My keys jingled as I threw them into my bag which bounced on my hip as Charlotte and I made our way to her car.

"Ready for tonight Char?" I asked, throwing my duffle into the back seat.

"Ready as I'll ever be." As i climbed into the passenger seat, Charlotte scrunched up her nose and turned to look at me. "Oh girl you smell. Do you want to take a shower or something before we go out."

"Yeah that would be great." Taking a minute I replied, "I do smell don't I?"

"Oh yeah. Roll your window down. I can't have my car smelling like hard work and sweat."

Rolling my eyes I rolled the window down like she asked, "Oh come on it's not that bad."

Seven and a half songs and several more jokes about me smelling up her car later, we pulled up into her driveway.

Her house was a small little one story house, tucked inbetween more one story houses that looked almost identical. The only indicator of who's was who's was the different cars in the driveways. The Casidy's house wasn't as big or as lavish as mine, but the family that lived inside was a hundred times happier.

I guess the saying that it's what inside that matters rings true even for homes.

When we walked inside, I was automatically welcomed by the smell of lavender.

"Charlotte? Is that you?" Ms. Casidy came around the corner leading into the kitchen holding a glass with some sort of green drink inside of it.

As per usual, she had her hair pulled back in a messy ponytail and not a trace of makeup on her perfect tan complexion. "Oh hey Daytona. Long time no see."

"Hey Mrs. Theresa. How're you and Mr. Jon doing?" I hugged the woman who served as my second mom sometimes.

"We're doing good sweetie. Char was telling me you joined the cheer team? How's that going?" She gave me an all-too-knowing look.

"Its going fine, but-"

"Sorry to cut this short Mom, but Daytona and I have plans, and she needs to shower before we can leave. Can you hold the catch up til we get back?" Giving her mother an apologetic look Charlotte dragged me to her room.

"So we have solidified plans now?" I asked with an arched eyebrow.

"Well I was thinking we could swing on over to Berkley and hit up Devils and Angels?" She gave me a hopeful expression.

"Hm," I pretended to think about it, "Yeah I guess that'll work."

She jumped up and down and clapped her hands. "Yay! Ohmygosh it's been forever, the last time we went was with-" she trailed off remembering the last time we went to Devils and Angels.

"With Cooper," a warmth enveloped me as I remembered the night we went, "it was a few months before he passed. He wanted to show us why we shouldn't go clubbing,"

"But instead, it enticed us even more." She giggled. "Now go take your shower."

~~~~🌸~~~~

I slipped into my leggings from earlier and twirled in front of the body length mirror hanging on the back of Charlotte's door.

"Um, what are you wearing? Oh no, no, no; you are not, I repeat, not going out like that." Charlotte sat on her bed, folding her legs underneath her and giving me a disappointed look.

"What's wrong with it?" I hugged lightly on my creme knit sweater and frowned, "I think it's cute."

"Exactly," she said with a sigh as if scolding a child who still, despite everyone's best effort, doesn't understand that Playdoh is not edible. "It's cute, but we are going to Devils and Angels, you need hot at least, to get in. Come here, I have this dress I think will look super cute on you."

She dug around in her closet for a brief minute before emerging with a dress and hanger in hand. "Here. Try it on."

I took the dress completely in awe.

It was one of the prettiest dresses I had ever seen. It was a strapless dress with a white top and a rose gold sequin skirt.

Quickly I slipped out of my lame outfit and into the dress. It was a little big around the chest area and didn't quite reach as far down as I liked, but it would do.

"I love it Char! Thanks." I spun around in a circle again before heading back towards the mirror to fix my hair. In the end, the only thing I could manage was a messy bun. "What are you wearing?" I asked, securing the bun to my head with bobby pins.

"This."

I turned to see her standing in a white body con dress, black high heels, and a leather jacket. "Dang girl! Look at you! Since when did you have a leather jacket?"

"Actually I just got it after school today. It's Ben's." A small smile lit up her face when she said his name.

"Ben? As in Ben Smith? Aka, Mr. Captain America?"

"No, Ben Davidson. He was there the night at the race."

I scoffed, "Him? You're still hanging out with him? When he introduced himself you seemed to want nothing to do with him."

She narrowed her eyes, her tone becoming hostile, "Well I changed my mind. And plus, I told you I had to meet him after school today."

"Whatever. I just don't think he's good for you." I turned back to the mirror to finish pinning my hair ironically.

She muttered something under her breath and I turned to face her again, "Huh? What'd you say?"

"Oh! Nothing, just asked if you were ready to go yet." She grabbed a black hand bag and her keys off her bed.

"Oh yeah. Let's go." Checking once more to make sure we looked fine, we headed out the door.

We just turned out of her neighborhood when she tossed her phone in my lap, "Put some music on."

I opened her Spotify and went to her different playlists. "Tell me when to stop."  I closed my eyes and started swiping up and down on her playlists.

"Stop."

I pressed randomly on the screen and looked to see what I had chosen and pressed shuffle.

"What playlist is this?" She asked.

"'Hoe Anthems'." I giggled while Goodies by Ciara blasted through the speakers. "Oh yeah! Turn it up!"

Charlotte laughed at my eagerness to sing along. She then laughed even harder as I broke out rapping Petey Pablo's verse word for word.

The entire ride into Berkley was spent with us jamming out to classic clubbing songs, getting us ready for tonight.

"Well, here we are. Oh! I almost forgot. Open the glove compartment." I did as she asked me.

"What are these?" I stared down at the two black masquerade masks in my compartment in front of me.

"It's Masquerade night tonight! Who knows, maybe I'll meet a sexy masked stranger tonight." She wiggled her eyebrows at me and I rolled my eyes, grabbing the masks, and slipping one on.

"So? How do I look?"

"Like a mysterious, sexy, strange that some guy may want to take home tonight. Let's go."

I rolled my eyes, "No one is taking me home tonight except for you."

"Boring." She sang as she slammed her door.

"I'm now dating someone, remember."

"Oh yeah. That's right. Well, guess no fun for you tonight." She sighed.

When were able to get there before the line was to long, totaling our wait time to about ten minutes.

Inside, black lights replaced normal ones. They had a designated dance floor, bar, and even a small stage with dancers on it.

"Wow. They've really changed it since then." Where Charlotte and I were standing, the music wasn't too loud so i luckily didn't have to yell.

"No kidding." Her eyes scanned the building until they landed on the bar. "Ah, let's go get our mandatory shot!" She grabbed my hand, dragging me to the bar where we both ordered a shot for each other.

"On three, two, one." We threw back the shot and wiped our mouths. "Lets go dance!" I shouted, grabbing Charlotte's hand and dragging her behind me like she did a few minutes ago.

After several song, my hair was starting to stick to my neck so I made my way to the bar to take a break from all the dancing. For some reason, I was having this strong sense of something going wrong tonight and no matter what I did, I couldn't shake it.

"Miss?" The bartender asked me impatiently.

"What? Sorry, I was lost in thought." I shook my head, but the feeling stayed with me.

The bartender let out an aggravated grumble, "What can I get you?"

"Oh, um just a water please."

"You seem like you need a little more than just water."

"Screw it. Can I have a cosmopolitan. Oh and that water too."

"Sure thing."

Moments later, I was sipping on a cosmopolitan, willing this sense of dread to leave. I uncapped the water and took a swig before I threw the rest of my cosmo back.

"Um, Miss, you really shouldn't drink that that fast, I'm sure it's dangerous and-"

"Shh," I put my finger up in the air, "and make me another one."

I downed that one too.

Will I ever stop using alcohol as an escape?

When the alcohol finally started to work itself into my system, I jumped off the bar stool and headed deep into the dance floor where I grabbed someone's hand and spun the around to face me.

"Dance with me? I'm supposed to be having a good time with my friend but she's disappeared and I keep feeling like something bad is about to happen." The masked stranger had dark hair and the part of his face that wasn't covered with a mask was pale against the black lights.

"Anything for a damsel in distress." His voice was deep and husky and when he spoke, an arrogant smirk was glued to his face.

"Hey buddy, I'm not a damsel and I'm not in distress."

"Sounded like you were pretty distressed to me." The stranger let out a low chuckle and wrapped their arms around my waist.

"Shut it and just dance."

"Yes ma'am."

The stranger and I were dancing when suddenly out of nowhere, he leaned down and placed a kiss to my lips.

Putting my hands on his chest I shoved him backwards, but he had a tight hold on my wrist, but not tight enough to hurt.

"Wait, I have a boyfriend." I tried to pull back, but they kept pulling me closer.

"What he doesn't know won't hurt him."

He has a point. Logan doesn't have to know.

No, I can't do that to Logan. He trusts me.

And he will still trust you as long as you don't tell him.

Before I knew it, I was halfway across the dance floor with the tall stranger.

"Daytona? Where are you going?" I heard Charlotte call out from behind me and immediately I snapped back to my senses. "What are you doing with Jordan?"

"Jordan?!" I yelled while whipping around.

"Daytona I- I didn't realize it was you." He dropped my hand like it was on fire.

"Like hell you didn't. What the heck?"

"Listen to me: I'm drunk, I'm so sorry. I- I was just trying to have a good time and then you grabbed me by the hand and you looked so sad I could help it."

"And what about you kissing me or trying to take me somewhere?" I crossed my arms over my chest.

"I told you, I'm drunk." He drug his hand down his face.

"You can't blame being drunk for what you did. You sure as hell knew it was me."

"You're one to talk." He snapped back at me. "Do you know how many times you've made Logan and I worry because you were drowning yourself in alcohol?"

I stepped back in shock. Hurt by his words I turned and walked away quickly. "Lets go Char."

"Daytona, you know I love you, but can we stay for a bit, I still haven't danced with anyone yet." She put on her best frown and I gave in.

"Fine. I'll be sitting at the bar when you're ready to go." I turned away from them both and made my way over to just near the bar where the had some tables and I sat, laying my head on the table.

Well, now I can see why I was feeling like something bad was going to happen.

I unlocked my phone and started scrolling through my Instagram feed. I was sitting there for so long that when I finally got up, my arm had cramped up in the position I had it propped up in.

It had been roughly an hour since I had left her on the dance floor and I could feel a yawn creeping up along with a sudden wave of exhaustion.

"Where is that girl?" I mumbled under my breath.

Ringing her, I tapped my foot under the table as I was sent to voicemail. Trying again I got the same outcome, so I stomped outside to see if her car was still there, but to my surprise, where we had parked earlier, now sat empty.

Groaning I went to call someone else when a cough from behind me caught my attention. "I can't help but notice that you seem a tad bit distressed." A soft hand was placed on my shoulder, but I brushed it off. "Daytona, I told you I'm sorry, it was a heat of the moment type of thing and I couldn't help it; I'm sorry. How can I make it up to you?"

I turned around to face Jordan. "Take me back to my house please."

His eyebrows scrunched together in confusion. "Your house? Why?"

"Just do as I ask, or do you not want to make it up to me?" I crossed my arms to try and keep myself from shivering in the cold.

With one last sigh, he gave in, "Fine. But I'm not leaving you there by yourself. I'll call one of the guys."

We made our way to his car while he tried to reach several of the guys. In the end, the only one who actually picked up the phone was Tyler.

"Okay. By the time we get back, Tyler will already be there." Out of the corner of my eye I saw Jordan reach his hand out towards me, but he brought it back in before it reached me.

Sometime during the ride home I must've fallen asleep because when we pulled up to my house, I snapped my eyes open. "Home?" I asked, my voice thick and deep with sleep.

Jordan nodded his head. "Yeah, home. Daytona-"

"Just don't mention it to anyone okay." I sent him the fiercest glare I could manage in my present state, and he smiled softly before reversing out of the driveway.

Shutting in another yawn, I fished for the spare key in the bricks of our house. Upon finding it, I put it in the lock and walked in. When I did, I shivered at how cold and dead it seemed.

I closed the door behind me and walked into the kitchen, grabbing a bag of chips from the pantry before making my way up to my room.

With a scream I dropped the bag of chips on the floor, spilling probably half the bag on the ground.

Tyler jumped off the bed and fell onto the floor as well. "Jeez Daytona, you scared the crap out of me." He clutched his chest and wheezed out a laugh.

"I scared you? You scared me! You couldn't have just sat downstairs or something? Now look, I've split my chips everywhere." I gestured to the mess with a pout.

"Its midnight, why are you eating chips anyway?"

With an 'are you dumb' expression on my face I responded, "Have you never heard of a midnight snack?"

Before he could respond, the sound of footsteps running towards my room. My eyes widened as I expected the worse. The worse being my dad or Colton.

Apparently Tyler had the same though cause he stood up, getting ready to fight if needed.

"Day? Are you okay? I heard you scream and came running up here." Cooper stood in my doorway out of breath and panting.

"Thank goodness it was just you." I wrapped my arms around my brothers shoulders and squeezed. "I'm fine. I just got scared is all."

"Cooper?" Tyler's voice rose a bit as he caught sight of my brother standing in my doorway.

"Ty?" Copper's face lit up a moment before it quickly fell again. "Wait, what are you doing in my sister's room?"

"I-I was just, wait, you're alive? I though you died in the crash?"

Slowly, I started to piece things together. It now made sense why Tyler looked so terrified the time I offered him a ride on my bike. 'Sorry. My best friend was injured super bad on one of these things.' His words came back to me in a flash.

Cooper and Tyler were best friends, so would that mean that the reason Tyler and Tanner had stopped talking was because of Coppers death?

It all made sense to me now.

"Day, you didn't tell Ty that I was alive?"

"I may have forgotten to mention that. But to my defense you told me not to yell anyone." I gave a guilty smile and they just stared at me blankly before running and giving each other a hug.

"Man! It's good the see you Ty." The corner of Coppers eyes crinkled when he smiled and I noticed that he had a five o'clock shadow and bags under his eyes.

"You too Coop." Tyler clapped my brother on the back and chuckled, "Tanner is going to loose it when he finds out."

"Tanner is still here? I thought he planned on going to college?" Cooper stretched out across my bed and Tyler sat on the corner of my desk, rubbing the back of his neck.

"He did, for about a year, but about nine months ago his parents got into a head on collision with a drunk driver. They didn't make it. So he dropped out to watch over Logan until he turns 18."

I sat on the floor in awe at how much our lives were intertwined with each other.

Yawning I stood up and made my way over to my bed. "Listen guys, I don't care if you catch up with one another in here or not, but try to keep it down because I need to sleep." I crawled over Cooper to the other side of my bed and plopped down with another long yawn.

"Alright Day. Wait a minute, what are you wearing? Where in the world were you dressed like that so late at night?" Copper raises his voice at me but I dismissed him with a wave of my hand.

"Nowhere. No shut up, I'm trying to sleep." I pulled a blanket up to me chin and closed my eyes tightly. It didn't take long for darkness to secure me in her grasp.

~~~~🌸~~~~

"That's right Daytona," Colton stood in front of me, holding a gun to someone's head. I couldn't tell exactly who because they were hidden in the shadows, "I am going to make you suffer. Just like I did."

"No!" A scream ripped through me. I tried to lunge, but it was like something, or someone, held me back. A wicked, almost inhuman, smile crept it's way onto Colton's face, then bam, he shot the gun and whoever it was crumpled to the floor.

A scream jolted me awake and it took me a minute before I realized it was mine. Sweat had started to collect at the small of my back, and my face was wet with tears.

I gathered my knees up to my chest and silently rocked back and forth as I tried to forget the dream.

Somewhere I'm my room, Tyler stirred on the floor and Cooper automatically was by my side. "Day! What's wrong?"

I stared straight ahead into the dark not daring to speak in fear that if I did, I would start to cry.

"Are you hurt?" Cooper asked. I shook my head no. "Was it a nightmare." I nodded.

"Okay, um what was it about?"

"It was about-" my voice caught and I sniffed away the oncoming tears.

"You don't have to talk, that's fine. Do you want me to hold you?" I nodded my head again and sat up a bit more so Cooper could wrap his arms around me.

I leaned into his chest as another tear slipped down my cheek and fell onto his arm. "It's going to be okay Day. It'll all be okay." His voice was smooth and soft and I wanted to believe him, I really did, but I knew better.

Nothing was going to be okay.

~~~~🌸~~~~

The next day at school, I moved through the motions. It was our last day before winter break and tonight we had a basketball game. It was staff vs. students. Everyone was getting ready for the game, and since it was the last day before break, teachers decided to let is have a free day.

I had a letterman on over my cheer uniform, but I still shivered as I passed from class to class. The lack of sleep was really getting to me.

Rubbing my eyes, I stumbled through the halls to my last class. Someone jumped my shoulder and I whipped around to snap at them, but decided against it.

I took a seat near the window as I waited for the teacher to come in. My eyelids got heavy and soon they started to close. "Day! Hello? Are you okay?"

I shot up and looked at Logan, "Yeah I'm fine. Why?"

"You passed out for a minute. You good?" Concern waa sketched across his face and I just nodded my head.

"I'm alright." Liar. "I tossed and turned all night long, so I didn't get much sleep."

Logan leaned across the desk and grabbed my hand, "You said that the other night too. What's going on Daytona?" His green eyes were hard and 100% serious.

I shivered under his stare and as I opened my mouth to respond, our teacher walked in. "I'll tell you later."

He gave my hand a quick squeeze before turning back to face our teacher.

This class went by the same as the others. Everyone talked with their friends, but I rested with my head on the table.

Well, not really rested.

I just had my eyes closed as I listened to the conversations around me.

Halfway through class, and announcement was made for all cheerleaders, students, and staff members who were participating in the game to head to the gym. I grabbed my backpack and headed towards the gym.

"Hey! Day! Wait up!" I turned to see Makayla jogging to catch up to me.

"Hey Kay, what's up?" I put on my best cheery smile and added a little pep in my step.

"Nothing really," she shrugged her shoulders, "I just didn't want to walk alone. What are you doing over break?"

It was my turn to shrug my shoulders. "I don't know. Guess I'll just live in the moment."

"Nice, nice. Hey, isn't your birthday in a few days?" She asked, eyes forward.

I had completely forgotten my birthday was even remotely close. "Yeah. I guess it is."

"Well, are you doing anything for your birthday?"

Another shrug. "I don't know. I'll probably just go somewhere with my mom and Mason on my actual birthday, but other than that, nope. We haven't really talked about it."

"What?" She screeched in my ear. "It's your eighteenth birthday and you aren't doing anything?"

"No, I am not doing anything for my eighteenth birthday." I confirmed.

Makayla reached over and grabbed my arm giving it a little squeeze. "I'm going to need you to make sure you aren't doing anything the twenty-sixth. Okay?"

"Sure." We opened the doors to the locker room to set our stuff down and change into the proper shoes. "Ready?" I asked as I tugged on my ponytail one more time.

"Ready." Together we headed to the gym to start practicing. Typically we would do small cheers when the team would call a time out and then do a full routine during half time, but today we had two full routines planned on top of our regular inbetween chants.

When the time came to start our first routine before the game, I downed an entire water bottle to make sure I was awake enough to not mess up, and thankfully, I didn't.

"Let's hear it for our Warrior cheerleaders!" The MC for the game yelled into the microphone. Students in the stands started to clap their hands and yell. "Okay settle down now. How about we give it up for your student team." Another wave of cheers erupted from the student body.

The way that this game worked was for the past week, they took polls of which regular students they would prefer to see play in the game. Once they had the top nine students, they started to take polls to see which varsity basketball player they would like to see play. In the end, the team would be nine normal students, and one basketball player.

Other than the kids on the team, no one knew who was playing until they were called out onto the court.

"Leading the team as captain, you all know him, you all love him, the point guard for varsity basketball, Brody Davidson!" I rolled my eyes, but managed to keep the cheerleader smile on my face none the less.

To make matters even worse, most of the cheerleaders had a 'Buddy'. The 'Buddy' was just someone who stood next to them during lineup, and Brody just so happened to be mine during basketball games.

When his name was called, he came running out onto the court, waving to the crowd who cheered him on as he took his position next to me.

"Hey babe." I rolled my eyes at him again.

"I'm not your babe." I hissed through my smile.

"Next, he was your top voted student, Ben Smith." Ben came jogging out and took his place next to Makayla.

Still not getting the hint, Brody wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me into him. "Not yet you aren't. How about after the game I change your mind."

For the first time, my smile actually fell. "Gross. I would rather gouge out my own eyes with a hot spoon then do that with you."

"It's because you've never been with me before."

"And I'd like it to stay that way." I stepped out of his grasp, but he just pulled me in again.

He opened his mouth to say something, but the announcer was louder than him. "Coming in second and surprising everyone, Mason Sealie!"

I almost laughed when they called his name and turned slightly so I could see his facial expression as he jogged out onto the court. Just as I predicted (and hoped) he looked super mad. Mad like he just got in trouble for something his sister did.

Instead of taking his spot at Rylan's side, he jogged right past her and to my side instead.

"Did you not hear Brody? Coach switched  our lineup. You're supposed to be next to Rylan, not Daytona." Mason stood on my left side and turned to make finger guns at crowd.

Such the crowd pleaser.

"Oh did he? I must've missed it Sealie." He started to jog over to Rylan, but not before he said, "Think about what I said Daytona."

The MC continued to call out the lineup as Mason whispered, "You okay?" I gave a swift nod, not wanting to draw anymore attention to myself. "Good."

"And last but not least, Logan Wylde!"

My eyes went round as I choked on my laugh, "What? Logan is playing? Oh man, this is going to be good."

"No kidding." Mason said, "He totally saw what Brody just pulled too. This will make for an interesting game."

"Boys." I sighed.

When the MC was done calling out the names of both teams, the cheerleaders were allowed to go sit on the first row of bleachers. As I headed over there, I grabbed onto Logan's arm. "Don't do anything stupid please."

"I would never." He said with a smirk on his face.

"I'm serious Logan. It's almost winter break, just leave it. Please." His eyes went cold as they searched mine.

"No promises." He tore his arm out of my grasp and ran to his team.

When I got to the bleachers, the only spit left was next to Rylan at the end, so I took it.

"I wish someone looked at me the way he looks at you." She sighed dreamily while watching someone in the crowd.

"I wish he wasn't so childish." I said in reply.

Jump ball was just starting and currently the only people who I knew that were in were Mason, who was participating in jump ball, and Brody.

When the whistle was blown, Mason jumped up and tipped it back to Brody who dribbles the ball through the teachers and made a perfect layup.

By the time halftime rolled around, we were up twenty points and Logan still hadn't been put in.

The cheerleaders jumped up from the bleachers and got in formation to start ou routine as the boys headed towards one of the locker rooms to do whatever they do during halftime.

"Five. Six. Seven. Eight." Makayla called out, getting us ready to start our three minute long routine, and boy did we pull it off perfectly.

No one was out of step, and everyone was almost completely in sync. We all high-fived when we were done and headed back to our section of the bleachers just as the boys came jogging out of the locker room.

Five of them stayed on the court and I groaned out loud when I saw that Logan and Brody were out at the same time.

"Why are we groaning?" Rylan asked, sitting down next me.

"When we were doing lineup, Brody came over to me and had his arm around my waist, and like I said earlier, Logan can be a tad bit obsessive, well, not really obsessive, more like possessive.

"Anyways, he saw how Brody was holding me despite the fact that I was trying to push him off me, and if I know Logan, he'll probably try to pull something out there." I buried my face in my hands until I heard the first whistle blow.

For some reason they were doing jump ball again, and Logan was jumping. Despite the cold and stoic look on his face, I could see how truly nervous he was because he had balled his hands into tight fists at his side.

The referee walked up with the ball and Logan uncleanched his hands and shook them out. The second whistle was blown and the ball was tossed in the air. Logan had jumped a second too late.

The staff members were able to get the ball and take if down to their side. Logan shook his head as he ran down the other side.

"Its okay Logan." I whispered under my breath, loud enough for only me to hear.

One of the teachers got ready to make a shot, but Logan was able to block it and bring it back down to our side.

"Yes!" I clapped my hands.

But just as Logan started to get close to the goal, Brody ran up and stole the ball, and went up for a successful layup, tripping Logan as well in the process.

"Oh no." Rylan and I said at the same time.

This was the complete opposite of good. 

Punching the ground, Logan pushed himself up on his knuckles. "What's your deal Davidson? You got something you want to say to me?"

"Go!" Rylan pushed me towards the two and I took off in Logan's direction.

"I don't necessarily have a problem with you, you're just in my way."

Logan kept waking closer to Brody.

I'm not going to make it in time.

He now stood only a few inches in front of Brody. "What exactly am I in the way of?"

Why hasn't anyone stepped in yet? Teachers are literally on the court.

Brody peered around Logan and locked eyes with me. "Her."

Logan turned around and saw me. Dark shadows crossed his face and he swung at Brody.

"Stop it!" I was able to jump in front of Brody before Logan hit him. That being said, Logan's fist was less than an inch from my face.

"Move Daytona." Logan's voice was as hard as steel.

"No. You're not going to get in trouble on the last day before break." I wrapped my hand around Logan's fist and automatically, I could feel some of the tension leave it.

"He's right Daytona, get behind me, I'll protect you from him." Brody grabbed my wrist, but I twisted it so now I was holding his wrist and spun his arm behind his back.

"How dumb are you? Leave. Me. Alone." By this time, teachers and other students started to run towards us to try and break up the non-existent fight.

I let go of Brody and turned back to Logan, "Are you okay?" Placing a gentle hand on his shoulder I guided him out of the gym into the hallway. "Calm down okay? Everything will be okay."

Funny that I'm telling him the exact words my brother told me last night that I didn't believe.

Logan took my hand in his and brought it up to to his face where he kissed my palm. "How do you do that?"

"Do what?" I asked.

"This." He gestured to himself with the hand that wasn't holding mine. "Not only did you calm me down in record time, but you stepped in front of my flying fist so I wouldn't get in trouble. And then instead of wondering if I hit you, you automatically asked if I was okay first. How did you do that?"

He studied me with his hard green eyes, sighed, then dropped my hand.

"You're amazing you know that right?" Despite the hard lines in his face, he smiled softly at me.

"I know." I laughed and wrapped my arms around him, leaning in for a hug. "I've got to go back in there you know."

"Do you though?" He murmured into the top of my head.

"Yes I do. Or maybe you don't want me yo graduate this year."

He pulled back and looked at me with a serious expression, "Of course I want you to graduate." He pulled me back in and whispered, "But I also just want to get out of here."

"Yeah. Me too." I sighed before pulling away. "Alright, I really have to go back now. Wait here for Me? The game shouldn't be that much longer."

"Fine, but if that Davidson touches you again I swear I'll-"

"I can't take care of myself Logan." I said with a slight laugh before slipping back into the gym. I was able to slip back into my seat without anyone noticing.

Anyone but Rylan that is. "Did you guys have a hot make out sesh?" She whispered except it wasn't even really a whisper.

"No." I laughed, "I just told him to calm down."

"And did he?" Her eyebrow was arched as she asked.

"Yes? Why wouldn't he?"

"Oh that's so romantic." She sighed.

"Not really." The buzzer sounded letting everyone know that the game was over.

The final score was 62-39, which wasn't too bad.

"Alright Rylan. I've got to grab my stuff and bounce. Have a good break." I waved bye to her before running into the locker room and changing my shoes real quick.

When I walked back out, Brody was leaning in the doorway, blocking my way out of the gym.

"I told you already, I would rather harvest my own organs and sell the on the black market for six potato chips than have sex with you." I crossed my arms with a huff and stared him down, but he didn't budge.

"No, you see, I don't like what you, or Logan, pulled back there. I'm not one to take no for an answer, so one way or another I will get you. You hear me Daytona? I will-"

"Yeah yeah, you will get me, I pretend to me scared, you shove past me, I add you to the list of people who want revenge on me. Can we be down now? I really want to take a shower." I gave him the most bored look I could conjure at that point. All he did was stare back at me in shock.

Rolling my eyes, I pushed him out of my way and walked out the door. "Come on Logan. Let's go." I grabbed him hand in mine and we walked out into the freezing weather.

"Who's house are we going to?" He asked.

"Whoever? Actually, is your pool heated?" I glanced back at him with a wicked smirk on my face.

"Yeah? Why?" We stopped in front of his car and I got on my tiptoes and kissed his cheek.

"Call Jake and Tyler over and tell them to bring swim suits." I started to run over to where Mason and I had parked this morning.

"You do realize that it is forty degrees outside right?" He yelled after me.

"Duh! But your pool is heated!" I ran as fast as I could with my bag banging against my hip and jumped into my car. "Let's go home. Hurry!"

"Um okay? Why?" Mason started to peel out of the parking spot and head towards my house.

"We are having a pool party at Logan's!" I clapped my hands and laughed.

For some reason I had gone from completely exhausted to full of energy.

"Daytona, it's forty degrees outside. You're still shivering."

"But his pool is heated." I said in a matter-of-fact tone.

"Yeah that makes it so much better." He rolled his eyes and sighed, "Whatever. As long as you're happy."

I pulled out my phone and sent a quick text to Charlotte letting her know what was up. She didn't come to school today (not that it was different from other days) but since she left me stranded last night, I needed to talk to her.

I also messaged Marissa so she could come if she wanted to. My finger hovered above Jordan's name, but since I invited his sister, I had to invite him too.

When we got home, I ran upstairs to grab a swim suit. The first one I pulled out was the one Colton bought me so I three it on my floor in disgust.

Note to self: throw that away when I come home.

The next one I pulled out was and older one, but forever would it be one of my favorites. It was a plain, strappy, pink bikini, but during summer, when I tanned, it would compliment my skin tone really well.

I don't know what it will look like on my winter skin, but I don't feel like looking for my other ones.

Quickly, I changed out of my uniform and into my sweatpants and a sweatshirt. Putting my swim suit in a bag with my waterproof Bluetooth speaker, I headed downstairs. "Come on Mason! Let's go!"

I turned the corner and jumped when I saw Cooper sitting at the dining room table with his arms crossed. "And where are you two going?"

"We're having a pool party at Logan's house. It's just our little group. Do you want to come?" I grabbed a poptart out of the pantry and tossed him one too.

"It's forty four degrees outside? Are you crazy?"

"His pool is heated though."

"That doesn't matter. You could get pneumonia!"

"Tanner and Tyler will be there. You three could catch up. Maybe even entertain the rest of us with your stories." At the mention of Tyler and Tanner, Cooper loosened up a bit.

"Fine! I'll come. You've always been able to talk me into stuff and it's annoying." He grumbled but got up anyway.

"Yay!" I clapped my hands and jumped on his back. "I'm sure Tanner has swim trunks you could use."

"Whatever, just get off of me." He grunted under my weight and I slid off.

"Mason!" I yelled up the stairs.

"Coming!" He yelled back down. Shortly, footsteps could be heard running down the stairs. "Is he coming with us?" Mason pointed to Cooper and I gave him a nod. "Alright. Let's get going."

"I'm driving!" Cooper shouted, grabbing the keys off the counter.

"Shotgun." Mason and I said at the same time. We narrowed our eyes at each other.

"Rock, paper, scissors." I played scissors while Mason played paper. "Ha, I win." I skilled joyfully out of the house and into the passenger seat. When Mason got in he mumbled something along the lines of it not being fair considering he was older.

Cooper got behind the wheel and drummed it for a minute before turning to look at the two of us. "How do I get to Logan's house?"

I rolled my eyes and gave Cooper directions on how to get there.

When we pulled up, several cars including Tyler's, and Jordan's sat parked in the street.

"Let's go." I unbuckled me seatbelt and walked through the side gate that was open.

"What's up losers? Party just arrived!" Tyler, Tanner, and Jake were already in the pool, but Logan sat on the porch drinking a beer.

"There you guys are. Took you long enough." He got up and brought me a beer.

"You could blame these two for that. Mainly Mason though." I pointed my thumb behind me.

"Two?" Tanner asked from the pool. He too had a beer in his hand. Everyone made completely suspicious eye contact with each other before Cooper stepped out from behind Mason.

"Hey Tanner. Long time no see." Cooper awkwardly scratched the back of his neck, unsure on how to reintroduce himself to Tanner.

"Coop? Is that really you?" Slowly, he put the beer on the grass and climbed out. Tyler was definitely a lot more open to the thought of Cooper being alive than Tanner, but either way, Tanner made his way towards him and hugged him, wet body and all.

"Yeah man. It's me."

"I'm touched and all, but can I go inside because it's cold and that water looks really warm but I don't have my bathing suit on so I need to change." I gestured to the door and Tanner just rolled his eyes at me.

"You practically live here, why are you waiting on us." He had now tarted making his way to the cooler that sat on their porch and tossed one Cooper.

"You're right. Well I'll be back then." I ran inside and smiled when the warm air started to make its way through my clothes and warm up my skin.

I walked up to Logan's room and got changed into my swimsuit. I grabbed my bag and ran back downstairs and outside.

I forgot to hook my phone up to the speaker while I was inside, so know I was standing in the cold air doing a crazy dance trying to keep warm. "Ah ha!" I set it to shuffle my music and disgracefully dove into the pool.

"Geez Daytona, could you make a bigger splash?" Jake giggled and I just narrowed my eyes at him before ducking back under.

The water was so warm that when I poked me head out, I started to shiver.

"Whatever Jake. I'm sure you couldn't make a smaller one." I huffed and sat on a smooth step.

"Is that a challenge? Did everyone hear that? It sounded like a challenge to me."

Logan slid in next to me and rolled his eyes. "What sounded like a challenge now?"

"I told Jake he couldn't make a smaller splash than me." I smirked as Jake stood at the edge of the pool shivering.

"That sounds like a challenge to me. Shall we make this an offical challenge. Whoever wins gets to make the losers do whatever they say." Cooper, Tanner, and Tyler all walked out at the same time.

"What's the challenge? I'm always up for a good challenge." Copper said, diving in almost as gracefully as me (joking guys).

"Whoever jumps in and creates the smallest splash wins and the winner gets to make the losers do whatever they want." Logan explained again, standing up as if to get out.

"You're participating too?" I asked in disbelief. "Who's going to judge the jumps then?"

"I can." A soft voice floated pass the three stooges.

"Marissa! I'm so glad you could make it! Is Jordan here?" I got out of the pool to go give her a hug. 

"No. He had some things to do. He told me to tell you sorry." She shrugged hee shoulders in indifference. "Alright, so I'm judging who creates the smallest splash?"

Everyone in unison responded, "Yes."

"Alright," she said rubbing her hands together. "Are there any rules?"

We all kind of looked at each other before Cooper shot his hand into the air. "Dives do not count. Jumping, falling, or pushing counts, but diving doesn't."

We nodded our heads in agreement that that was a pretty fair rule.

"So. Who goes first?" I asked.

"Oldest to youngest." Logan offered up.

"How about youngest to oldest." Tanner argued.

"Or," Cooper looked at me with a wicked smirk, "In the order of next birthdays."

"No, no, no, no!" I shook my head vigorously.

"Yeah that sounds good."

"Yup. Sounds pretty fair."

I groaned internally and shot Cooper a death glare.

"So. Who's birthday is the closest?" Tanner asked looking between everyone.

"Daytona's!" Cooper shouted.

"When's your birthday?" Tanner asked.

"The twenty-eighth." I muttered.

"Yup! She's definitely going first. You ready Daytona?" I turned to face the water and nodded.

"Count me down." I said over my shoulder.

"Alright. One, two, now!" I turned around confused when I saw Logan and Cooper both rushing at me with their hands outstretched.

"No!" I yelled as they pushed me backwards and I fell into the pool. As i resurfaced I shook the water out of my eyes. "That's not fair! You pushed me!"

"Sorry Sis. You agreed to the rules and the rules said pushing waa allowed." Cooper shrugged his shoulders and did a pencil jump into the water, definitely splashing less than I did.

In the end, Logan ended up winning the contest. I don't know how considering her canon balled into the pool, but whatever.

"Ha! Now you are all my slaves!" Logan threw his head back and laughed for what seemed like the millionth time. "Oh am I excited for telling you what to do." He shot me wink and I deflected it by rolling my eyes, but my cheeks betrayed me and warmed anyways.

"Hey. You better treat her right or I will destroy you. Got that Wylde." Cooper pointed a pruned finger at Logan.

"I'll hurt you too Little Bro. Seriously. Don't break Daytona' s heart." Tanner also pointed a prunes finger at Logan.

"You guys know I would never hurt her, and I'm offended that you would even think you needed to tell me that." He put on a hurt face and pouted.

"Whatever Wylde." Cooper rolled his eyes,  "Just don't hurt-" the sound of a glass breaking from inside caught our attention.

I did a quick head count and realized everyone was here.

Logan looked at me before getting out of the water and heading inside. I got out and followed him because there are several people who would target Logan because of me, so I need to be there with him.

We walked into the kitchen and saw a plate broken and smashed in pieces. Logan bent down and picked up a shattered piece with a green 'S' on it.

"Stay here. I'll be back." He slipped the piece of broken glass in his pockets and headed upstairs slowly.

"Logan!" I whisper-shouted. "Logan!" When he didn't stop, I decided to ignore what he said and heas upstairs too.

When I got to the top of the stairs, I had already lost him and all the doors were closed so I was going to have to go door to door.

Starting with his.

I knocked on it. No answer. I put my ear to it and heard nothing. Opening it, it was as empty as earlier.

Moving on to the next room which got the same result.

The next room however, I didn't even have to knock to know he was in there, because he was having a conversation with someone.

"I told you to never come here again. What do you want?" Whoever it was, had gotten Logan irritated and annoyed.

"What?" His tone had changed drastically. It was annoyed, but now it sounded scared almost. "Cooper. You're sure?"

I had enough listening through the door, I tried to turn the handle, but it was stuck.

"Go." I heard him say. In seconds, I had the door open and watched as someone with long blonde hair jumped out the window.

Again I was hit with a weird sensation.

"Daytona, listen, it's not what you think." Logan raised his hands and started to back up towards the window.

"You have ten seconds to explain what's going on Logan. Starting with who she is and how you know her." I crossed my arms and kicked the door shut. This should be fun.

~~~~~~~~~~~~🌸~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Woohoo!!! The next chapter is out! And would you look at that, 8382 words! All for you guys!

I am so so so sorry it took me this long to get this chapter out. I had major writers block, and I literally wrote 6k words in a car ride from Florida to Texas (in case you don't know it's roughly 18 hours) and wow it's funny what sleep deprivation can do for the mind!

Anywho.

This is also a 200k read special! Thank you all so much for reading my trashy writing and supporting me though I make you wait a month for the next chapter (I hope it was well worth it.)

Currently it is 4:41 AM so I'm not going to go back and edit this 🤷🏼‍♀️ oh quail.

Speaking of quail, let's start a family group thing! Comment 'me' if you want to be apart of the Boxing Quail Fam! (Just go with it.)

#BoxingQuailFam #BQF

Well i hope you all enjoy this well over due chapter and please, if you see any mistakes, please point them out to me! I'd really appreciate it.

Also, I ENTERED INTO THE WATTYS! I honestly don't think I'll win because there are sooo many good books out there, but it was worth a shot. Um yeah so I don't know if you guys vote or something (I don't think you do), but I just wanted to let you guys know 😊

As always:

Love you all!😘❤
~May