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If there was a switch that would allow me to go back in time and undo the stupid mistake of letting myself kiss Rhett back when we were overseas, I would. But I can't and the stress of Jake finding out and hating me is all too real, overwhelming and making me feel sick.

"He sat down with you and invited himself?" Jake arches an eyebrow at me. "That's so weird."

"Yeah."

"He's kind of obsessed with you," he frowns.

"Yeah."

"I don't really want him to come."

"Me either," I sigh, going to sit beside him on the bed. "Maybe we shouldn't go but it would be such a good chance to meet people."

"Would it be rude to go by ourselves and not meet up with the others?" he asks.

"Yes," I laugh. "Maybe I'll tell Bec to meet us here."

"Does that mean Rhett will awkwardly arrive at Bec's dorm and no one would be there?" Jake asks.

"Pretty much."

"Works for me," he shrugs.

It's a bit mean but he's not exactly being that kind to me, either. I shoot Bec a text, informing her of the change of plans.

My front door bangs loudly open. My roommate appears, an arm protectively hugging a carton of beer with a cigarette loosely dangling from his lips. He grins from ear to ear.

"Sup dudes."

"Hey man," Jake greets him, standing. "I'm Jake."

He slaps his free hand into Jake's with a nod. "Spud."

"Cool," Jake replies, reaching out to help Spud lower the carton onto the small dining table stashed in the middle of the room.

"Fancy a beer?" he asks Jake first, before flickering his eyes to me.

"We have some in the fridge, but thanks," Jake answers for us both.

"That's cool, man," Spud says, pointing at one of Jake's tattoos. "I have a similar one."

He pulls his shirt up to reveal a series of large tattoos scattered across his chest. Jake immediately goes into a hundred questions and I tune them out, wandering into my room. I stare at my reflection, fingering my hair in attempt to flatten it.

I grab my last-minute necessities and join the others back in the main part of the apartment.

"You going to that welcome party?" Spud asks.

"Sure am," I answer.

"I'll join, just give me a sec to change."

I withdraw two beers from the fridge, palming one off to Jake. Bec arrives a moment or two later.

"Wow," I smile at her. "You look great."

Bec isn't wearing her glasses and I'm able to see how big and pretty her eyes are. Her long hair is curled in loose waves down her shoulders. She looks quite different from this morning.

"Thanks," she smiles shyly. "Hi, Jake?" she looks to Jake. "I'm Bec, nice to meet you."

"Likewise," Jake replies and I internally groan. His politeness is such a turn on.

Once Spud is ready, we all make the short walk down to the main area. The music is blasting, making the floor thump in vibration under our feet. Neon lights splash across the walls and the concrete, making me feel a little dizzy when I stare at them for too long.

Bec's face falls when a group of girls near the pool take turns whispering in each other's ears, looking so directly at her they may as well thrown something at her. I wrap my arm around her shoulders, tucking her neatly into my side. I smile down at her.

"Let's get drunk."

"Hell yeah," she grins back at me.

***

I lose track of time as I down drink after drink. Turns out, I'm pretty great at beer pong. I must have played at least seven games in a row and I'm sure I'll throw up if I continue to do so.

Jake disappeared some time ago. Last time I saw him, he was with Spud and a dude with black hair and a scarily large spike through his ear. I let him be, glad he's being social and making friends.

Bec has been my side-kick for the night. Not a very useful beer pong team member but hey, at least she's fun. And she's finally relaxed, letting her true self come out.

I do a quick crowd scan and see Jake leaning against the pool fence. Spud hands him a lit cigarette and he takes a drag. I watch curiously as they talk and share the smoke.

"I like Jake," Bec shouts at me over the music. "He's nice and very good looking."

I let out a snort. "I've never heard anyone describe Jake as 'nice' before."

"Really?" she asks in surprise. "He seems it."

"He's actually not, really," I frown with a shrug. "It's a kind of a work-in-progress."

"He really cares about you," she continues, giving me a slight nudge. "You can see it."

"That's good," I take a sip. "Because I really care about him, too."

"You going to tell me what's up with you and that guy from breakfast this morning?" she raises a dark brow. "There was a lot of tension."

"I don't know where to begin."

"And I want to hear everything about you and Jake."

"You got time?"

"Plenty."

I gesture towards a clear space by the pool. I kick my shoes off and dangle them over the edge. The cool water nips at my skin but within moments, it feels quite nice.

I begin the story. It's quite nice to revisit it – in a way. Even though so many parts of our story were hard and painful and just so damn confusing – it reminds me how much we've been through and how strong we are now because of it. I really love him and I pray to God I never lose him.

Our story finally wraps up and I don't even realise how much time had passed. I clear my throat awkwardly and take a long sip, the alcohol in my cup no longer tasted fresh as it's warmed since I last drank.

A sniffle makes me glance to Bec.

"Are... are you crying?" I question in disbelief, blinking slowly a few times to confirm what I'm seeing.

"That is the most beautiful story," she sighs, wiping her eyes. "Wow. Just wow."

"Really?"

"Really," she gushes, fanning her blushed cheeks. "Man, I hope I find a love like that. God damn."

I laugh, curling my arm around her. "You will. It's pretty scary, you know, caring this deep about another person but it's pretty fucking incredible, too."

"I hope you get married," she blurts.

I laugh again, releasing my hold of her and leaning back onto my palms. "Well, I suppose it is legal here now."

"It's meant to be."

"Hopefully."

"P.S I really liked Rhett when you first introduced him but nah, he stands no chance," she shrugs. "Team Jallum forever."

"What?"

"Jallum," she repeats. "Jake plus Callum. Unless you want to go by Cake. Mmm. Cake would be so good right now."

"What on earth are you talking about?"

"Your ship name!"

"My what?"

She rolls her eyes. "It's, like, a way of people telling you that they want you together. They root for you."

"I'm confused."

"Don't worry," she laughs, twisting a bit of her dark hair around her finger. "It's a good thing."

"I'll take your word for it."

She fiddles with her straw, both of our drinks having become practically undrinkable now but I'm enjoying sitting here and don't really plan on moving any time soon.

"What about you? Do you have any crazy relationship stories you want to share?" I ask after a quiet minute of listening to music and the conversations around us.

"Sadly, no."

"Okay, fine, you can give out deets of non-crazy ones."

"Sadly, still nothing to tell."

I look to her. "Haven't dated before?"

"Nope."

"Might be lucky there," I shrug. "It can be hard and really, really painful. Good to take time to figure out who you are and want you want, before building a life with someone."

"Thanks," she lightly touches my shoulder. "For not making me feel like a freak."

"You're not a freak, Bec. It's not unusual to not have dated someone at our age."

"I disagree."

"Shy people find it hard to get themselves out there. Do you know how many shy people there are in the world?"

"I suppose that's true," she nods. "But, like, I haven't even kissed anyone. Well, there was this tiny peck-thing once at a sleepover but the boy only did it because everyone said he had to run around the oval naked if he refused. Don't really like to count it. I was also eleven."

"Okay, that story is a little tragic, I must admit," I say with a soft laugh. "But hey, fresh start. New beginnings. You're going to find someone great. But, in saying that, you'll probably have to date or at least meet some twats along the way."

She laughs, leaning her head on me. "I'm really glad I met you."

"I'm glad I met you, too."

"Guess the change of location got lost in the mail?" a voice snaps.

I exhale deeply and tilt my head back to look up at Rhett, who is glaring down his nose at me.

"Yeah, sorry about that."

"Fuck you, Callum."

"You wish."

Bec lets out a surprised snort of laughter.

"Feeling cocky?" he narrows his eyes. "All right then. I guess I'll go find Jake."

I sigh.

"What is going on?" Bec whispers.

"There may be a part I skipped over in my story," I groan, reluctantly getting to my feet. "Didn't want to tarnish your seemingly high standard of me."

"Oh no, what have you done?"

"Rhett, can't you just get a life and move on?" I fold my arms across my chest. "What do you think you're going to get out of this? I'm only going to dislike you further if you do this."

"That's the thing, Cal," he leans in. I can smell the alcohol on his breath. Unless that's my own. I can't really tell. "You don't hate me. Not at all."

"Starting to, a little."

"No," he shakes his head. "You really don't."

"Why is it that every time I turn my back, you're suddenly are here?" Jake growls, strolling over, flicking his cigarette out. The smell of smoke washes over me. "Seriously, why? Why are you so obsessed with Callum?" He throws his hands in the air. "Like, I get it – he's hot as fuck and you really will never find anyone better, but he's taken. Can't you just deal with that and move the fuck on? This is getting a bit old now."

Rhett laughs and it's a chilling one. Goose bumps pierce roughly against my skin and a dark, uncomfortable feeling knots itself in my stomach.

"Have you and Cal discussed the trip?" Rhett asks. "In detail? Has he told you everything that we got up to?"

Jake arches a very unimpressed brow. "Wow. You're stooping pretty damn low."

"Or just confirming that niggling suspicion you've had ever since Callum boarded that plane."

Oh shit. Shit. Shit. Shit.

"You're a freak."

"A freak that your boyfriend can't get his hands off."

"Sorry," Jake says, shrugging at me. "I can't not."

"Can't not what?" I ask slowly.

Jake steps forward, slamming his hands into Rhett's chest. He gasps violently before tumbling backwards, tripping over his own feet and landing in a sprawl in the pool.

Gasps are heard around us. A few people had noticed something going on but now everyone knows.

"Fuck you," Jake grins down at a spluttering and now very wet Rhett. "And fuck your ugly-ass new hairdo." He reaches out, linking our fingers together. "Come on, let's go." He smiles at Bec. "You too."

Rhett's eyes burn holes into the side of my face. I don't dare to look at him. I can't.

"You guys are seriously bad ass," Bec whispers as we walk away from the wide-eyed crowd. "What a way to meet everyone."

Jake grins, thrumming his fingers through his messy hair.

"Well, had to happen sooner or later."

Guilt bubbles inside me. I can't think. I need to puke.

I feel like this entire satiation was a dormant volcano, slowly building up tension and now, it's erupted and it's going to destroy everyone. 

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P.S don't forget my story Downright Delinquents is available to play on the app Chapters Interactive! I can't disclose the info yet but another one of my novels are also in the process of being developed by them, stay tuned for more info as soon as I can dish it out!

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