"Yeah..." I cautiously answered. Instead of getting an actual response from him, all I got was a mishcievious grin before he bounded back to his room.

"Okay...That wasn't weird." I thought out loud before turning back to the movie but then the credits started rolling in whilst a song played in the background.


I took the remote from the coffee table and started searching for something I could watch when all of a sudden I heard the sound of doors shutting followed by voices. I got up from my seat to check who were making such a ruckus through the window.

Cars -- how many? I had no idea -- lined up the front of the house. I recognised some of the people coming out the cars from school and others I couldn't tell whether they even went to the same school. I noticed some of the guys that I sat at the lunch table with, holding what appeared to be kegs. The next thing I knew the house was filled with a riotous noise that was later drowned by loud music after the large speakers were set up.

I tried to leave the living area in search of Owen but with all elbows that were poking me, it proved to be a greater task than I would have ever imagined.


Somewhere between shoving and being shoved, I heard someone call my name from behind. I took a chance to see who it was and only to be hit in stomach.

With all hits I was getting, you'd think I was in a wrestling match.


I decided not to look for whoever had called me and instead search for who was responsible for all of this.

After what felt like hours I finally made it to Owen's room. Not bothering with knocking, I swung the door wide open.

"What's going on?" I demanded Owen who was casually rolling up the sleeves of his black skin-tight long sleeved shirt.

"A party if it's not that obvious to you." He took his phone from the nightstand and placed it in the back pocket of his black jeans. "Now if you'll excuse me, I've got a party to run." He winked at me before leaving the room.

The day had proved to be longer than I would have liked it to be and it would be a lie if I said I didn't want it to end sooner.

I decided to go to the kitchen to get myself some water to drink to release the throbbing that was slowly making it's way to the rest of my head.

Unfortunately, when I turned, I was met with a glaring Marlene. I tried to side step her but she blocked my way with her body.

"What do you want from Owen?"

"What are you talking about?"

"So you think I haven't noticed the way you stare at him?" She stepped closer pointing her index finger at me. "Stay away from Owen before you end up regretting. Consider this as a warning." She gave me a once over before turning around, slaming the door close behind her.

I opened the door and walked out of Owen's room and headed to the kitchen. There were only about five people occupying it and I didn't bother checking if I knew them. I took a bottle of water from the fridge and walked out of the kitchen. Then I heard my name called up. I looked behind and saw the familiar face of Sophie, one of the girls I sat with at the lunch table.

"Lyra," she smiled.

"Hey Sophie," I smiled back at her.

"Hey. A couple of the girls and I are by the pool." She pointed in the direction of the pool with her thumb. "Wanna join?"

"Uh...sure." I answered unsure of how it would all end up considering I wasn't all that close with the girls, save for Kate of course.

She grabbed me by the hand leading me to where the pool was. I wanted to tell her that it wasn't necessary for her to hold my hand but refrained myself from coming off as rude.

When we reached the pool, a couple of guys, Owen included, were lounging in one corner of the pool area whilst the girls were in another corner.

"I brought Lyra!" Sophie shouted holding up my hand with one hand and pointing at me with the other. That caused not only the girls to stare in our direction but the boys too. Not caring if I seemed rude, I pulled my hand from Sophie's but she didn't seem to mind as she took a seat in the circle the girls had formed. She scooted a little to the left creating some space for me to sit. I sat down on the paved ground.

"Okay you all know the rules but I'll go through them once again just in case you've forgotten." Marlene said clapping her hands once as if to catch our attention. "The rules are basic. It's like truth or dare with a twist. Whoever dares the other gets to come up with the rules. Okay let's get to it."

That seemed unfair.

After spinning the bottle for a while, it finally pointed at me and Marlene who I was seated across from. I had been dreading that since the first spin.

"I dare you to tell Owen about your feelings for him." She said with a smirk on her face.

"What?" I asked taken a bit off guard.

"You heard me. If you want you can do something else...remove your clothes and sit in front of him all night. Either way is fine by me."

"But I don't like him."

"You do! Don't you dare lie to me." She seethed.

"Hey Marlene I don't think forcing someone to admit to something that isn't true is how the game goes. She already gave her answer." Sophie chimed in.

"Fine. Then drink this whole bottle. Unless you're too chicken." She shoved an already open bottle full of what I knew I would regret taking.

I should have stayed in my room.

I brought the bottle to my lips and took my first sip and I grimaced from the bitter taste.

**********

I had finished the bottle a while back and was standing by the pool, staring at the water. I was feeling a little whoosy and my bones ached probably from the long day.

Seconds later I felt someone push me in the water. I didn't have enough time to react before I plunged into the water. Because of the alcohol, my coordination wasn't, well, coordinated. I tried to will myself to move but the only thing I managed to do was sink. It didn't help matters that I was at the deep end and not the shallow. I heard the sound of someone plunge themselves in water before I knew it a hand wrapped around my waist. I was out of the water soon and I was splattering water out of my mouth. Trying to breath in some much needed air.

"Are you ok?" I heard Owen ask. I looked up at him and noticed that he was drenched and water droplets falling off the tips of his hair and into my face.

He didn't wait for me to reply before telling one of his friends to call off the party. He took a towel from one the chairs before wrapping it around me. I tried to get up from the ground but I slamped right back. Seeing me struggle, Owen picked me up bridal style and I felt heat travel to my face.

Act normal. Act normal.

We made it to his room before he placed my feet on the floor. He held onto my waist to steady me. I tried to act normal but the feeling of his skin burnt mine where my shirt was slightly lifted. I stepped out of his arms not sure what was going on.

"You can use the shower. I'll lock the door so no one comes in."

I walked to his bathroom a little robotic from the shock of what had happened.