♛ ALEX ROSEWOOD ♛

I lean against the wall and cross my arms over my chest before Christina's brown eyes turn to me. "So you're going to be there tonight?" She asks.

I smirk, "When do I ever miss a party?" The Rebels laugh because it's true- I never miss a party. Unless it's held by some sophomore nerd, you know. However, this party is being held by Max Petcherson. He's a junior on the football team- a nice guy if you'd ask me- who knows how to throw a decent party. Although lately I've been kind of out of the party mood, too focused on other things. More specifically- Sophie.

Speaking of Sophie, I wonder if she'll be there tonight. I told her to spend as little time with the Elite as possible to drift away and no doubt she's been trying hard to do so. But if she keeps declining everything, it'll also become suspicious so I can only hope that she agrees to the party tonight. I look away from the group to see Sophie herself in a baby blue shirt and skinny jeans by her locker. I watch her intently, drowning out everything around me. She's so different to what I thought, to what everyone thinks. If only everyone got to know the real her.

She's about to look in my direction until a muscular back comes into view; Chris.

I can't stand him.

Sophie isn't dumb but she is so damn oblivious as to how Chris feels about her. Sophie is so hell-bent on believing that he looks at her as just a sister but the rest of us all seem to know otherwise.

And I can only hope that Sophie has absolutely fucking zero feelings towards him because he's an asshole. No doubt.

Maybe she does like him and just acts like she doesn't. That thought immediately makes me tense up and my eyes harden on the boy standing in front of Sophie, wishing that my vision could turn him to stone.

She can't like him.

He says something to her that makes her laugh and I want to pull her away from him. He's so fake. So unreal to Sophie- and she deserves real.

She shrugs, and I can see the wheels turning in her head. Her eyes slowly drift past Chris' shoulder and makes contact with mine and I freeze in response, the warmth in her hazel eyes makes me wonder if maybe her and Chris are actually together. I mean, I couldn't exactly blame him if they were.

She gives me a small smile and I look to another girl in the hallway who's being smiling flirtatiously at me for a while now so as to not make anything obvious to anyone around the hallways.

I'm too frustrated to face Sophie right now. All I can think about is her and Chris being a couple which makes me ball my hands into fists. I need to get her out of the Elite as soon as possible or who knows what else might happen? What else they might do to her...

I see Sophie frown and after Chris says something to her, she looks at him again, smiling falsely. He then pulls her into a hug and I roll my eyes.

Dick.

I need a distraction from Sophie and everything that's been going on. More particularly a girl. Any girl besides Sophie. I turn my attention back to my friends, noticing Dylan's brooding presence listening to the conversation.

"You coming Harris?" I ask Dylan eventually. He looks at me indifferently and I almost sigh. Dylan and I used to be best friends but after Sophomore year, it's like he just pushed me away. We barely talk anymore and if we do, then we're arguing over something. I really wish he'd tell me what the fuck is going on.

He's cut me off for some reason. One I'd like to know.

He was basically my brother and now he's not even a friend to me; just another person in the Rebels.

He eyes me carefully and shrugs, "Don't know yet" before he turns to Thalia.

Fuck, she drives me mad. And not in the good way.

I wish I could tell her to get lost somewhere but I can't exactly do that since her and Dylan are a thing and if I were to say anything, Dylan would be pissed. I guess it's the principle of the thing.

"Whats up with you man?" Cole asks me, bringing me back to reality.

I shrug, "I'm good bro. Just a little distracted." He smirks at me.

"Why? Haven't gotten any action lately?" He teases. I laugh along with him, shaking my head in amusement.

"That could change tonight." I smirk back.

"No doubt it will." He grins.

I've known Cole since I was a kid and although he doesn't play girls like I do, he's never judged me for my actions. Which I appreciate. There's not many people in this world who are willing to look past your flaws and still appreciate you as a person and, fortunately, he is one of the very few people I've come to know who can do that.

Sophie is probably included, too.

Fuck.

My mind is back to her again. My eyes subconsciously roam to her locker to see it's vacant and I feel a sense of disappointment.

I need to forget her smile which kills me, the way she blushes so easily and chews on her lip when she's nervous. The way her laugh makes me laugh, and how she loves reading so much. I'm Alex Rosewood; Ridgevale High's most notorious player. I can't care so much for a girl. I need to remember that I'm just helping her and that there's nothing more to it. I can't keep worrying over her.

I need to let loose. Just for one night. Because she's affecting me.

I need this party.

****

♕ SOPHIE COOPER ♕

The one night my mom comes home early, I'm going to a party. Great.

"You look gorgeous Soph." Rachel compliments me from where she's seated on my bed. I turn around from my mirror and smile at her, "Thanks Rach. After all, it is your magic."

"Don't make me blush!" She teases while looking away dramatically, earning a chuckle from me. Today I settled on a short mid-thigh red dress which is a beautiful silky material. Rachel did my hair up into a pretty, curly ponytail with light make up consiting mainly of nude colours.

"Are you sure you don't want to come with Rachel? They won't mind." I ask once more as the guilt washes over me. Despite me wanting her to come with, I'm not sure I want her to see how horrible my supposed "friends" are.

"No Sophie, it's okay. I need to fix my room up anyway," She answers with a casual shrug, seemingly okay.

"Your room was fine."

"Maybe the last time you saw it." She mutters.

"That was yesterday!" I laugh which causes both of us to giggle. We're interrupted from our laughter when my mom knocks on my door before coming into my room, "Can I get in on what you girls are laughing about?" She smiles.

"Rachel's just being her usual self, mom." I chuckle which makes Rachel throw a pillow at me. It hits me in the chest and I gawk at her who smiles smugly at me. I pick up off of the floor.

"You little troll!" I exclaim, throwing it back at her all the while my mom watches and laughs at us. Rachel throws it at me again and when I make a move to pick it up, my mom finally speaks up. "Sweetie, you just got dressed, I don't think you want to mess your hair and make up." She says.

I freeze with the pillow mid-air and blow the loose strand of hair out of my face before setting the pillow down unhappily. Rachel smiles victoriously which makes me kick her in the chin subtly. "Ow!" She whines clutching her shin.

"Oops." I say sarcasticly. She simply glares at me in response while rubbing the spot. I turn to my amused mother.

"How do I look?" I ask her while Rachel continues to whine behind me.

She rubs my shoulders, "Stunning like always." I peck her cheek and smirk at Rachel over my shoulder who is examining her injury, "You gave me an instant bruise!" She groans but I can see her lips twitching upwards, threatening to break into a smile.

"It's not my-" But I am cut off by my mom who tells me it's already seven thirty.

I look at my watch, "I should probably get going," I mumble to Rachel. She nods and I give her an apologetic smile, "Once again I'm sorry Rach." I say, hugging her tightly. She rolls her eyes and tells me again she doesn't mind. My mom kisses my cheek and with that I head to my car.

That's right, after the last time at the club, I decided to drive myself to the party. Chris kept trying to make me agree to go with him but after I mentioned what happened the last time- which made him feel guilty so he started apologising non-stop- he reluctantly agreed and gave in letting me drive myself.

But it did take him quite some time to convince me to come. After all, I was supposed to be distancing myself from the Elite, but if I had to turn down every offer it would eventually seem a little strange so I agreed.

It takes me about twenty minutes to reach Max Petchersons' mansion where there are wasted teenagers crowding his yard and peeing in random places. I park my car and climb out, the cool Miami breeze cooling me down almost immediately. I make my way up to the front door saying 'hi' to a few people here and there. Already from the driveway the music is audible, but by the door it's even worse. The minute the door swings open, the sweaty and humid air hits my body. I ignore it as I enter the house that is filled with crazed teenagers and try spot my usual group of friends.

I try to spot Chris and to my dismay; him and the Elite are by the bar. I make my way over to them, excusing myself as I walk through people dancing and occasionally making out. Even though I have already found the Elite, I still find myself looking around for somebody else- Alex, to be exact.

I don't know why the hell I am so I drag my eyes back to Chris's frame. When I reach the bar, the Elites' eyes focus on me.

"Hey Soph," Tyler greets, startling an already tipsy Megan. Chris looks up at me and gives me one of his million dollar smiles before coming and giving me a hug, "You look stunning."

I smile at him, "Thanks Chris, you look good too."

But probably not as good as Alex.

"You look gorgeous Sophie. I love your dress!" Ashleigh gushes, rushing over to me to feel the fabric. Courtney however, continues talking to Logan ignoring my presence completely.

I roll my eyes and take a seat between James and Kelcy. "Hey guys," I say, making both of them greet me back and then look away. Things are obviously still extremely awkward between the two of them.

I look around the room I am currently in, taking notice of a few things. The furniture is pushed to one side of the room creating a makeshift dance floor and the typical cliché of red party cups scatter the floor while the sweaty bodies grind on one another as the song 'Closer' pays on the speakers from the Dj.

I then feel a hand on my shoulder and I look up to see Chris who smiles at me sweetly. He calls the bar tender over who looks at me with a wide grin. I shake the reminder of Geoff off. His blonde hair and green eyes sparkle with excitement.

"What would you like to drink?" He asks. I smile, "A strawberry daiquiri would be fine thank you." Call me crazy but cocktails are better than beer or wine or whatever else.

He smiles at me. "One strawberry daiquiri coming right up," He winks.

I laugh softly before turning back to Chris, "That bouquet of flowers you bought me look lovely on my window sill." I tease, he smiles at me "I'm glad you like them, I spent hours trying to decide which ones to get you."

He jokes back. "Five minutes isn't an hour Chris." I chuckle with him.

"Hey! Sophie! Chris!" Ashleigh hollers at us, "Stop flirting with each other and come over here!" She yells which causes me to roll my eyes and stand up while a slight blush dusts my cheeks.

Chris puts his hand on the small of my back and guides me to where they're sitting which is further down the bar table. As we walk, my eyes search for Alex or any of the Rebels for that matter, but I still have no luck.

I feel Chris push me and I look back to the Elite.
"So, do you guys want to dance?" Ashleigh asks.

Me? Say no to dancing? Never.

I beam and they clearly take that as my answer as they stand up. Ashleigh calls James over and Kelcy just follows us as Chris drags me by my hand.

As we reach the so called dance floor the song 'Cold Water' plays on full blast. We all start dancing and I slowly sway my hips to the music before full on dancing as Chris dances beside me. I laugh as we dance.

I just don't understand where Alex and the others are. Are they not coming? Are they somewhere else? Wouldn't Alex have said something? Since when does Alex ever miss a party to begin with? My head continues to swirl with so many questions that I can't seem to shake off until I manage to lay my eyes on him.

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