After the train wreck of a night I had, going to another party wasn't something I had in mind.

Yet, there I was in the backseat of Chelsea's car, sandwiched between Kimber and the door. Jem sat up front and Riley sat on the other side of Kimber.

They all said that I should join them after the game, insisting that I needed a break from the fashion show preparations. They kind of had a point. Plus it would be a nice distraction from the fact that I'd probably be blackballed in the fashion community for being a flake.

Now, the girls sang along to "Sorry Not Sorry" by Demi Lovato as Chelsea drove.

Even though Westbrook had just lost the playoffs to Bellview, ending their season, the school still wanted to celebrate.

We were on our way to a teen club called Slam! and apparently everyone was going to be there. That included Miles.

The moment in the maze played on a loop in my head. All with alternative endings where I didn't run away like his lips were on fire. Each time the memory played it felt like an entire zoo was stampeding through my stomach.

The fact that I spent the every second since then wondering how his lips felt, how they tasted, meant I was in deeper than I thought.

Miles Hanson liked me.

I liked Miles Hanson.

Somehow, that wasn't enough for me to abandon all the rules I made for myself. No matter how much I wanted to forget everything that happened in the past and just live, I couldn't.

The fear of getting to a point of happiness and then having it ripped away was enough to keep me away. I'd gone through it once and I didn't think I could survive it happening again.

"We're here!" Chelsea announced over the singing and the girls cheered.

She parked the car and we all filed out, making our way into the club.

The place was packed with people dancing to the latest music or lounging in booths to observe.

All of my senses seemed to be dulled by the loud bass of the music and the flashing lights on the ceiling. I had never missed my room more than I did in that moment.

The four of us made our way through the crowds to get to a booth on the far side of the room. It was already occupied by Owen, Cameron and, of course, Miles.

I hadn't talked to him since I left Victoria's party. He messaged a few times, asking how the meeting went and where I ran off to. How was I supposed to tell him that he completely terrified me?

We all sat down and I strategically placed myself in a position where I couldn't accidentally lock eyes with Miles.

It's possible I was overreacting about the whole situation and not giving Miles enough credit. He could be fine with me dodging his kiss or he could not even remember it. He was drunk after all. Maybe not blackout drunk, but maybe just drunk enough that his memory was too fuzzy to remember if the moment had actually happened or if he'd imagined it. I wasn't even drunk and I felt like it was a dream.

"Ow!" I winced as a sharp pain shot through my upper arm.

Someone had pinched me and that someone was Riley.

"Geez, you completely zoned out us," she laughed and I realized the other girls were now watching me. "We're hitting the dance floor, you in?"

I really wasn't in a dancing mood. "Later," I told her.

She nodded and the four of them stood up to go.

"You guys too," Kimber ordered, pointing at the boys.

Neither of them objected as they rose from their seats and followed the girls to the dance floor. Well, Owen and Cameron followed, Miles plopped down in the seat beside me.

I was forced to acknowledge him now. In the weird, purple lightning I could tell he was nervous as well, his eyes on me briefly before darting down to his hand.

I relaxed a little knowing it wasn't just me silently freaking out.

"So, last night was—"

"Weird," I cut in and he laughed.

"I was going to say interesting, but that works too."

There was another lull filled with awkward glances and Kendrick Lamar lyrics.

"How'd your meeting with Victoria go?" He asked, breaking the silence.

"I kinda ran out on the meeting," I admitted, sheepishly.

"You know, there are open spots on the cross-country team, if you're interested."

He smirked playfully and a laugh escaped my lips. It was nice to know that he didn't take my rejection seriously.

"About last night," he shifted his body towards me. "I shouldn't have tried to kiss you. Not like that at least."

That last part left me speechless. Although speech would be a great thing to have at the moment. No matter how many swarms of butterflies occupied my stomach every time he spoke or laughed or smiled I still had rules that I had no intention of breaking.

No boys.

"Miles," I said, finally finding my voice. "We can't—"

"Stop." He stood, pulling me up with him. "Let's not get in to it tonight. We're here to celebrate our epic win at losing. So, let's just hang out. As friends," he offered. Burying things was my more my style and I was glad he was on board with it as well. "We can dance or go upstairs to the arcade."

I was gearing up to turn him down and suggest we do our own thing when what he said registered in my brain. "Arcade?"

It'd been a few months since I'd been to an arcade. One game in particular came to mind. It was a two player game, so I had to take him up on his offer to hang out. As friends.

"The look on your face right now is very cute."

The zoo in my belly was back and I tried to get the animals back in their cage. Now was not the time.

"None of that," I warned. "Friends don't call friends cute."

"Alright," he smiled, holding up his hands in mock defense. "The arcade is this way."

He lead me up some stairs to a less populated area. There were rows of different games including racing, shooting and even some classic games like Pac-Man and Tetris.

That floor also had a bar that served food instead of just drinks like the one down stairs.

My eyes scanned the room until saw it. Tucked in a corner, untouched. I'd never been so happy to see an air hockey table.

I tried to keep my cool as I made my way over to the table, Miles followed close behind.

"Didn't take you as the air hockey type."

I fished a few quarters from my wallet, feeding them into the machine. It came to life with flashing lights and theme music.

"This game has gotten me through some tough times," I told him, picking up my striker and the puck.

He picked up his own striker as I placed the puck in the middle of the table. "Not to brag, but I'm pretty good at this game," he said, winking my way.

"Yeah, well, I'm better."

There was count down and I readied myself, as did Miles. When the electronic referee shouted "go" I went.

I was lost in the clanking of the striker against the puck and the sound of the jingle whenever one of us, well, whenever I scored.

"Best four out of seven and I'm not going easy on you anymore." I laughed at his desperate attempt to redeem himself.

We had played three games so far and I won all three. But, hey, if he wanted to lose another few games that was fine by me. I loved winning.

"Okay, but you're paying because I'm out of quarters," I told him and he reached for his wallet.

As he placed the money into the machine I geared up to continue my winning streak. The game played it's theme music and started the count down, but something caught my eye.

It was Jerrell walking over to the bar, a girl at his side. The girl glanced over at me, her red lips turned up into a smirk.

Vivian.

What was Vivian and Jerrell doing together? What was he telling her? What was she saying to him? I'd hoped she was bluffing late night when she said she was going use my confession against me.

But there they were. My worst enemy with the on buy who knew more about me than I care to admit.

The game played a tune of victory, yanking my attention from them and back to Miles.

"I appreciate you going easy on me, Mermaid. But you could at least look like you're trying."

"Sorry, I just..." I looked over at Vivian and Jerrell again.

They were seated at the bar now. She had her hand on his shoulder as she laughed at something he said.

Was she trying to flirt with him? Did she think that'd make me jealous? With a devious mind like her I thought she would've utilized my confession better than that.

"Do you know McDonald?"

It took me a minute to realize Miles was referring to Jerrell by his last name. "Yeah," I replied, forcing myself to look away from them. "How do you know him?"

"He's the quarterback for Bellview," Miles said. "How do you know him?"

My lips burned in the worst way as the memory of kissing Jerrell came back to me. Miles watched me, his green eyes waiting for an answer. How was is possible to feel like I'd cheated on someone I wasn't even dating?

"Middle school," I answered absentmindedly, my attention drifting to Vivian and Jerrell again. They were sharing a plate of fries, looking like they'd known each other for years. Them being together made my stomach knot.

"Did you want to go over there and say hi?"

"No," I said a little too loudly. If Miles thought I was acting strange, he said nothing. "Let's go again."

We played another game and I tried not to think about Jerrell or Vivian. The fact that Miles won was proof I was failing.

"See, I just needed to get warmed up." He looked pleased with himself and I couldn't help but smile at his childish grin.

My heart fluttered in my chest, refusing to accept the fact that my crush on Miles couldn't be more than that.

The moment didn't last long. Jerrell was just about to leave the area when he caught me staring and came over. Vivian followed, for whatever reason.

"Loren, didn't expect to see you here," he said.

The feeling was mutual. I hated how small the world felt sometimes.

"You know Loren?" Vivian asked, leaning against the hockey table. There was a ghost of a smirk on her lips.

Miles usually ignored the bad vibes that came from Vivian, but the way his kept darting from me to Jerrell, I knew couldn't shrug it off that time.

"Yeah, we went to middle school together," Jerrell said and I wished he'd just shut up.

Vivian looked like she was in here element. Miles was confused. Jerrell was clueless. And I just wanted to run and never look back.

"Really?" Vivian asked. "And what was Loren like back then?"

I'd never hated anyone as much as I hated her in that moment.

Thankfully, Jerrell caught on to the tension between me and Vivian and didn't give her the information she was looking for. But she wouldn't back off. She was prepared to question Jerrell some more when Miles spoke up.

"Viv," he warned.

"What?" She asked innocently. "I just want to get to know our new friend a little better."

I wanted to hit her and I probably would've if Jerrell hadn't asked if he could talk to me. We took a couple of steps away from the hockey table. He glanced over is shoulder at Miles and Vivian, who were not at all subtle with their eavesdropping.

Turning back to me he leaned in and lowered his voice, asking, "Are you okay?"

"What do you mean?" I asked, an unmistakable edge in my voice.

"You seemed a little off at the party," he told me. "I mean, you kissed me out of nowhere."

My neck was on fire and I wanted the floor to swallow me whole. "Yeah, no, I'm fine," I uttered. "Just a momentary lapse of judgement."

Vivian snorted, quickly covering it with a cough.

"Alright, good," he said, starting to walk away. "I'll see you tomorrow at The Oak then?"

I nodded, remembering Mom's performance there, and he left. Vivian was enjoying herself way too much and I needed to get away from her and Miles questioning gaze.

"I should go find the girls," I said to Miles. "I promised them a dance."

"Have fun," Vivian called out as I walked away. "Miles and I have a lot to catch up on."

Part of me wanted to stay up there with them, to defend myself against whatever Vivian came up with. But would Miles even believe me over her? They'd been friends since they were kids. He'd known me a little over a month.

I tried to push it all away when I saw the girls grouped together and dancing, huge smiles on their faces. I didn't want to bring the mood down.

"Loren!" Kimber shouted over the music once she spotted me. "Are you okay?"

Fixing my face with a smile, I nodded. "Yeah, let's dance."