Brandon

I can't keep my eyes off her as I watch the girls dancing from the corner of my eyes. Denver and Tobias are talking about the game and the amazing win we had, but my mind and eyes are only on my Lizzie-Baby. I want to be so damn close to her it's making me ache. My heart is filling up just looking at how damn sexy she is right now, and how she's goofing around dancing with Lilly and Tammy. It's fucking adorable. She's adorable. My heart swells even more; man, is this what being in love feels like? It's fucking out of the ballpark.

"Did you have any scouts talk to you other than the Golden Bears?" Tobias is talking, but I'm only half paying attention.

"Brandon." Denver pushes me.

"Yeah, sorry. There were a few, but I've already decided I am staying here in Cali; I don't want to go anywhere else. I'll be playing for them after the summer. Man, college. Fuck, it's like almost adult shit." I rake my hands through my hair.

Now, I'm wishing I had chosen Texas. To be precise, Austin and the Texas Longhorns, since this is where Lizzie will be going. I could still get in; it's not unlikely since my grades for sure will be good enough, my old man has spent enough on private tutoring, and I've made a lot of ground studying to get into college. It's where Lizzie is going, and I have this craving to be close to wherever she will be. She's become my drug; I'm addicted to her one hundred per cent.

Denver shoves me. "You've got it so bad for her. Are you going to tell her tonight?" Tobias cocks his head. He knows too. I mean, it's pretty damn fucking obvious the way I am staring and drooling over her.

"Maybe, I'm playing it by ear. But fuck, what if she slaps me or something when I try to kiss her? She'll think I'm being a freak; we're besties, and neither of us has spoken about dating. This is so fucked up." Tobias pours some more of the Vodka into my red cup. I knock it back.

"I'm pretty sure she feels the same way, bro." This is from Denver. "It's all over her face when she saw you back at her house. That girl is one-hundred percent in love with you."

"I don't know, man. Everyone is emotional tonight. It's the biggest event of our lives so far, and we're all going our own ways."

"You could transfer to Austin." Tobias points out.

"I could, but it depends on what goes down later."

"That'd leave me on my own in Cali," Denver says.

"You'll have Lilly."

"It won't be the same playing football without you, bro." He wraps an arm around my shoulders. I slap him on the chest.

"Who the fuck is that?" I stare at some dude who is inching his way closer and closer to Lizzie. I don't recognize him, he's definitely not from any of my classes.

Denver and Tobias take a look. "That's Dean. He's in my calculus class." Tobias offers.

"Well, he can fucking get away from Lizzie." Before the guys can stop me, I am striding over to him. I'm so ready to punch him in the face, then get myself in check. I need to focus, not create a scene at prom. Lizzie would never forgive me. I count to ten in my head, my fists clenching and unclenching, itching to smack him straight in his ugly jaw.

Instead, I slide my arms around my girl and pull her into my body. Her heat is intense; her coconut-and-lemon fragrance fills my nostrils along with her perfume. She smells so Lizzie-Baby, my dick stirs. The guy moves away seeing me right behind her. Nobody fucking messes with me. Ever.

"Hey, beautiful. Having fun?" I whisper into her ear. She tilts her head back slightly; my lips are burning for her skin. My large hands rest on her hips, and I can feel her hip bones. I move my right thumb slightly and hear a moan escape her lips.

Whoa, I need to steady myself. This is Lizzie, I remind myself.