The music vibrates through the house. Singing through the thick walls and assaulting my ears as I get out of the car. I follow my team as they get out of the other one and start for the house.

We'd brought two cars, because I knew one of us wouldn't be able to last here for long and would leave.

"Everyone know what they're doing?" I question.

"Gathering information."

"Have fun. Drink."

"Girls"

"Get Paisley laid."

"Correct, Windsor. Information." I glare at the others as they chuckle. Reid looks at me perplexed, mouthing 'What's wrong with getting laid?'

Ryland walks toward Windsor, the only girl he has ever had his sights on.

Artemis looks at the party, at the people. Boys and Girls alike and she smirks.

I walk through the group and up to the front door, twisting the knob and pushing it open.

I release a breath and smile, looking back at the others.

"Have fun." I smirk and step inside, letting the crowd swallow me. Artemis follows me in as the rest separate from us.

Ry and Windsor walk up the stairs and disappear while Reid walks for the dancing crowd.

I grab Artemis hand and squeeze it. "Let's go find Jackson"

"Jackson? I thought we were looking for Alessio?"

"Where one is, you'll find the other."

She takes the lead, pulling me through the tight spaces as I look around for our targets.

I catch Harley against the wall with Enzo and pull Artemis back. "How's Harley going?"

"I like her, Enzo is a bit hard to get through to but I'll manage."

"They're over there." I nod my head and Artemis stumbles to a stop.

"Where?"

I pull on her hand and point her to Harley and Enzo. "Go." I push her towards them and turn towards the near empty kitchen before she can find me again.

I open the fridge and pull a bottle of something out of it before turning and taking a seat on the island. I twist the cap and take a swig of the vile liquid.

"You know, the parties out there." Alessio enters the kitchen, a drink in hand gesturing to the way he just came from.

"Is it?"

"So then why are you here?"

"Why are you here?" I cross my legs and take another swig of the drink, tilting my head at him.

"I saw you come in."

"Watching me, are we?"

"No-" He stops and takes a sip, stalking forward and leaning against the cabinets opposite me. "Maybe." He takes another sip. "Jackson's intrigued by you."

"I'm an intriguing person."

He smiles. "He's interested in you."

"And what if I tell you, I'm interested in you?"

"He won't like that."

"Do you always follow him? Do as he asks?" I question, my curiosity taking the reins.

"Some of us don't have choices in what we can do."

I don't argue, knowing that it can be true.

"Have you guys always been friends?"

His face darkens, an emotion finally flickering across his face.

"We aren't friends."

"So you just follow him for what? Popularity? Protection? What?"

He hesitates, eyes flickering to mine as he takes a sip of his drink. "Something like that." He shrugs.

"That seems like a boring life, having to follow the likes of Jackson around. Can't say he has a very appealing personality."

He smiles, smirking as he brings the drink back to his lips, watching me.

"Maybe it's time you start defying him, you know, thinking for yourself." I tease.

He chuckles, shaking his head. "Haven't found anything worth defying him for before."

"Before?"

He ignores me. "Why come to a party when you're going to stay in the secluded kitchen?" He changes the conversation.

"What did you have in mind?" I make eye contact with him and take a sip.

He takes a sip as well as I uncross my legs and lean forward slightly, maintaining eye contact with him.

"I-"

"Spin the bottle!" An obnoxious voice interrupts as Jackson stumbles into the kitchen.

He sees me first before his eyes flicker to Alessios, he narrows his eyes before looking back at me.

"Paisley! Come play. You too Alessio." He stumbles over and pulls me off the counter and into his arms.

I move my face away as the alcohol wafts off of him.

I look over his shoulder at Alessio before following Jackson out of the kitchen and up the stairs.

Jackson pushes a door open and I stumble in after him as he pulls me forward. I catch myself on the door and see a group of people sitting in a circle.

You have to be kidding me?

"Are you going to move?" A voice pierces my annoyance and I glance over my shoulder at Alessio, making eye contact with him.

I give him a fake smile and move out of the way.

"Everyone take a seat and shut up." Jacksons voice roars over the chattering crowd and they all quieten. Each taking sips of their drinks.

I take a seat in the circle and see Artemis with Harley and Enzo and Reid with Danny. Windsor and Ryland are nowhere to be seen.

I nod my head subtly at them and glance around the circle as Alessio takes a seat on the other side, his face bored.

"Okay, everyone knows the rules right?"

It's fucking called spin the bottle, did they want to dumb it down anymore?

"No? Good." Jackson finishes and sculls the rest of his drink. He places the empty beer bottle in the middle of the circle.

"I'll go first." He glances at me before looking at another girl and I roll my eyes slowly.

The bottle spins, once, twice before landing on the other side of the circle. The neck landing on a random girl who he didn't make eye contact with, he smiles anyway and gets up to complete his round.

He grabs her and I look away, instead glancing out the window at the dark sky as the whistles start.

He sits back down with a cheshire grin on his face before the bottle is spun by another person.

I don't pay attention as the bottle is spun and spun and spun. My mind going through various defender tactics. Wishing I had my gun right now so I could be taking it apart and putting it back together again.

"Paisley." Jackson interrupts my thoughts and I glance up with an arched brow. "It's your turn."

Great.

I grab the bottle and twist it, watching as it spins fast before slowing down and then coming to a complete stop.

I look at the direction it points and slowly trace it till I reach the persons vivid blue eyes.

Alessio says nothing as everyone watches, waiting for him to move.

"I'm happy to take her off your hands." Jackson chuckles.

Oh for fucks sake.

I get up quickly and walk towards Alessio, bending at the waist and taking his lips in mine.

The kiss doesn't even last three seconds before I'm pulling back and sitting back down again.

"That doesn't count! It wasn't even three seconds." Reid jests from the side and I narrow my eyes at him.

"It counts." Jackson snaps and grabs the bottle but one of the guys stops him.

"Re-do!"

"What?" I hiss.

"Re-do! Re-do! Re-do!"

What is with this pack mentality teenagers have?

"I'm not kissing him again."

"Why? Afraid you will like it?" Alessio smirks and stands up.

I smile mockingly, "I don't need to kiss you again to know it won't be worth it."

His smiles lopsidedly and approaches me, putting his hand out for me to grab.

I glare up at him before looking at his hand with a raised brow.

"Want to bet?"

"Re-do! Re-do! Re-do!"

Oh for fucks sake. Do it for the mission, Paisley.

I grab his hand and lift myself up, lifting my head to his and attaching our lips as soon as I'm to my full height.

One.

His hand settles on my shoulder before moving to my jaw and angling my head up more so he can have better access.

Two.

I move my lips against his, pulling his body into mine by his shirt.

Three.

I nip his lip and pull at his bottom one, before releasing it.

Four.

He tightens his hold on my head, deepening the kiss, his tongue tracing the seam of my lips.

Five.

I pull my lips from his, glancing up at him unflinching.

"Not worth it." I twist out of his hold and walk away, smirking.

The whistles grow louder as I turn out of the room and start to walk down the stairs. I approach the kitchen, grabbing another drink.

Three. . .

Two. . .

One. . .

"Not worth it, huh?"