To my new readers, forgive me for unpublishing the chapters due to rewriting and editing. To my old readers, new and improved! Cover above, compliments to junebug2468!!

Three months ago-

“Shots!” Someone  yelled out in the kitchen over the loud music. I totally protested on going to this party because I didn’t want to see any of the stupid people at school get more stupid when they are drunk. With the writhing on each other, exchanging saliva and  stripping, it made no sense to me.

We decided to crash anyway, at least stay for two hours. “Hannah!” My name was screamed out, notifying that it was my friend Seth from the kitchen by the counter mixing his favorite, scotch and soda in a red plastic cup.

“Already in party mode?” I yelled out amused, he poured a second cup.

“Hell yeah, next year is going to be so stressful,”  he responded, huffing out a breath.

“We’re only fifteen and sophomore year ended four hours ago.” He's acting as if the end of the world is coming while drinking his troubles away.

“I heard the populars are going to do this initiation bullshit of dares to join their group next year. Whoever disagrees gets ridiculed everyday.”

“So?”

“So? It’s bad enough that I was wedgied and swirlyed eighth grade year, never again,” he said drinking the last drop from his cup. My friends and I have been bullied since middle school, harmless pranks. The populars accused him of being gay because he took yoga for his bad back. I saw him making out with two girls one time for a dare at a party once and he loved it. He knew his sexuality but got annoyed quick, denying and having to prove it.

Anyway as he drank his troubles away, I took a sprite from the ice bucket and went to the dance floor looking for Linda but she was nowhere to be found, maybe she's making out with her boyfriend. I started to dance a little when Nicki Minaj’s ‘Super Bass’ started to play. My body swaying to the lyrics, really feeling it when the chorus came in: Boy, you got my heartbeat runnin' away Beating like a drum and it's coming your way Can't you hear that boom, badoom, boom, boom, badoom, boom, bass? You got that super bass Boom, badoom, boom, boom, badoom, boom, bass Yeah, that's the super bass.

“Come here often, gorgeous?” Some guy from behind me asked holding my hips, killing my vibe.

“Lame pickup line often?” I retorted back trying to pull his grip from me so I can dance alone but he was strong. He turned me around to face him. Cute, grey eyes, blonde hair and athletic body.

“Don’t tease me sweetie,” he slurred attempting to whisper sensually but he yelled it to my face. I smelled alcohol and salt on his breath, he was obviously drunk.

“You need water,”  struggling to get away from him but he held on. Does alcohol make a person strong or something? I thought it made you stupid and weak?

“Lay off her, Leo,” another guy said approaching us. I turned at who spoke: Charlie Hepburn, the alpha male, pretty boy, the guy I pined over for years. He's gorgeous.

I've wanted his attention but was practically invisible passing by in the hallways as i admired his looks from afar. My heart beating rapidly if he was near, I had to deal and view: the vapid, shallow girls on his shoulders left a bad taste in my mouth the years, asking myself what about me? It's a pipedream crush that won't happen.

He never tormented or bullied anyone but was not mentally present nor cared as his friends did to us.  We survived, thrived and stood strong, but in the back of my mind I wondered when someone could just say enough is enough.

Tonight seeing this side of him was refreshing. He was kind and protective, I liked it, it could be a start.

Leo heard, stumbling away not before stealing a beer bottle from someone's hand.

“You ok Hannah?” He asked, almost reaching my eye level with concern. 6’0, crisp blue eyes and wavy black hair. Lean, one of the best swimmers of Ford High School. Go Vikings!

“No big deal, thanks,” I said in with a small smile, joy filled that he knew my name. Charlie returned with a wide smile, I almost melted. I began to walk away but he grasped my arm.

“You wanna dance?”

“I don’t think so.”  I answered shyly.

“Just one, make it up to me for saving you.”

“I could have handled it without you.”

He scoffed in disbelief “yeah right.”

I rolled my eyes at his implied sexist comment, took his hold off of me, why did he have to be a jerk? Finding the kitchen if my friends were there. Random students laughing and drinking but no sign of a familiar face.

Where the hell are they? It’s been two hours, isn't that enough for a party? I found Linda though,  basically dry humping her boyfriend Edward. Aren't they having sex? Spotting Seth tonguing some redhead pinned the wall, definitely wasted now.

A hand gripped my shoulder, facing me of my other friend David. “Having fun?” he asked, booze on his breath wafted in my nostrils.

“I wanna go home,” I told him shaking my head.

He frowned, “I’m getting drunk tonight. It’s only 12 am,” he responded dismissively, grabbed a girl by the waist, his mouth meeting hers in a sloppy fashion.

Ugh. I didn’t want to stay all night, I missed my bed. Finding the stairwell and heading upstairs to the room we placed our things in earlier. Which room was in it again? Opening three doors, discovered students exchanging saliva clothes off. Disgusted I locked the doors behind me for their privacy.

Opening the fourth room, finally empty, jackets and purses piled on the bed. Approaching the bed rifling through others belongings for mine. Maybe I could call a cab to go home; I have some cash anyway just in case. David being the oldest, he was supposed to be our ‘designated driver.’ It looks like my friends are spending the night.

“Leaving so soon?” A husky low voice spoke from behind me. Spinning my head back and Charlie leaning against the doorframe.

“The party’s kind of boring.”  I answered turning forward continuing my search.

“Are you sure it’s the party or you?” He  questioned coming closer from behind me. I looked back to scowl at him.

“I’m not boring.”  I defended.

“Come on, I haven’t seen you take a shot of alcohol all night."

“Maybe drinking and acting like a tool is not part of my agenda.”

“I didn’t say get drunk, one drink.”

“I've had alcohol before. Why do you even care? You don't know me.”

“We had gym ninth grade, I remembered you' were the only girl that climbed the rope to the top.”

“Wow, you have eyes, amazing. After all these years," I asked sarcastically. I do remember me and him having gym, thinking he would notice me, he sure acted like he didn't. We sat next to each other but no glances. Nothing.

Thee gym teacher was giving out A’s for the whole year to anyone who could climb the way up for proof of endurance, everyone was either scared of heights, excuses of their menstruation or allergies to the rope.

I wanted to do it, to test my upper body strength. And I wanted an A, I surprised myself that day but I had rope burns on my palms from sliding down instead of climbing down.

“I see you now,” he replied smugly getting closer.

“What brought this on suddenly?”

“You're cute.”

Raising my eyebrow in suspicion I shook my head, but my gut said otherwise. I was giddy. Don't show your emotions.

As I continued to look, he took my hands into his interrupted my findings. Big and warm my face heating up.

“If you’re not boring, then have a drink with me.”

“Why do I have to have a drink to prove that I’m not boring?”

“Fine, then kiss me,” he suggested with a lustful look in his blue eyes.

He wanted me to kiss him? How  could I say no with him so close to my face? Gorgeous and a sweet scent from him, I couldn’t resist. A kiss from Charlie, it's a dream of mine: wanting to run my fingers through his soft hair as we made out on a field of wildflowers.

He leaned in more closer until our lips brushed. Soft and pillowy.

"No," coming to my senses opening my eyes backing away slowly, knowing I'm making a mistake but it's the right thing to do. "I need to go," locating my jacket on the bed, I grabbed it quick wearing the sleeves in a flash.

"Wow no girl has ever done that to me before," he said amused.

"There's a first time for everything," I said back, turning the knob.

"Let's get to know each other," his palm on the door as he shut it closed.

"Why?" I asked, facing his hard chest.

"I can be really nice," His voice getting lower than before.

"Is this your way of seducing me?" I joked, pushing his shoulder lightly.

"Maybe," he raised an eyebrow, walking toward the bed and lying on his back. He patted his hand on the right side for me to sit.

Crossing my arms, glancing at his body my footsteps make my way toward the mattress. Sitting  next to him in a distance.

"No funny business," I told him seriously, pointing a finger and squinting my eyes. I have to play hard to get.

He puts his palms in the air, "my hands are to myself."

Chatting with him wasn't anything as I predicted. I thought he would go on about how great he looked, his popularity, how many girls he dated but none of that came up. We spoke of university, favorite shows, music, politics and books. Finding out he cried when he read 'The Fault in Our Stars' was  cute. My cheeks hurt from smiling at his grin, a frenzy of butterflies flapped in my stomach as his hand ran through his hair, a chill ran up my spine whenever a slight touch from his fingers made contact to my skin. I was admiring again, this time up close and personal.

Checking the time on the bedside dresser, it's almost one a.m. "It's getting late," I told him hoarse from all the laughing speaking about the movie 'Knocked Up'.

“You’re not boring after all,” he chuckled, I did as well.

“Thank you but it is. My parents will freak out.” I informed him.

“I’m good with parents. I'll convince them that you spend the night." he wiggled his eyebrows.

"I don't think so," finally standing and reaching the door.

"Give me your number then, we can continue our talk." He suggested behind me.

"And what will your friends think of you talking to a nobody like me?"  The negative thought of his friends finding out made me cringe, anxious of what will come.

"You're not a nobody. Besides they don't have to know," he simply said shrugging. Pouting my lips in thought, I did like our conversation, but my friends would think I'm a complete idiot for associating with Charlie Hepburn. But like he said no has to know.  We could be friends, for starters, nothing more and not a big deal.

Shaking my head, I grabbed my pen and notepad from my purse writing down my number, handing it to him. His white teeth gleamed with happiness, he placed a kiss on my cheek. Hiding my blush I turned away,  opened the bedroom door to leave.