Lucas adjusted the collar of his shirt as he walked down the stairs, the scent of lobster drifting up into the hall. He heard laughter from the dining room and followed it, the soft glow of candlelight illuminating everyone gathered around the long, flower-draped table.

Susannah really had gone all out - it was Belly's sweet sixteenth after all. Lucas stepped into the room, giving everyone a small smile.

"Lucas!" Susannah called warmly, rising a little from her chair. "There you are. Come, sit. We're just starting."

He scanned the table and of course the only seat left was next to Taylor. He sighed to himself, masking the reaction with a polite smile. "Thanks, Aunt Susannah."

Across from him was Steven, Jeremiah and Conrad as the two adults sat at both ends of the table. Next to Lucas was Taylor, and next to Taylor was Belly and her boyfriend Cam Cameron. Lucas hadn't heard much about him apart from what the other boys had told him.

"Cam," Laurel began. "Have you ever had miyeok-guk before? It's a Korean birthday tradition."

Cam leaned in, wide-eyed and respectful. "No, it looks amazing. Thank you."

"I didn't put any meat in it," Laurel added. "Belly told me you're vegetarian."

"Thank you, Laurel."

Jeremiah leaned over his plate, grinning. "Why don't you eat meat, Cam Cameron?"

Lucas watched from the corner of his eye as Cam gathered his explanation. "Uh, the meat industry is, like, the number one contributor to global warming. And, I just...I like animals."

"Just don't come for my leather jacket," Taylor joked with a laugh, sipping from her glass.

"I'm pretty sure you mean pleather," Steven countered as Taylor responded with the middle figure.

"Ooh," Jeremiah chimed in, snorting. "You know...actually Belly eats meat."

Steven raised an eyebrow. "So you let her kiss you with those lips?"

Belly was unimpressed. "Guys!"

"I don't judge people," Cam said quickly. "It's just a personal choice."

Jeremiah pressed on. "So you don't mind if her lips touch a dead animal, and then those dead animal lips touch your lips, right?"

"Ow," he added with a wince - Belly had clearly kicked him under the table as her and Taylor exchanged unimpressed looks.

Cam chuckled, red as a tomato. "I don't mind at all. In fact..."

He leaned towards Belly and kissed her and Lucas felt himself cringe ever so slightly at the public display of affection. There was a silence at the table as everyone looked at each other before Susannah broke it.

"Aw."

Steven and Jeremiah pretended to retch, Belly looking away slightly flustered.

"All right, Belly's allowed to kiss," Laurel said before turning to Cam. "But that's it."

"Mum, please," Belly whined. "No. You're so not funny. No more wine for you."

"I just don't get why anybody would wanna kiss someone who once fully shat in the bathtub," Steven said casually.

"I was two years old," Belly groaned.

"Two?" Steven smirked, looking at Jeremiah before the two of them said the next part in sync. "More like six."

"Shut up, Steven," Belly said exasperatedly.

"Oh, I remember that," Susannah said fondly, eyes glinting. "Feels like a lifetime ago."

Taylor joined in, coming to Belly's defence. "Remember when I visited last summer, and you two," she pointed at both the Fisher brothers. "Dared Steven to pee in the fireplace? You stunk up the whole house."

Everyone started laughing as Steven looked quite embarrassed. Lucas couldn't help but let a small chuckle escape his lips. He had remained quiet through most of it - not because he wasn't enjoying himself, but because he didn't really feel like teasing Belly in front of Cam. She felt like a little sister to him and he always tried to protect her, not embarrass her. That was Steven's job.

"We were drunk!" Steven argued.

"On like half a White Claw," Belly shot back.

"You guys are lightweights," Lucas commented. "Embarrassing."

"Don't judge," Steven said, his cup to his lips. "You haven't seen me lately."

"You gonna put us to shame Mr Party Boy?" Jeremiah asked, a grin on his face.

"Sounds like it wouldn't be hard," Lucas laughed.

Susannah turned her warm gaze on Lucas. "And how is life in New Haven, sweetheart?"

He shrugged. "Busy. School, hockey, gym, rinse and repeat."

"And girlfriends?" she asked. "Anyone special?"

Lucas paused, mid-bite, unsure how to respond to his aunt's very forward question. He could feel Taylor side-eye him and tensed up slightly.

Steven and Jeremiah immediately perked up.

"Lucas?" Steven laughed. "A girlfriend?"

Jeremiah leaned in. "Mum, Lucas doesn't do relationships."

"He's worse than Jeremiah," Steven grinned. "Total player."

Lucas raised his eyebrows. "I wouldn't say total."

Where Belly was sat, her fork paused mid-air. Her eyes flicked to Taylor and then back to Lucas, her brows slightly furrowed. Lucas didn't catch it, or at least pretended not to.

"Relationships aren't really my thing," he said with a shrug. "I don't...do well with labels."

Susannah tilted her head, clearly curious but not pushing. "Fair enough," she said, smiling gently.

He didn't blame his aunt for asking that question, she didn't know any better. It was just incredibly awkward that the girl currently sat next to him, was in fact one of the many girls Lucas had been with.

With the rest of them, he barely spared them a second thought. They went in and out of his life like a flash. But with Taylor here...there was now this feeling that he wouldn't be able to just ignore her.

Lucas leaned back in his seat, ignoring the slight tightness in Taylor's posture beside him. He knew how that might have sounded - like he was just confirming everything her friends warned her about. And maybe he was.

She was Belly's best friend, and for Belly's sake he didn't want to hurt her. But he wasn't going to lie either. He wasn't looking to get attached and into a relationship with a girl he had a drunken hook-up with.

Thankfully, Belly changed the subject. "You know, I'm think maybe we should go to Nicole's party."

Taylor perked up instantly. "Yes! Oh my god, I love you. I'm so excited."

Lucas, slightly relieved at the shift in energy, glanced across the table - only to find Conrad sitting there, utterly silent. Lucas narrowed his eyes slightly, something was definitely off with him. He hadn't said a single word all night. And Conrad Fisher was never this quiet - not unless something was seriously eating away at him.

But the idea of a party was enough to shake it off, at least for now.

"Let's do it," Steven said, rising from his chair.

Jeremiah whooped, got up and slapped Lucas on the shoulder. "Come on Lucas, show us how it's done."

Nicole's party was in full swing as Lucas had a beer in hand, leaning against the kitchen counter with Jeremiah and Steven, surveying the party through a haze of light buzz and low-grade curiosity.

A trio of girls approached, all lip gloss and crop tops as they looked Lucas up and down.

"Wait, who are you?" the tallest one asked.

Jeremiah slid in smoothly. "This is Lucas. He's my cousin - been MIA the last couple years. Hockey prodigy, Connecticut legend. Real catch."

Lucas gave them a polite smirk. "Hi."

The girls laughed and started talking - asking about where he was from, what school he went to, if he was really related to Jeremiah Fisher. Lucas participated in the conversation with practiced charm, but it was shallow. There was nothing more to it.

Steven made some excuse about calling Shayla and disappeared down the hall. Jeremiah drifted off a second later, distracted by some other guy he was interested in.

Lucas quickly removed himself from the girls, they weren't interesting to him so instead he scanned the room for someone else to speak to.

His eyes landed on a familiar figure, Conrad. So Lucas grabbed a fresh beer and made his way over.

"Nice to see you here, thought you'd be brooding in your room," Lucas joked lightly.

Conrad barely looked up. "Hey."

Lucas stood beside him. "What's up with you, man? We haven't really talked since I got here."

Conrad nodded vaguely. "Been busy."

"How's football going?"

Conrad took a long sip of whatever he was drinking, then shook his head. "Quit."

Lucas blinked. "You're messing with me."

"I'm not."

"Why?"

Conrad shrugged. "Didn't feel like it anymore."

Lucas studied him. There was something dull behind Conrad's eyes - like a flicker that had gone out. "You okay?"

"I'm fine."

Lucas waited a second, hoping for more. Nothing came.

"You sure? You look like someone just told you Santa isn't real."

"I said I'm fine."

Lucas nodded, stepping back. "Alright. Just asking."

Conrad looked down, not meeting his gaze. "Gonna get another drink," he muttered, disappearing into the crowd.

Lucas stood there, feeling unsettled before downing his beer and walking back towards the kitchen for another drink. As he cracked open another bottle of beer, he almost didn't notice Taylor leaning against the counter, alone.

Their eyes met and Lucas noticed she was wearing a pink dress and her eyes had an edge that said don't even try to pity me.

"You look like you're having the time of your life," Lucas said, casually.

Taylor gave a tight smile. "Don't worry. I'm not looking to make another move on you."

"Didn't think you were."

"I'm not one of those clingy girls who beg for your attention after one night with you," Taylor snapped, her tone harsh, catching Lucas off guard.

Lucas blinked. "Okay. Good to know."

"And," she added, tone sharp. "I'm not looking for a boyfriend either. Especially not someone who thinks he's the main character in every girl's story."

That one stung - a direct hit.

He exhaled. "Look, I didn't mean to be a dick. I just didn't want to lie or lead you on."

"Because you assumed I'd get attached?" she asked, cocking her head. "So fucking egotistical. You guys always think the world spins around your presence."

Lucas wasn't used to that. Most girls laughed at his jokes, loved whatever version of himself he wanted to be, but Taylor challenged him.

He looked at Taylor, unsure whether he wanted to flirt with her to change her opinion of him or shout at her. Instead, he simply changed the subject. "What are you doing here without Belly?"

Taylor rolled her eyes. "She ditched me for the fancy debutante girls. Surprise, surprise."

Lucas sensed the edge of something deeper - not jealousy, exactly. Just the hurt of being left behind.

"You know Belly's been talking about you forever, right? For a while, I didn't even think you were real. Thought you were her imaginary friend until Steven told me you were. Said you were Belly's day-one."

Taylor blinked, caught off guard. "She has?"

Lucas nodded. "You're always gonna be her number one, Deb Ball or not."

They stood in silence for a beat, then Lucas cleared his throat. "I gotta find a bathroom."

"I'll come. Need to fix my lip gloss anyway."

They made their way upstairs, weaving through bodies and couples tucked into dark corners. Eventually, Lucas found a bathroom and ducked in. When he came out, Taylor slipped in next.

He leaned against the wall and waited. When she emerged, something shifted. It wasn't instantaneous, but maybe it was the fact that when she walked out the bathroom, she lingered just a bit too close to Lucas. Or maybe it was the buzz. Maybe it was the way her lip gloss shimmered under the hallway light. Or maybe it was the memory of that one night that, just maybe, wasn't as forgettable as Lucas thought it would be.

Lucas tilted his head towards an empty room, walking into it. He half-expected her not to follow, but when he turned around and she was there, a satisfied smirk appeared on his face. He grabbed her by her waist, gently turning her around so her back was against the drawer. She looked up at him whilst he surveyed every part of her face.

There was something about Taylor, something Lucas couldn't quite figure out. He was going to leave her alone, not let her get too attached, but there was something tonight which drew him back to her.

She looked at him with eyes that weren't filled with lust, but rather a hidden longing and vulnerability. Lucas Beck was the first guy she had even been with in that way, and she didn't want to prove the stereotype right, but maybe she was more attached than she thought she was.

Lucas lifted her gently up onto the drawer, her legs wrapping around his waist as they began kissing each other. Her fingers were curled into the collar of his shirt, his hands were on her face. She tilted her head and pulled him closer, Lucas didn't think. He didn't speak. He didn't stop.

Not until a voice cut through.

"What the hell?"

The door had cracked open. And there stood Belly, wide-eyed, stunned, furious.

Lucas froze. Taylor gasped, leaping off the dresser.

"Belly-" she started.

"Fuck..." Lucas muttered under his breath.

But Belly wasn't looking at her. She was staring straight at Lucas.

"What is wrong with you?" she snapped. "Are you seriously just playing with her?"

Lucas stepped back, guilt and defensiveness warring in his throat. "Belly, it's not-"

"Don't," she said sharply. "Just don't."

He knew he'd crossed a line. He'd walked into something he couldn't joke his way out of.

"I didn't mean-"

Not knowing what else to say to make the situation any better, Lucas sighed defeatedly and walked out the room. As he slipped out the room, he could hear raised voices behind the door he'd just left.

"You hooked up with him? Here? At Nicole's party?" Belly's voice was a mix of horror and disbelief.

"Oh my god, Belly," Taylor snapped. "Can you stop acting like I just committed a crime? People hook up with other people at parties!"

"I just...I can't believe you'd do that. What if the other girls find out? It's gonna ruin everything with Nicole and the Deb girls-"

Taylor laughed bitterly. "Oh, of course. The precious Deb Ball. I'm sick of hearing about this fucking Deb Ball. That's all you care about now, huh? Your image. Your reputation. I don't even know who you are anymore! Since when did you become such a self-obsessed snob?"

Lucas didn't stay to hear more. He descended the stairs quietly, the music still pounding, the world carrying on like nothing had happened.

He wouldn't have given it a second thought, it was just another hook-up. He had hooked up with loads of girls. It made no difference that this hook up just happened to be with a girl that he happened to have slept with before.

It was still totally normal for Lucas.

But something inside him, deep inside his brain, was a nagging feeling that maybe, just maybe, Taylor Jewel wasn't like the other girls.