OLIVIA

Colby and I completed two play-reading nights without even kissing each other. I secretly hoped he would, but he never came close enough for me to even smell him.

He's acting weird. Distant.

I hate the secrets. The sneaking around. I can't even talk to my friends about it because I don't want them to know. I don't even know why. I want to scream to the world that I'm into him, but I'd be like every girl on this campus. Not original.

We had the Athlete's Ball tonight. I was wearing my rose-gold sequin gown paired with silver heels. Thanks to Sadie, the hair expert, my blonde hair was curled perfectly. My best friends and I looked hot.

My arm is wrapped around Miller's arm loosely as we walk inside the building where the dance is being held. It's full of college students standing there, bored out of their minds. We need alcohol to have fun at any school event.

Miller pulls out a flask as we step inside, "We getting fucked up, or what?"

I laugh, "No whiskey for me tonight, Mills. I am going to try to leave this place in one piece. I'm going to find a glass of wine. Hopefully, they at least allowed that." I squeeze his arm and leave him with our friends to find the bar.

I'm already bored to death. I should have told him I wanted to smoke before we left. At least I could have mellowed the night out.

Getting absolutely hammered tonight sounds like fun, but coach called for an early morning practice tomorrow, so I'll be in bed before midnight. That is, if the night goes the way I want it to. Just calm.

"Liv!" A voice squeals behind me, following the sounds of heels clicking on the floor.

I stop and turn to see Sadie and Crawford heading my way. "Hey, guys," I say. Crawford came and got Sadie before Bella and I left to pick up the guys. "I see you found the perfect tie."

Crawford grins, straightening his tie, "Thanks. My mother actually found it for me at Kohl's. I'm horrible at shopping. I end up coming out with everything except the thing I actually needed."

"You headed to the bar?" I ask, looking around at everyone. I knew most of the guys, but I only recognized a few of the girls here.

Crawford laughs, "Hell yeah, we are. This shit is boring."

"Agreed. I can't believe they forced us to come here to give the school clout," I say as we continue to walk towards the bar.

"Did you come with Miller?" Crawford asks as we reach the bar's line.

I nod, "Yes. He brought an extra large flask of whiskey, so he's already covered for the night."

"Of course. Colby brought something with him, but I have no clue where he went," Sadie says, looking around.

My face heats at the mention of Colby. He's been very professional with me this week. Strictly school, no play. It's honestly weird, but I didn't say anything.

"He brought Sophie," Crawford adds.

Thanks for the information. I love knowing what he's doing. "Who?" I ask, even though I know exactly who she is—the girl he ditched to take me home last weekend.

"Softball girl."

"Ah," I say, approaching the bartender to order my drink. "Pink Moscato, please," I say, handing the bartender my drink ticket. The school gave us each two tickets for free drinks. They only have beer, four different wines, and seltzers it seems. This will do for now. Hopefully, we won't be here long enough that I'll need more than two.

I return to Miller after I get my drink, and he and Bernie are judging each other's dance moves.

I snort as Miller starts doing the sprinkler, trips, and stumbles over. "That could have been better, Mills."

"Alright, since you're being cocky, you drop us a move, Liv."

I laugh, handing Bella my drink to hold. I shake my arms out before starting to dance to the running man. They bust out laughing as I move in a circle. "Alright, Liv. I didn't know you had such great moves," Miller laughs.

When I stop and look back up, a gaze on the other side of the room gets my attention. Colby Jones leans against the wall as he watches me. His date is occupied talking to her friends as she ignores him. Or maybe he's ignoring her. That sounds more right.

He brings his flask to his lips as we continue to stare at each other. I'm the first to break eye contact, and I grab my wine glass and take a large sip.

Bernie and Miller begin their dance battle again, and Bella and I gladly watch, ignoring the fact that the speakers are playing slow dance songs. They didn't care. They were trying to make the night more fun.

Standing next to Bella, I lean against the table, "So how long are we staying?"

"We have to stay at least an hour. They will make some announcements later, and then we can dip. But seriously, Liv, please don't get wasted tonight. You need to be alert for practice tomorrow."

I groan, "You are such a buzz kill, Bells. Was it your idea to have practice in the first place? I bet it was."

She rolls her eyes, "I think you and I both know it was not my idea. Coach just wants to be in control."

"I feel like dropping a sleeping pill in her drink so she doesn't wake up for practice," I growl.

She laughs, and I watch Crawford take Sadie to the dance floor. They are so stinking adorable. I'm glad it worked out for them. "I wouldn't be against doing it if she pulls this shit again."

Suddenly, I want to be the one on the dance floor. "Miller," I say, getting his attention. "Let's go dance."

"Sure thing," he says, walking over to me. I finish the rest of my wine, leaving it on the table for a cleaner to grab it.

I take his hand, and he leads us to the dance floor, where many others are slow dancing. I wrap my hands around his neck, and his arms snake around my waist, careful of where he touches.

We sway to the music, and I laugh, "I'm sorry. I thought this would be more fun."

He laughs, pushes back, and starts actually to dance. He twirls me around as everyone else stands stiffly, watching us. I grin as we become the center of attention for everyone around us.

I accidentally bump into the girl behind me and stumble into Miller's arm. I gasped, turning back to the girl, "I'm so sorry."

"You're fine," she says, taking her date and moving a few feet over.

I look back to Miller and laugh, "That was fun."

He licks his lips and looks down at me, something flashing through his eyes. He bends down, and before I know it, his lips are brushing over mine. I startled and pulled away, "Miller." In my peripheral vision, I see someone stomping off.

His eyes widen, and he backs away, "Shit, Liv, I'm sorry. I did not mean to do that. Fuck."

My eyes flash to the person walking away, and I can tell from one glance that it's Colby. Did he see that? If he did, why does he care? He shouldn't care. "It's fine," I say, taking my eyes off Colby and back to Miller.

He still looks disheveled as he runs a hand through his hair. "Yeah. Too much whiskey. I'm going to walk away now."

I shake my head, laughing as he turns and walks away. I wait a moment before I turn and sprint towards the way Colby ran off without a second thought.

I turn the corner, and he's not there. I keep walking towards the exit, heading through the doors into the cold. I should have brought a jacket. The sun was setting, and now the breeze was nipping at my skin.

I find him leaning over the brick railing. I quietly walk up towards him, but the click of my heels gives me away.

"Leave me alone," he growls, not bothering to look towards me.

I blink, not sure what to do. Do I go? Do I stay? I don't know. But I don't want to leave him alone. I cross my arms as the wind blows on my skin, "I think you know me enough to know I'm not going to leave you alone."

His head drops, still not looking my way, "Olivia, seriously. I'm not in the mood."

I step closer towards him. I reach my arm out towards his tricep; I rest my hand there as he flinches, "What's wrong?"

He takes a deep breath before standing up and turning towards me. His face has a scowl, and his eyebrows are knitted together. He's angry. "I want you to leave me alone," he snarls.

His words don't hurt me. I don't even flinch at them. I say nothing as I continue to stare up at him. "I don't want to leave you alone."

He rolls his eyes and huffs out a laugh, "Olivia, go back to Miller."

I cross my arms as I stand up straighter, "Is that what this is about? Did you see him kiss me?" He blinks but says nothing as he shifts his feet. "I only came here with him because I knew you wouldn't want to be seen with me."

He blinks, his face turning from angry to almost sincere, "that's not true."

"Then why didn't you ask me to come with you? I asked Miller because I found out you were going with someone else."

He sighs, running a hand through my hair, "Look. I wish it were you. I thought taking Sophie would distract me from you, but instead, I've been watching you the entire night with another man that's not me, and I fucking hate it."

The ends of my lips curve up, and I have to force them back down. "You're jealous."

He purses his lips and looks up at the stars, "I don't know what the fuck to do, Liv."

I took another step towards him, so we were practically touching, only inches away from each other. "About what?" I ask though I think I already know what his issue is.

"You. Us. I can't fucking take it anymore. I can't stop thinking about you all the damn time."

"You like me," I whisper. He swallows and doesn't say anything, letting me know the truth. He does. "Typically, the first thing you should do is ask me on a date. But, I know you 'don't date,'" I say with quotation marks at the phrase I've heard him say so many times. "So here's the deal. Either you ask me on a date, or we walk away from this, and you never touch me again."

"I've never dated anyone."

"I haven't dated anyone in four years. But these are all just excuses. Look, either we try the relationship out or leave it behind, and I'm going to walk back inside and go back to Miller."

He growls, "Olivia."

"Look, I like you too, dumbass. I'm tired of sneaking around. I'm tired of lying. So choose."

He licks his lips and runs a hand through his hair as he says nothing. He just stares. I'm not going to wait forever for him.

"Choose." He still stands frozen, not able to move his lips. I give him a few more seconds, and he says nothing. I don't want to leave. I'd wait forever for him. But I don't want him to win. "Alright. Good night, Colby," I say, turning around and walking back to the entrance of the building.

I head back up to the steps, and I hear a faint "Fuck." I don't turn around. I keep walking. Slowly. I sway my hips. I have to make him miss me.

A hand darts out and grabs me, and turns me around. I almost trip, but he pulls me close to him. "Olivia." I want to smile. He's doing it. He wants me. "I want you to be mine. Fuck, I want it so bad. You're just gonna have to bear with me, okay? I've never done this shit. I'm gonna take you on a date. A million of them, if you want. I'll do anything you want."

I finally smile. I grab the back of his head and pull it down to kiss him. He meets me halfway and wraps his arms around me. Mine. He's mine. Finally. I never want this moment to end. This kiss feels different. It feels passionate. Desirous.

I hear the door swing open, but I don't care. I don't look to see who it is, nor does he.

"Found them," a voice says, that I recognize as my best friends. I smile against Colby's lips, ignoring all of them who are watching us.