The day had finally come. My birthday party. Chase had been spending even more time with me recently, and Maddox had been sweeter than ever.

Knowing that Maddox will be waiting for me downstairs to drive me to classes, I hurry to get ready, brushing my straight hair and grabbing my bag. I open the door and walk down the hallway, receiving "Happy Birthdays" from the guys as I pass, even though they're all well aware that it isn't actually the anniversary.

"Princess! Get your tiny ass down here before we're late!" I hear Maddox yell and my eyes widen. A few of the guys with open doors look at me with humor in their eyes. I immediately turn red with embarrassment and march down the stairs.

Maddox's eyes widen when he sees me and gives me a lengthy once-over but I just stomp right up to him and push him back by his chest, hardly moving him an inch. "That was bloody rude, you arse." I bite out. Upset that he yelled that for everyone to hear, and if Chase had been here, he probably would have been livid as well. Maddox looks taken aback but remorseful.

"Princess, I'm sorry, it was just meant for you to hear. I'm sorry, I didn't think before I said it." He says, not looking anywhere but my eyes which I commend him for considering the shirt I chose to wear today is a much lower cut than what I'd usually go for.

I nod resolutely. "I know." I breathe in deeply and reach for his hand, willing to let it go because there isn't anything that he can do about it now. I smile up at him to let him know that I forgive him and he drops my hand, wrapping his arm around my shoulder and pulling me into him, kissing me on my head sweetly.

Maddox opens the door to his car for me and I happily climb in. When he turns on the ignition, he allows me to fiddle with the radio stations, even though we're only a few minutes from campus. Maddox laughs as I sing along horribly to the songs on the radio and I completely forget about anything but this moment.

I grab my bag and exit the car, being careful not to hit the door of the car to the right. Maddox and I walk side by side to our building, receiving confused and surprised glances from many of the people that walk past. He doesn't bother to even glance at anyone else and only spares a nod to the people that greet him. I watch his behavior as we walk past many beautiful girls, but he just stares straight ahead.

Maddox must notice my staring because the next moment he catches my eyes, he lets a little grin loose. He reaches for my hand and I'm pleasantly surprised at his act of public affection towards me. Every couple seconds, he squeezes my hand, almost as if he's using me as an anchor to stay calm. I look around for something that could be angering him but find nothing. A few boys smile at me as they walk past and I smile back. Maddox stops completely, causing me to jerk back as well.

"What are you doing?" He asks in a deep, but calm voice. I furrow my eyebrows in confusion.

"What do you mean?" I ask, honestly confused.

"That. Just now. Every guy that walks past us. Don't tell me you don't see them watching you." He says and I'm taken aback. I didn't realize that's what they were doing. I really overestimate the friendliness of the people at this school.

When Maddox sees the genuine shock on my face he calms down. "You didn't know." He says and I shake my head.

"Of course not. But we're holding hands, why..." I say, pulling us to the side to talk without obstructing someone else's path, not caring that we'll most likely be late.

"If you could see what I see Princess..." He trails off, looking over me with dark eyes, lazily caressing my body and setting his hands on my hips. I put my head on his chest to hide my blush. "I wish you were mine. I want all these assholes to know you're taken." He grumbles and I look up at him.

"I thought I already was," I say and he genuinely smiles, placing his hands on my jaw gently and bringing my lips towards his to kiss him right out in the open, but I couldn't care less.

He breaks apart, barely, to say: "Then it's official. You're mine."