Brandon

I am raging inside. I don't understand why I am reacting so badly, but the moment I saw Lucian next to Lizzie, it set my entire insides on fire. I can feel the tick in my jaw as I stand and watch them. There is no way on earth that Lizzie is going to get close to anyone, let alone Lucian. He's a player. And I don't just mean on the field. I mean in general.

He's no different to me. He likes girls, which every teenage guy does, right? But he will just use her for a hook-up, then Lizzie will be discarded. That's the way he rolls. Hell, it's the way I roll. I never lead girls on, however. They all know the score, and so far I've only had a couple of girls who think they will be the one who changes me. Not happening. Never happening. I am too focused on being the best player there is, and no girl is getting in my way.

Only when I look at Lizzie do I get such a conflict of emotions; the range is spectacular, and I'm wondering if I want something different now. Yeah, you got it. It's totally fucked up.

"Brandon." She is shouting at me to be heard above the music. "What the hell are you doing? We're just talking." Lucian has that smirk on his face, the one I want to knock right off his face.

"Is she your hookup?" He asks. Man, he deserves a punch. This is Lizzie we're talking about, not some random footie-bunny. I clench and unclench my fists to avoid punching the jerk right in the face. He's a good friend of mine, so this is bad.

"Don't talk about her like that. She's my best friend and when I say she's off limits, I mean she is off limits." He shrugs. Why, of all the girls at the party, does he need to even approach Lizzie?

"Cool. I get that. Sorry, I never meant to offend anyone here." I relax a little.

"This isn't on, Brandon. I was talking with Lucian."

I give Lucian a nod, and he instantly starts to walk away, but has to get the last word in. "If ever you're interested in a hook-up, pretty baby, you know where to come and find me." She looks surprised, her eyes open wide and her eyebrows raise almost to her hairline. The jerk, right, friend or no friend, I am seriously going to punch him in the goddam face. Lizzie catches my right arm.

"Pack it in. You're being a jerk." She holds my arm firm. Lucian grins, but thankfully, he does walk away.

"What the hell are you playing at? We were just talking. I wasn't going to be his latest hookup. What do you take me for? I know when a guy just wants casual sex, and you know I don't go in for that." She doesn't need to say more.

I know that Lizzie still hasn't flashed her V-card at anyone. It's still as pure as untouched snow.

But you know, she may have decided tonight was her night, the one she was going to hand her V-card to some guy. Who knows what goes on in any girl's mind? It bewilders me.

"Sorry," I mumble. "I just couldn't take the chance that you would hook up with him."

"See, this is exactly why I don't do parties much. Every guy wants to knock girls off their scorecards around here. There's no point coming out if I'm just going to be hit on by a random jock, who wants more points on his fuck-card." She huffs. I run my hands through my hair. Am I messing up? Sure, I am. Only, how the hell was I supposed to know she was just going to talk to him. I sigh.

Lucian, you see, is one of the best-looking guys in the school, except for me, of course. That's pretty much given. So, it wouldn't be too easy for him to work his charm on Lizzie and before you know it, she'd be doing the walk of shame the next morning coming out of his bedroom. I shudder. The thought of it sends a shiver down my spine.

"Everything okay here?" Asks Lilly who has found us. Denver towers over her. His arms are folded in front of his chest, and his legs are hip-distance apart.

"What's going on? You two look like you're having an argument." Denver says, not looking too impressed. Lizzie and I rarely argue. It's not in our DNA.

"He's being a total jerk. Stopped me from talking to Lucian." Lizzie is miffed, I can tell by the tone of her voice. What I need is a beer or several to be truthful.

"Oo, Lucian." Coos Lilly, which gets her a stern look from Denver. She shrugs her shoulders. "What?" She demands of him. "For Lizzie, that's awesome; it's about time she got it on with someone hot." Denver shakes his head.

"Not with Lucian," I say. "He's just a fucking man-whore."

"Like you then." Both Lilly and Lizzie say together. They do have a point.

"I'm going. Brandon, if you want to stay, then be my guest. You can catch a lift with someone else or get a cab. I need to use your truck to get home." I can't argue with that and I'm not about to force my bestie to stay after how I've just reacted. What I need to do is get the word out that Lizzie is off limits. Full Stop. Only she'll find out and have my balls for dinner. I wince.

"Oh, don't go, Lizzie. We've just got here. C'mon. How about we mooch the rooms and see if there is someone who isn't quite a man-whore for you to chat to?" Lilly is sweet the way she is now, trying to cajole Lizzie into staying. Only, I know Lizzie. Once she's made her mind up, she's made it up.

"And why are you being such a jerk? I have the right to talk with whoever I want or to have sex with whoever I want, Brandon." Her voice is sharp. I hate that I've upset her, but trust me, Lucian would only hurt her. Lizzie deserves better. She deserves to make her first time with someone she cares about, who cares back. Someone who will make her feel special and wanted, as if she were his queen. Not some jock who wants a quickie half-pissed up. No fucking way. That is not good enough for my girl. I won't stand by and let that happen.

"We can talk about it later, Lizzie. Not here. And certainly not right now. If you need to go home and don't want to stay, that's fine. Up to you. I'm not fussed one way or the other." Lilly swipes my arm. Denver looks even less impressed than before.

"C'mon, Lilly, let's leave these two to their married bliss argument." I flick him the finger, and Lizzie glares at him. "What? You're both like a married couple, worse than my folks," he says. Lilly gives a small smile; he has a point.

"I'm going. I hate parties anyway." Lizzie gives Lilly a hug, and Denver leans forward and hugs her too. I feel like a complete shit, but it's for the best. Sometimes you gotta be a jerk to avoid situations, and trust me, I am only thinking of Lizzie. Okay, I don't want her to be with anybody, and it's something I definitely need to have a word with myself about because I can't stop her dating other guys or having sex with them. Shit, I can feel myself getting into a lot of trouble here.

I am in deep water, that's for sure.

"I'll catch up with you Sunday. Maybe. I'll let you know." Lizzie says as she begins to walk away. My heart shifts and feels torn; the emptiness in the pit of my stomach threatens to swallow me up as I watch her small frame start to leave the room and head out to the front door. What I need is a few beers and a jock-bunny to lie.