You know that feeling you get when you can tell someone's been looking at you over and over again?

It's the buzzing sensation in the back of my neck. The burning under my skin like someone just lit it with a match.

I take another huge of gulp of my drink and try my best to focus on winning this next round, even though I've started to feel a little light headed. I raise my hand, just inline with my earlobe but something distracts me and my eyes shift to the right only for a moment.

Sure enough, Zander is leaning against the pool table, a long wooden billiard cue in hand. He's polishing the end of the stick with a tiny piece of chalk but he seems to be more interested in my dart game than his own.

I gulp slightly and throw the dart towards the column close to the centre. It misses by inches, hitting the single area instead.

Stacy screams, jumping up and down in happiness because this is the second time I've missed and now she's in the lead. Daphne gave up on winning a few games ago. She's evidently the most drunk amongst the three of us and she keeps throwing darts at the walls instead - which come to think of it is pretty dangerous.

I glare at Stacy and that familiar feeling returns making me turn towards Zander. He's turned away, looking like he's concentrating on the pool board but there's a smile on his face for some reason.

Stacy sidles up next to me, pushing me to the side with her hips as she picks up a dart from our table. She takes the opportunity to gloat.

"Don't fret the small stuff, Danny. We can't win all the time. Although I think you losing might be due to other reasons." She winks at me suggestively and then looks at the pool table behind us. "You two haven't stopped staring at each other all night."

I can't help but grimace. "I don't know what you're talking about."

She throws the dart at the board and it lands in the outer ring, earning her a single bullseye. She then starts laughing like a lunatic, now ahead of me by another 25 points.

"Stacy!" I stiffen when Zander calls out her name. "Looks like a fun game."

She whirls around to meet his gaze, not before smirking at me which makes me want to throttle her. Sadly, there are too many witnesses around for me to do so.

"Hey Zander!" She waves at him and it's amazing how her voice carries through the booming music and loud chatter from all the lacquered tables around us. "It's fun to win, that's for sure."

He laughs but then his eyes to shift to mine. "You girls want to play a game of pool?"

My chest tightens and I grit my teeth. No. No. No. I'm not prepared for this.

"You sure you can handle it? I seem to be on a winning streak," Stacy raises an eyebrow in challenge.

Zander winks and that famous dimple forms in his left cheek. He gives us a million dollar smile and anger starts to percolate in my veins. Is this the smile he used to use on Elizabeth?

"Don't worry we'll go easy on you," He teases and the other guys around the pool table straighten up, waiting for us. Most of their faces are already red from all the beer they've been having.

I take another long swig of my drink, unsure if I want to pour the rest of it down Zander's crisp black shirt like I had originally planned to or beat his ass at pool.

"Come on girl, this could be your second chance. Maybe the mission isn't over yet," Stacy urges and I know she has a point.

Zander is showing interest. I shouldn't let that opportunity go to waste especially since I screwed up the first step so badly.

"God, give me strength," I say to myself and follow Stacy as she makes her way to the pool table behind us.

Daphne's pretty out of it so we place her at the table next to us where we can keep an eye on her easily. She's swaying to the music, muttering all the wrong lyrics and we made a point to switch her vodka to water for the time being.

"Stacy, babe. Looking fine as usual." Eric Samuel, Dalton's very first African American quarter back walks up to us. He eyes Stacy from head to toe and I can see her checking him out as well. I remember the two briefly dated during freshman year.

The tension between them is so strong, it makes me wonder why they broke up in the first place. Also the way she is currently eating him up with her eyes makes me feel a lot like a third wheel. I shift in place, unsure if I should leave them to it.

These two extremely attractive individuals continue their stare down and I briefly wonder if they will end up in one of the bathroom stalls. Stacy certainly looks like she wants to jump Eric's bones but I will kill her if she leaves me here alone with Zander and his group.

"Who's your beautiful friend?" Another football player walks up to us, I recognise him as Jacob, one of our linebackers. He smiles at me, his teeth white and gleaming and then runs a hand through his freshly washed hair that still looks damp.

"Everyone this is Danielle and the drunkard over there is Daphne." She points towards Daphne who stops singing just in time to wave at us with an intoxicated smile on her face.

"Danielle," Jacob reaches out to shake my hand and I notice he holds on for longer than necessary.

"Hi Danielle, I believe we have met before," Zander joins us, eyeing our exchanged hands surreptitiously.

I pull away from Jacob politely and smile at the person that I plan to destroy. "Oh yes. How could I forget."

"It was under unfortunate circumstances," Zander mutters. "I want to apologise, once again."

"No, need," I wave him off nonchalantly. "It was just a bad trip."

He snorts at my bad pun and then quickly clears his throat, looking slightly surprised with himself. He then clears his throat and turns to the side, gesturing to the pool table. "Shall we?"

Stacy is pure evil, she purposely ditches me and pairs up with Eric, leaving me with Zander. Somehow Jacob disappears from the equation, making it just the four of us, like some double date match.

I scowl at Stacy who certainly knows what she's doing.

"Have you played before?" Zander asks casually, most probably trying to gauge my experience but because I hate him, I find his question more insulting than anything.

"Just a little, here and there." I shrug, picking up a billiard cue from the wall.

"Don't worry, I'll guide you."

I honestly feel like stabbing him with the stick in my hand but again, too many witnesses. I give him a coy smile instead. "That would be great, thanks."

Stacy and Eric start off the game and then it's Zander's turn. He's much better than I thought he would be but I keep my compliments to myself and remain aloof most of the time.

He's quick to give me pointers when it's time for my turn. I remain silent, tuning him out and he starts to blabber. It makes me wonder if he's starting to get nervous. He's eyeing my every move and I turn abruptly, swinging the billiard cue towards him. It shoves him to the side and out of my way.

I notice Stacy trying her best to suppress a laugh from across the table and bite my lip to hide my grin too.

I focus on the contact point I want to hit on the cue ball and hit it with precise, controlled speed. It hits two striped balls and they roll into a pocket, giving us a lead on Stacy and Eric.

A soft triumphant squeal escapes my lips. I turn around and try my best to hide the smugness on my face when Zander stares at the pool table in shock.

"Wow, you're good." He says and then he quickly pours me a drink and hands it to me.

"The game isn't over yet, guys. I wouldn't celebrate too early if I were you." Eric chides.

A fun sort of competitiveness sets in between the four of us and we play our game like we are in some sort of championship. People start to gather around our noisy table, some cheering on and against us.

"Come on, Zander! You got this!" A few girls cheer from where Daphne sits.

I notice someone glaring at me and look up to see Yoona Harry, Zander's current girlfriend march up to us.

"Zander, you didn't tell me you'd be here tonight," She tells him softly with a fake smile plastered over her face but I'm standing so close, I can hear the edge in her voice.

They must be nearing the end of their relationship if he doesn't even include her in his Friday night plans.

"Sorry, Yoona. It was supposed to be boys night."

"Clearly, it is."

I can feel Yoona searing me with her heated stare but I pretend to concentrate on the game and make a play even though it's currently Zander's turn.

"Babe, I miss you. Come over tonight." She drawls and puts a hand on his shoulder. I honestly feel bad for her when he flinches.

"Yoona, I told you. Never in public." Zander's voice turns knife edged, he sounds like an entirely different person. He quickly turns to me and shrugs apologetically, his expression so helpless I want to gouge his eyes out. "Please excuse me for a moment, Danielle."

He disappears with Yoona in tow and I suddenly find myself without a partner.

"Looks like you'll have to forfeit." Stacy places a hand on her hip and Eric nods in agreement.

"I'll take Zander's place." Luke Bradshaw suddenly steps in, pushing past the crowd around us and I don't know why my heart lurches when he comes closer.

His dark brown hair has been brushed back from his face, leaving his eyes on full display. Those damn eyes that make me feel like I'm floating back in time.

"Is it our turn?" He asks me in a friendly tone.

"I...umm....ooaahh." What the hell happened to my voice?

Even Stacy seems to notice so she quickly answers for me. "Yep. Don't do too well, Luke. Save your skills for the match next Friday."

Luke grins, picking up a billiard cue and I notice his biceps flex under his very fitted shirt sleeve. He bends down and my eyes travel to his butt which makes me want to slap myself. I shake my head and pretend to concentrate on the game.

But while Zander made me dominate pool, Luke seems to have the opposite effect. I miss every round and we end up losing.

"Sorry, must be my luck." He says to me while Stacy and Eric hug each other after their victory.

"It's fine." I quickly say, trying my best to avoid his steady gaze. I twirl a lock of hair absent mindedly and watch him pour a glass of water for himself. "You're not drinking?"

He gives me a shy smile and I must be drunk because my insides start to feel all funny. "I never do during game season. I'm on a sports scholarship so I don't want to risk it."

"Oh," I mumble. "Me too, partial scholarship I mean."

Why did I just divulge that? He didn't even ask.

"You know, I think I've seen you before. And I'm not talking about you tripping in the court yard."

"Where?" I frown in confusion but Stacy suddenly yanks me towards her and drags me to the washrooms.

I give Luke an apologetic shrug and let her drag me into one of the stalls.

"What? What? What!!" I ask her because she looks like she'd just won the lottery.

"Guess what I just heard!" Her voice is so high pitched and saturated with excitement. She then leans in and whispers. "Zander and Yoona had a huge fight outside. People are saying they broke up."

My mouth falls open in shock just as Stacy licks her lips in anticipation. "Looks like our mission's back on."