Ethan Carey epidemic about? You and Alison were ready to tear each other to shreds for him. I was almost jealous."

"Almost?"

Trevor leans in closer to her with a sly look, "I could've easily taken the reigns."

"Ethan is who he is."

"He is who you wanted so dearly," he teases, putting his hands over his heart like a love-struck girl.

"I did. I'm over him now."

"For good?"

"Unfortunately, I'm still attracted to men if that's what you're asking."

"It's not what I was asking, I got that answer when I felt how hot your body was with me standing here," Trevor smirks. "The question is how many Ethans does it take to screw an Audrey."

I huff and shake my head, "he's having a bad day if you haven't noticed."

"The day has nothing to do with human nature," Trevor argues. "We want it all and we want it all the time. That haze of heavy temptation is so hard to ignore when it can easily be rewarded with pleasure. Lock you two in a room together with the right stimuli and you'll forget all about your girlfriends." I glance at Audrey and she looks away quickly. If I didn't know any better, I would think she looks a bit flustered. Trevor chuckles, "I'd say 'awkward' but this is just too good."

Audrey glares at him, "Don't you have somewhere to be, Trevor?"

"I do, actually," he begins walking backward. "But, Audrey— When you're craving something bigger than her pretty little fingers...think of me, will you?"

She gives his teasing remark a sarcastic smile, but once he's gone, it becomes extremely apparent that it's just Audrey and me now.

"Sorry about that..."

"I am over you." For the sake of our sanity, I sure hope so.

"That's good. I'm happy for you."

"Me too...for you and your new girlfriend."

"Later, Audrey."

"Later."

"Are you nervous? Do you want me to take you back home?"

"No, it's okay. My mom's asleep, she won't be looking for me."

"You didn't have to sneak out for me."

I skipped a couple of classes to be with Evan, and the office called my mom since I was marked absent.

I'm only grounded until the weekend is over, but I owe it to Aaron to go out whenever he asks me to...

"Are you sure your friends are okay with me coming?"

"Yes," he chuckles. "I know you've always been worried about the whole being 'out' thing, so...I wanted to show you how it could be when you're ready."

"What do you mean?"

"These are my friends in the community," Aaron smiles. "We made our own gay-straight alliance."

They say birds of a feather flock together, but the only gay people I'm friends with are the ones I hook up with. I don't see how being out suddenly gets you your own GSA club.

He parks on the street a few spaces behind another car. I don't like neighborhoods where no one hangs outside, it's creepy that there are no witnesses if something happens.

Aaron gets out of the car, and I trail behind him to the door like a scared puppy.

"Look who's here," someone says once we walk in.

Everyone starts to congregate in the living room to get a good look at me.

"Introduce us, Aaron," a girl smiles.

"Constance," Aaron points at her, "Jill," he moves on to the girl she's sitting next to. "That's Huey, Melvin, and you all know this is Zach."

"Hi," I wave shyly.

"I love him already," Constance says in approval.

"These two are the only other couple in the group," Aaron puts his arm around me, and Jill wraps her arms around Constance.

"How long have you been together?" I ask.

"Two years and counting," Jill kisses her cheek.

"Wow. Congratulations," I say, impressed.

"It sounds like a lot, but you don't even notice the time until after it's gone. There's never enough."

Constance nods, "and Aaron was so excited to show you off today. That's a good sign."

"I'm not that interesting."

"Don't believe him. It's something new with him every day. He's very interesting," Aaron winks at me before walking toward the kitchen.

"So..." I say to his friends, "are you all out and gay?"

"Yes— except him, he's straight," Melvin motions toward Huey.

"Our fairy prince," Constance laughs and Huey shrugs, accepting the title.

"Still good enough for the cool kids."

"We're considering starting the conversion process," Melvin jokes.

"It's probably for the best," I join in.

"Then we'll have a person for every color of the rainbow," Constance says happily.

"Or we can keep him straight and make him indigo," Jill suggests. "What even is that?"

"Blue if it was insecure," Melvin answers.

"Wait— there's 7 colors, who's the 7th?" I furrow my eyebrows.

"Oh, Scott, but he's not here," Constance replies.

"We know why," Huey smirks when Aaron comes back into the room.

"Stop," Aaron warns.

"Scotty has a crushy on Aaron," Melvin teases.

"Oh..."

"You have nothing to worry about." He points to himself, makes a heart with his hands, and then points to me.

Aw.

I wish I could say that back to you.

I wish I could say that to either of you.

My eyes rush to fix on something that doesn't make me feel guilty, and Huey's neon green wrist band does the job well.

"Nice," I nod toward it, "X COM: UFO. I love that game."

"Yeah, I know," Huey chuckles. "Aaron told me to wear it tonight so we could talk about it."

"He did?"

"He wanted you to see it and go 'wow, I have so much in common with everyone. This is great.' He just wants you to be comfortable," he laughs at the sentiment.

"Sounds like him," I laugh as well and look back to find Aaron. I am comfortable. I'm a lot of things— like not a virgin anymore. "Hey," I walk up to him sorting through tapes.

"Hey," he smiles. "What do you think?"

"I'm ready now."

"Ready for what?"

"You know..." I nod and suggestively glance down at his pants.

"...sex? Wait, what do you mean you're ready now? I thought-"

"I lied, I said I hooked up with a bunch of people but I haven't."

"like...ever?"

"Just once."

"That's okay, Zach. Did you think I'd mind?"

"No...I— I don't know."

"Come here," he grabs my hand and leads me to the front door.

We walk back to the car...I'm guessing he didn't think anywhere too close to the house would be private enough. Though, his group does strike me as the type to like gossip.

I pull my hand away from him, "I just didn't want you to think I was a loser."

"Why would I think you're a loser because of that?"

I shrug, "It's something new with me every day."

"That's a good thing, Zach." He hooks his hand behind my neck and pulls me into a kiss. It gives me an excited feeling in my stomach...his lips move against mine hard, and he draws back slowly just to come back again even heavier.

When he pulls away, I try to find air to breathe.

"I want you to kiss me some more."

He laughs at my request but starts to lean in again— I pull away, keeping eye contact as I go open the back door of the car. Aaron smirks, slowly following after me until we're both in the backseat.

He has a nice smile...and it's even better when it's happening during a kiss. He smiles when he knows he's getting to me. Aaron pulls my bottom lip between his teeth and...

My hands travel down his pants to unbutton them.

He looks at what I did and then back at me questioningly. "In here?"

"...It's a nice car."

I couldn't admit it to myself at first. I didn't want my first time to be with Aaron

But that didn't mean that I didn't want him at all.

He chuckles and sits up to take his shirt off. I breathe heavier watching him strip down to almost nothing. When he pulls down his jeans, I quickly try to catch up so he won't be the only one bare. My pants start to come down, and he connects our lips— putting his hands over mine to help undress me.

There's so much contact and barely any clothes between us. Laying in only our boxers, I can feel everything...and it's even better that he's slowly edging them off of me.

The heat is thick in here and the windows begin to fog from our gasping and moaning.

"We don't have to keep going," Aaron says breathily, still desperately rubbing against me.

"But can we?"

You feel good on top of me too.

"Hi," I wave to the people I pass when walking in.

Leo gasps, "Butterfly!"

He puts his cup down and opens his arms for me to hug him. I laugh as he rocks me side to side in his embrace.

"Are you drunk?"

"A little," he admits. "I'm sorry."

I smile, "I've never seen you drunk."

"Didn't know you wanted to."

"You've seen me drunk."

"And I took care of you." Leo gazes down at me seductively, "you gonna take care of me?"

I smirk at his demeanor. "We'll see."

He licks his lips and moves closer to me until they're against mine. His hands slide down to my waist to ensure our bodies are pressed together. No amount of alcohol can keep Leo from dizzying me with kisses.

He mumbles, "I love you a lot, you know that?"

I take his chain from my neck and put it around his. "I do know that."

He looks curiously at it before pulling my shirt down a little to see that the butterfly pendant is back. "Your necklace," Leo smiles.

"Surprise."

"I missed seeing you wear it. We weren't even together when I gave it to you. I'm so crazy about you it doesn't make any sense."

"Stop," I shy away from him. It feels like melting...looking into his eyes when he says things like that. He wants me to be a puddle at his feet.

"No," he pulls me back and smirks, "you do it to me all the time."

"You guys are grossing me out," Danny complains.

"You'll be alright, bro. I bet you still have a shot." Leo brings me with him to the sofa and sits me on his lap.

"What are you talking about?"

"I think you're on a break. Val was way into you, I was grossed out. I get it now, but you were married to her. You're just separated, not divorced."

"Shut up," Danny scoffs.

"Kat took a guy in her room and closed the door. She wanted to fuck, but she was never going to be your girl."

"Baby," I say lowly.

"Yes?"

"Shh."

"Okay," he nods with a smile, completely fixated on my face now.

I laugh, "I'm going to get you some water."

He lets me up, but as soon as he does— Ned and I crash into each other and his cup spills all over me.

"Shit...sorry, Heather. I'm sorry."

"It's okay..." I say in shock.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to," he drunkenly pleads.

"I forgive you."

"Moron," Amanda huffs at him and grabs my hand. "You can change into some of my stuff."

"I'll be right back, okay?"

Leo nods. "Hands to yourself, Amanda."

She sticks her tongue out at him.

Her room is just as pink as the sofa and carpet. She has a dresser full of makeup, and there are clothes tossed here and there. This is the room you see in the sleepover scenes of movies.

"They always make a mess," Amanda sighs, "that's why I don't let people come over all the time. I'll go to their houses and put up with the sausage fest, instead." She starts taking clothes out of her drawers and setting them on the bed for me.

"Are there usually fewer girls?"

"There are only girls if girls bring girls, but then you get the drama of them getting with some guy here and then being ignored the next time, so they stop showing up and you have to find new friends to invite."

I laugh to myself. "How many friends are mad that you didn't warn them first?"

"I have friends who won't even come to my parties because Leo pretends he doesn't know them." I give her a surprised expression. "Yeah, he's a flirty drunk."

"I can tell."

"He's a flirt when he's sober, so of course it gets dialed up with alcohol. He's on his best behavior now, though."

"I would have loved to see him when he wasn't."

"In some topsy-turvy world where you were the Heather who wore these clothes and lived out here, he would've definitely flirted his way into hooking up with you at this party."

"And then ignore me next time."

"Doubt it," she playfully rolls her eyes.

Me too, I wouldn't let him ignore me.

She steps out of the room to let me get dressed.

My skin is still a bit damp from the vodka after I take off my clothes, but I'm dry enough to change into something else.

Her clothes make me feel like a Degrassi student.

I could blend in at so many places if my wardrobe reflected this.

"Amanda?" I say out loud hoping she's close enough to hear me.

The door opens and she smiles. "You look adorable. It's like a costume on you."

"Thank you," I laugh. "Is it okay if I leave my clothes on your bed?"

"Sure."

"Heather, come back," Leo calls out. "I miss you." I look toward the closed door and laugh a little. "Butterfly..."

"He's also an annoying drunk. Even more, now that he has you to annoy," Amanda rolls her eyes and opens the door to let us out.

"We're going to smoke this, you coming?" Jordan asks him.

"I'm waiting for Heather."

"I'm here."

He looks at me, and his mouth falls open. "Holy shit you're wearing jeans."

"Oh, my god, jeans," a girl says dramatically to make fun of Leo.

"You don't know her, Kat. She never wears jeans or pants ever."

"Do I look weird?"

"No," he pulls me onto him, and his arms wrap around my whole body while he peers over my shoulder. "Why are you so pretty?"

"Hush."

"No."

I move out of his grip and sit next to him so I can see his face. He's normally so serious and oddly responsible. It's nice seeing him let loose, a contented smile on his face for no specific reason. Leo turns his head toward me and chuckles.

"Why are you staring at me?"

"I'm not," I lie.

"I see you."

He lays his head down on my lap and closes his eyes when I start running my fingers through his hair.

Ned sits across from us. "I'm sorry I spilled vodka on you."

"I know, it's fine, I changed."

"You look cool now."

"I'll try to take that as a compliment."

"Your regular clothes aren't bad, they're just rich people's clothes."

I shrug, "My mother wouldn't approve of anything I have on now."

"I've been wearing this shirt for three days," he laughs. "Would she approve?"

"She's not a fan of the punk 'look' per se, despite it being made profitable among the generation."

"Profitable?"

"Yes, it went from homemade to marketed in stores— like grunge."

"So the posers can fit in with the kids who don't fit in," Danny snickers.

"Anarchy in the U.K."

"Sex pistols," I roll my eyes.

"What do you know about the pistols?" Kat looks at me with skepticism.

"They have the punk sound but none of the ideals. Shouldn't they be considered posers-"

"They are literally one of the inventors of punk."