Amara was preparing to take a half-bath when a chorus of knocks echoed in their room. Maine opened it to a jock who exchanged whispers with her roommate.

"What happened?" Isla asked, tugging her curls in a bun.

"Party on the beach. You in?" Maine pulled on a cover-up. "Because I am."

"Me too!" Isla yelled in excitement. "Come on, Amara."

As if she had a choice now. She nodded at her friends' giddiness. "I'll be there."

Amara put a white lace cover-up over her bikini before she went outside. She bumped into Elijah, blurting out an apology he didn't deserve.

"Sorry," he muttered as he steadied her.

She was shocked. Amara studied him, seeing his tight lips and the soreness around his eyes. "You okay?"

Elijah swallowed, rubbing a palm over his weary face. "Fine. Where are you going?"

"They're drinking on the beach," she said and added, "Come on."

He nodded and they walked to the beach together. There was a burning campfire with the students scattered around it. Some were swimming while others broke off in pairs.

"This is probably Jordan's idea," Elijah stated as he eyed the container where people get their drinks.

"Or Eddie," she said. The two students they mentioned were mixing a new batch. Their two shaved heads focus on the alcohol on their hands.

Amara scanned the place for Primo. What she saw made her grit her teeth as wrath ignited in her veins. Primo and Natasha were linked together with the latter buried on the boy's neck.

She bit her lip, almost drawing blood at the force. Her temper was one to watch out for. And all she wanted to do was march towards the couple and smack the hell out of Primo Luchenko.

But of course, she wouldn't be called princess if she gave in to that urge. She settled into digging her nails into Elijah's arm instead.

Elijah yelped. "What the hell?" His head searched for Primo to probably calm her down but even Elijah gave a gasp as his stare settled on the couple.

Amara took a deep breath and stomped to where the alcohol was. She felt Elijah on her heels and they shared a cup until her fury simmered into a soft buzz.

"You okay now?" Elijah teased with a wry smile.

"You drank as much as I did," she replied with a hoarse voice. Amara cleared her throat. "Wanna get out of here?"

Elijah grinned as his hazel eyes mirrored the campfire. He leaned in to whisper in her ear. "Is that like a code for making out?"

Amara smirked as she sipped her cup and turned her back on him. She looked back a minute later, arching a perfect eyebrow and tucking her dark hair over her ear. "Want to find out?"

The boy chuckled, rubbing at his forehead. Elijah jogged towards her. "You play this so well."

They walked near the shoreline, feeling the breeze. It was midnight and with the few lights that hang from the sea wall, the stars shone brightly.

"Tell me about your ex."

Elijah put an arm around her. "That's boring."

Amara let him, her arms snaking around his waist. She was determined to get the information she wanted. She batted her eyelashes at him. "Is she as pretty as me?"

"Nah. You're hotter. All that girl ever do is listen to her mother," he began, his fingers caressing her shoulder. "It's all 'Mom said I should do this or I should do that'. So fucking tired of that shit."

"Poor you." She kissed his cheek and the alcohol seemed to loosen him up because he kept talking.

"I asked her for another chance, you know. But it just kept getting thrown back to my face. To top it all, she's now with my best—"

Elijah hastily clamped his mouth shut.

Too late.

Amara knew what exactly was happening and she was more furious than ever. Everything had spun out of control and all she could do right now was contain the damage.

"It's Natasha, isn't it?"

Elijah groaned, digging the edge of his palms into his closed eyes. "Amara..."

"Why didn't you tell him?" she argued as Elijah slumped on the sand.

"What the use? Primo's already interested before I knew she transferred here!" he said.

"Still—"

"Did you see them earlier?" He gestured to the lively part of the beach. "What more can I do?"

Amara was stumped. She blew out a long sigh and sat next to him. "I still think you should tell him. Unless you're not ready to move on."

Elijah placed his palms flat behind him. "I admit. It's hard seeing them. That's why I keep pushing you towards Primo, you know. But fuck it all... I completely lost her now."

Amara licked her lips. "So, Natasha doesn't want you anymore? She likes Primo, right?"

His brown eyes connected with hers. Elijah bit his lip. "I don't know."

Well, shit.

"The last thing we fought about was her wanting a safer option. She didn't want to fight her mother over me. I didn't even... Fuck. Her mother continues to blame me for her failed audition and our relationship couldn't handle that. I don't know what she's thinking."

Amara's blood had boiled over. She didn't hate the girls Primo fancied. She hated him more for leading them on. But at least those girls liked her best friend. Those girls chose Primo.

And now, he was an option?

Natasha was getting on her nerves. If Primo knew about the situation, he'd completely lost it. She couldn't do that to him.

Amara wouldn't forgive her.

Of all people, she knew that Primo was sensitive to being an option, to be a second choice. Stupid girl.

"Amara, please. Don't tell him." Elijah pleaded, touching her hand. "They seem to get along anyway."

She yanked her arm back and shot up from the sand. Elijah swallowed at the fierceness in her irises. "I'll give you a week."

Amara left him on the beach as she sorted through her thoughts. She wanted to throw Elijah and Natasha under the bus but they deserved to come clean too. Why the hell did she got caught up on this?

Besides, it was Primo who fucked up his chance, to be honest with his feelings. And a part of her wanted to see him learn from his dumb mistake. She didn't know what made him change his mind but it was most likely something silly.

Like Natasha crying.

Amara stopped in her tracks as Primo stood in front of her room. She entered and ignored him.

"Get out," she stated. Her roommates weren't back yet that her voice echoed in the empty room.

"Ama..."

She whirled around to face him and crossed her arms. "What?"

Primo sneered. "What's your problem?"

"My problem?" she yelled. "You're the one who didn't stand your ground and let Natasha dictate you like a fucking pussy!"

Primo's cold eyes glinted with danger as he pushed her to the wall. His left fingers dig sharply on her cheek while the other grasped her exposed waist. She could smell the alcohol as he breathed against her lips. "Don't say that to me."

Amara didn't back down. She met his freezing glare as her heart hammered fast. "It's the fucking truth."

Primo pressed closer. His grip tightening on her until he leaned in that their lips brushed softly.

He stepped back and the feeling disappeared as fast as it came.

Amara frowned at his erratic actions. She took a deep breath and ignored that weird and childish kiss. "Get out, Primo."

Primo yanked at his hair. "Yes, it didn't go as planned but I made a promise to her and I'm just seeing that through!"

"Promise? Do you think you can make a relationship work when you're not being honest? Whatever! Do you what you want!"

"Amara..." he mumbled in disbelief. "Are you that angry?"

"I'm not angry." Amara raised her chin as she folded her arms. "I'm disappointed."

✘✘