A/N
Dedicated to ThtOneMjrPttrhd . Thank you so much for your thoughts on this story. Your review was really helpful.

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I pulled my legs closer to my body as I wished that somehow the earth will open up and swallow me inside!

Yes I remembered the last night very clearly.

What in this universe was I thinking?

Damn it!

I woke up first in this house, took some Tylenol, and when last night's memories surfaced... Let's say I'm killing myself with embarrassment.

How am I supposed to face William now?

Do I act like I don't remember anything, or do I face him and tell him I was too drunk, or tell him that I might like him a teeny weeny little bit?

Just then I hear footsteps on the stairs and I my first thought is: Shit, is that William?

I immediately straighten up and act casual as I leaf through the Vogue issue.

I turn around hoping not to see William.

And I don't. It's Lissa.

"Hey good morning." I greeted her cheerfully.

She smiled and made her way to me.

"Morning. How was last night?" She asked looking at me suspiciously.

I immediately look back at the Vogue and answer,"Probably good. I don't really remember."

I dared to look up at her and I know that she knows I'm lying through my teeth.

"Oh how about I help you remember a few things?" She said as she slipped her phone on top of the Vogue.

There's a picture on the phone.

Not just any. But William and I dancing. If it was not going to land me into trouble, I would have admired that picture. It was perfect. Like a picture from a photoshoot. I was pressed against his back with William's hands on my waist. I was looking up at him, smiling, while he looked at me with such a locking intense gaze. Although I my hair were messed up and I looked totally drunk, the picture was amazing. It was a perfect evidence of my venture. Thanks to the portrait mode on iPhone 7.

Suddenly Elena Coats began singing in my head.

With you I'm a beautiful mess...

"Anything Grace?" Lissa asked.

"I was drunk!" I defended myself, my eyes still on the photo.

"Do you or don't you feel something for him?"

I looked at Lissa. No way I could lie to her. So I told her the truth.

"I don't know Liz."

She smiled and said,"Finally some truth. I understand you are confused. Take your time."

"I don't -- " But I was cut of by the presence of the man himself.

He looked at us surprised and scratched the back of his neck, embarrassed. Of course he remembered last night.

His eyes landed on me. But I didn't look away.

"Umm.. good morning ladies." He said.

"Good morning William. Had a good night?" Lissa asked.

He looked at her a little alarmed and said," Yeah. I came to get something to eat."

"Oh amazing! Could you make Grace something to eat? She's hungry.", Lissa said, a little too brightly.

I cringed.

William looked at me, his cheeks red. It was a sight to behold to see the one and only William O'Neil blushing ,"Sure. What would you like Grace?"

I looked at Lissa unsure ly who was smiling brightly,"Anything is fine." I said playing Lissa's game.

"Sandwich?"

I nodded.

He looked at me a little longer than required, as if trying to see if I remembered the last night.

But I tried my best to give him a blank face as Haliee Steinfeld sang in my mind what was actually happening to me.

Don't need no butterflies when you give me the whole damn zoo...

I don't know if I succeeded because William stuffed his hand in his pockets and went to the kitchen.

"What was that?" I hissed at Lissa after William had walked away.

"Oh I just wanted to see the after effects of your little venture last night. Given the effects are so clear on you." Lissa said in a professional love guru tone.

"Shit. Is it obvious?" I asked totally flustered.

"Not to him maybe. But honey to me it is shit obvious."

Uh! When is this damn earth opening up to swallow me?

"Well I'll be going now. Enjoy." Lissa said as she got up.

"Wait up miss, where do you think you're going leaving me alone here in this situation?" I asked Lissa.

"I think you really would like to spend some time alone with your sandwiches. So I'm off." She smiled ,"Oh also hold your Vogue right. You're holding it upside down."

I looked down and actually I'm holding it upside down.

Darn it!

Lissa climbed upstairs when William came back with two plates of sandwiches.

My first instinct was to refuse but I couldn't bring myself to do it!

And the Taylor Swift and Zayn Malik took over Haliee Steinfeld.

..What is happening to me?...

"Sandwich?" William asked, although a lot more composed from earlier yet not his own self.

"Yeah. Thank you." I said, taking my plate from his hand, not meeting his eyes.

William plops down on the chair on the side.  We eat our sandwiches in an awkward kind of silence before he speaks up,"How's your hangover? You were pretty drunk last night."

"Yeah. I'm okay now though." I replied.

He nodded, eating his sandwich again. I felt frustration take over me. Why did he started acting like everything's okay? Because I'm not.

I finish my sandwich and get up abruptly and said, "I'm going to take a walk."

He nodded again.

The beach was quiet without many people around. It was nice.  The fresh morning cool breeze was in my hair.

"Hey!" I heard a voice behind me. I turned around to see the owner of the voice.

It's the boy from last night. What was his name - Um.. Ashton! Right.

"Hey!" I said as he approached me.

"Well, you had a good time yesterday?" He asked

I could feel myself turning red. Uh!

"Yeah." I stammer out.

Ashton smirked.

"Looks like someone had reallllly a good time yesterday night.", he said emphasising on really.

I'm sure my face is redder than anything red.

"Shut up."

He laughed as we walked together. "That boyfriend of yours is certainly very possessive of you. You almost got me killed last night. You should have told me you have such a built boyfriend. He was certainly mad at me."

"He's not my boyfriend." I sighed. I've been confused why William acted like a caveman yesterday.

Ashton looked at me surprised, "But that's what he said last night."

"I know. He's crazy. I don't understand why he said that. He's my brother's best best friend. "

"Oh so someone's breaking the bro code!" He laughed.

"We don't like each other. Our relationship consists of him annoying me and me trying to kill him." I said. Ashton wasn't completely a stranger.  But it felt good talking to him. Knowing he won't tell William or tease me.

"That's what boys do. They try every way to get the attention of the girl they like. Even if it means annoying the shit out of her. I could tell from last night, he likes you. When you guys were dancing so intimately with each other, you should have seen his face. Like he could be like that forever. Believe me Grace, he's got a crush on you."

I looked at Ashton. He actually gave good advice. But I wasn't very sure of what he just said.

Suddenly we heard his name being called out across the beach.

"Well I gotta go. But if you ever want any advice I'm just a call away." He said as he handed me a piece of paper with his number scrawled on it.

" You carry pieces of paper with your contact written on it with you?" I asked in disbelief.

"You never know." He winked as he mumbled see you later and jogged across to the girl who was waiting for him.

I sighed and strolled back to the house and laid on the hammock, with one question in my mind.

Could William actually like me?