One

Parties were never my thing.

They were weird. Why would anyone willingly put themselves in a room that reeked of cheap alcohol, sweat, and unadulterated sex? The thought alone sent shivers up my spine.

But here I was, pushing through the house of our school's surprisingly tolerable quarterback, Wolf Hart.

I was already considering ditching, but I'd promised my best friend I'd stick around. I was her ride, after all.

"Do you see him?" I asked. My eyes darted around the room, growing more impatient with every second spent in the heat of the house.

Sarah shook her head, a frown etched into her forehead. "No. I just hope he didn't lie to me. He promised he'd be here."

Meet Sarah, the one person who's been by my side since preschool. She was practically the sister I never had; I'd do anything for her.

The boy she was searching for was her boyfriend, Zach, and I couldn't stand the sight of him.

I seriously had no idea what she saw in that asshole.

"Come on, let's check the backyard," I said into her ear, already pushing through the crowd. I secured my hand around her waist to keep from losing her.

The moment we stepped out of the cramped house, I took a deep breath. Oh, how I've longed for you, sweet, slightly unpolluted air.

"I still don't see him." I could hear the tremor in her voice, and I knew what was coming.

I turned to her quickly. "Hey, Sarah—look at me. Please, don't cry. If we don't find him tonight, I'm kicking him in the dick the second I see him at school. Alright?"

She managed a small nod.

I bit my cheek and pulled her protectively to my side, guiding her back toward the exit.

Before we could reach the front door, we bumped into the missing link. He was busy swapping spit with a girl I didn't recognize, though I knew his stupid haircut anywhere.

"Shit, babe, this isn't what it looks like." His words slurred as he pulled away from his partner in crime.

He tried to keep his balance, but he was doing a terrible job.

Sarah didn't even spare him a response. She just ignored him, so I spoke for her.

"What do you want, Zachary?" My annoyance was sharp. He caught on immediately; he knew I'd never liked him.

"My girlfriend—the one you have your arm around." He gestured toward us, but I slapped his hand away.

"Well, this girlfriend of yours is coming with me. I'm taking her home." I attempted to walk past him, but he blocked our path.

I let out an irritated sigh. "What now?"

"My girlfriend. I said it before—just hand her over." His words weren't as dragged out now. He was sobering up fast.

I squared my shoulders, refusing to back down.

"And what did I say, huh? Move." I tried shoving him out of the way, but he didn't budge. He had about five inches on me.

"Just because you're rich and practically made of money doesn't mean you get to keep my girlfriend from me, Remington," he gritted. My name sounded like an insult coming from his mouth.

I scoffed. "You don't see me telling everyone I meet how much I have, do you? I'm taking her home because I doubt she wants to be here after watching you dip your tongue down someone else's throat. Now, move, before I make you." My patience was gone, and I'd been looking for an excuse to punch someone for a while.

"Why don't I talk to her. Sarah, baby, please. Let's go discuss things over some drinks." He shifted his gaze to her, using a fake, gentle tone.

Sarah buried her face into my shoulder. I smirked at him. "You saw that, right? She doesn't even want to look at you. Let us pass. I have places to be, and this party isn't one of them."

"Oh, I see what you're doing," Zach sneered. "You have the hots for my girl. You're trying to turn her gay. I won't let that happen."

I stared at him like he was the dumbest man on the planet.

"Hold on, let's backtrack here. You don't 'turn' someone gay. What I'm doing is what anyone with common decency would do—taking her away from a walking mishap like you. Your personality oozes like a rotting zit, Zachary. You think with your dick, and I doubt you have any brain cells left to assist it." I jabbed my finger into his chest, punctuating every word with a firm tap.

"I've spent months warning her about you. Now, listen close. If I catch you near her again, I swear on every god out there, I'll snip that pathetic little twig you call a dick clean off. You'll have nothing to pitifully fumble with or pee from. Do you understand me, you thirsty little bitch?"

A frown etched onto his forehead, but he said nothing more. He begrudgingly stepped aside.

I gave him a faux-grateful smile and bumped my shoulder into his as I brushed past.

Once we were in the car, I wound down the windows to let the cool night air flow in.

"I'm sorry about that," I said softly, glancing at Sarah before turning back to the road. "But someone had to talk sense into him."

"It's okay. I just...I can't believe I used to like him. Where did my taste in men go?" She whined, her lips turned up in disgust.

I chuckled. "Right? I don't even know what the girls see either. I bet he has an STD—you haven't had sex with him, right?" I stopped at a red light and narrowed my eyes at her.

"N-no. You know I haven't been with anyone that way since Jordan. I just want to get over him so bad, but I can't. I hate him." She folded her arms, peering out the window.

Jordan had been her first love. They were together for two years until he passed away from cancer last year. He'd never told her he was terminal; he didn't want her to treat him like he was fragile.

He wanted their happy moments to feel real, not staged.

By the time she reached the hospital, he was on his deathbed. He apologized for the lie, took her hands in his, and passed away.

Sarah hadn't been okay for months. She'd dated a heap of guys since then, and I'd spent most of the year intervening before she made life-altering mistakes.

"Don't say that, Sarah. He loved you. He didn't want to limit the carefree nature of what you both had." I spoke softly as I pulled into my driveway. I wasn't letting her be alone tonight.

"I know, but why wait until the last moment? What if I hadn't made it? I would've never forgiven myself." She started to sob.

I helped her inside, guiding her up to my room.

Once there, I helped her change into the clothes she kept in my closet. I changed into my own pajamas and pulled her into bed, holding her close as the silent sobbing turned into heavy shaking.

"It's okay, let it out," I whispered, rubbing her back.

She finished a few minutes later, sniffling and letting out a small, watery laugh. "I'm sorry for ruining your shirt."

"It's alright. Snot is in season, didn't you know?" I joked.

She slapped my arm playfully.

"I forgot midgets hit hard," I hissed.

"You're dead!" She growled, lunging to tickle me. I laughed uncontrollably, trying to shove her hands away.

"W-wait! Stop!"

"What's the magic word?" she asked, smirking at my helpless state.

"I'll let you buy whatever you want at the mall tomorrow!" I managed to wheeze. She stopped instantly.

"I hate you so much," I pouted.

"Aw, I love you too, ReyRey," she replied, squishing my cheeks.

I slapped her hands away gently. "Mhm. Let's go to bed. We have school tomorrow."

Sarah groaned. "Oh, come on! How did the break pass so fast?!"

"Keep it down," I hissed, slapping my palm over her mouth. She responded by licking my palm.

"What the fuck?!"

Sarah just smirked and laid back, looking innocent.

"You're so weird," I murmured, shaking my head.

"Yeah, well, you love me, right?" she asked, yawning.

"I do. Goodnight." I surrendered, a yawn falling from my lips.

"Goodnight, ReyRey."

I listened to her breathing even out until she was gone. I stayed awake for a while, staring into the dark.

One thing was for sure: I was eager to see what the rest of the school year would bring.