I'm not even sure what time it is when I wake up the next morning. All I do know is that my mouth is dry as hell, my head pounding from how intoxicated I was last night. It's not until I roll onto my side that I see the bottle of ibuprofen sitting on my night stand. The same bottle that Maya gave me to help with the bruising on my stomach. I had put it there the day she chucked it at me, forgetting that it existed. Now as I stare at it, I wish I had just thrown it into a drawer or something. I don't want to be reminded of her after last night, but unfortunately now she's all I can think about.

The way her lips felt, those tiny moans of hers, how soft her skin felt along my tongue. Good god I wish she wanted to continue. I wish she hadn't stopped it, but honestly I can't really blame her. To an outsider I look like the biggest player around, but Maya isn't a girl to fall for someone like that. She has standards, and I don't meet them. That's why she stopped the kiss.

And I could tell her that none of that is true, but again, what would the point be? She'd know that I'm not a player, and then maybe she'd end up falling for me, but then I'd just break her heart by keeping her a secret. I'd rather lie to her and let her think I'm some asshole than selfishly enjoy her only to have to end things when we got caught, which we would. Secret relationships can never just stay a secret. It would eventually come out, and I'm not willing to get my heart broken, either. Losing Maya would be the biggest pain I would ever feel.

Letting out a groan, I grab two pills of Ibuprofen and down them with a sip of water from the bottle beside it before I stand up to slide on a pair of sweatpants. Just as I do, I hear voices coming from downstairs. It's Maddie.

I want to know exactly what that prick did to her, so I head down the hallway, rolling my eyes when I hear my mom say, "Oh, thank god. I thought you were dead!"

How come she isn't getting yelled at? If that were me and I had gone missing I'd be grounded for at least a month.

"I'm fine." She says.

"Your father is going to have a conversation with that Mark boy." My mom warns.

"Mom, that's not necessary..."

I round the corner, my mom in her apron by the stove with one hand on her hip, a spatula in the other. It looks like she's prepping to make a meatloaf tonight from the ingredients on the counter, but it's not until I look at my sister that my eyes narrow in on her outfit. She's wearing Cameron's clothing. The hoodie has the logo of a football camp we went to two summers ago, and the sweatpants are barely able to fit her, so huge and baggy that they're almost falling off.

"Are those Cameron's?" I ask even though I know the answer.

She glances down at her outfit before she holds up a plastic bag in her hand. "Yeah. I didn't want to wear my dress and heels back home, so he let me borrow something of his."

I forgot she had to wear a dress last night. I almost forgot it was prom.

"Oh, right," I mutter, but then turn to mom to move onto more important matters. "But mom, you don't have to worry about Mark. Tell dad I've got that covered."

"Nobody has to do anything." Maddie interjects. "I can handle myself. Yes, what he did sucked, but it's over with. I'm honestly okay now, alright? So rather than everyone beat him up, I'd just like it to end. I want to forget about it."

My mom purses her lips together like she wants to say something, but before I can get my own thoughts in she says, "I think we all need a bit of a break. With the run in with Mark, and your brother stressing about states, I just want us to have a little family time. You know?"

I'm not stressing about states. That's Cameron. I could give two shits if we win or not, but rather than admit that, I just exchange an annoyed glance with Maddie. My mom always has things up her sleeve, so I know she's already planned something.

"I say we go away for a weekend." My mom smiles. "I think next weekend will be perfect, don't you? If you boys win the game this Saturday then states won't be for another two weeks."

Why are we taking a weekend trip all of a sudden? We've always taken our annual family vacation to Myrtle Beach for spring break every single year. Now she wants to have family time spur of the moment? This isn't a coincidence. It's because of the affair. What is she wanting to do? Remind my dad why he should choose us instead of another random bitch?

"Okay, but we'll probably still have practice." I add to try and get myself out of it. The last thing I want to do is be forced to try and act like we're one big happy family when I know that we're not. Nobody knows that I know what's really going on behind closed doors, and I'd prefer to keep it that way.

"Not so fast." My mom says. "I already spoke with coach about it."

"You what? Mom, why would you do that?"

"He thought it was a good idea too!" She exclaims. "If you win this weekend, he thinks a few days off will get you and Cameron in the right head space for States."

"Cameron?" Maddie jumps into the conversation now, seeming highly interested. "He's going too?"

My mom looks at her like it's obvious. "Of course he's going. That boy doesn't have a family right now, Maddie. We're all he's got. I'm not going to leave him out. Plus, I know you two don't always see eye to eye, but he really looked out for you last night. Taking him with us is the least we can do. If you'd like, you can bring Maya so that you have a friend there too."

"Maya?" I immediately reply, becoming all too angry.

Just at the mention of her name, all of the hairs on my body stand on end. No way in hell am I going to go if she's going too. It will be more than obvious that something happened between us. She practically hates me after I kissed her. I physically don't think I can be around her without wanting to kiss her all over again and coming clean to her. I'll do it in a heartbeat. Now that I know how it feels to kiss her? I'll cave for sure.

Maddie gets an odd look on her face before she smiles and says, "I think inviting Maya is a fabulous idea, mom. I'll go call her right now actually."

Fucking hell. There's no way I'm getting out of this, is there? I'm going to be forced to go away next weekend and play happy family all while trying to convince myself not to pull that girl into my arms and kiss the living hell out of her again. I can't stay away from her. I love her. I've loved her for years.

Muttering cuss words under my breath, I leave them alone in the kitchen and head immediately back into my room. I want to be anywhere but here right now. I don't want to go on this stupid trip and be around Maya knowing I can't have her. Plus, it's going to be obvious that she's upset with me. Maddie is going to figure it out and then she'll hate me too. Just add her to the list.

Maybe I should talk to Cameron about all of this. He's been in these situations before with girls, right? He must have some experience. If I do tell him then I'm going to have to come clean about the virginity thing though in order for it all to make sense, and I'm not quite sure I'm ready for that yet.

I have nobody to talk to about this but my damn self, and what good has that ever brought me?

Slamming the door shut to my room, I plop down into my gaming chair and put my headphones on, attempting to shut out everyone and everything around me.

A/N:

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