"You're hiding away..." Trevor leaned against the door frame, "in my room..." he sighed, "and it's making me sad."

"I'm in no mood for socializing. Be grateful, I'm not letting anyone use your bed for immoral things."

"I'm grateful you trust that I've washed my sheets."

I groaned and quickly got off of the bed. "Disgusting, Trevor."

"Oh, good, you're up. Let's go, I have a surprise for you."

"What?"

"Just come with me." He grabbed my hand and pulled me toward him.

"I don't want to be around everyone," I complained as he covered my eyes and walked me into the noise.

"You'll want to be around her."

"Her?"

He pointed to Natalia dancing in a cluster of people.

"Audrey!" She yelled excitedly and ran over to hug me.

"...why are you here?" I asked, not hugging her back.

"Trevor invited me." She smiled. "Want me to leave?"

"No...I'm just surprised to see you...and surprised you're talking to me."

"Why wouldn't I be?" Natalia asked dazedly, her mind distracted as she took my hands and continued to dance around.

"Can you hold on for a moment?"

"I'll hold on for forever." She wrapped her arms around herself with a smile, and I tried to return her smile without looking too confused.

Trevor stood nearby observing the scene.

"Why is she being so weird?" I asked him.

"Yeah...someone has been passing out party favors," he said uneasily. "Ethan has also met molly. I have not."

"Natalia and ecstasy?"

"Maybe she didn't know. Maybe she was nervous about seeing you. Maybe...I should find out how these are going around. There's a chance someone is spiking drinks."

"I thought this was supposed to be a classy party," I complained.

"And who was meant to ensure that?" He crossed his arms. "Just look after her. Make sure she's drinking water."

You couldn't have forced me out here before she needed babysitting?

"Don't you love this song? It's so good." Natalia swayed and twirled like she was having the best time. To think— last time I saw you, you had tears on your face.

"We should stay hydrated." I grabbed her and led her toward the kitchen.

"You are so beautiful...like a queen of a magical kingdom of lights and fairy dust. I should be bowing at your grace."

"Please don't."

"Yes, your highness." She bowed anyway, so happy, such a bright smile.

"Oh, Natalia," I sighed and smoothed down her hair.

"You love me now?"

"Your skin feels like heaven. Are you always this soft?" I asked as we backed into the bedroom.

"Yes," she cooed. Her name is Katie or Lainey or Annie or Kimmy— definitely something that ends with that 'E' sound.

I breathe heavily as she leaves warm kisses on my neck. "Your lips feel even better."

"And this?" Her hand slips into my pants.

"Oh my god."

"I don't think we're going to make it very far..." she said slyly. "You're so sensitive."

"Try anyway." I put my hand on top of hers and moved it against myself. Her grip became firmer with every stroke until I leaned my head on her shoulder, my breath shuddering and words whispering so much praise and thanks that I might've said 'I love you' to the girl who isn't waiting to hear it. Not caring if I finished right now fully clothed, But she stops. "Keep going." I could almost beg.

"We didn't lock the door."

I hear the footsteps and approaching voices that she does.

If it's Trevor, he's not going to be happy we're in his father's room.

I take her and hide in the bathroom, lights off with the door cracked open slightly.

A couple comes in hot with action— kissing and tugging at clothes as they try to find the bed without coming up for air.

It's not Trevor, this guy is too shy, too reluctant to reciprocate her lust. She's doing all the work, pulling all the weight, and he's moving as if he's not sure he should be here...

Maybe I'm watching a different version of myself...the one that would've cared enough to be hesitant.

The girl pulls away with a smirk when she's on top of him, and I can finally see his face.

Anthony, you dog.

Her hands move to unclasp her bra, and Tony stares at her in awe and nervousness.

"Uh- hi." He stopped her from going any further.

"Hi...I thought you wanted to?"

"I do— or I would. We just met."

"Have you never done this before?" She said with a hint of judgment before realizing the answer. "Aw."

"It doesn't feel right to get it over with like this. But you're very pretty. I would...if it were different."

"That's okay." The girl began covering herself up again. "You should wait until you're in love."

"Did you?"

"No...but if I got a do-over, I would."

"I don't think I want to," he sighed.

"Wait or fall in love?"

"Both."

"Well, you already said 'yes' to waiting."

"Can I change my mind?"

She smiled. "You don't really want to."

"Should we go back out there?" He asked her. "I can make you a drink. I'm sort of good at it."

"Sure."

Such resilience, Milligan. What, are you Catholic?

They walk hand and hand back into the party as if they accomplished something here.

"All he had to do was lay there," I said astonished as I stepped into the room.

"Leave him alone. He's a nice guy,"

"Do you like him more than me?" I raised an eyebrow.

"Why shouldn't I?" She teased, moving closer to me in the process.

"You should," I said honestly.

"Are you not a good guy?"

"No." And she smirked because that made her like me more.

I have every intention of letting you finish me off, but I do plan to feel bad about it later. While you're taking off your dress, I will remember that I'm promised to-

The door swings open again, and it's not Tony with a change of heart.

"...Elizabeth," I said stunned and moved back from the girl as if she hadn't already seen us together.

"Girlfriend?"

"No," Elizabeth responded, closing the door back as she left.

"My apologies, uh-"

"Fiona."

"Really?" I questioned and Fiona narrowed her eyes in disbelief.

Right, I've got to go.

Elizabeth is heading out of the door as we speak, and I have to say something to her even if I don't know what yet.

Trevor sighs when he sees me come out of the room, but I run off before he can complain. More imperative things to worry about...

Like her just about to get on the elevator.

"Elizabeth, please wait."

"Go to hell."

"You don't understand. I was going to break up with you." She turned to me with a shocked and angered expression. "No, wait, I was going to but then Tony wouldn't have sex with that girl because he didn't love her and it made me think."

"Think about how you don't love me?" There are no tears in her eyes...it's as if she expected this.

"No about how you said you love me, and that's what normal people feel after a while, so it shouldn't bother me— I should just let it be. It's why you let me do the things I do to you."

"What, hurt me?" Elizabeth said sarcastically.

"In the way you like. Sexually not domestic violence."

She shook her head. "Are you...high?"

"Would that excuse my actions?"

"Go screw yourself, Ethan."

"I didn't kiss her...that's how meaningless it was, Eliza-" I sigh as the elevator doors shut.

Mandy gazed up and turned slowly to see all of the decorations. She was amazed— taking in the sight of the people here, the lights, and the concession table.

"Didn't you go to homecoming or something freshman year?" I asked in confusion.

"Yeah, but I didn't have a date,"

"Why not? You were still hot with the braces."

"I was already the ho that let the seniors do her."

Yeah, I heard that. "...Did you?"

"No. I went out with one of them and he just told everybody we had sex in his car and never spoke to me again."

"Damn."

"Exactly. No one wanted to be seen dancing with me unless they were getting something for it."

"I would've danced with you?"

"Where were you?"

"Homecoming..." I said in thought. "Oh, I was smoking weed in the bus lot. I didn't have a date either."

"What's your excuse?"

"Girls didn't like me back then."

"Aw, I thought you were cute," she nudged me.

"But you hooked up with Leo instead?"

"History."

"Elementary school doesn't count." I lead her onto the dance floor. Something girly is playing that I bet she wants to dance to.

Her arms come across my neck."It does if you keep going to school together up until high school."

"That didn't help you. Leo went to homecoming with Angelica Thompson that year, and Danny went with Yasmin Tancy."

"And you...were getting stoned outside."

"I didn't say girls didn't like them. Girls always liked them."

"Jealous much?" Amanda teased.

"No," I laughed. "It's all good. They were better with them than I was."

"You're such a goofball, you were probably crushed on tons and just didn't take it seriously."

I laughed again and then shrugged. "Maybe."

"You're all the rage now though."

"Nah, not really."

"Then who is that?" She nodded toward the table Bonnie was standing at with her friends.

"It's Bonnie." I looked away quickly so I could pretend I didn't see her.

"She's staring. Is this about to be like Carrie?"

"That'd be funny," I smirked. " but I doubt it, though. She probably just won't like me after this."

"It doesn't work like that."

"Sure, it does."

"No, she's going to cry about it and want to hate you. But she'll still like you."

"That's a shitty way to spend her night."

"Talk to her," Amanda suggests.

I shook my head. "Gotta rip off the band-aid."

"Matthew Jensen, you're one for the diaries," she said poetically.

I smiled. "Awesome."

"The guest room has been prepared for you."

"Thank you, Mr. Blakely," I nodded.

"See, isn't watching movies in here instead of your bedroom more comfortable for everyone?"

Heather glared at him, but I laughed. "I'd say so."

"Should you have separate blankets?"

"Dad," she huffed.

He looked at the two of us under the covers but said nothing else. I held in my laughter as he left up the stairs again.

"What does he think I'm going to do to you in the middle of the living room?"

"Oh, is this blanket not discreet enough for you?"

"I mean, we can make it work," I joked, but still leaned in to kiss her.

Under the covers, her hand rested on my leg for leverage as she crept closer to me. Her body leaned against mine, and I like that since she was pressing herself to me, it meant she was controlling everything. I closed my eyes and let her lips roam wherever they wanted, knowing that if she knew what was good for her, they wouldn't go past my neck.

Her dad loudly cleared his throat, and we parted ways to see him standing in the middle of the staircase with another blanket.

Heather sighed and moved back to her separate place on the couch.

He came down the rest of the way and handed me the blanket— waiting until I moved from under Heather's before he finally tore his dead stare away. "Good night," Mr. Blakely nodded at us.

"Good night," I replied, and Heather crossed her arms instead...

So it wasn't surprising that she made her way back into the same cover as me when he was no longer keeping watch.

"He's really making up for all of the times he had no idea I was here, huh?" I whispered.

"As if that'll undo what we've already done." She rolled her eyes.

"Should we put him out of his misery and just go to bed?"

"I don't want you to sleep in the guest room," Heather whined.

I laughed. "You're gonna get us in trouble."

"I can sneak in later."

"You think he won't notice in the morning?"

"By then it's too late," she smirked.

"How are you never grounded?"

"I have been. It just doesn't usually work. One day, they'll think of something more creative."

I raise an eyebrow. "You want them to do that right before our date tomorrow?"

"...no."

"Then be good tonight."

"Fine. I'll go to bed and forget you're even here, so I won't want to see you."

I chuckled at her attitude. "Dream about me, and tell me about it in the morning."

"Carry me upstairs?" She suggested.

"Figured that was the only way I'd get you up there. You'd rather sleep on this couch than sleep alone in your bed."

"So that's a 'no' to the couch?"

I replied by standing up and sweeping her into my arms. She groaned but smiled all the same. The spoiled half of her fucking loves being carried.

And something big usually happens when I carry her up these stairs. It's like a right of passage.

I put her down in front of her door.

"Stay in there."

She pouted. "Good night kiss?"

Aw, come here.

My hands grab hold of her and bring her body to mine. She's cute as hell and kisses accordingly— reconnecting our lips whenever I dared to pull away as if I could never kiss her enough.

"See you tomorrow."

"No," Heather whined.

"I don't make the rules."

"You don't usually follow them either."

"I do when tall, scary dads are involved."

"He doesn't scare me." She pushed me back until we were both in the guest room.

"Of course not, you're his little princess." I kept her close to the door so she couldn't slip her way into the bed.

"Don't call me that."

"Princess, drama queen, crybaby-"

"Butterfly," she said as if she were correcting me.

I laughed and nodded, "My butterfly."

Heather smiled, sated with the answer, kissing me at the confirmation. Her hands wandered to right above my jeans, and I could feel her starting to smirk. She thinks she won, though she hasn't. I have enough will for the both of us.

"Leo-" The sound of a door shutting outside of the room cuts her off.

Her eyes widen as she gasps. I put my hand over her mouth and she lets out a nervous squeak. So much for not being afraid of your dad. "Shh." I hushed her and listened for the sound of his receding footsteps. "He's going to come back up and check if you're in your room alone. Go."

"I love you."

"I love you, too. But if you get caught, I'm throwing you under the bus, princess."