''Why do I keep agreeing to this?'' I groaned as the three of us stepped out of the taxi.

''Because you finally decided to live a little'' Tara waved me off, strutting her stuff between Sasha and me. I rolled my eyes at her before laughing.

''The guys will be blown away'' Sasha smirked, patting her skirt down.

''They guys? As in, Caleb and Seb, right?'' I asked, nervous.

They glanced at each other, cringing a little.''As in, Austin and Aaron too'' Sasha shrugged. I froze at her words.''Here we go...'' She muttered.

''Tina, just don't talk to him if you guys aren't on talking terms! But please, have fun with us. Just let loose. Live a little, dammit!'' Tara whined.

Great.

''Okay, but only for you guys'' I mumbled as they dragged me into the house party.

''We'll find you something new to obsess over'' Sasha winked, motioning at all the attractive guys around us.''Let the assholes get a little jealous...it's healthy for them'' She whispered, loud enough for Tara to hear.

''Did you just put my brother in that category too?'' Tara raised an eyebrow, disgusted.

''Well, he ditched her too. And they definitely had something going on at the beach before Austin showed up'' Sasha explained.

''Ugh, you're right, as much as I hate to admit it'' Tara agreed, scrunching her face into a sour expression. ''I'll beat him up when I get the chance''

''You do that. I'll handle Aussie all by myself'' Sasha cracked her knuckles, searching the crowds of drunken teens.

''No one's beating up anyone!'' I groaned at them.

''Why not?!'' They both exclaimed in unison.

''Because,'' I rolled my eyes. ''We're here to have fun, as you guys said. I've had enough drama, okay? Let's just get drunk and dance''

''You're right, as always'' Tara sighed.

''Fine'' Sasha pouted, relaxing her fists.

***

''Isn't it weird? We h-haven't seen the guys yet'' Tara hiccuped, slightly intoxicated.

''They're probably doing some dirty job for Jared, as always'' Sasha gritted her teeth as his name left her mouth. ''They'll probably be here later on''

We were dancing in a crowd of drunk people, drinks in our hands. I was slowly starting to relax as the alcohol flooded my mind. The voice in my head was gradually fading away, finally. ''Forget them'' I shook my head before downing my drink.

''Whoa!'' Tara stared wide-eyed.

''Slow down, sista!'' Sasha took my empty glass away from me.''We just got here'' She laughed at my pout.

''Yeah, I don't want you spewing your guts out again'' Tara chuckled.

I rolled my eyes. Mood killers...

''Hey, girls!'' Aaron appeared beside us, a tall brown-haired girl on his arm. She looked away, avoiding eye contact with me. Huh...weird.

''Hey, annoying brother!'' Tara faked enthusiasm.''And hello there, golddigger!'' She switched her attention to the girl, a nasty fake smile on her face. ''How's that rich guy? Run out of money?'' She asked, poison dripping from her overly sweet tone.

''I wouldn't know!'' The girl smiled sweetly, obviously putting on a show.

''Girls...'' Aaron rolled his eyes.

''Are you drunk?'' Tara eyed her brother, examining his features.''You never drink''

''So what?'' He rolled his eyes. I then noticed that he hadn't acknowledged me at all. Something told me I knew exactly why he was acting this way. It's my fault.

''Why are you shitfaced? Don't you have football practice tomorrow?'' Tara scolded.

''Relax! A little beer never hurt anybody!'' The girl gently shoved Tara, laughing it off. The tension between them rose instantly. I took a step back on instinct.

''Listen here, Brooke'' Tara seethed, getting all up in the girl's face.''Touch me like that again, and you'll lose that shitty manicure along with those fingers'' She threatened.

''Okay, enough, T!'' Aaron stepped between them, groaning. ''We'll leave you girls go have fun. Let's agree to no fighting between you two tonight? Okay, T?''

Tara stared Brooke down with a deathly glare.''Not making any promises'' She shrugged simply.

Brooke scoffed, ''Real mature!''.

''I'll show you mature-''

''Right, bye!'' Aaron cut Tara off by pulling Brooke away into the crowds of dancing people.

Sasha and I stared after them, shocked. ''Yikes...'' She muttered to me, cringing. I nodded, totally agreeing with her.

''Well, if it isn't Tara Kingsley!''

We spun at the sound of a new voice behind us.

Jay.

''Fucking hell!'' Tara groaned before facing him.''What do you want, Jay?'' She glared at him, already riled up from talking to Brooke.

''Oh, nothing much'' He shook his head, eyes trailing down her figure.''Maybe I just miss you?'' He smirked, knowing how much he got to her.

I gritted my teeth at his words. Don't fall for it, Tara. ''Sucks to suck!'' She shrugged.

''Why are you being this way? Think of all the things we've been through...'' He trailed off, skillfully playing with her mind.

She hesitated for a second before speaking, ''You mean, all the things I've been through?''.

That's my girl!

''I see you've changed'' He frowned. It was fake. Everything about him was fake.

''And so what if I have?'' She challenged.

''It's a pity, what partying does to a nice girl'' He shrugged.

''No,'' She shook her head, sighing. ''It's a pity what an abusive, cheating, pothead, piece-of-crap does to a nice girl'' She corrected him.

His eyes grew dark.

''Go on, do it'' She laughed.''I dare you''

''You know I won't hesitate...'' He spoke darkly, making shivers race down my spine.

''Neither will I'' Seb appeared, blocking Tara with himself. He towered over Jay like a frickin' skyscraper. ''So I advise you to step the fuck away''

Jay laughed, showing just how high in the clouds he was.''This? This is your replacement?'' He asked Tara, still laughing.''You think you're better off with him?''

Seb's jaw ticked and I braced myself. ''Shut your rotting mouth and step away'' He spoke slowly, eyes growing dark with rage. His face, however, showed no evidence of his anger.

''Or what?'' Jay dared, rolling his eyes.

Seb's fist connected with Jay's jaw, a loud cracking noise hitting our ears. Jay fell backward, knocked out. People around us jumped back, previously oblivious to what was happening.

''I'll let someone else take the trash out'' Seb muttered, glancing coldly at Jay. He took Tara's hand and pulled her off to someplace more private. I guess she has a long story to tell him...

''So, I see we missed a lot!'' Caleb laughed.

That was when I noticed him, and Austin. They were both behind us, watching the fight unravel just like we were. ''Yeah, you can say that again'' I nodded at him, glancing at Austin.

''What else did we miss?'' Caleb asked curiously.

''Aaron made an appearance, drunk'' Sasha chuckled.''And Tara nearly kicked his girl's ass''

''Oh, wow, Tara sure is the star of the show today'' Caleb chuckled, wrapping his arm around Sasha's waist.''But not the star of my show...'' He trailed off, biting his lip as he scanned Sasha's body.

''Hmm, who is?'' Sasha teased, already knowing the answer.

''C'mere,'' He took her hand. ''I'll show you''

With that, Austin and I were left standing alone in the middle of the busy dancefloor.

''White'' He greeted me, finally. His eyes scanned me from head to toe, jaw ticking. Finally, his eyes met mine. They were ice-cold, emotionless. As always.

''Black'' I greeted him the same way he greeted me. I let my eyes stay on him for a short moment, before spinning on my heels and walking off. I was glad he didn't mention our phone call, but I couldn't stand having his tare on me. I couldn't tell what he was thinking in that head of his, and that scared me. What if he was planning to tell Tara?

''I won't'' His voice met my ears again as I entered the kitchen.

I looked at him over my shoulder before pouring myself another drink.''Why should I trust you?'' I asked, boldly.

''I think we established that already'' He smirked.

Flashbacks to the party at my house filled my mind as soon as his words registered in my mind. Images of me falling backward in a trust fall made me gulp, my chest growing heavy all of a sudden. We had almost kissed that time.

''Interesting, right?'' He came closer, his hand snaking around my waist. I could feel his warm breath on the back of my neck. ''It's me making you uncomfortable, after all''

His words made my mind travel back to the very first party I ever went to. I knew what he was referring to. The little stunt I pulled outside, trying to make him uncomfortable. What was I doing? To this day, my behavior that day remained a mystery to me. Why was I so confident? What possessed me to come onto him like that? I couldn't explain it.

''Who told you such thing?'' I played along, even though he could hear just how fast my heart was beating at the sensation of him standing so close to me from behind.

''Your heartbeat'' He whispered into my ear, sending shivers over my entire body.

''Well, she's a liar'' I gulped, the tension in my chest becoming almost unbearable. He chuckled at my words, his chest vibrating against my back.''Speaking of liars...'' I began.''You said...you can't have what you want'' I reminded him.

I could feel him nod, despite not seeing him do so.

His other arm snaked around my waist, now wrapping both arms around me from behind. ''That's right'' He whispered, placing his chin on the back of my head.

''So what's all this?'' I managed to ask, ignoring my insane breathing.

''I'm hoping you'll drink enough to forget all about this'' He admitted.

''Then I'll have to stop drinking for the night'' I shrugged.

A chuckle erupted from his mouth, his chest vibrating against my back again. I loved the sound of it. It sent butterflies flying through my body, forcing me to smile.

''I'll have to forcefully get you drunk then'' He joked.

''And then I'll have to sue you'' I joked back.

He spun me around in his arms, making me face him. I looked up at him, through my eyelashes. Staring down into my eyes with unbearable intensity, he asked, ''Promise you'll get absolutely wasted tonight?''

I raised an eyebrow. What is he up to? ''I promise'' I shrugged, going along with it. What's the worst that can happen, right?

Before I had the chance to know what was going on, his lips were on mine in an instant. I moaned in surprise, making his arms pull me hard into his chest.

His lips collided with mine in a painfully, hungry manner. He forced his tongue into my mouth and I gladly obliged, our tongues clashing together skillfully.''You have no idea how long I've waited to do this...'' He broke the kiss for a brief moment only to murmur into my lips, both of us slightly out of breath.

''Why did you wait so long?'' I broke the kiss too, gulping at the sight of his hungry eyes.

''I was afraid I'd hurt you'' He panted, pulling me back into the kiss. I gasped into his lips as he gently bit down on my bottom lips, asking for entrance this time. The gasp allowed him just the right amount of time to slip his tongue back into my mouth.

His hand traveled down my spine, stopping at my tailbone. I moaned into his lips, urging him to go lower. He smiled against my moan, letting his hand cup my ass-cheek.''Why were you afraid of hurting me?'' I pulled away from him a little, making him growl in need.

His eyes stayed on my lips, ''Because I already did. I didn't want to do it again''.

I shook my head at him, in denial.''You didn't hurt me'' I assured him.

''I know I did, White'' He murmured against my lips, desperate for them to meet again.

I took a deep breath, ''Hurt me again then''

His eyes jumped up from my lips, meeting my eager eyes. ''What?'' He asked, shocked.

''I said...'' I breathed heavily, gazing into his icy grey eyes.''Hurt me again''

''In what...in what way?'' He asked, struggling to hold himself together.

I threw my head back, alcohol racing through my veins.''Every possible, pleasureful way'' I whispered, eyes shut.

''That's a dangerous thing to say, White'' He choked out.

I smile at the sound of his struggle.

''I know'' I brought myself back up to look at him, still feeling as comfortable as ever in his arms. His hand was still cupping my ass-cheek, under the tight latex dress. I squirmed in his grip, enjoying the effect I had on him at the moment.

''You're too drunk to be making that decision'' He shook his head, fighting his own needs.

''I thought you wanted me drunk?'' I batted my eyelashes as I bit my lip.

His eyes concentrated on my mouth, pupils dilated.''Yeah, I did'' He muttered, almost as if he were in a trance.''But now...I think that was a bad idea''

''Why?'' I acted innocent.

''I forgot what you're like when you get drunk...'' He chuckled, bringing his eyes up to mine.

I pouted, cocking my head to the side.''What am I like...?'' I continued to play with him.

''You're...'' He trailed off, shaking his head at his loss for words. ''You're amazing''

My heart clenched but I ignored it.''When I'm drunk?'' I joked.

''No,'' He shook his head, completely serious now. ''Always'' He whispered.