⁺◟ DAMAGED ! ⋆·˚ ❪ ✦♥ ❫
❛ chapter seven ❜

⋆｡ﾟ☁︎｡⋆｡ ﾟ☾ ﾟ｡⋆ STELLA HAD BEEN BOMBARED with phone calls from Olivia all morning, all but demanding she go with Kingston and herself to a bonfire party they were attending that night to make up for Stella's departure from the diner just the previous night. Olivia had promised the girl they'd have the best time but Stella felt she was obligated to go regardless.

She was currently sat on a log besides the large flames, laughing and joking with her friends, completely ignoring Hardin as if her life depended on it. She felt vulnerable with him and now she was embarrassed.

He had told her that he was unable to stay away from her. Told her he wasn't able to only be friends with her. Kissed her. To then flirt with his ex girlfriend right in front of her, after being caught on what looked to be a date, with her roommate, who she'd actually consider a good friend, who also already had a boyfriend.

Speaking of Tessa and her high school lover. They also attended the bonfire party. Noah looked completely out of place, and Stella could hear him continuesly ask Tessa if they should leave, even more so once Zed passed them both a cup of alcohol and mentioned that the cops would most likely be shutting them down soon.

Stella seemed lost in thought, swirling the vodka around the cup and staring off into the fire when she was interrupted by Kingston who sat beside her. "What's up."

Stella looked up at her friend and shrugged her shoulders. "Nothing, im just bored. Wasn't really in the party mood to be honest."

"You can't lie to me, Stella," Kingston laughed. "This is about my brother, right?" Stella couldn't hide the surprised look on her face when the words left Kingstons mouth, only making the boy laugh louder, catching Hardins attention, though he couldn't hear the words they were saying, the annoyed look on his face didn't go unnoticed by Kingston. Or Tessa.

"See! I totally knew it," Kingston grinned. "I seen how pissed you were the other night in the diner. And even earlier when we arrived and you saw him with Molly. What i don't understand is why you're pissed." he admitted.

Stella sighed, bringing the cup to her mouth and finished what was left before throwing the cardboard cup into the flames, shifting her position on the log and turning to face Kingston, so close their knees brushed together. "Okay, if I tell you this, you can't tell anyone." she leaned in to whisper, something that looked innocent to most, but very intimate to Hardin who watched from a distance. "We kissed." Kingston burst out laughing.

"Shhh!" Stella hissed. "Shut up! No one can know!" Kingston who was still chuckling put his hands up in surrender. "Okay! Okay. You have my word I swear." Stella sighed contently, glancing to the boy who had caused her these problems, only to find him staring right at her.

Kingston followed her line of sight, smirking at his brothers reaction. "I have a plan," the elder Scott brother said. "That would really piss Hardin off."

Stella smiled eagerly. "Tell me."

"He's clearly already annoyed that I'm even over here talking to you. I can imagine his heads going 100 miles an hour thinking of all the possible things we could be talking about right now. I have no doubt in my mind that he thinks it's something it's not."

"And?"

"What if we make it what he thinks it is."

"Why would we do that?"

It was Kingstons turn to sigh, glancing over at Tessa who was sitting with Noah and looking in Hardins direction. "Tessa and I have been talking," he admits and Stella can't help her jaw dropping. "I know we shouldn't, because she's in a relationship but we spoke at the party. After the game of truth or dares, Noah called her and started having a go at her for being at a party and I comforted her. We almost kissed, but she ran off when Noah called and interrupted again. I don't know why she and Hardin were together at the diner. But I know my brother doesn't have her best interest at heart."

Stella looked back in Hardin's direction, this time he was no longer looking at her and went back to talking with Molly who still had her arm around him. "Okay."

•❅───✧❅✦❅✧───❅•

The night continued quite calm, about an hour had passed since Kingston and Stella's talk and she still hadn't interacted with Hardin once, nor Tessa. The blonde had been avoiding Kingston like a plague, and since Stella and King were currently glued to each others side, Tessa was avoiding Stella also.

Olivia had quickly pulled both Kingston and Stella aside the minute she seen how close and flirty they were being. Demanding to be told what was going on. They told her a brief explanation, just that they were trying to make Hardin and Tessa jealous, not the reason why but they promised they'd explain properly soon.

Everyone continued having their own conversations amongst themselves. Stella's friend group all sitting together comfortably when Molly moved away from Hardin with a loud sigh, catching a few peoples attention. She sat down beside Zed, holding up a playing card with a smirk. "How about a game of... suck and blow."

"I'm so down!" Jace grinned, joining the group.

Molly placed the card against her lips, passing it to Zed who then passed it to Tristan then Steph. The game continued as normal until it was Kingstons turn to blow it to Stella. He purposely let the card drop from his mouth. "Oops," he mumbled quietly tho Stella and Hardin could hear him clearly. Despite no longer having the card he still leaned towards Stella. They were only inches apart when suddenly Hardin stormed over, pushing Kingston off the log and onto the ground.

The elder brother only laughed in Hardin's face, angering him more and resulting in a punch being thrown at Kingston's face. "Hardin!" Molly screatched while Jace and Zed pulled Hardin off his brother. "Dude! What are you doing, man." Zed yelled at Hardin who's eyes were only on Stella before scoffing and walking off.

Kingston stood up with a large grin on his face, despite being scolded at by Olivia, leaning in to Stella's ear but his eyes locked on an upset Tessa. "Well, that worked better than expected."