"What's something not many people know about you?" Ethan asks cracking open his third beer.

The chilly breeze keeps me from getting too drunk, but the buzz is definitely feeling stronger.

"What's something not many people know about me?" I repeat the question in my head before answering to really think of the answer. Well, there's the obvious...I'm into some kinky sex, but that's too private and I'm not trying to put those thoughts into his mind. What could I say? He already knows I hadn't dated before Taehyung and I'm pretty sure he could guess that I'm trying to learn Korean.

"I stole a car once." I raise my eyebrows and shrug my shoulders as I take another sip.

"Stole a car?" He repeats, his eyes wide and tone louder as he questions what I just told him.

I nod, "The end of tenth grade. I hijacked the student driver car to take Madison and I to McDonald's during lunch."

He laughs at the thought of a cheap car with a big Student Driver sign across the back and sides being hijacked by some hungry teenagers.

While it may not be as daring as some kids, with my father being a police officer, it was pretty risky. He had just had one of his episodes where I was nothing but a piece of shit again and I was rebelling in the only way I could think of at the time...by breaking the law. Madison, of course, was all for it and even offered to pay if I actually went through with it. Looking back, I'm glad I didn't get caught and didn't end up going down a horrible path.

"What about you?" I ask. "What's something not many people know about you?"

He takes a moment to think about it, placing his hand on his chin and looking up to the ceiling. His soft, yet chiseled face illuminated by the glow of the fireplace. There's not a sound between us as he thought about it except for the cracking of firewood and faint music still being played in the background.

"I was stabbed once." He smiles and takes a sip.

"Stabbed? Where? How?" My eyes grow wide at the news while I take another sip from my bottle.

"In my side. It sounds cooler than what happened." He giggles. "I was a teenager, around fifteen. A group of us were messing around with some knives like a bunch of idiots and I got pushed into one. It didn't stab me extremely deep, but I have a scar from it. I usually lie and tell girls that I was in a fight with a gang banger when I visited Los Angeles."

I laugh at the truth and finish swallowing the sip I just took before I set my bottle on the table.

"Okay, let's see it." I gesture for him to show me.

"No!" He laughs and starts to blush. "It's not even that cool."

"Nuh uh," I giggle and gesture more dramatically, "you've got to prove this!"

He rolls his eyes and stands up, his balance a bit wobbly from the alcohol in his system. He lifts up his sweater and pulls out his muscular arm to place the material on his shoulder, his white T-shirt underneath still keeping him concealed.

"It's really not that big of a deal. It's just a..."

"Nope!" I cut him off, shaking my head and clapping my hands twice to tell him to get on with it.

He nervously laughs and his cheeks turn bright pink as he turns his torso towards me so that I can see the scar on his right side as he raises up his white shirt.

His defined abs being the first thing I notice. The man has a super good looking body, I'll give that to him. But when he steps a bit closer so that he can point out the scar, I see the vertical gash, healed by raised skin. Clearly he didn't have stitches like he should have.

"Whoa!" My eyes widen and without even thinking I reach up and run my finger across it, causing him to flex and tense under my touch.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have touched you. I wasn't thinking. I..."

"It's okay." He cuts me off, pulling his shirt down and sticking his arm back through the sleeve of his sweater before pulling my hands away from my face. "It's no big deal, really."

"But I shouldn't have touched you." I say with wide eyes, realizing I touched the torso of another man, even if it was innocent in my mind.

"I didn't think anything of it. Many people, including my guy friends, have done the same thing." He reassures me as he sits down, my hands still in his.

I look around and see that we're still out here alone. No one would know I did it and it honestly was just an innocent action on my part. But why do I feel so guilty?

He forces me to meet his eyes to make sure I know it's okay. I nod and he releases my hands and scoots back to his end of the couch.

"So you really tell girls you got into a fight with gangbangers?" I scoff as I finished off the rest of my beer, trying to move past the awkwardness.

"Lame, I know." He smiles sheepishly.

"Why'd you tell me the truth then?" I pull the blanket tighter around me when a gust of cold air blows through the screened in patio, making the fire flicker furiously for a moment.

He finishes off his own beer and sets it next to my empty bottle on the table. "Why lie to you? Plus, I'm not trying to seem cool so you'll sleep with me. I'm just being myself and honestly? I feel a bit shy around you."

"Shy? Around me?" I chuckle. "Why?"

He shrugs and smiles, "I really don't know."

I look at my phone to check the time, "It's almost midnight!"

He furrows his brow and cocks his head, "Is your Uber going to turn into a pumpkin?"

"No." I laugh. "I just didn't realize so much time has passed."

I find Taehyung's name in my phone and press the call button. Putting the phone to my ear and standing up, I wrap the blanket around me the best I can and walk a few feet away.

"Yeoboseyo!" Taehyung answers cheerfully.

"Annyeong jagi." I reply with a smile.

"Annyeong! How was the party?" He asks as I hear him bite down on a chip.

"I'm still here. Just hanging out and talking to Ethan. Lucas is still with the girl, I think, and my friends are all hooking up." I roll my eyes.

"Ethan? I didn't know he'd be there." He bites down on another chip.

"Me either but at least it's someone I already knew." I shrug and Taehyung makes a grunt in agreement. At least I think it was in agreement.

"Is everything okay?" He questions.

"Yeah. Everything is good. I miss you like crazy though. I wish you were here with me." I try to plaster on a smile to fight the desire to have tears well up in my eyes.

"I wish I was too baby. I'm glad you're relaxing. I know you had a hard day but it won't be long until you're here. You got the plane ticket I emailed to you, right?"

"I did. I look at it every day." I smile sweetly.

"Two weeks, three days gongju. And then you'll be back in my arms." He proudly says.

"Right where I belong."

"Right where I belong." He counters. "Call me again when you're back at the dorm. Saranghae."

"Saranghae. I promise to call you later." I respond with a kiss to the phone before we hang up.

I shuffle back over to the couch, careful to not trip over the blanket, and plop back down in the same spot.

"What does that mean? That stuff you said in Korean. Not trying to be nosy, I just thought it was cool." Ethan questions as he shifts in his seat to face me.

"Um," I try to remember what all I said. "Annyeong jagi is hi baby and saranghae means I love you."

He smiles and nods at the answers, "I can't say I've ever truly been in love. I thought I was once but..." He shrugs at the thought.

I cock my head and raise an eyebrow, "Are you a player, Ethan Michaels?"

He blushes at the sound of his own name and shakes his head, "No, I wouldn't say that. I've hooked up just to hook up but who hasn't done that?"

I slowly raise my hand and his eyes widen. "You haven't had a one night stand or just had sex to have sex?"

"Nope. I told you, Taehyung has been my only boyfriend." I remind him.

"But I didn't think that meant he was your first and only. Wow, you really are a good girl. Taehyung is one lucky ass guy." He shakes his head and runs his fingers through his hair. "You're a rare find, Ava Young."

"Thanks. I think." I furrow my brow in confusion.

"Definitely a good thing." He smiles and me and sticks his hands in his pockets, making me smile at his nervousness.

I hear the door open and the music grow loud. As I turn my head to the right I see Madison and Megan walk out together.

"There's our girl! Are you good? We were looking for...oh, hi Ethan." Madison croons his name when she notices who's out here with me.

"Hi. Madison, right?" He smiles, pulling a hand out of his pocket to wave.

"Mmhmm. That's me." She bats her lashes at him and Megan lightly smacks her arm.

Ethan chuckles and turns to look back towards the fire.

"What's going on?" Madison mouths to me silently.

"Nothing. Just talking." I silently mouth back to her.

Ethan flits his eyes to me and I smile as if nothing was happening.

"Are you okay?" Megan mouths as well.

I nod and smile to let them know everything is okay, but Madison tells me that she and I will be talking later to which I just roll my eyes at her. There's really nothing to talk about.

So what I'm having a conversation with a guy I know? What am I supposed to do? Sit around and watch my three friends hook up while I eat on a bowl of popcorn and cheer them on from the edge of the squeaking bed? It's not like I didn't tell Taehyung who I was talking to.

She and Megan make their way back inside and Ethan puts his head on the back of the couch, rolling his neck to look over at me.

"Is this awkward? Talking to me?" He questions with puppy dog eyes.

"No, not at all. I would rather talk to you than to some random stranger here." I answer honestly.

He smiles and nods, keeping his softened and glazed over brown eyes on me for a minute longer.

"Are you not cold?" I ask realizing he's only in a sweater.

"A little but I'm okay. Are you warm enough?" He asks seeing me tuck the blanket under me.

"I'm okay. You wouldn't rather be in there finding a girl to hook up with? I'd hate for you to miss out on the party to hang around my lonely ass." I giggle.

"No, I'm having a good time just hanging out with you. Plus, the best girl here is already taken so that's out of the window." He shrugs and slouches down a bit more.

"Who? Kinsley? She's super pretty, huh?"

"No...you." He looks back over to me, his eyes soft. "But I told you, I'm not that guy so don't worry."

"I'm not worried." I say just above a whisper.

He tries to stop the corner of his mouth from curling up by tucking in his lips. A cute dimple appearing on his cheek as he looks down at the ground and puts his hands back in his pockets.

I clear my throat and look in another direction, "Can I ask you something? It may be too personal but I'm curious."

"Anything." He replies looking over to me.

"Is Antonio gay? I got that vibe from him at the art show." I scrunch up my face at my boldness.

He huffs out a chuckle and straightens himself back up on the couch. "He is. We've been friends since elementary school."

"He's your best friend?"

He nods.

"Do, um...do you like guys?" What the hell is wrong with me? These questions are coming out like word vomit.

He furrows his brow and shockingly looks at me, "I love him to death but hell no! The only thing he does for me is be a friend, give me fashion advice and get on to me if I'm avoiding a hair cut."

I can't help but laugh and I lift the blanket up to my nose to cover most of my face. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have asked that."

He tugs the blanket away from my face and pushes my hair back, "It's okay. It's not the first time someone has asked. If you're a man, hang out with a gay man and you also keep yourself decently groomed then everyone always assumes you must also be gay or bisexual."

"Toxic masculinity." I add as I look over at him, appreciating the effort he puts into himself.

"Exactly." He smiles.

My phone starts ringing and I pull it out from underneath the blanket to see who it could be.

"Hello?" I answer, confused as to why she's calling me.

"Hey, we need to go. I would have just came to get you, but I'm currently holding back Megan's hair." Madison answers as I hear Megan get sick in the background.

"Gross. Okay, I'll meet you out front." I get up from the seat and remove the blanket from around my body, the chill from the wind causing me to shiver.

I hang up and look down at Ethan still seated on the couch as he looks up at me, "I have to go. Megan got sick."

"You're taking an Uber right?" He asks as he stands up, towering over me with ease.

I nod and begin to make my way back inside and towards the front with Ethan trailing behind me. I spot Lucas and Kinsley still talking, now in a different area of the house and I wave to them both.

"Hey, are you leaving?" Kinsley asks walking up to me and darting her eyes between Ethan and myself.

"I am. My friend got sick so we're all leaving." I roll my eyes.

"Okay, well, get my number from Lucas next time you see him. Maybe we can hang out one day." She reaches out and gives me a hug goodbye.

"I will. Have fun." I say as we pull away from each other and I smile over at Lucas.

Ethan follows me out to the front porch where I lean my back up against a big white post and wait for the other three girls to come out. He puts his hands back in his pockets, pulling his shoulders up as he looks over to me.

"I had a nice time talking with you tonight." He softly smiles at me and lets his shoulders drop.

"I had a good time talking with you, too." I smile back at him.

"I would ask for your phone number or see if you'd like to hang out sometime, but that'd be wrong, wouldn't it?" He scrunches up his nose and I chuckle.

"Yeah, probably so."

He shakes his head, "I'm always a little too late."

Madison walks out with Megan tucked under her arm and Emma following closely behind them, giving her number to the guy she's been talking to all night.

"The Uber should be here soon." Madison tells me as Megan groans.

I look down the long street and see headlights in the distance heading our way. "That's probably them."

Madison and Megan make their way down the set of steps and Emma waves goodbye as her unofficial man steps back inside.

"I'll see you sometime, I'm sure." I tell Ethan as I move to follow them.

"Until next time, Ava Young." He smiles and steps back so that I can walk towards the red Charger that's awaiting for us all to get inside.

Back at the dorm, I wash my face, brush my teeth and throw my hair in a messy bun before climbing into my small bed. I touch the screen of my phone and unlock it before finding Taehyung's number to call him.

"Hey beautiful!" He beams. "Back at the dorm?"

"I am. Just got here not too long ago. Megan got sick so we had to leave." I explain as I pull my bedspread over my arms and up to my neck. "How was studying?"

"Boring. I hate having exams. Plus, it was hard to concentrate. I kept thinking about you and worrying." He says and I can tell he's pouting.

"I told you that I was okay baby. You didn't have to worry about me." I reply to offer some reassurance.

"I know, but it wasn't just your safety I was worried about. What if you find someone else when I'm not there and dating them would be easier than dating me?"

I sigh out and shake my head even though he can't see it, "Tae, would dating someone who lived here be easier than a long distance relationship? Yes. But I don't want anyone else. I want you."

"I'm enough?" He questions.

"I'm willing to spend the rest of my life with you so you're definitely enough for me. Quit doubting yourself. Quit doubting us. This is only temporary." I remind him as I lay there in the dark, whispering to keep from disturbing Emma sleeping soundly a few feet away still fully dressed and sprawled out over her bed.

"I'll try gongju. Forever yours." He replies, his tone not very cheerful.

"Stop that. Say it happier." I playfully scold him.

"Forever yours gongjuuuu." He cutely says and I can hear his friends mocking him in the background.

"Forever yours Kim Taehyung." I smile proudly at his change of tone.

"Did you take any medicine and drink water?" He asks hearing me begin to yawn.

"Mmhmm. I did." My eyes growing extremely heavy.

"Good. Get some rest baby. Text me when you wake up."

"Okay." I feel myself start to drift asleep.

"I love you." He says slowly so that I can hear the conviction in each word.

"I love you too. Good night my handsome man."

"Good night my beautiful princess." He kisses the phone and ends the call.

My eyes shutting tightly as soon as the screen dims. They're too heavy to reopen to plug in my phone so I just push it underneath my pillow and snuggle the stuffed animal on my bed.