The sound of an alarm stirs me from the comfort of my sleep. Even though it's not mine, it wakes me up quickly. I sit up, my heart racing when I realise an arm is around me. It takes a moment to realise that this duvet is white, not grey, and the arm around me is covered in art. My heart races as he moves over with a groan to turn off the alarm. I hurry out of his bed, noting the time on the clock. 6:30 AM. I need to go.

I move my dress down to cover myself and grab my heels, quickly slipping them on. I can hear him curse, but I slip out of his room so fast. I need to get back to campus and get ready for class. A figure in the kitchen makes me jump with a gasp. Jace turns to look at me instantly with wide eyes. He's shirtless, wearing sweatpants, and his dark eyebrows are high on his forehead. I don't even know what to say. "Your purse is on the floor, by the door," he clears his throat with the slightest hint of humour in his eyes before he turns away. Oh god. He knew I was here all this time. I let out a nervous laugh, my cheeks warming instantly. I let out a small thank you, grabbing my purse and making my way straight out.

I dart for the lift, digging into my purse for my phone. I take it out, letting out a shaky breath when I notice that Josh never even tried to text or call. I'm in the clear with him. Although not so much with Hannah. The doors to the lift open, and I step in, frantically tapping at the button several times until the doors shut. I rest against the wall, knowing my hair is a mess. Only there's a draft down low, and my stomach dips. I forgot my panties in his room. I'm dense.

The doors open, and I have no time to waste. I make my way out in a hurry, trying to ignore the odd feeling so I can get to my dorm at a decent time.

Making it to my dorm, I quietly open the door in hopes that Hannah is still asleep. I peek in to find her in bed, the sheets above her head with her blonde hair falling out. I sigh and shut the door carefully before gathering different things for a quick shower. If she asks about my whereabouts, I'll lie and say I was in the library late to study and never looked at my phone. Simple as that.

I take a hot shower, my mind drifting to last night with him. The way he knows how to touch me and kiss me. The way he looked up at me with darkened eyes when his head was between my legs. The way I felt wanted. Falling asleep in those strong arms, on that warm chest. I feel so small compared to him, but it feels like my body fits perfectly with his. The way I feel around him, I crave things I have never felt. He is the definition of perfect. That body is to die for with the lines of his muscles, the art on his skin, those mesmerising eyes, and that stubbled chin. I already miss his touch. God, his touch makes me feel alive again.

I get changed into a thin, orange sweater, barely cropped to show about an inch of my skin with a v-neckline and black denim before quickly applying makeup. I mainly focus on the foundation over my left cheek, hiding the bruised skin from Monday. I didn't bother washing my hair, but I combed my fingers through my soft waves in a rush to get it done.

"You came in late last night," Hannah surprises me, appearing behind me in the mirror. Apparently, she had come in and used one of the showers, and I had no idea. She's in a cream-coloured sweater and a red skirt with her blonde hair loosely braided back.

"Been working on a project," I mumble, thankful that she doesn't realise just how late I had come in. She hums and goes to the mirror beside me, quickly applying some mascara to her lashes. I nibble on my bottom lip, desperately wanting to tell her what happened. I went from telling her everything to almost nothing. It's sad and pathetic that I can't talk to my best friend anymore. If things were different and I wasn't with Josh, she'd want to know every little detail about last night.

"What?" she gives me an odd look. I realise I've drawn a blank with this silent debate. Well, a debate is a loose word to describe it.

"Nothing," I shake my head and tuck my makeup into my bag. "Just tired," I whisper. I am tired of everything.

"Oh, us three girls should go for dinner tonight," she perks up, her blue eyes glimmering. "I have lots to tell you about what happened between Ben and me. Plus, we all have been busy or with the guys for everything. We need a night away from them," she adds, excitement in her voice.

"It's a date," I smile back, although it's horrible. Being around Ali and Hannah is miserable when I am consistently closed off. Hannah grins eagerly, and we make our way out of the community bathroom to return to the dorm. We grab our bags and make our way to the building with our lectures, Hannah making small talk about possible plans tonight. Dinner at an Italian restaurant. Scratch that, pizza in our room. Nope, we should definitely go out to eat because we haven't done that in a while. Anything without the guys around. It's almost a one-sided conversation as she thinks aloud, and I don't mind either option.

We are near my lecture hall when both of us are stopped by someone getting in our way. Josh. My stomach clenches with the sight of him, and I am instantly repulsed. However, he fakes a smile before holding up a coffee to me. "Got you your favourite," he boasts, grinning as Hannah coos. I don't take it, at first, feeling nauseated instead. "I still feel so awful about the other night," he adds. After last night, this has to be for show because I'm with Hannah. A form of manipulation, as Louis put it.

"That's so sweet," Hannah muses. I finally take it with a weakened smile—a gift of guilt or just a gift to look good. Either or, it's to make him feel better instead of me.

"Thank you," I clear my throat, attempting to maintain my posture. Honestly, I don't want to drink it, and I don't want him to feel better about himself by any means, no matter how tempting the sweet aroma is.

"Any chance we can spend time together tonight?" he starts to ask, his eyes narrowed on me to tell me to oblige silently.

"Too late. I already claimed her," Hannah remarks. Subtly, the corner of his lips turns downward and an emotion flashes in his eyes. It's just for a moment, but I catch it immediately. I look away, my body becoming tense. "We haven't had a proper girl's night since the start of the semester. She's mine and Ali's tonight."

"News to me," he starts in a low mumble. She may not feel his negative energy, but I could feel it from a mile away. Last-minute plans he wasn't aware of, and he is pissed. "The three of us would love to hang out with you girls after practice," he tries to save face in her presence.

"We deal with you three enough. You can hold off a night," she mocks, which doesn't appease him at all. "You can have your girlfriend back tomorrow," she teases. Girlfriend. That word feels foreign and strange.

"I've got to head to class," I note, needing an out. My head dips, and I make my way around. Hannah bids a quick goodbye, and I'm almost free until my arm is grabbed. I spin around to face those piercing brown eyes, and my heart drops.

"You didn't mention that you were going out," he seethes.

"She literally just made plans," I defend in a small voice, my stomach whirling in place. His eyes skim over me, and his jaw is tight.

"You aren't going out tonight in that, with your midriff showing like that," he scoffs, voice filled with disgust—my lips part in shock. I look down, and there is just the tiniest gap between my shirt and jeans.

"Barely anything is showing," I whisper, my voice falling frail. He gives me a warning glare, and my grip tightens on the coffee, the lid potentially about to pop off. "I need to get to class," I remark and turn away, anger slowly pumping through my veins to the point that my hands tremble. His hand suddenly takes hold of my arm, and I spin back to face him. His lips are suddenly hard on mine, and an agonising pain tears through my chest. A cold, heartless kiss that I don't want. His lips leave mine, and an ache takes over my throat. I turn so fast and slip away from his touch, hurrying into the lecture. I genuinely don't even remember the last time I enjoyed being kissed by him. It's been so long. I'm just stuck and helpless. I toss the coffee out once in the lecture hall and out of his sight.

My eyes fall on Louis almost immediately, already seated beside my seat. Usually, I beat him here. It's like an instant dopamine release after being with Josh just by looking at him. He has a red shirt that fits clad to his body, and it instantly captivates me. Butterflies are running rampant within me with thoughts of his head between my legs and him inside me. Those blue eyes look up, meeting mine, and there's a flutter in my chest. I look down to stop the blush from creeping to my cheeks, moving past him to sit to his right. I can almost feel his stare on my bum, and I'm proved right as I twist to sit. His lips press together, and there's a hint of that darkened lust in those eyes. I love the way his eyes do that when looking at me.

"Left something at my flat," he whispers, his tone almost sounding like he wants even more. I lose my breath, and my right leg crosses over my left. My panties. I begin to feel feverish, the heat being felt on my cheeks and even down below. I can't find it in me to look at him. My god, every inch of me wants him. Those lips that feel so right, his touch, him. Everything.

"Jace saw me this morning," I clear my throat a little, keeping my voice very low. I finally looked at him to see him letting out a long sigh. His eyes are focused ahead. "I still don't know why you didn't want him to know anything, but I figured I should tell you," I add quietly.

"He already knows after Sunday," he mutters. I flush, thinking back to how he had caught me on top of Louis in such an intimate position.

Heather takes her seat to his left, which ends this conversation. I turn my head and nibble on my bottom lip. Louis' arm brushes against mine and chills cascade down my spine. Thoughts of him thrusting into me with those lips teasing the skin of my neck make my legs press tighter against each other. I need to stop. I'm in public and should not think about him like that.

Six at night, and I am at some cute, little Italian restaurant down the street with vines covering brick walls, candlelit tables and soft piano music playing. It isn't busy here at all, being a Wednesday, and I still came in this orange sweater that Josh had a problem with. He's at practice anyways.

"This is so cute," Ali gushes after posting a photo of the restaurant to her Instagram Story. Her long curls are in a half up half down style with tendrils framing her face. She's in all black, a black sweater and black pants.

"I've wanted to go here for so long," Hannah muses. The waiter sets our drinks down and walks off to cater to another table. I grab my water and take a sip. "Anyways, so I have news," she starts, and Ali's eyes instantly widen.

"Ben didn't get you pregnant, did he?" she freaks out in a near whisper.

"Ali," I laugh. Hannah clicks her tongue and rolls her eyes.

"No, but we are officially dating," Hannah mutters. I almost go to comment, but she scoffs instead. "You had to ruin that announcement with such rubbish."

"You did this dinner to announce that. I'm beyond ecstatic for you, but you can't do a dinner to announce something unless it's that major," Ali giggles.

"I did this dinner to catch up, seeing as we haven't had alone time," Hannah remarks.

"Well, I'm happy for you. About time after crushing on him for a year or so," I tease with a twitch of my nose.

"Yeah, it reminds me of you and Josh. You two madly crushing on each other for nearly a year before getting together," Ali mocks. Hannah starts to laugh, and I give a weak smile before looking away. A harmless remark that almost feels like a knife to my back. She doesn't know, and only one person knows. "Hopefully, it works out for you and Ben. He's got to come around and hang out with the group."

"Yeah, I'll hold off a bit. I don't want to deal with the guys interrogating him," Hannah shakes her head before tipping her glass of water to her lips. "I also don't want a word getting to Jason either," she warns me.

"Good call," I giggle. Not only would it be the guys in our group, but my brother would also interrogate Ben. He questioned Josh left and right, and no doubt he would do the same to Ben, all because Hannah grew up with us.

"Well, maybe I'll get a wine and drink away my sorrows since I'll be single forever," Ali mumbles jokingly. I deadpan at her, and she scrunched her nose. "No, but uh, I was thinking of taking the step to ask Louis for his number." My heart drops immediately, and my mouth dries out. She has a glimmer in her eyes and an anxious smile.

"What?" Hannah coughs, setting her glass down.

"Bold, I know. Usually, I just flirt, and they offer, but he looks like I'll have to work a little extra for, which I don't mind. He is most definitely the most attractive guy on campus, no offence to your boyfriends," she emphasises boyfriends due to Hannah now being in a relationship. Slowly, my heart is sinking to deeper depths. I feel nauseous. One of my own best friends is strung up over him. It's ill-fated. The thoughts are circulating in my head. Her all over him, her hand on his arm while she whispers something into his ear. The idea of the two of them in bed together. He wouldn't do that, but I can't help but think about it. "After the game Friday, I was thinking about trying to get him alone and-"

"I slept with Louis," I blurt out without expecting it, and my heart immediately stops.