DAISY

I really meant it when I told Malik that every single second of my life counts.

I don't waste my time partying and consuming toxins like every other lively teenager. I've seen what those things can do to the human body; I've seen how a single second can slip away if you let yourself get lost in it.

So I lift my stiff foot from the center circle of wasted boys, grab my bag and a note from the entryway table, and head to the elevator.

I can't stay here; it's dark and confining. I might lose my mind if I don't escape.

The young boy with emerald green eyes has long been replaced by a monster. He's playing, and I'm worn out. We both know I can't survive his intense attacks and harsh criticism. The best option is to step back. His approach is too ponderous for my fragile defenses.

Maybe I'll find peace in the lobby until the party dies down. Though, do college parties ever die down?

When the elevator slides open, I'm lost in thought, wondering if Riley is up there. Wondering if the power ever goes out in this building. Wondering how long I have to stay here.

"Good evening, Miss Esteban." Lany's voice snaps me out of my trance.

I flash her a miserable smile and head to the lounging area. I feel incapacitated and debilitated.

My hands are shaking, and for a brief moment, I feel dizzy.

"Hello, Hopper." I greet the man smiling at me from the lineup of public sofas.

"Good evening, Miss Esteban," he responds immediately.

"You know you can call me Daisy, right? It's less formal. Mostly because I'm young, I don't feel proud of being addressed like some successful company owner. I own nothing." The last part was quiet.

"Mr. Chandler prefers his friends addressed formally," he claims.

Well, Mr. Chandler is an asshole.

But I don't say it out loud. "I'm not Mr. Chandler's friend."

And that's true. Kay has made it clear on different occasions how much he dislikes me.

"Okay, Miss Esteban." The older man smiles and nods.

"Daisy, please," I correct him with a polite smile.

"Daisy, then."

"Do you mind if I stay here for a while?" I gesture to the space next to him.

"Please, have a seat. The house must be crowded." He kindly offers me the sofa.

"It is."

Well, I've never been to a party before. I know it's embarrassing and odd, but this is my first time seeing what a teenage party looks like, and I've already found a way to slip out of it.

I sit down on the soft cushion and start writing about human behavior as Professor Ian requested for our homework.

"I see you prefer bright, quiet places." I don't need to look up to know it's Malik. He's the only one who hasn't been eyeing me.

"I have some homework to do," I reply honestly.

"Oh, right, premed," he quips, earning a smile from me.

Feeling the need to explain myself, I start, "It's not like that. I don't know if I do parties."

His eyes narrow as he stares at me. "You're kidding."

"I've never been to a party or any public gathering, so I don't feel comfortable having it happen where I live." I purse my lips, feeling embarrassed.

"No way." He seems genuinely surprised.

"No way, what?" I deliberately ask, suppressing a smile at his reaction.

"You can't tell me you've never been to a party or even a small event?"

Yes, the public party I almost had was my tenth birthday, but unfortunately, it didn't happen because I lost everything a month before the date.

"I have things I'd rather do with my time," I clarify.

"Like what?" Malik insists.

I look at him. He has his hair styled the rich-man way, his hands shoved in his designer-brand pant pockets, and a nice boyish smile tugging at his lips. "What human beings do," I reply.

"Human beings party all the time, Daisy Esteban," he says matter-of-factly.

"Esteban?" A stern voice interrupts from behind me.

I turn and lift my head to my left. Caden Thaddeus, the famous cocky guy who surprisingly called me cute or maybe defended me—however you interpret it—stands with a furrowed brow and a look of confusion.

"Yes?" I respond, puzzled.

"Where are you from?" he asks cautiously, as if afraid of my reply.

"Dude, she's not really into your charm. Believe me, I've tried," Malik quickly responds to the bemused man still staring at me with narrowed eyes.

"I-I just..." Caden stammers.

Odd. Caden doesn't stammer.

"Caden, I mean it. She's not your type," Malik warns his friend. It's something Kay just did earlier. I still haven't decided how I feel about that.

Sometimes I want to believe Kay cares for me, based on the little emotions I can pick up. But other times, it feels like he does it to torture me further, raising my hopes only to crush them.

Without another word, Caden takes a full minute to step back and withdraw his hazel eyes from me. He shakes his head and heads back to the party, where he must be missing out.

"I'm sorry about him," Malik sighs, sitting next to me.

"I think we've already settled our differences in the cafeteria today."

"You've met him?" My words seem to surprise him, judging by the way his eyes widen.

"It was a weird and brief encounter, though we attend the same classes," I clarify, hoping he understands.

"Correct. Psychology." Malik chuckles and leans towards the book in my hand. "So, what are you writing in there?"

"Anything psychotic," I reply with a giggle.

He smiles awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck with his hand. "I know I have zero knowledge about your major, but maybe I could help?"

"I don't think you'll get it," I quip.

"Try me."

KAISER

Travis loads the hemp into the bowl and hands me the pipe. I have my personal lighter, so I ignite the bowl and draw the smoke from the mouthpiece.

I need this. I'm losing it.

The girl beside me giggles annoyingly as I blow thick smoke in her face. I have no idea why she's still here, even though I've practically pushed her away by telling her about my girlfriend Riley, and more about every childhood experience I had with Daisy, only I replaced Daisy's name with Riley's.

I'm messed up.

"KC, the girl you were talking to—where is she from?" And there he is, shamelessly asking me about what's mine.

My eyes lazily shift from the girl licking her lips to Caden Thaddeus. He looks desperate and unusually off-kilter.

"Do you want to be more specific? I've spoken to quite a few girls today," I play dumb, adding a smirk for good measure.

"The one who's staying here," he rushes his words.

Reluctantly, I mutter, "I have two staying here."

His eyes widen. "Fuck, dude. The cute one," he grits out.

"Fuck you. Riley is cuter," I remind myself.

"This is sad," chuckles the guy Caden hangs with.

"Whatever. Where is she from?" Why won't he quit pressing?

He's not getting her.

"Who wants to know?" I ask boldly this time.

"Would you just fucking tell me?" he yells.

"And why would I exactly?" I snap. If he dares say he has a thing for her, I will kill him.

"Look, I don't know what shit you're going through, but I guarantee mine is about to erupt."

Wow, he thinks his growling will scare me? He must be a stupid dumbass. He also thinks his shit is more solid than mine? He should know better by now.

"Then while at it, stay far away from my guest." I'm sure my eyes are flaring as I snarl at the bastard.

He clenches his fists just as I do and kicks the coffee table with his foot. "Your guest is my fucking target."

"You motherfucker." I lunge to strangle him until some boys come between us.

"You two, hold it." One of them says.

The room grows colder and silent except for the background music, it is as if all the partiers have frozen from our ice. No one would've seen Caden and I fighting coming just at the start of the school year, it was supposed to be everyone on the side of their territory, but I see he's a troublemaker and occupier. And I hate occupiers, maybe it is about time he learns there is only one true fucking king in SU, and he bows to me.

My wild, unblinking eyes pierce his dark ones as he promises, "Like it or not, I'm going to find out. And when I do, you're going to hate it." He breaks the staring challenge and grabs his jacket from the couch before pushing through the crowd in my living room. His friend follows behind like a lost puppy.

Asshole! Who does he think he is, going on a lost cause for the one thing he's never going to get?

I might tolerate Caden, but for his sake, he'd better steer clear of where he's channeling. Daisy is mine. Only I can aim that way, or do I have to fucking tattoo it on my forehead for all the bastards in SU to learn.

"Hey man, you okay?" The guy beside me slaps my shoulder.

"Do I look like a pussy who forfeits a battle?" I growl before gulping down some beer.

"Easy, man," he says, inspecting me with concern.

"You don't want to make me easy."