"Just toss it across the table into any of these cups and we have to drink the cup that the ball lands into, whichever team knocks out all the other's cups wins." Tristan explains.

"Wins what?" I ask.

"Nothing, you just don't get drunk as fast because you don't have to drink as many cups." He laughs.

"We will go first." Steph says.

She playfully rubs the small white ball against Tristan's shirt before blowing on it and tossing it across the table. It bounces off of the lip of the front cup before rolling into the cup behind it.

"You want to drink first?" Zed asks.

"Sure." I shrug and lift the cup.

When Tristan tosses the next ball across the table he misses, It falls to the floor and Zed picks it up, dipping it into the lone glass of water on our side. So that is what that is for. It is hardly sanitary but this is a college party what do I really expect?

"Yea, I am the one who sucks." Steph taunts him and he smiles at her.

"You go first." Zed instructs.

My first attempt at playing beer.. well cherry vodka sour.. pong seems to be going well as I have made four shots in a row.

My jaw hurts from smiling and giggling at my opponents and my blood is singing from the liquor and the fact that I love to be successful at things, even college drinking games.

"You have played this before! I know you have!" Steph accuses me with a hand on her hip.

"No, I am just skilled." I laugh.

"Skilled?" She mocks.

"Don't be jealous of my killer beer pong skills." I say and everyone within a five foot radius bursts into laughter.

"Oh lord! Please do not say skills again!" Steph says and I hold my stomach while I try to stop laughing.

This game was a better idea than I thought. The large amount of alcohol I have consumed helps and I feel carefree. Young and carefree.

"If you make this we will win." I encourage Zed.

The more cups he drinks, the more comfortable he seems to be around me.

"I will make it." He boasts with a smile.

The small ball cuts through the air and lands directly into the last remaining cup on Steph and Tristan's side of the table.

I squeal and jump up and down like an idiot but I could care less. Zed claps his hands once and without thinking I wrap my arms around his neck in excitement. He stumbles back a little but his arms reach my waist before we both pull away. It was a harmless hug, we have just won the game and I am excited. Harmless. Steph's eyes are wide when I look over at her, making me look around the room for Hardin.

He is no where to be found, but so what if he was? He is the one who left me alone at this party. I can not even call or text him because he has my phone in my pocket.

"I want a re-match!" Steph yells.

"Want to play again?" I ask Zed.

He looks around the room before answering.

"Yea..yea.. let's do another." He smiles.

Zed and I win for the second time which causes Steph and Tristan both to playfully accuse us of cheating.

"You okay?" Zed asks as the four of us leave the table.

Two games of beer pong was enough for me, I am sort of intoxicated. Okay, more than sort of, but I feel amazing. Tristan leads Steph into the kitchen, to get another drink I assume.

"Yea, I am good. Really good. I am having a great time." I tell him and he laughs.

The way his tongue rests behind his teeth when he smiles is so charming.

"That's good to hear. I am going to go get some air." He says.

Air, I would love to breath in air that isn't filled with cigarette smoke or the thick smell of sweat. It is hot in this house, too hot and I want some air.

"Can I come?" I ask him.

"Uhm.. I don't know if that is a good idea." He replies, looking away from me.

"Oh..okay." My cheeks flame in embarrassment.

I turn to walk away but he gently grabs my arm.

"You can come. I just don't want to start any trouble between you and Hardin."

"Hardin isn't here and I can be friends with whoever I want." I slur.

My voice sounds funny and I can't help but giggle at how weird it sounds.

"You are quite drunk aren't you?" He asks and opens the door for me.

"A little." I laugh.

The crisp winter air feels amazing and refreshing.

Zed and I walk through the yard and end up sitting on the broken stone wall that used to be my favorite spot during these parties. There are only a few people outside because of the cold. One of them is throwing up in the bushes a few yards away.

"Lovely." I groan.

Zed chuckles but doesn't say anything. The stone is cold against my thighs but it's not as cold out as I had thought it would be, I have a jacket in Hardin's car if I need it. Not that I have any idea where he is. His car is still here but I have not seen him in over an hour.

When I look over at Zed he is staring off into the darkness. Why is this so awkward? His hand moves to his stomach and he appears to be itching the skin. When he lifts his shirt up slightly, I see a white bandage.

"What's that?" I nosily ask.

"A tattoo. I just got it done before I came here."

"Can I see it?"

"Yea.." He shrugs his jacket off and sits it down next to him then pulls back the tape and bandage.

"It's dark over here." He says, pulling out his phone to use the screen as a light.

"Clockwork?" I ask him.

Without thinking I run my index finger across the ink. He flinches but doesn't move away. The tattoo is large, covering most of the skin on his stomach. The rest of his skin is covered by smaller, seemingly random tattoos. The new tattoo is a cluster of gears, they appear to be moving but I know that's the vodka. My finger is still tracing his warm skin.

"Sorry.." I squeak and jerk my hand away.

"It's fine..but yea it's sort of like clockwork. See how the skin appears to be torn right here?" He points to the edges of the tattoo and I nod.

"It's like when the skin is pulled back what is underneath is mechanical. Like I am a robot or something." He shrugs.

"Who's robot?" I don't know why I asked that.

"Society, I guess."

"Oh." Is all I say.

That is a much more complex answer than I expected to get.

"That's actually really cool, deep but cool." I smile, my head swarming from the alcohol.

"I don't know if people will get the whole concept. You are the only person so far that get's it."

"How many more tattoos do you want?" I ask.

"I don't know, I don't have anymore room on my arms, and now my stomach so I guess I will stop when there isn't any room." He laughs.

"I should get a tattoo." I blurt.

"You?" He laughs loudly.

"Yea! Why not?" I join him.

Getting a tattoo sounds like a good idea at the moment. I have no idea what I would get but it sounds fun. Adventurous and fun.

"I think you drank way too much." He teases, rubbing his fingers over the tape to reattach the bandage to his skin.

"You don't think I could handle it?" I challenge.

"No, its not that. I just.. I don't know. I can't imagine you having a tattoo. What would you even get?" He tries not to laugh.

"I don't know.. like a sun? Or a smiley face?"

"A smiley face? This is definitely the vodka talking here."

"Probably." I giggle.

"I thought you were mad at me." I tell him.

His expression changes from laughing to neutral.

"Why did you think that?" He asks quietly.

"Because you avoided me until Tristan made you play beer pong with me."

"Oh.. I wasn't avoiding you. I just don't want to cause any problems."

"With who? Hardin?" I already know the answer.

"Yea. He made it clear that I need to stay away from you and I don't want to fight him again. I don't want anymore trouble between us, or with you. I just.. nevermind."

"He is getting better sort of, anger wise." I defend Hardin.

I don't know if that's true exactly but I would like to think him not killing Trevor already says something.

"Is he?" I can tell he doesn't believe me.

"Yea, he is. I think."

"Where is he anyway? I was surprised he let you out of his sight."

"I have no idea. He disappeared with Logan, I don't even know if he is still here." I tell Zed.

"Weird." He says.

"Yes, weird." I laugh.

I am thankful that vodka seems to make everything much more amusing.

"Steph was really happy to see you tonight." Zed says as he puts a cigarette to his lips. A quick flick of his thumb brings the flame to life and soon the smell of nicotine invades my nostrils.

"I have missed her but I am still upset over everything that happened." I explain.

The topic doesn't feel as heavy as it did before tonight. I am having a great time, even though Hardin isn't around. I laughed and joked with Steph and for the first time it felt like I could put all of this behind me and move forward with her.

"You are brave for coming here." He tells me with a smile.

"Stupid and brave aren't the same thing." I joke.

"I mean it, after everything.. you didn't hide away somewhere. I probably would have."

"I did hide for a little while, but he found me."

"I always do." Hardin's voice startles me and I grip onto Zed's jacket to prevent myself from falling off the stone wall.

(Thank you again for all your support I love you! Everyone seemed to love Ed's appearance in the last chapter, If you go back to the chapter where they were playing suck and blow and Hardin attacked Dan, Ed was there too:) I just didn't say his name, only a few people noticed lol. Please vote and comment♥