It's a lazy Tuesday, and Steff and Jeremy are going at it at lunch like always.

"No, I have an amazing sense of style. She would be lucky to have me dress her for a red carpet." She glares at him.

"You think you can style an A-lister? There is no way!" Jeremy says, enjoying annoying her a little too much.

"Oh, yeah? And what exactly do you know about fashion, huh?" Her face turns pink with anger, and we burst into laughter.

"It's not funny!" She glares at us, and we laugh harder.

"I'm just messing around, Steff. You have an amazing talent." He manages to say in between laughter.

"Too late!" She scowls at him.

"No, really. You do."

She turns her head away, pouting. Jeremy takes a hold of her hands "You know I think you are amazing." He says, and she turns around with a smug smile.

"I love it when you beg." She says.

"Who's begging?" He lets go of her hand, and she arches her brow at him.

"Mind if I join you?" Liam puts his tray down and sits down beside me without waiting for a reply. Even though I refused to go out on that date he asked me out on we have been hanging out around school for the sake of keeping up appearances. We meet up every morning and walk in together and show PDA in the halls. Some believe that we are actually going out, and others, like Brittany, have their doubts. But he never sits with us at lunch, mainly because I told him I needed privacy with my friends.

"What did I miss?" He asks, casually putting an arm around me.

"Nothing important." I discreetly shake his hands off, trying to break free of his hold. But he holds me even tighter, snuggling me close.

That familiar sage and cedarwood scent fills my nostrils along with his aftershave. Gah! He smells good.

"Ryan is throwing a birthday party tonight. I wanted to invite you guys." He says.

"Why?" Steff asks, looking at him like he's gone mad.

"Why not?" He raises a brow at her.

She considers this for a second.

"Sure. Sounds good." She shrugs.

Wait a minute!

"I don't think I can make it tonight. I have other plans." I say, looking at Steff so she can back me up. "Remember that plan that I told you I had?"

"Nope!" She says and smiles at Liam.

What the hell?

"Don't even try," Liam whispers roughly in my ears.

"Thanks for the invitation, but I think I'll pass," Jeremy says, taking a bite out of his sandwich. He doesn't even try to hide his dislike for Liam.

"Why do I have to go?" I ask.

"Because I want you there." He says with finality.

I want you there. Point blank period! I should be offended by his attitude.

"Fine!"

"So you used to model, right? Will you be walking around half-naked tonight?" Steff asks, and I shriek. This girl has no filter! 

Jeremy looks like he wants to get up and leave the table.

"Not tonight." Liam smiles at her, and I gasp.

Not tonight? So some other night then? Is he flirting with my best friend right in front of me? Unbelievable!

"I just remembered I have somewhere to be." Jeremy gets up.

I know better than to believe he has somewhere to be. Jeremy is what you'd call attractive. Chocolate skin, tall, dark kind eyes. He is so tall that whenever we go to the mall people confuse him for different NBA stars. He is well-liked in school and gets along with almost everyone. He might as well be one of the cool crowd. But he lacks the ability to fit in. He acts like he is from a different time. He is an old soul trapped in an 18-year old's body. He doesn't care about most of the things guys his age care about. A lot of girls come up to him trying to flirt, but he doesn't give them the time of day.

Take me with you. I want to say to him as he leaves.

"So it's settled then? You'll come tonight." Liam says.

"She will." Steff smiles at him.

"Get a room!" It comes out harsher than I intended that I even surprise myself.

Steff raises her hands up in defense and shrugs.

"Jealous?" Liam purrs in my ears, and feeling his hot breath on my neck sends shivers down my spine.

"Yeah, right!" I snort.

He doesn't look convinced. He just smiles and bites into his sandwich, and I silently observe him. There is no question that he is absolutely gorgeous, and he knows it. The confidence radiates off him.

How come Brittany hasn't left Elliot for him yet?

Shannon is all of a sudden at our table. Smiling sweetly at Liam.

"Liam, we're waiting for you." She says, then glares at us and goes back to smiling at him again.

"Don't wait!" He says curtly, not even bothering to turn around and acknowledge her.

Ouch!

Shannon's face reddens, and she turns around, obviously embarrassed.

"I like him." Steff mouths to me, nodding approvingly.

Liam

Things are not progressing as quickly as I hoped with Jess, which is not good. I want to be done with this whole thing as fast as possible. Not to sound more of a douche bag than I already do, but I have never had trouble getting a girl. They have always come easy. They have no idea that my appeal is only skin deep. They don't stay long enough to find that out. I don't let them. They get their fill of the thrill of dating a "bad boy." and I get to pass my time. But not her. Elliot is all she sees. And oddly, that really irritates me.

She is definitely not the person I remember. In my mind, she was this silent, sweet chubby girl that I had a silly crush on all through grade school. The only girl I have ever had a crush on, but she had no clue. Ryan knew about it, of course. And he teased me relentlessly. But then life happened. I left for New York, things changed. I changed.

I remember Ryan talking about her when he came to see me in New York. He said that she had changed. He told me that she was dating Elliot and hanging out with Brittany. By then, I had a completely different life and didn't even pay him any attention. Besides, it wasn't like I had the right to judge anyone.

I get over to Ryan's a bit earlier than the others, and I find him at the minibar sipping on a drink. His parents are never home, so he usually consumes all the liquor he wants.

"The party hasn't even started," I say, walking up to him.

He silently takes another glass out and pours me the bourbon.

"You're in a mood," I say, looking at his locked jaw.

"My fucking Dad left the country again yesterday, not that I'm complaining. And my mother is away somewhere on an island with her 20-year-old boyfriend. It's my birthday and not even a single phone call. I don't even think they remember." He pours himself another drink.

Unfortunately, parents who couldn't care less if we live or die is something we have in common.

"I don't even know why the hell I let Jenny convince me into throwing this stupid party." He sips on his drink. "Thankfully, I've got something to get me through the night." He digs his pocket and takes out little white pills. I shake my head disapprovingly.

"You need to put that shit away," I tell him.

"Okay, dad!" He rolls his eyes.

Getting high was all we did when he came to visit me in New York. We used drugs as a way to numb the ache. Even if it was for a while, we loved the high it brought us. But I don't want him numbing himself on his birthday.

"People will be arriving at any moment, and your sister is here. You don't want this stuff lying around. Just put it away."

"You really are no fun sometimes." He sighs in defeat and puts it in the cabinet. "How's it going with, Jessica, anyway?" He asks, changing the subject.

"So far, so good." I lie.

"You know, using the whole I want Brittany to be mine thing is the worst possible thing you could have done. Not that I'm complaining." He smiles smugly.

"I know what I'm doing." I wave my hand in dismissal.

I don't want to go over this right now.

"Alright!" He puts both hands up in surrender. "If you say so."

Jessica

No matter what I try on, it doesn't seem to please Steff. I finally give up, and I let her dress me up.

She puts me in a fitted Versace silver metallic dress that falls at my mid-thigh and pairs it with sleek black hills. I bought the dress at a time when I was acting out and randomly spending my father's money on things I'd never actually use. My hair is down my back in loose beach waves, and she makes me put on dark red lipstick. I look in the mirror, and I can't recognize myself. The silver dress I'm wearing is short. Too short. And sparkly. I look like a shiny new toy.

"I hate it." I tell her. "It makes my legs look big."

It makes my ass look big.

It makes my hips look big.

It makes me look big.

"What?" She looks at me like I'm being ridiculous. "Your legs look great!"

"No, I don't like it, Steff."

She looks at me like you would a child that is being difficult.

"Do you have any idea how many girls get surgeries to have your curves? You look like you could be part of the Kardashian clan."

Except I don't want to be.

I remain quiet. Steff's eyes soften.

"You look hot, Jess. I promise. Just get out of your head."

I whine, but Steff is not having it.

"Come on, let's go." She says, and I get my purse, pouting.

When we get to Ryan's house, kids are already wasted and making out everywhere. The music can be heard all the way to the car, and I'm surprised the neighbors haven't called the cops yet. I see two topless girls running to the back of the house and two jocks following them close behind.

"Hey, sexy!" Some sleazy guy grabs my hand. He smells like the beer factory, and I am pretty sure he is at least 26.

I yank my hand back. I knew wearing this dress was a mistake. The guy shrugs and stumbles away.

When we walk inside, it's full-on craziness. I gotta give it to Ryan, he sure knows how to throw a party. Steff says she wants to get a drink, so we walk into the kitchen.

We spot a huge bowl of punch on the counter, and Steff pours herself some in one of the blue party cups. Just as I am about to do the same, some girl shoves me aside and pours some colorless liquid into the bowl. Pretty sure it's Vodka.

"There goes the fruit punch!" I sigh, looking at the bowl with sorrow. Not that I mind the alcohol, but one of us needs to be sober at the end of the night, and the other one is Steff. As expected, she grins and hands me her cup, taking another one and filling it with the new and improved version.

That's when I spot Liam. He is standing with some tall redhead. Her hands are resting on his chest as she hysterically laughs at something he said. They look really intimate. Of course, he would go for those slender never-ending legs and long mermaid hair.

I roll my eyes. Why did he even invite me if he already had a date?

When he sees us, he excuses himself and makes his way over.

"You guys made it."

"Go back to your date. We can find our way around!" I glare at him.

"Hello, to you too." He says. "That's Ellyn. She's just an old friend."

Yeah right!

"Whatever!"

I shouldn't even be here.

"Okay, people. I'm standing right here." Steff waves her hands around.

"Why is she always so grumpy?" He asks her as if I'm not there.

I wait for Steff to defend me but instead, she shrugs.

"Excuse me?" I gasp.

"She's all yours, I'm out." She refills her cup before walking away.

Thanks, Steff! I don't know what I would do without you.

I scoff, feeling annoyed as hell.

"Looks like you're stuck with me." He grins.

"No shit, Sherlock."

"You look beautiful." He tells me, and my heart does a weird flip.

"Uh, thanks." My voice is suddenly small, and I look away to hide my embarrassment.

When I look up, Liam is staring at me.

"What?" I ask, my cheeks starting to burn.

"You should believe it when someone tells you you're beautiful because you are." He says, and I want to argue that I do believe it. But I know that he saw right through me.

The thing is I have been mercilessly teased all throughout my childhood for having a body everyone seems to love now. And the names I've been called still ring in my head sometimes, making me feel insecure. Psychological hurt doesn't just heal because the things that used to make you the center of a joke are suddenly a "trend" now.

"You don't look too bad yourself," I say, playfully nudging his shoulders.

"I was going for drop-dead gorgeous, but that works too." He shrugs, and I laugh.

He is not so bad when he isn't trying to ruin my life.

"I didn't see you at the Pep Rally yesterday, but your friends were there." He says, and I shake my head.

"Football is not my thing," I say, and he frowns.

"But, you were dating the quarterback." He looks at me with a question.

That's exactly why I hate football now. I used to always be in the first row, cheering for Elliot. I never missed a single game. Until he decided to cheat on me with my own best friend and leave me for her. I just can't bear seeing them there. Together. I don't attend anything that has to do with football. They took that from me.

I sort of frown, not knowing how to explain it.

"Well, to put it simply, my ex-boyfriend is the quarterback. My ex-best friend is the head cheerleader. And they are currently dating." I tell him.

His jaw hardens, and he nods like he understands.

I take a huge gulp of my drink.

Speaking of the devil, I see Elliot and Brittany walk in all smiles and giggles. For the first time, it occurs to me just how perfect they look together. Brittany, a beautiful mix of Korean and Japanese heritage, in her seductive brunette glory, and Elliot with his blonde hair and perfect teeth, resembling a Ken Doll. The thought of him resembling the ideal Disney Prince suddenly turns me off.

What's that about? I've always loved his looks.

Liam follows my gaze and sees what I'm looking at. His lips form a thin line, and he slips an arm around my waist, crushing me to his side.

I feel the heat radiating from his body, and I involuntarily squirm. This feels so much better than it should.

Brittany and Elliot say hi to a few people and walk right up to us.

"Look who it is." Brittany smiles. "Beauty and the Beast, except this time, the beast is the girl." Her eyebrows move as she speaks.

I feel a surge of embarrassment. Is that what everyone sees when they see Liam and I together?

I look over at Elliot to find him looking down.

"You can't just walk up to people and open your mouth. Have some damn respect." Liam says, and I stare at him with my mouth hanging open.

Isn't he supposed to be winning her over? Because with this attitude, it's not happening anytime soon.

"Careful, Liam." She says, narrowing her eyes, and he laughs.

"Or what?"

Brittany's eyes spit fire. If looks could kill, he'd totally be dead.

"Let's go!" Elliot grabs her hand and leads her away.

I can't hide the disappointment I feel. Would it kill him to at least say hi properly?

"What the hell was that? Did you forget that we're doing this so you can get her back?" I snap.

He looks at me with his jaw clenched.

"So you would rather I let her talk to you like that?" He asks.

Well, no. But isn't her side the one he's supposed to be on?

"I just don't want to be the reason this doesn't work." I say, and his expression softens.

"You're genuinely trying to help me get her, aren't you?" He asks.

Well, duh!

I nod.

"Fuck! You're making this so much harder." He sighs.

"What do you mean?"

"Nevermind." He shifts his gaze to the crowd and takes a big gulp of his drink.

Talk about hot and cold.

"I'm gonna go," I say.

"Where?" He frowns at me.

A place you can't find me.

"The bathroom."

I walk away before he has a chance to speak. On my way, I find Ryan in the middle of a girl crowd covered in whip cream from the waist up, lying on the long kitchen island. I see Chelsea Gorge licking the cream off his chest as the other girls cheer.

I push my way to the nearest bathroom and barge in.

"Hey, there's someone in here!"

I almost run back out, but when I see that it's Steff, I get in and close the door behind me.

"Ever heard of locking the door?" I ask.

"Ever heard of knocking?" She laughs, and I notice that her eyes are bright red.

"How long have you been in here?" I ask.

"Wow, this room is so fucking bright." She covers her eyes, still sitting on the floor.

"It's not that bright."

"I'm happy, aren't you happy?" She gives me a lazy smile.

"Not at the moment. You were with me 30 minutes ago. No one gets drunk this fast." I say, helping her up.

"Are you mad at me?" She asks.

Her eyes are beyond bloodshot and hooded. Shit!

"What did you take, Steff?" I ask, leading her out. "Tell me what you took."

She looks at me and frowns.

"Nothing, I swear."

We see Brittany with Shannon, and I lead Steff away, so she doesn't see us. I can't deal with her right now.

"That witch! I want to put my feet up her ass." Steff says, turning and pointing at Brittany.

"Stop it!" I swat her hand.

"My feet up her ass. Her ass is so flat. How does she sit on it?" She says and starts laughing.

"Steff tell me what you took?" I say, looking her in the eye so she can see how serious I am.

"Just an aspirin I found in a cabinet. My head was hurting."

"What's going on?"

I turn around to find Liam.

Oh great!

"She took something. She says it was an aspirin. Are people getting high here?" I ask.

He looks confused at first, but then his lips curl into a smile.

"Where did she find it?" He asks.

"Cabinet." I glare at him.

"She took X." He tells me.

"What?" My eyes widen.

"Calm down, it's not a big deal. Just take her home and let her rest." He says, and I gasp.

"Are you joking? I can't take her home like this! Her mom would kill me!"

"Shush! Why are you yelling?" Steff glares at me and covers her ears. Liam bites his lips to keep from laughing.

"Don't laugh! This is all your fault." I stomp my feet like a bratty five-year-old.

I can't help it.

"Yeah, because I forced her to take it." He rolls his eyes. "It's fine. We'll just take her to my house. There's nobody there."

"But..."

I let the word hang. I can't just spend a night at his house. He raises a brow waiting for me to finish.

"Come on, we'll take her car." He finally says when I remain quiet. 

***

Happy Halloween to all of you guys who celebrate. We don't have Halloween where I'm from. :( What is your favorite costume that you have ever worn? Comment and let me know.

Don't forget to vote

much love :)