The last thing I remember: I was with, damn - for the life of me, I was at a loss for the name of him; the him I had literally crashed into outside the frat house; when did he and I part company - most importantly... why?

Had I tried to kiss him, or rather - was it an unreciprocated attempt at one? When did Riley show up? All burning size-matic questions to which I hoped the answers were all a gigantic joke as everyone got sloshed to even remember that little horrifying detail. Blocking my relinquishment from being witnessed for even a second, I spun around, and continued walking to class.

"So... What you doing tonight?" Riley responded after stopping us a few feet from the over-sized wooden doors.

Nicki quickly eyed me. "I'm gonna go ahead... I'll see you in a few. Bye Riley." Nik waved, giving me that 'don't do anything that I wouldn't do (which isn't quit as much as one would imagine) look'. Leaving me there with him. Traitor!

"Danni...ya still in there?" He asked lowering his head to meet the gaze I had fixated on the doors. His pretty-boy smile was awfully hard not to lose yourself in, but there was something buried beneath a heavy chest; a burden that I couldn't yet admit to - let alone face - at felt for now at least.

I just wasn't one of those girls interested or willing to invest those thousands of temporized feelings (the remaining few that weren't shredded) that may be hidden somewhere in my heart to achieve towards Riley. There was no pin-pointing the exact rendering of an explanation to why I sought so eagerly for, perhaps there hadn't needed to be an excuse to give at all - that damn yearning to soothe the Id shouting to overhear no harm caused; god forbid there be a disturbance firing within myself - an empathy searing through. I hadn't desired to be the one to cause another pain; for them to always come back, precisely, to the sole reason (when and if ever) their life spiraled out of control because of this once in a chance conversation.

I shunned from being the kind of person, even when there is no need to be holding onto any blame; even when its implausible to manifest feelings towards another if there isn't the slightest attraction. I - am one of those few individuals who still senses those stings of guilt. How's anyone supposed to get through day to day life with those damn feelings... tricky emotions are a comical mastermind and a plethora of vixen shaped complexity. Who needs 'em?

"Yeah, Riley, I'm here... I'm standing in front of ya, aren't I?" seeking to sound as if I were completely unaware of him. "So... what are you doing tonight," he asked again. "Well, right now I'm going to be late, because of you." Like I cared as much, but it was a good excuse to excuse myself from this chat.

"I enjoyed that kiss last night." His crooked smile curving again, making his right dimple more visible. Ohmygod.

So, there was a kiss - but, not with who I thought it had been with! A shockwave bombed with a direct hit to my brain matter. I had no words to reciprocate - I had no thought at what to say (hell, I could barely remember it). So, instead of looking completely transparent of even more stricken guilt... I severely horrified, did all I knew to do - turn and walk away.

Many would refer to this move as a conclusively bitchy move. A prime example of the bitchiest gestures.

Panic purposely loosened its slight grip of hand; sent me down under the dark water's surface to drown. There just were no words forming within this jungle of a brain to return a syllable back.

Riley jogged backward to meet me at my side. "Hey c'mon, I didn't mean anything by that... I was just saying that the kiss was good." His voice restrained with excitement.

"Riley, I gotta go." trying to hurry this up as quickly as possible.

"Ok... can we talk later?" He sounded hopeful.

That had an effect towards my resolve and had meant something to me. Not many guys I had knew back home would even bother this long with wanting to chat with me, much less say that they liked my kiss. I stopped abruptly.

"Yea, that's..." Gotta give credit to the pushy bastard - he was persistent, I'd hafta give him that; nearly to the point of annoyance.

"...Sure." I smirked. Clasping his right hand under my jawline, lifting my head upward to meet his chocolatey eyes. I had a feeling this was coming if I were to give the slightest reconciliation. How foolish me.

Seeing as I had no clear recollection of the said kiss, I shamefully stayed there in his fluid grip. What's a girl to do with stopping a kiss; when a kiss gives you everything you need to know, if any relationship is worth a pursuing.

He casually licked his lips, stopping just before reaching mine.

"I like you very much..." he whispered and sealed his words with a gentle kiss. Lasting only a few seconds, but something felt...wrong - missing. There was no...err...spark; a tingle being set off inside. It didn't duplicate the kiss from the other night; the admissible lips worn on this face still could recall with verbatim. I kept that conclusive reaction hidden.

He pulled away.

An alluring smile crept over him, with the moonlight pouring down on us, it made him look so handsome, so seductive. Just not enough of that said seduction to lure reciprocation for me to find interesting.

Forcing a thin smile to appear on my face as I stared into buoyantly induced ovals. He wanted to see that receptive compassion reflected within my own.

I didn't mind the kiss; its' nice to be wanted, I suppose. "I'll see you later." he said trotting off to victory across the courtyard.

All I managed to do was faintly smile. I touched my lips, sporting the obvious girl performance. I turned to open the overcompensating doors, promptly viewing back to see him strolling backward as he made his way to the apartments, with that damn smile still propped on his face.

"Hades, you can be so shady." Rolling my eyes as I walked in.