Ally's Pov:

It wasn't for another hour when I finally found Claire and Zoe sitting on the back patio with a few other students.

When the guys brought us to this party house, I knew it was big, but the fact that they also have a huge back patio definitely gives it some brownie points.

"Ally!!!!" Zoe yells when she sees me walking to them with Axel following shortly behind.

We had decided to get some fresh air after the kitchen started to get a bit overcrowded. I also think Axel was starting to get annoyed with all the students who kept bumping into us and interrupting our conversations to talk to him.

I don't know how he does it, I don't think I could handle having to respond to the same questions over and over again. I get he's this top notch, popular boxer, but no one had even asked him anything other than his boxing status.

I completely understand now why he gets frustrated with it, I would be too.

Axel always handles it well though, he knows how to quickly end a conversation in a span of a few words.

Me on the other hand, I have trouble ending conversations with the fear of hurting some else's feelings.

Although they had drinks in their hands, Claire and Zoe didn't seem to be that drunk, which was a bit of a surprise since Zoe is a light weight like me.

I wasn't that drunk either, mainly because I decided to slow down my drinking to carry a civil conversation with Axel.

"What are you two strangers doing out here?" I joke, taking a seat beside them on the grass.

"Getting fresh air. It got so crowded we couldn't even move." Zoe answers.

"That's why we came out here also. We kept getting shoved around with students going in and out of the kitchen." I say.

"I overheard one of guys from this frat say that they are going to start kicking people out if they didn't know them, but I don't think that's going to work since students are just sneaking through the back anyways. We also lost Dylan and Bryce when making our way back here, but I'm sure they are probably still dancing." Claire says, filling me in.

"How drunk are they on a scale from one to 'we need to head back now'?" Axel asks, continuing to stand since he probably knew the answer to his question already.

"We should definitely bring back two plastic bags with us, just in case." Claire answers, causing Axel to groan while rubbing the side of his face.

"Alright, I'll go get them. Stay out here so nothing happens since the house is crowded." He adds, before heading back in to find them.

Just as he is out of sight, both Zoe and Claire turn towards me with matching grins.

"What?" I ask, after a couple of seconds of them just creepily grinning at me.

Obviously, I knew what this was about.

"So, you and Axel?" Zoe starts off, nudging my shoulder with hers.

"We are-...."

"I swear if you say just friends, I'm punching you." Claire adds, crossing her arms over her chest.

I throw my hands up in defense, "It's technically the truth though."

She punches my arm.

"All I'm trying to say is that we are in a good place right now, and if being friends is the only way to maintain it, then I'll be fine with just that. But...."

"But...." Claire drags out, looking at me intensely.

"But if he wanted to be something more, I wouldn't particularly mind." I shrug my shoulders while Zoe and Claire squeal from beside me.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Thanks for walking us back, again." I say to Axel once Zoe and Claire had disappeared into the dorm to get me alone with Axel one last time for the night.

I've got to say, although their scheming may sound a bit much, it somehow always works out in their favor.

And I guess mine as well.

We had stopped back at their house to drop off Bryce and Dylan, since they were indeed drunk off their minds when Axel finally found them.

The walk back with them was also pretty funny to watch, considering the fact that they were babbling to each other while zig zagging back and forth down the road since they weren't able to walk straight.

When Axel made sure they were tucked into their beds with water, a trashcan, and an ibuprofen next to them, he then walked us back to our dorm, against our request for him to just stay back and watch over his roommates.

"Again, it's really no problem. Walking you back is much better than the stress of wondering if you'd make it back with all these drunk idiots walking around." Axel says, waving his hand towards a group of guys who were indeed stumbling over each other while talking obnoxiously loud.

They had done a double take at me when they walked past us, and I swear Axel tensed up for a good second before they looked away.

"What? You don't think I can defend myself?" I joke, holding up my fist as if I could actually do some damage compared to Axel who actually boxes for a living.

He laughs, before putting the palm of his hand on my fist and lowering it, "It's not that I think you can't protect yourself, I just know whatever pain you inflict on the dumb guy who tries, I'll be there to help."

That was definitely a lie, but appreciate the confidence booster.

"Nice save." I say, causing him to give me one of those boyish grins.

There was a long pause as the both of us just kind of looked at each other while waiting for the other to say something.

"Well.... I guess I should head back inside before Claire wonders why I'm taking so long. Goodnight?"

It was most certainly a lie, and if Claire knew I said that, she definitely would have punched me in the arm again.

"Oh, yeah. Goodnight then!" He says, before giving me a small wave and nod of his head.

I watch him as he starts to walk away, cursing myself for that awful excuse of a goodbye.

I force myself not to think about it as I head back to my room, deciding that I'll probably just take a shower tomorrow morning since I don't have the energy to take one now.

By the time I get back, Claire was already dressed for bed and asleep, with the makeup from tonight still on her face.

I change into my pj's while wiping my makeup off before taking hers off as well. She sleeps like the dead, so it was pretty easy to do without waking her up.

Just as I am getting into bed though, I get a text.

Axel: What are you doing?

His text startles me, since it hasn't even been ten minutes since we said goodbye.

Me: Getting ready for bed, is everything alright?

Axel: Yeah! Everything is good.

His text seemed weird, but I try not to press for answers as I respond...

Me: Okay... that's good.

Axel: Actually, I'm still here.

My eyes widen in shock as I again look at the time. He should have already been back at his house by now.

Me: You're still outside?!

Axel: Well technically, I started to leave, but then I came back. Can you come down real quick? It's starting to get a bit cold out here.

Me: Okay, I'm on my way down.

Moving as quickly and quietly as I can, I throw on a sweatshirt and slippers before making my way downstairs.

Once I get to the main doors, I see him leaning against one of the posts, his arms crossed over his chest and a determined look in his eye.

When he sees me, he drops his arms and strides toward me.

"Is everything alright?" I ask again, looking for any indication that something was wrong.

"I just wanted you to know that I really did have a great time tonight. I didn't get to say that before, and I wanted you to know." He says all in one breath.

For a second, I was so surprised I didn't even know what to say. The fact that he walked all the way back here to say that, when he could have just texted it, causes my face to heat.

"I had a great time tonight too." I say, giving him a small smile.

He pauses for a few seconds, seeming to be thinking about saying something. And during those couple of seconds, it seemed like he was going to say something more.

Without thinking, I let the hope that was sitting in my chest grow with every moment that passes as I watch him as he thinks.

But whatever hope I was starting to have instantly squashes itself as he rubs the back of his neck and says, "I'm glad that I was able to get that off my chest then. Hopefully we can hangout with each other soon, since I can't remember the last time I was able to talk so freely with someone who wasn't my roommates."

I force myself not to think too much about the potential hope in my chest that he was going to confess something else before saying, "I would like that a lot."

Hey guys!!!

Sorry for the short chapter, it's been a crazy week, and I wasn't even sure I was going to be able to give you guys an update this week, I was cutting it close lol.

I'm so excited about next chapter though.... I already have an idea.

Love you all so so much!! I hope you are all doing well!!

~juls