No Pads… No Helmets… Just Memories!

I bit down on my lip as I looked myself over in the mirror, my nervousness shining through as I fiddled with the rolled cuff of my light denim jacket. "You look good!" Cass comforted from my bed as she watched me twiddle with my cloths. I nodded my head at her words though I wasn't convinced. Sure if I had thrown this together two weeks ago I would have agreed with her fully but this was different, I was with Alex now. And it was a new ball game. In the past week I had never thought about what I looked like around him, sure I may have spent a little extra time getting ready in the mornings but hardly enough for him to notice... But staring at myself in that tight black and white striped dress with the 3/4 length sleeves I wondered if it was enough.

Sure I knew Alex wouldn't up and dump me over a dress for a high-school party but I couldn't help the stress running through me. Specially seeing as for a party like this girls often dressed to be well.... easy on the eyes - a teenage boy's eyes to be exact. And even though Alex had told me numerous times he was mine and wasn't going anywhere, it wouldn't be the first time a high school relationship went downhill. So of course the fear of losing him as not only a boyfriend but a friend in general was sitting in the back of my mind. but most of all... simply losing him to someone better.

My thoughts so wrapped up in the idea as I tapped the plastic toes to my black and white high-tops I hadn't even heard Cass step up behind me till she pressed her palm to my shoulder. My eyes locking on hers in the mirror as she fluffed the messy fishtail braid over my shoulder and sighed. "Will you stop stressing, it’s just Alex!" She soothed the denim draping my shoulders as I nodded again. "Jasey!" She whined turning me around so we were face to face, "are you really stressing over this, you've known him for how long?"

"I know, I know!" I rolled my eyes stepping around her to maneuver over to my night stand, "I'm just nervous!"

"Why?" She laughed as I looked over my shoulder at her, "It's just some party, he could care less of you show up in the nude!"

"Actually he'd probably like that more..." I muttered to my toes as she laughed and made her way over to rub a hand between my shoulder blades.

"It doesn't matter what you wear Jasey, as sappy as it is it really doesn't..." She smiled at me as I grabbed my phone off its charger.

"I can only hope so..." I muttered for my ears only as I fiddled with the device. My friend sighing as she plopped down on my bed beside Andrea who had be mindlessly picking at her nail-polish for the past hour or so. The teen appearing as fed up with the situation as she had from the moment I began to tare my closet apart to pull an outfit I deemed respectable enough to wear for the night as she looked up at me.

"Knock, KNOCK!" A soft voice sounded from the hall as knuckles pressed against the pre-opened door causing the white wood to swing freely into the room. "Everyone decent?"

"Yes, but perfect timing actually!" Andrea gasped as she glanced at the figure advancing into my room with an amused grin as she spoke, "Jasey here is having a little fashion meltdown!" She pointed as I narrowed my eyes feeling a familiar tingle tickle my sides as Alex's arms slowly wrapped around my middle.

"Is that so?" He hummed resting a chin to the top of my head as I glared at Andrea.

"No..." I muttered brusquely crossing my arms over my chest and watched her rolled to her hip. A tanned hand propping up her auburn head of hair as her fine brows lifted at my accusation.

"You're so full of it!" She chuckled before glancing over my head to watch the taller boy, his own amused grin plastered on his face, "your girls freaking out..."

"Am not!" I argued feeling Alex's hands swipe my hips as he slowly turned me in his grasp. Ignoring the tingle of his touch I glanced up into his warm eyes feeling my doubt wash over me as I got lost in their loving color.

A small chuckle slipping from the boy as he held me close and glanced into my eyes, "are you being legit?" He questioned letting his eyes roll over my body. My head hanging as his grip loosened and I took advantage of the growing space not wanting to feel his regret in deciding to be with me once he realized I was nothing but a friend. The boy catching me by surprise while he hooked a finger under my chin and forced my eyes to his to see the small smile playing on his lips. "You look amazing..." He whispered bending at the knees to quickly press a tender kiss to my nose, gaining a yearnful sigh from the ever hopeless romantic, Cassadee as he did so. "Almost too sexy," he hummed biting his lip as I hung my head. An odd feeling filling my gut in thinking Alex was starting to believe that now he had me he could control me. Which as much as I want his happiness is not something I value over my own, and controlling how I look would be a huge no-no. Which of course could have been an issue had it been the case, but almost as quickly as the fear entered my mind it was pushed out as Alex smiled and finished saying, "So know that after Jack has a few I will be keeping you glued to my hip, no way in hell is he - or anyone - putting their whisky ass hands on this little number!" He chuckled with a whistle as he twirled me under his arm.

"Awh!" Cass sighed pressing her phone into her chest as she watched Alex press a palm to my spine and collect me back into his arm. A gag gargling from the red head as she sat up and yanked the brunette with her side. The two clearly painting different opinions on the mushy romantics of Alex and I causing me to laugh as Dre pulled Cass from my room, tossing a hand in the air in disregard of the two of us as the left.

I let out a breath as I looked up at Alex, his famous crooked grin fanning his lips as he brushed my fallen strands behind my ear. His hand lingering on my cheek as I stared into his eyes with a hopeless glaze just trying to figure him out. Out of every girl in school he chose to be standing here, with me. When he could have any bottle blonde with the body of a playboy bunny he passed it up. Even with a growing fan base he could have easily chosen to stay single, take the rock star life by storm, graduate, tour and party with every girl from coast to coast, but he didn't. He didn't even need me in his life as a friend, but he busted ass to get me, and I was simply dumbfounded trying to muster up a reason as of why. But even if it boggled my mind as of why he chose me, I wasn't going to push him away when he leaned close to press his lips to mine.

"I have to say..." He breathed against my lips between kisses before softly connecting them once again, "This was a lovely surprise..."

"Surprise?" I mumbled letting my eyes flutter open as I pulled away, my arms shifting from behind his neck as I spoke, "You told me to look sexy..."

Alex smiling as his calloused fingers ran down my arm, "yeah well... since when do you do anything I say?" He scoffed in disbelief before he slid a single hand into my own, the action painfully slow as he exaggerated how perfectly his hand fit holding mine. "You know..." He dragged watching me curiously as he pulled us towards the door before stalling to glance over his shoulder at me. A small smile playing on his lips. "I would have been fine with what you had on earlier..." He mentioned inviting a blush to sit on my cheeks as he shook his head and pulled us down the hall.

"Thanks for telling me now!" I whined as he guided us down the staircase. A giddy grin painting itself onto my features as an annoyed Jack came into view as he laid on the foyer floor.

"GUYS!" He hollered, lifting a hand to wave at his best friend in passing, "THE BABY MAKING IS DONE LETS GO ITS ALMOST TEN FORTY!"

"THEIR WAS NO BABY MAKING!" I hollered as the gang appeared at the end of the hall all laughing in their own right as Zack waved a hand.

"Let’s just all get to Duncan's before this party ends without us!" He laughed snatching his keys as he volunteered alongside Matt to be the DD for the night. And it’s a good thing he did because after we all arrived to the party it was evident that everyone else had been itching to get their at the earliest possible time.

It was clear as day upon our arrival that the party had been in full swing for some time now. Matt instantly breaking off when he spotted a friend in his grade, tagging Zack alongside him while Rian and Cass both darted for the makeshift dance-floor that seemed to take up the entire oversized living room. Andrea and Jack on the other hand picked a much more direct route finding "dates" within seconds of entering the crowed home, leaving me to pull Alex through the house towards the drinks.

* * * * * * SOME PERIODS OF TIME LATER * * * * * *

"Are you seriously not drinking?" I questioned at the unlikeliness of what I was witnessing as Alex wrapped an arm around my shoulders and guided us back towards the hallway. The boy puffing his bottom lip as he sipped on the one beer he'd been nursing the whole night before shaking his head.

"Nah, I know how you get when you're drunk..." He brushed off as I stopped in my tread and turned towards him. My brow raising at the odd accusation.

"What's that supposed to mean?" I laughed awkwardly taking a sip of my drink. Keeping my eyes on Alex as he slid his free hand to my hip, letting the second arm rest on the slight curve with a sly smile.

"Well, I know you're a well..." He paused in thought as he bobbed his head, "let’s say a cuddly drunk!" He pointed with a grin as my jaw popped open.

"Alexander!" I scoffed flipping my neck and looking back down the hall before smirking at my boyfriend from the edges of my eyes. "What are you suggesting?" I gasped playfully, trying to fight my growing grin as I pressed a hand to my chest for emphasis.

"I'm- I'm suggesting..." He stuttered as a passing clan of teens caused me to stumble closer to the rambling boy in the confined area. Said boy smirked, tugging my hip to bring my body flush against his, "I'm saying that I'm not drinking for my own wellbeing..."

"Is that so?" I returned his smirk with my own as I snaked my arms around the back of his neck, being careful not to slosh my drink in the process as I rolled to my toes to become closer to eye-level with him.

"Mhmm..." He hummed in affirmation, nodding his head, "because now that I have you, I don't think I'd be able to stop myself if you decided to get a little... Cuddly..." He grinned before oh-so-subtly licking at his lip as I smiled. The pure joy in just feeling him so close in such a public place swelling in my gut made me realize how much I had been craving this with him, and him only as I returned the poke and nipped my own lip.

"Well who's to say I'd want you to?" I hummed scooting closer, closing what little space remained as he stared down on me. His hot shallow breath fanning my face as he began to lose his evident fight to stay in control. My free hand slipped to tangle my fingers in the soft locks at the base of his neck gaining a gravely growl from the singer.

"Jase-"

"HEY!" A hand yelled interjecting Alex's thought as it grasped my shoulder and pulled me from Alex.

"WHAT THE-" I started, prepared to bitch out whoever had just torn us from the less than romantic moment as my eyes locked on a second friendly pair. My face washing of all anger as the emotion was swiftly replaced with a smile. "DUNCAN!" I yelped all but jumping into his arms with a shrill giggle.

"What's up Chica?" He laughed enthusiastically as he returned my hug and wrapped his arms around my back. "How’s one of the very few people who bothered to learn my name doing!?" He laughed over the music again slowly placing me on the ground as if he was fearful of how much I had to drink as he held my shoulders for a moment before releasing me entirely.

"I'm good!" I giggled rocking on my heels as I smiled, "amazing actually, how are you?"

"I'm doing well for someone who may just have their house burnt down by sunrise!" He laughed slapping my shoulder before glancing behind me as I followed his gaze to see Alex awkwardly watching his toes. "You guys together?" Duncan whispered into my ear - well probably spoke normally knowing with the blaring music he could hardly be heard as I bit my lip and glanced back at him. A small nod coming from me as I chewed on the pink flesh keeping my giddy grin contained. "Oh my god!" He laughed slapping my shoulder.

"Alex..." I laughed looking over my shoulder to wave him the few feet to my side as he willingly obliged. His arm that hadn't been clutching his barley half-filled cup quickly wrapping around my waist as he held me close. "Alex... This is Duncan..." I motioned, watching as Alex's almost protective domineer slid from his face.

"Oh- OH, uhm, hi..." Alex awkwardly spilled before giving up and thrusting a hand out towards the host with a toothy grin, "Uhm, Alex Gaskarth, I'm Zack's friend..." He told him as Duncan gladly shook his hand with a grin before nodding his head and pointing a finger at the towering boy.

"You're in the band right?" He asked raising a dark brow at Alex as I felt his chest shift with his eager nod. "Oh sweet!" He clapped his hands together as I looked up at Alex to exchange an odd glance before redirecting my gaze back to a gleeful Duncan. "I have like, half your band down stairs, YOU GUYS WANNA PLAY VODKA ROULETTE!?" He yelled over the new song.

"Alex?" I questioned glancing up at him as he thought for a moment before a vast grin spread across his face with a nod. Duncan seeing the agreement quickly grabbed my wrist and led Alex and I down the crowded hall towards what I would only assume to be the basement door.

The pungent scent of booze and liquor flooding up the staircase as the large basement came into view. The entertainment and family game area's I hadn't even known were here had been easily transformed into games of beer pong and flip cup. Kids scattered all over the place chugging beers and slurring random songs as Duncan lead us through the muggy room to a group of kids circled on the floor. Jack, Andrea, Cass and Rian among them.

"WE GOT OUR LAST TWO PLAYERS!" Duncan announced holding my arm up in the air as the small group cheered. Alex took a seat beside Jack before pulling me into his lap. Duncan shuffling over to his parent’s small bar pulling, up a rather large bottle of vodka and numerous bottles of water as I shifted to get somewhat comfortable on the sticky hardwood floor between Alex's knees. "Alright rules!" Duncan laughed placing a collection of small glass shot-glasses on a rotating tray as he spoke, one shot glass for everyone in the circle including himself as I counted. "We start with one shot of vodka... The rest, will be filled with water..." He explained holding up the respectable bottle as he spoke before cracking open the vodka and leaning over the tray. "I'll spin this and we will all lie back so no one can see which one has the vodka, then we all take a shot glass!" He told us placing down the glass bottle and reaching for a bottle of Poland Springs. "Without smelling or tasting the shot we will all toss 'em back, and who ever had the vodka has to do a dare..." He smiled around the small group of us as he sat up and counted all ten glasses filled to the top. "And lastly, for every dare completed, we add another shot of vodka, and one less shot of water..."

"LET’S GET THIS SHOW ON THE ROAD!" A blonde girl hooted as everyone nodded with satisfied grins. Duncan took a hold of the tray in quick agreement before giving it a spin. The tray spun and spun as we all laid back as instructed and Duncan quickly joined the circle and the game commenced.

When the spinning stopped we all struggled to sit up. Clutching my own drink in my hand I took the shot glass Alex handed over to me before he reached for the own. Watching Duncan as he held up a hand and began to count.

"1"

"2"

"3!" He screamed and back went the shots! The clear liquid filling my mouth with ease. Keeping my eyes clenched shut as it slipped down my throat and I waited for the burn... That never came. Nothing.

Water.

I sighed slightly disappointed as I looked up to see the blonde girl I had never seen before coughing slightly. A large smile on the few others faces as Duncan dared her to kiss the boy beside her, and the game began.

Turn after turn the shots were sucked down and dares were done. Rian and Cass ended up bailing after a few to gp find Vinny and Matt, Jack actually ended up swapping some spit with Andrea to everyone’s surprise and even I ended up spending a few turns perched in Jack's lap gaining a less then happy look from Alex. A look that was quickly forgotten when I tipped back a second burning shot and Jack spoke up...

"I..." Jack giggled holding his own shot-glass close to his chest as I slid off his lap to watch him, "I dare you!" He pointed with another drunken giggle as I rose a brow, "To- to kiss Duncan!"

"Jack..." Alex sighed sitting up. My eyes shifting to the brown eyed boy who had hardly anything to drink and was forced to take shot of water after shot of water and watch everyone else get smashed in the process.

"Alex... Don't worry about it!" Duncan laughed getting to his knees and crawling over to me as I bit my lip. Watching as Duncan struggled to maneuver the small space as Alex shifted to place a hand on my shoulder.

"Jasey, you can quit..." Alex told me as he hardly slurred from his own beer, clearly upset with the situation. My obvious unease probably not making it better on either our parts as Duncan placed a hand to my cheek and I couldn't help the impulse to pull back. Even in his drunken state the boy caught on and pulled away enough to watch my eyes.

"Jasey it’s okay!" He laughed before looking behind me at Alex. "Oh..." He dragged nodding his head before bursting into laughter. "Guys, I don't think you get it, its okay!" He said as Alex crawled forward and placed a hand to my hip.

"Sorry... I'm just not really comfortable with another guy kissing my girlfriend..." He said softly with a tone of what almost sounded like defeat in his sober state as I sighed, feeling guilty for putting him in this place as Duncan laughed again.

"Dude..." He slurred looking up at Alex, "I'M GAY!" He laughed causing both Alex and I to flush of color, "I don't want your girlfriend - no offense Jasey - but she should be more worried if I had to kiss you!" He laughed in hysterics before swiftly leaning forward and pressing his vodka slick lips against mine for a brief moment before pulling away. "DARE DONE!"

"You know what!" Andrea announced awkwardly getting to her feet in a fit, "let’s play some beer pong, Jack and I verses Jase and Alex!" Jack smiling as I wiped my mouth and scooted backwards to where I knew Alex's open arms would be as she grinned back at the skunk haired teen.

"I'M IN!" Jack slurred getting to his feet as he used Andrea to stand, my eyes shifting to a slightly off put Alex as he shrugged and pulled us both to our feet. The four of us accepting quickly as we tripped over to the beer pong table to where a few slightly friendly looking guys were clearing up the previous round as Jack held up a finger, twisting his wrist in a circular motion to the men, motioning for another round as they nodded and opened a cupboard I hadn't even noticed before. The wooden shelves lined with red and blue solo cups by the pack as they pulled one out and tore at the plastic bag and began to set up the game.

"Ever play beer pong before?" The eldest looking guy asked, scratching a hand through his thick stubble as he pulled a large case of beer from under the once ping pong table as we all nodded.

"Well not me!" Andrea laughed holding a hand up as we all shot her a look. The auburn haired girl giggling as she shrugged and I watched her lean into Jack in disbelief. There was no way. From the start she had the bubbly, life of the party, good at everything vibe, and if that wasn't enough I had seen her take Jack himself down in a shotgun contest to see who could shot gun five beers the fastest, and she stole home by a land slide. There was no way she wasn't a beer pong champ.

"Well look at you!" Another man laughed helping Alex fill the cups as they lined them up, "WE GOT A BEER PONG VIRGIN IN THE HOUSE!" He shouted causing almost everyone around to cheer, even if they hadn't heard his words they just knew they had an excuse to yell and took it, much to my own amusement. "Good luck kid!" He grinned tossing Dre a wet ping pong ball as we split into our decided pairs and took separate sides of the table.

The game had gotten into full swing rather quickly, and I had to give myself a mental high-five for calling Andrea's skills. Though she wasn't the best player, she played to Jack's strengths and proved to be a difficult duo to beat. We were more than halfway through the game when Rian and Vinny appeared at the bottom of the staircase and joined the growing cluster to watch the intense game.

"Nice of you two ladies to show up!" I laughed loudly flinging a dirty ping pong ball across the table and watching as it teetered into the cup. "Care to challenge the wi- SUCK IT JACK!" I gloated disregarding my brother and friend as I celebrated.

"Yeah, watch your mouth Dawson, this game isn't over yet!" He pointed a drunken finger my way as I giggled. I smiled as Andrea pulled a ball from the table and waited for her to miss as she squinted. The two of them having had the most shots in the previous game were starting to slip from the high of their buzz. It was a true they managed to get us down to five cups while they had three. But even with their impressive numbers... No way in hell was I losing to Jack at his own game.



Andrea narrowed her eyes at a cup before snapping her wrist and flinging it into the cup with a victorious cheer as Alex volunteered to chug the drink leaving us with four and handed me the ball.

"IT’S A CLOSE GAME!" Vinny announced standing on a chair as I shot him a glare and made my aim. "IT COULD TURN AT ANY-"

"Hush you!" I laughed tossing the ball and watching as it slowly pulled over the rim. "VICTORY WILL BE MINE!" I laughed jumping up and down now that they only had two as Andrea grabbed Jack's shoulders and appeared to give him a pep-talk while he nodded along to her words.

"He's so gone..." Alex mused placing a hand to the table by my hip as I nodded watching his friend stagger to hold onto the table's edge for support as he picked up a ball.

"No way will he make any more..." I shook my head.

"THE VITAL THROW!" Vinny announced again as Alex and I shook our heads with a chuckle. "HE AIMS... He shoots!" He shouted as we watched the filthy ball roll through the air and... "HE SCORES!"

"Alright Lex..." I nodded grabbing the cup leaving us with three and fishing the ball out of the room temperature liquid before placing it in his hand. "Just don't miss..." I grinned as he nodded and let me down the drink. Alex taking a shot and missing before glancing over at me as I waved his worrisome eyes away and took my place.

"WE... ARE THE CHAMPIONS!" Andrea sang tossing the ball and letting it find a cup before jumping onto Jack finishing, "OF THE BEER PONG WOOORRRLLLDD!"

"I CAN NOT BELIEVE IT!" Rian joined Vinny as he pulled himself up onto a stool, holding onto the tanned friend as it wobbled, "IT'S A TIED GAME!"

"Not for long..." I muttered grabbing a ball and positioning myself.

"WAIT!" Alex held up a hand as I glanced over at him with an amused grin to match his own. "Smack my ass for good luck..." He said seriously as everyone stood by and blinked at his words before bursting into laughter.

"Are- are you serious?" I laughed in hysteria as he stuck his butt out with a deadpan expression only making me laugh more. "You are so fucking drunk!"

"Maybe a little..." He shrugged with a wide grin before wiggling his ass closer to me.

"Get that THING away from me!" I laughed putting my foot up as I swayed in my own buzz. The boy laughing as he backed up.

"Just do it!" He giggled like a little girl as I rolled my eyes.

"You are so fucking difficult!" I laughed lightly smacking his ass so he'd step away before straightening out. "Okay..." I breathed trying to mask my giggles as I snapped my arm behind my head. "Oh my god..." I laughed before shaking my head and standing up. "Okay." I repeated throwing the ball and watching as it rolled around a rim before falling in causing everyone aside from Jack and Dre to cheer as Alex yelled about his - and I quote - "magic eight balls!".

"IT’S UP TO JACK TO TIE THE GAME!" Vinny announced in a fit of girly giggles as Rian nodded.

"CAN HE DO IT?" Rian hollered into his air mic causing us all to giggle.

"Damn fucking straight I can!" Jack huffed picking up a ball and turning his back to the table.

"THE FUCK IS HE DOING?" Vinny spoke in his announcer voice as we all watched in confusion as Jack bent forward and flung the ball back. All eyes watching the now beige ball roll through the thick air before falling to the table and well... Missing, completely.

Everyone laughing as Alex leaned forward and snatched the ball before looking over at me. His lips twitching into a smile as he grinned, flicking those thick eyebrows of his I rolled my eyes. "Alex, you'r - you're not smacking my ass..."

"AND GASKARTH IS DENIED!" Vinny shouted gaining a hiss from Alex as I laughed.

"Fine..." He shrugged turning back to the table and taking his aim, "I'll save it for later..." He smiled as my jaw popped open and the ball rolled through the air.

"WAIT WHAT-"

"AND WE HAVE A NEW CHAMPION!" Rian screamed as Alex cheered and pulled me off the ground.

"SUCK THAT BARAKAT!" Alex laughed swinging me around as everyone cheered. Softly placing me on the ground Alex swiftly ignored my gob smacked gaze as he leaned behind me and snatched the last beer. "For you milady..." He bowed as I rolled my eyes and pulled it from his hand.

"Good game!" Jack mused behind me as I took a sip before swiftly smacking my ass and taking off up the stairs with Vinny. The two gone before I could fully turn around. But I was simply just impressed - and slightly concerned - with how even when plastered, Jack could run like hell from any sexual related trouble he could get in.

"Well on that note..." I muttered turning back to a giddy Alex who was high-fiving a fellow party goer as I wiped the alcohol from my mouth, "let's go do something!" I smiled looking up at Alex who turned his attention back to me.

"Like what-"

"Good game Alex..." A feminine voice mused as a busty red head appeared beside Alex, her hand going to his chest as she grinned. Quickly I bit my tongue and pulled my dirty cup to my lips to avoid saying something that could very well come back to bite me in the ass as he blinked at her. "Mind showing me that good luck move?" She winked as I nearly choked on my drink.

"Uh-" Alex laughed as he awkwardly tried to untangle himself from the persistent girl as she giggled, "kind of..."

"Kind of what?" She hiccupped reaching to clutch his bicep as he shuffled closer to me while I backed away. I knew any normal girl would have intervened, proclaimed her position in his life and thrown a fit. But I honestly preferred my hair on my head and not tangled in a girl's acrylics, and besides, after his public display at lunch I wasn't fearful of him deny me as his girlfriend and I kind of wanted to see how he would handle the situation.

"Uh I kind of mind showing you..." He rolled with a tone of annoyance that had me amused as he pried her nails from his arm.

"Well why?" She stomped causing me to laugh at her pathetic antics as Alex shot me a - "I hate you for this" - glare and pulled free.

"Because I have a girlfriend for that..." He explained making me laugh as the red head's hard eyes shifted to me. Her brows lifting as she smiled a sickly sweet grin at Alex making my stomach churn to see her desire for something she couldn't have.

"I don't see her anywhere..." She sang making me roll my eyes as she walked her fingers up his chest. Fingers Alex quickly caught and threw to her side with a laugh.

"Yes, you do." He laughed turning around and grabbing my arm. The tall boy taking me by surprise as he grabbed my hips and placed me on top of the ping pong table with a grin. His hands sliding to securely cup the back of my neck as he smiled, "This is for the smack..." He whispered for my ears only before pressing his lips to mine.

"FORREAL?" The girl scoffed in disgust as Alex abruptly pulled away.

"Mind giving me and my girlfriend some privacy?" He smiled batting his eyes as I began to laugh. The girl’s cold glare shifting to me as if silently swearing vengeance when she didn't even know my name before storming off making both Alex and I laugh.

"You... Are such an ass!" I laughed resting my hands on his shoulders with a wicked grin.

"A firm one!" He pointed taking my hips and helping my off the table as I laughed, "I mean you felt it!" He smiled lacing his fingers with mine and quickly pulling us towards the stairs. "You can clearly tell I've been doing my squats!" He joked as we passed the bitter red head on our way upstairs as I waved.

Sending the girl a wink I pulled my hand from Alex's and decided to have some fun on my own as I smacked his ass playfully, "I'll meet you up stairs babe!" I winked for good measure before looking over at the girl with her disapproving friends before nodding my head. Leaning over the wooden railing I cupped my hand over my mouth as if to share a secret as I locked eyes with her, "kids an animal... Just can't keep his hands off me!" I winked before scurrying up the steps to where Alex stood with hands on hips.

"Now you my dear... Are the ass hole!" He laughed reaching for my hand as I gladly took his.

"What can I say!" I shrugged as he easily pulled us into the hall. "I wanted to pick fun while I had the chance!" I laughed as he guided us through the house.

I would be lying through my teeth if I didn't admit that I wanted nothing more than for this party to go well seeing as most of the others we had gone to.... Well didn't. And maybe wasting away at least an hour playing a game we both apparently sucked at and only managing in a few scattered shots before beer pong was a bad idea. But I would probably be okay if he wanted to part or even hit up a second round of beer pong later in which we were both good at. But when we reached the end of the hall he didn't bother to let go of my hand or ask me what I wanted to do and instead dragged us off towards the dance floor, obviously taking his own offer and turning towards me.

Alex clearly wasting no time as he spun me under his arm before lightly grasping my hips to lock them to his. Taking control of our conjoined movements as he grind against me. His hands slipping to take mine in his before lifting both sets behind his head to trust my hips to stay in sync with his as we continued to dance, and I have to say, in comparison to my drunken memories from New Year’s... I had one drink to many that night for wasting this. And I thought I'd take the moment to pick fun at the memory, "You dance with every girl like this?" I giggled leaning my head back against his chest as I arched my back, voicing my thoughts as he chuckled.

"Nope..." He popped, releasing his hands and letting his digits trickle down my arms while I left my own above our heads just enjoying the feeling of his body against mine. His lips brushing against the shell of my ear sending shivers down my spine. "No other girls really peak my interest like you do..." He whispered deepening the dance as he bent his knees. The perfect amount of beer and vodka sloshing in my brain turning his few words into nostalgia as I swallowed my buzz for the moment and stood up. In one swift motion I spun to face Alex and hooked my fingers into the front of his jeans to pull his body flush against mine before slowly locking my arms behind his neck.

"Is that so?" I hummed as I rocked my hips against his, Alex quickly catching on as he shuffled to adjust his height before he nodded. "Or are you seriously just saying that?" I asked honestly with a less teasing tone as we continued to grind. A single hand shifting from my hip to hold my neck as he pressed a soft kiss to my lips. The embrace was sweet and delicate as in contrast to his purely sexual movements as it shocked me they could both come from the same guy before his eyes found mine.

"It might be that whole two shots of liquid courage letting my say this..." He sang into my ear as we rocked, "But it was always you Jasey..." He cooed sweetly melting my heart. Biting my lip I pulled back enough to meet his gaze.

"You're such a hopeless romantic!" I giggled he pulled our bodies apart as he linked his hands with mine.

"Just a truth teller!" he shrugged playfully spinning us around. "But what can I say!" He laughed pulling me close, "you stole more than just my first kiss that day in the tree house!" He winked before taking hold of my hand. "But tonight’s not about romantics, it’s about having fun for once in this fucked up year of ours!" He laughed dragging the two of us out of the living room. "Let’s fine Jack and Vinny!" He yelled as we passed a speaker and spilled into the kitchen.

Me being the first one to take the scene in as I looked up. My free hand slotting over my mouth as I yanked Alex to a halt. "I found them..." I pointed as Alex found his was to my side before following my finger.

"Oh... my God." Alex breathed watching Jack drape himself over Vinny as he sang into the neck of a beer bottle. "WHAT IS HE DOING?" Alex joined my laughter as both boys began to belt the lyrics to Queen’s Fat Bottom Girl’s as they rocked on the top of Duncan's large kitchen table.

"He's having fun!"

Notes