"Theo's gonna be here." Zara nudged me in the ribs as we walked up Reece's driveway to his doorstep, the sound of upbeat music getting gradually louder as we neared the house.

I felt my heartbeat quicken at the mention of his name, but I decided to cover it up with my most dangerous weapon, sarcasm.

"Really? Why on earth would he be at his best friends party? Would never have guessed!" I acted surprised.

"Shut up. You know you should really stop pretending you hate him, he's never done anything to hurt you."

I simply arched an eyebrow in response, leaving the conversation there because 1, I didn't want to talk about Theo and 2, we were at the door. I pressed the doorbell and wondered if there was any point in doing so when the music was no doubt draining out the noise.

Zara shrugged and twisted the handle, opening the door. We were greeted by the smell of alcohol and booming music. I couldn't help the smile that tugged on my lips as I realised that I was going to have some fun tonight.

Reece appeared in front of us as Zara and I entered. He swayed as he stared at my best friend, his eyes lingering on each part of her. I couldn't blame him to be honest, she looked absolutely gorgeous in her black midi.

If it weren't for the deafening music, you would have been able to hear the sexual tension between the pair. Feeling a little bit awkward, I decided to clear my throat.

Reece's face read none other than as if he had only just noticed my presence. I smiled politely.

"Oh hey, thanks for coming. Help yourself to drinks in the kitchen." Reece nodded at the red cup in his hand, sounding more sober than he looked - but I didn't miss the slight slur in his speech.

"Thanks,"  I said, but he probably didn't hear me because he had already turned his attention to Zara and they engaged in small talk. I immediately realised I was probably third wheeling and I groaned internally as I realised it was probably going to be like this all night. Oh, the perks of having only one friend.

I needed a drink.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not necessarily the party type. But if the freaking Pope had to stand here and watch Zara giggling and playing with her hair while Reece said something to prove his manliness - he'd be reaching for some too.

I made my way over to the kitchen, dodging drunken teenagers who stumbled around the place. Leaning against the counter, I opened the keg and waited for the stream of beer to fill my cup.

Suddenly, strong arms encircled me at the waist and I felt a hard body against my back. My whole body froze, I tried to will myself to move but I couldn't.

"Guess who?" A familiar voice whispered in my ear, his breath hot against my neck.

Strangely, my body immediately relaxed when I recognised the voice, but not enough to not make me want to jump out of this awkward position. Closing the keg, I struggled out of his hold and created some space between us. Before I faced him, I quickly answered, "Chris Hemsworth!?"

I tried to look disappointed when I turned around, to see a frowning Theo. He looked impossibly hotter than usual, dressed in dark jeans and a black shirt. I felt myself grow self conscious as he took his time giving me a once over, showing no shame in doing so. Not knowing what to do, I took a sip of my drink.

"He wishes." Theo finally responded. His eyes still not meeting mine yet. He pointed to the cup in my hand, "I didn't know you drank."

"You don't really know me, do you?" I countered, taking another sip.

"I'd like to." Theo said, taking me by surprise. I was waiting for the smirk, but it never came. I prayed the foundation caked on my face, courtesy of Zara, covered the blush that I could feel heating my cheeks.

Speaking of the devil! I was so relieved when Zara saved me from having to think of a reply that didn't sound lame or awkward.

"ALANA! There you are," Zara grabbed me by the wrist, clearly not acknowledging Theo's presence, which I was eternally grateful for because she probably would have made some awkward comment and ruined my life.

"Come and dance with me pleaseeeee?" She begged, smiling hopefully.

I'm not sure if I agreed simply to get away from Theo who was confusing me more and more with everything he said, or because That's What I Like by Bruno Mars just came on.

"Fine, just one song though."

I let her drag me to the crowd of grinding bodies, and once we were amongst them my hips started moving on their own, and then my arms joined in and I lost myself in the music, laughing and dancing.

I must have lost track of time. I looked at my phone to see if my mom had texted to say she was coming home earlier, which she had not, and I saw that the time read 11:58.

Zara had just returned from the kitchen with another drink for me. I had only just finished my fourth - maybe this was part of her evil plan to murder me. I was pretty thirsty after all that dancing, which was definitely more than the one song I had agreed to... So I downed the cup. Bad idea. I need to pee!

Zara had disappeared again, I rolled my eyes. I wouldn't be surprised if I saw her and Reece making out somewhere.

I figured the toilet would most likely be down the hall somewhere, I just hoped that I wouldn't have to open a door and accidentally walk in on someone having sex like in the movies.

I made my way through the sea of dancers, and down the hallway, suddenly feeling a little off balance. But I wasn't drunk. Definitely not. Maybe.

Amazingly, there was no queue for the toilet! Yay! I quickly peed.

I was washing my hands at the basin when I felt arms grab me at the waist for the second time tonight. The feeling was all too familiar. I laughed and was about to say something, but next thing I knew I was thrown against the wall, his body sandwiching me against the hard wall, his chest pressed against my back.

"What the hell Theo!" I shouted, not expecting him to do such a thing.

If Theo thinks he can just throw me against a wall for one of his games, he's in for a surprise. I looked down and could see his shoes, so I lifted my leg up and stomped my heel into his foot. That will show him not to mess with me!

He growled, tightening his hold on me, so that it was hard for me to breathe.
"I wouldn't be doing that if I were you, missy." An angry, deep voice barked.

Wait a minute, that wasn't Theo... I felt my heartbeat drop and my breathing quicken when I suddenly realised that I had probably just pissed off someone I really didn't want to. I began to panick.

I screamed when the unknown guy's hand lowered to my exposed thigh, and started to move under my dress. His other hand covered my mouth. I could feel tears in my eyes, what was he going to do to me?

"Shut the fuck up or I'll make you regret it." The voice hissed, his lips brushing against my ear. I closed my eyes when the tears started to spill down my face. I sobbed quietly while his rough hands wandered under my dress. I felt sick when he started kissing my shoulder, my neck, my ear. I wanted to do something, to make this disgusting excuse of a human stop touching me, but I was too scared. I was completely powerless.

"Get your fucking hands off of her!"

My eyes snapped open when I heard Theo's voice, I had never heard him so angry.

Theo must have pulled the guy off of me, because I could no longer feel the hardness of him pressed against me, but the feeling of the guy's hands lingered on my skin. I didn't dare turn around yet. I was too scared.

When I finally turned around, the last thing I saw was Theo on top of a body that wasn't moving, and it's face was unrecognisable because it was covered in blood.

Then I let the darkness that formed around my vision consume me.

• • •

I blinked a few times as my eyes adjusted to the darkness of my bedroom. I checked the time on my phone which was on my bedside table, to see it was almost four in the morning, my mom should be home soon. I groaned and rolled over, hoping to get back to my much needed sleep. I pulled the covers up and over my head, blocking out the moonlight.

I almost jumped out of my bed when someone groaned and pulled the covers back.

What the shit!!

My eyes flew open to come face to face with a sleeping Theo. In my bed.

My first thought was to kick him off the bed. I tried, and did not succeed. It was like pushing a brick wall!

"Theo!" I whispered. "Wake up!"

His face remained peaceful, my efforts having no effect on his sleeping state.

I groaned and started squirming towards the edge of the bed when Theo's arm reached out and curled around my waist, pulling me to his chest.

I couldn't believe this was happening. How did I wake up to this?

That's when I remembered. Well I guess you can't say remembered, because all I can remember is a lot of dancing and drinking at Reece's party.

Oh god. If Theo is in my bed, then...

We didn't - did we?

I couldn't have.

I wouldn't have.

I turned around and shoved Theo as hard as I could possibly manage with a new source of strength, and to my surprise, he fell of the bed.

I felt extremely accomplished for a split second, before my anger, confusion and fear returned, morphed into one overwhelming emotion.

"What the fu-" Theo mumbled, from the floor. His hands reached up to rub his eyes. I tried my hardest not to think about how adorable he looked.

"No! You don't get to say that! If anything I should be asking you what the fuck happened last night." I snapped at him.

Theo stared up at me from the floor in confusion. When he didn't reply, I threw a pillow at his face.

"How dare you take advantage of me like that! I was drunk! I can't even remember it!" I shouted, throwing another pillow at him. He groaned.

"Maybe you can't remember it because it didn't happen? Jesus, Alana. You think I would do that to you?" He looked taken aback. Theo got up and started pacing around the room, running his hands over his face.

I sunk back into my bed, thinking. "Then explain why the hell you're in my room!"

"You were drunk last night and-" His hands curled up into fists.

"And?" I waited for him to continue, crossing my arms over my chest.

"Alana, what do you remember?" He asked, looking at me with worried eyes.

"I don't know. Not much." I said slowly, I don't know why he was dragging this on, get to the point! His cautious expression was starting to worry me.

Theo sighed as he walked over to my window, not looking at me as he said, "There was a guy, he was trying to uh, take advantage of you... But-"

A loud sob escaped me when the vents of last night came crashing down on me.

Theo rushed over to me quickly and pulled me into his arms. I couldn't help the tears that ran down my face.

"Shh, it's okay. You're okay." Theo assured me. It helped, because my tears stopped and I managed to steady my breath.

"I remember..." I quaked.

He waited a while to let me regain myself before he continued.

"After that, you passed out. And well, I couldn't find Zara anywhere so I decided to take you home, but when I got here your house was empty and I didn't want to leave you alone so..." He got up again and looked out my window, tapping his fingers against the pane. He looked nervous, which was a complete contrast of the cocky, confident Theo I was used to.

"Are you okay, Alana?" He looked at me, his tone laced with worry.

I nodded. "Thank you." I said simply, but it was more than just a simple thank you. My memory may have been slightly blurred, but it didn't take much to know that things could have easily gone terribly wrong last night, but he was there.

"I should probably head home," Theo said, after a while. "Try and sleep."

After a moment, he turned on his heel and headed to the window, the illuminating moonlight shining on his face. I could now see a small bruise under his right eye, and I gasped when I looked down at his hands. They were bloody and his knuckles looked like they were split.

"Wait!" I called from my bed, getting out to approach him. I now noticed that I was still in my dress from last night.

I stood a foot from him, my hand reaching up to his eye on its own accord. His breath hitched at my touch, and his hand reached up to rest on top of mine, but he didn't pull away. His touch sent a shiver down my spine.

"Theo," I whispered. "You're hurt. Because of me." I felt terrible. That whole time I was thinking about myself and I didn't stop once to think that maybe he was injured in the fight.

Theo shook his head slightly, "Don't worry about me, it's just a black eye." He tried to assure me. I still felt bad, even if it was Theo Archer who was in a fight every week. "And don't say it's because of you, you did nothing to cause that Alana. It was that asshole's fault." His jaw clenched as he looked away from me. He seemed to be deep in thought.

I flinched at the murderous expression he had, removing my hand from Theo's face.

"I have to go do something." He stated.

What could he possibly have to do at this time of night?

Not that I wanted him to stay...

"Okay." I replied, walking back to my bed. He retrieved his phone and keys from the floor, before he opened my window.

"I have a door?" I told him, but he just gave me a small smile as he swung his leg over and climbed out.

"Goodnight, Alana." Theo wished me, before shutting the window and jumping down.

I heard his car rev soon after, confirming his survival of the two storey drop he must have endured.

What's with bad boys always climbing in and out of girls windows? Feels like I'm in some cliche movie.

I got under my covers, and replayed the eventful night that just took place, until I drifted off into a welcoming sleep.

__________________________

A.N-

Hope you're enjoying it so far, let me know your thoughts!