Close to two weeks of complete avoidance of Onyx Hayes left me with hope that our moment in his yard was just a fluke.

Sadly, my peace came to an end the moment I got word of him throwing a party tonight while his mother was out of town with mine-and that everyone was going to be there.

Ty had become a little more open with our PDA, though I caught Erica watching some days in the halls, she didn't outright try and get between us. To my relief, we spent most of our time with Mikey and Levi when I wasn't working, and at school we only really saw one another at lunch.

All day at school everyone was hyped for the party, but I knew, without a doubt, I needed to get what happened with Onyx off my chest-and telling Mikey just wasn't an option considering he was dating someone in my boyfriend's friend group. So the second Angie said she'd be getting ready at my house for the party next door, I decided to take it as my chance. I joined her in the bathroom while she was doing her makeup and leaned back against the wall and said, "I think Onyx almost kissed me the night of my first date with Ty."

Angie was so shocked she smeared her eyeliner and cursed quietly, grabbing one of my makeup removers as she responded, "Girl, what are you talking about?"

"I mean, he was outside when I got home and we started talking. It got kind of personal about Olivia, and I kind of leaned against his shoulder and when he turned to look at me I thought for sure he was going to kiss me."

She finished her liner then turned around and crossed her own arms, giving me a disappointed look. "Okay, Rory, the real question here isn't if he was going to kiss you, but if you wanted him to."

I swallowed hard, then tried to cover up what I'd said, "I mean, maybe it was just in my head. Maybe I was imagining—"

"Rory." she said with a warning tone. "Did you want him to kiss you?"

I knew better than to lie to her. "I don't know."

"You finally get a boyfriend, a hot one at that, and are going to screw it up over Onyx freaking Hayes." she extended her arms and shook me like a rag doll. "You're not going to let him ruin a good thing for you."

"You're right." I whispered, nodding. "I really like Ty."

She grinned, then turned back to the mirror and said, "Of course I'm right. I always am."

*

I waited patiently out on the front steps for Ty to go and join my friends at Onyx's house next door. Once he hopped out of his car he jogged up the driveway to meet me with a kiss and kept his arm over my shoulder as we shoved our way into the Hayes house and through the crowded kitchen. We found Mikey and Levi lounged on the sofa, watching a few other jocks that looked to be having a chugging contest. Unfortunately for me, my boyfriend was very much one of those jocks and immediately went to join them. Not interested in watching him get shitfaced, I squeezed Mikey's shoulder and smiled at Levi before heading up the stairs despite there being a KEEP OUT sign and a chain across them.

As soon as I reached the top, Onyx stepped out of his mother's room, and eyed me. "Did you not see the sign?"

"It doesn't apply to me." I responded with a shrug. "Olivia has told me I'm always welcome anywhere in the house."

He looked irritated, but I wasn't sure if it was from my comment or the reason for why he was up here in the first place. "Where's your boyfriend?"

"Chugging beer." I said over enthusiastically. "He obviously wanted to get fully into the party spirit, aye?"

Though he tried his hardest to fight it, a smile touched at Onyx's lips at my sarcasm.

"You sure you want to stick around, Sky?" he made a gesture with his thumb over his shoulder. "Last I checked, there's this really infuriating chick that lives next door that'd probably love for you to head back so the asshole doesn't take advantage of you."

I felt my smile falter slightly. "Onyx, just because—"

"Yes, just because." Onyx made a gesture downstairs. "Guys get horny when they drink, Aurora."

"Whatever." I snapped, "I'm too exhausted to deal with you today, Hayes."

He laughed with a dark look. "Yeah? I mean, nobody invited you or your boyfriend, Grace."

I started laughing, stepping down on to the step below me, "You're right. I think we'll just head over to my house. Turn the lights down low, set the mood, then maybe I'll—"

"Stop." Onyx growled.

"How about both of you stop." It was Angie, making her way up the stairs. She stopped beside me and pointed her finger at Onyx, "I don't know what kind of head games you're playing with her, but it needs to stop. She's finally happy and she deserves this, Onyx."

Those words struck a chord in him and he held his hands up in surrender, "Sorry."

She then turned her dark, warning look on me. "And you need to stop trying to piss him off. It's childish."

"Angie!" I started, but she held a hand up.

"I don't want to hear excuses, Aurora. Now let's go find your boyfriend."

*

Despite my house being next door and very much within walking distance, I had mistook my alcohol tolerance and the moment I tried to step outside the Hayes house, I stumbled and would have completely ate it if one of Mikey's teammates didn't catch my shoulders and steady me.

"You need help home, Rory?" he asked, look genuinely concerned.

I waved him off. "I'm fine. It's like, right there."

He didn't look convinced. "Look, I don't mind—"

"I got it, Ray."

I tensed hearing Ty's voice. Even drunk, Onyx's warning from a few hours ago was playing in a continuous loop in my head.

"No, Ty, I mean, she's wasted. You shouldn't—" Ray started, but Ty moved so he was beside me, grasping my arm.

"She's my girl, man. I don't see why it concerns you."

He looked ready to fight Ty on it, but after a second slipped by my boyfriend and walked into Onyx's house. I looked after him, wanting desperately to call after him or maybe shout for either of my best friends, but I couldn't find it in me to even speak. My head was starting to hurt and the stairs were starting to double beneath me. I would just have to give Ty the benefit of the doubt he wouldn't do such a shitty thing.

"Come on, let's get you home."

I was hopeful that he truly wanted only good for me until he shut my bedroom door behind him and crossed the room in a quick, swift movement to draw the blinds.

"Ty." I mumbled, sitting on the edge of my bed. "What are you doing?"

He didn't respond, and though my heart was starting to race it was taking my brain longer to process why.

"Ty." I tried again. "Can you call Mikey?"

I had enough sense to dig my phone from my back pocket as he messed around with my window and texted the first person on my contact list. But my vision had started to blur with the doubling, and I could hardly see what I wrote. I was going purely based on memory.

"Ty." I mumbled, feeling my phone being pulled from my grip. "Please call Mikey."

"You're fine." he assured. "Just drunk. You'll sleep it off and be fine in the morning.

I don't recall ever hearing someone feel this way over being drunk, but I couldn't fight him even if I wanted to.

"Mikey." I mumbled again, falling back on to my bed and reaching for my blanket to pullover myself. "Tell Mikey—"

Before I could finish my sentence my grogginess to over and I allowed my heavy eyes to shut.

*

I woke up aware of two things; I wasn't in the tight shirt and jeans I'd been in last night and I needed to throw up.

Gasping, I nearly fell out of my bed as I rushed for my bathroom and collapsed against the toilet. It wasn't until I'd finished dry heaving and was a crying mess that I dropped my gaze down to what I was wearing.

It sent a jolt through me seeing the old Guns N' Roses shirt-the very shirt I'd caught Onyx tending to his mother's flowers in a few weeks ago.

"No." I whimpered, then groaned when a sharp pain shot through my head. "No, no, ow."

I didn't sleep with Onyx last night, no way.

"You're looking absolutely breathtaking this morning, Sky." the devil's quiet voice said from the doorframe. When I finally mustered up enough energy to look his way, I found he was leaning into it with a glass of water and a bottle of Advil. "Thought you might need these though."

I outstretched my hand, opening and closing my hand like a toddler reaching for something until he took a step into the bathroom and crouched down so he was eye level with me. As soon as I'd taken the pills, I slumped against the cold porcelain.

"Do you remember anything about last night?"

I lifted my head in response, wanting to shake it but knew better, so I verbalized it-not that it was much better. "No. We didn't. . ."

"No." he answered immediately, cutting me off. "But your boyfriend was trying to when I walked in."

I pushed aside the thought that he'd likely seen me naked for the time being and went to the real issue. "Ty was. . . are you sure?"

"Yes." Onyx looked as if there was more, he wanted to say, but he was holding back. "I spent the night in your bed once I'd kicked him out. I was scared he'd still try and come back."

I eyed him. "You're joking, right?"

"Aurora, why the hell would I joke about something like that?"

I pushed the shirt up and bunched it around my waist and felt tears starting to sting my eyes, then whispered, "I don't know why I'm even considering believing you. You hate Ty, of course you'd try to mess—"

"You can believe whatever you want to believe, Aurora." Onyx snapped, interrupting me before I could finish my sentence. He set the water and pills to my left and stood. "I'll see you around."

I wanted to object and continue the conversation, but the moment he turned to leave, he ran right into my mother walking through my room.

"Hi, sweetheart." she said in passing him. He hugged her quickly and stalked out of the room. I waited until I heard the front door slam shut to lift my head and squint up at my mom. "This is why I don't allow alcohol in this house."

I grunted in response as she helped me off the ground and on to the toilet seat. "Mom?"

"Yes?"

"Am I in trouble?"

She sighed, pressing one of her fingers into her temple and massaging it. "No, Rory. You're old enough to start making your own decisions. I also have a lot. . . there's a lot going on right now and I don't have time for thinking about punishments."

"Olivia?" I guessed.

She met my eyes, her own starting to mist, "Yeah. She's not doing great."

"But she'll be okay, right?"

My mom leaned in to hug me, raking her fingers through my hair.

"Mom, right?"

She stared at me, and despite the words that left her mouth, I was sure she was trying to convince herself as much as she was me.

"Right."