I opened my eyes to reveal Peyton sleeping beside me. I sat up seeing Ash at my feet snoring. I rubbed my eyes in hopes that it'd wake me up somehow. I crawled out of bed, the red dress from the night before was on the floor; it reeked of alcohol. Thanks to the stranger at the party I had to get this washed without my mother noticing.

I picked it up and stuffed it into my closet. After that I head into my bathroom to see gross mascara residue underneath my eyes. I washed my face and dried it with a towel before grabbing the bottle of pills inside my cabinet.

"Wake up." I said nudging Ash and Peyton. They both groan in unison and toss and turn in the sheets.

I walk over to my desk wondering if Gavin was up yet? He didn't recognize me last night let alone know my name so I think I was in the clear. "Are you stalking Gavin?" Peyton says laughing under her breath.

I shook my head. "No."

"Do you wanna talk about last night?" She mentions.

"You mean when that guy spilled their drink on me or when Gavin nearly beat him to death?" I said. "No thanks."

"I mean, Gavin talking to you. He literally beat up that guy for you."

I roll my eyes. "Gavin would use any excuse just to fight someone."

"True." Ash blurts, his face was planted in the pillow. "Gavin's all bad news, Peyton's delusional."

"Am not!" She defends.

I cross my arms over my chest. "I'm done talking about him."

"Oh my god."

My eyes widen. "What?"

"Your wrist."

I look down at the light bruising just starting to form. Dammit.

I put on a light jacket and the three of us head downstairs to see my mother baking her organic waffles in the kitchen. My favorite. Well they used to be before she chose to by the organic batter and syrup.

"Did you three have fun last night?" She says, we all exchange nervous looks around. Does she know something?

"The usual." I said. "Netflix."

She nods. "Sarah was telling me about Gavin, you know him right?"

I nod. "What did she say?"

"She said he's been in a lot of trouble the past few weeks. Sara blames his friends." She laughs at the thought. "I told her anytime she'd like he could come and hang out with you."

"Your kidding. Mom I can't hang out with him." I protest.

"Hey we should get going." Ash says. Peyton starts nodding and they quickly head for the door. My mother waves goodbye and doesn't detect any suspicious activity.

"The guy is trouble mom he'll get me into trouble and then-"

"Relax." She rolls her eyes. "It was just a suggestion Alex. Sarah and I have that business meeting in Denton which is a long drive from here tomorrow, I'd be a lot more comfortable if you weren't home alone."

"Peyton and Ash can come stay with me." I tell her. "I don't need a babysitter."

"Peyton and Ash are welcome whenever they please, but I've already asked Sara to tell Gavin about it."

I start dragging my hands down my face at the thought. Tomorrow? I don't even have time to at least look presentable for tomorrow my face was always so drained and pale looking.

Somehow the day just went by in a blink of and eye because that's exactly how things go when you least expect it. "Alex, be nice okay."

"When am I ever not nice?" I said forcing a smile. She looks down at her watch as we wait patiently in the living room.

*knock* *knock*

Ugh! Why me? Why is it always me?

"Gavin, so glad you could make it. Alex!" She called over. "Come say hi."

I slowly get up from the couch and turn the corner to see his back facing me. That's a pretty nice back. "Ahem." I cough making him turn around. I stare up at his perfectly symmetrical face. On my way out of the party last night my brained fogged up when I felt his burning touch and I met with his green eyes I didn't even get a chance to notice his distinctive features.

He's much more present now.

"We have a little germ phobia do you mind?" My mom says making him remove his gaze from me. She pours some of our special hand sanitizer in his hands. How embarrassing?

"Your Alex?" He says a smirk rising to his lips like he's amused by this.

"Is there a problem?" I said raising up my eyebrows.

"I didn't know I'd be babysitting a teenager." He laughs. I glare up at him turning to my mother who is smiling at me.

"I better get going." She added. "We'll be back later call if you need anything." I watch her leave, leaving me all alone with this stranger who's now wandering around my house.

"Alex? Huh." He says. "Sounds familiar. Do you go to Westland high?"

I shook my head. "I'm homeschooled."

"Homeschooled and you need a babysitter?" Gavin laughs again. "Not looking so hot Alex."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means you failed my test, you're clearly very boring and have social issues to work on, is this how you treat all your guests?"

"This wasn't my idea okay. My moms a bit overprotective." I said sighing in the process I think I needed to sit down. Gavin begins following behind me to the couch.

"This is ridiculous." Gavin chuckled taking a seat on the couch, he swings his feet up on the coffee table. Manners? Nope.

"Then go." I said. "I don't need you here anyway."

Gavin blinks at me like he's surprised by this. "As tempting as that sounds. My mom took the keys to my car so I can't really go anywhere."

I shrug. "Have someone pick you up."

He's now looking at me like I'm growing horns out of my head. Why were his green eyes looking at me like that? It made me feel nauseous. "You want me out that badly?" He says putting his hand to his heart in mock hurt.

I bite the insides of my cheek so I don't start snapping at him. Gavin definitely hasn't changed much. He was still very irritating.

"Do you have a car?" Gavin replied quirking up and eyebrow.

I shake my head. "I don't drive."

"Wow. The sad life of Alex Wood." He says laughing at the thought. "It's kinda humiliating."

Great now I'm being ridiculed by him. I liked it better when he didn't know I existed.

"So how does it feel?"

"How does what feel?" I asked crossing my arms over my chest.

"Being my personal stalker? I'd pretend like things weren't already weird since I'm your babysitter but that's no fun."

"Stalker?" I laughed.

Gavin glances at me rolling his eyes. "Don't act dumb, I've seen you before at your window."

"Actually I was at my desk."

"Yes at your desk watching me." He states.

"Your point is?" I asked.

Gavin smirks. "You can just ask next time." He then winks.

My phone buzzes in my pocket so I reach out to grab it. I stare down at Peyton's name popping up on my screen before somebody snatches it from my hands. "What are you doing?" I said.

"Nothing." He says walking away that I have to chase after him. "Really? Your passwords all zeros?"

I try my best to fight him off but it doesn't work. "I forget easily!" I said. "Give it back!" His arm brushes me off of him as he starts typing. "Gavin!"

He stops in his tracks which makes me bump into his hard back. "Here Cupcake." He hands me my phone which I cautiously grab. I enter my password and go into my contacts. I only had my mother, Peyton and Ash and then I see a new name. Gavin.

I then read Peyton's message.

What!

Kill me now. "Are you crazy?" I said to Gavin who was now on his phone probably telling everyone to come over to this party we are not having!

"Relax, you need friends. I'll help lonely little Alex out. Think of it as my charity work to you." He says.

"My mother is going to kill me if she finds out." I cried out thinking about all the consequences; none because I never go anywhere.

"No she'll thank me because now you'll actually have friends." Gavin walks passed me looking at the old surround system we hardly use. He plugs his phone into it clicking on the screen before some music starts playing. The party last night was already enough of a disaster. I was definitely going to have a heart attack before the night ends.

*buzz* *buzz*

I pull out my phone again answering Peyton's call. "Was the party last night such a success you wanted to actually throw one?"

"No." I said sighing in the process looking over my shoulder at Gavin. I hide away in the kitchen. "Gavin took my phone and has now invited everyone to my house. What do I do?"

"There's only one thing you can do." She says. "Have a fucking party!"

"Peyton." I groaned.

"Sorry I mean I'm pretty sure the words out that Gavin's having some party, telling them not to come won't stop them."

I nod my head. "You're right. I blame my mother."

"Look I'll be over there soon okay? Just stay there."

"Not going anywhere." I hang up turning around, I almost bump into Gavin's chest as he stands right in front of me.

"Do you guys have any alcohol?" He asks.

"No." I said pushing passed him.

"Someone's mad?" He says as I stomp my way upstairs.

"I'll be in my room for the rest of the night." I say. "Have fun with your party."