I sip my beer, pretending to be listening. Clay is talking with Benson about the game, discussing the crucial moments, and goals. I lost interest in their conversation the second I saw her, sitting not very far from me with Layla, Grace and her boyfriend. It's not the first time I've seen her tonight, but it is the first time she's been that close. And I can't look away.

I've been trying to convince myself to ignore her, not to notice her. It took all my willpower not to read the text message she sent on Friday. Seeing her on the stairs after I scored sent all my emotions into turmoil. Thank God the game was almost over because I had an incredibly hard time concentrating after that. She's all I want, and it really gnaws at me that I'm letting her go so easily. Without putting up even the tiniest fight. Without any effort. I'm sure I'm making a mistake.

I frown, leaning forward hoping to hear what they are saying but it's useless. The music is blaring all around me, plus Rodgers and Benson aren't quiet either. Shit! It looks like she is arguing with Grace about something. And Layla. Ava stands from the couch, turning her back to me. She says something to her best friend, and storms away from the couch.

Keeping my eyes trained on Ava, I see Baker sneaking up on her. He puts his hands on her and I ball my fists. What the hell is wrong with him? Why can't he leave her alone? I'm ready to jump out of the chair I'm sitting in, when I hear Rodgers' laughter. He still hadn't told her about the bet, and she's clueless to what Baker is capable of when he wants something.

"Clay?" I meet his gaze and tilt my head in Ava's direction. "Don't you want to step in?"

My best friend looks uncertain, with his eyebrow arched in question. As soon as he realizes what I'm hinting at, he curses under his breath and stands up from his seat. "See you later, Drake. I need to fix something."

"Sure." Benson shrugs, and wraps a hand around some girl's waist. She has been here since the very beginning, patiently waiting for him to pay attention to her.

I slowly follow Clay, keeping my distance. Though, as soon as I see her step closer to them, I speed up. Just in time to hear her question.

"What is he talking about? What bet?" Her voice is trembling with barely hidden fury.

"Ava, I'm so sorry." My best friend exclaims quietly, becoming smaller in an instant. "I tried to tell you earlier but something was always in the way. And I kept telling myself that I have time... but-"

"Did you make a bet on me?! With him?" She shrieks, drawing everyone's attention to them.

"I did... but it was before... when I didn't know you." Clay digs himself deeper and deeper with each word. He is going to make her think that the only reason he feels bad about the bet is because they are friends now. "He said he would fuck you, and I told him that it's never going to happen-"

"What does the loser need to do?" Ava demands and I step closer. She's losing it, and it makes my heart swell with ache. He should have told her before. He should have found the time and told her everything. She shouldn't have found out like this.

"Wear a dress and full face of makeup the last day before the winter break." Baker grins, noticing me.

"And the winner?"

"Dunno..." He taps his finger on his lips, staring at me with a strange glint in his eyes. What is he planning? "I kinda forgot... let's ask Thompson. He was the one who broke our hands." Fucking asshole! "Colton, tell the lady what winner gets?"

She wheels around, boring her gaze into me at once. As if she feels me. I try to keep my cool, but it's hard and my nervousness starts showing.

"The bottle of their choice." I mutter, and she shuts her eyes. I step closer to her, wanting nothing more but to hold her in my arms.

Suddenly she opens her eyes, whirls around and extends her palm to Baker. What is going on?! "Where is your room?" What?!

"Upstairs." He murmurs, taking her hand and lacing their fingers together. My gaze locks on their hands and it becomes hard to breathe. What the fuck?! She's not going to sleep with him, is she?! "Let's go."

"Ava!" Clay yells, grabbing her wrist and holding her back. "Don't do this!"

"What? Are you worried about the dress thing?"

"I don't give a shit about any of it! I don't want him near you!" My best friend begs, but I already know she's not going to listen to him.

"Should have thought about that before. Now? I expect to see you in a dress and with full makeup on Monday." She spits it out, letting Baker walk her away from us.

Neither of us looks away, watching as they stroll upstairs. She looks over her shoulder and our eyes meet. She's perfectly aware of how pissed I am. Of how jealous I am. Just she doesn't care... She wants to punish me.

"Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!" Clay bellows, fingers flying to his hair. "What the fuck is she thinking?! Sleeping with that dimwit?! Only because she wants me to feel miserable?!"

"She wants to punish both of us." I mumble through gritted teeth. "You should have told her-"

"Go fuck yourself, Thompson!" Rodgers turns around and stomps to the front door. The door closing with a bang is how I know he left. Typical Clay, nothing else. I heave a sigh and hide my hands in my pockets. Waiting for her will be pure torture.

30 minutes 45 seconds later I see her walk down the stairs. She looks serene and incredibly calm, not a sign of the disturbed state she was in when she found out about the bet. I drag my eyes down her body, taking in every detail, as if I hadn't done it a thousand times tonight already. She is wearing a white skirt, which ends way higher than her knees and a black pullover that hugs her chest like a second skin. No matter how much I want to convince myself not to look, not to pay attention - it's useless. She's the only girl I see in this fucking place packed with people. The only one.

So many feelings rise, as I watch her free her hair, letting it spill down over her shoulders. Ava tosses it a little, fingers threading through her locks. She seems lost in her thoughts, not even a hint of smile on her face. Though her anger is also gone... just like mine. The only two emotions I have are simple, relief because I know she's safe, and also jealousy. The last one is a monster in my chest. It continues to grow bigger and bigger as I keep my eyes on her. Of all people, why did she need to sleep with Baker? Why did she even decide to go upstairs with him? I don't get it, for real.

I take a step forward, intending to follow her wherever she goes. I'm done with pretending she doesn't exist. It was incredibly stupid of me in the first place, and naive. If anything, I only pushed her away. Again. Returning to the point where we were before I kissed her for the first time. And it's not where I want to be with her. Not now, not ever.

I go after her, heading to the front door. Just like I suspected, she has no desire to stay here. I glance sideways, noticing Layla staring at her best friend from afar. She looks uncertain and also worried, but stays rooted to the spot, without any attempts to join Ava. They definitely got into an argument, no doubt about it. Another reason for her to be alone and find herself in Baker's company. Dammit! Why is everything so complicated? I feel like I need an instruction manual, a how-to-guide. How to win over a girl without pissing her off every damn minute? How to change a girl's mind when she isn't interested in anything more serious than hookups? I need a damn book for Dummies, because I feel hopeless when it comes to her.

"Where are you going?" Someone puts their hand on my shoulder, stopping me in my tracks. I furrow my brow, veer my head to my left and meet Benson's gaze. What now?!

"Out." I grit through my teeth, brushing his hand off my shoulder.

"Just like Ava." Drake folds his arms across his chest, narrowing his eyes on me. "Leave her alone."

"I'm not your pet, Benson. You have no right to tell me what to do."

"Haven't you done enough damage to her? Making a bet-"

"Clay made the bet, not me!" I'm losing my patience, and it's not a good sign. I tend to act like a jerk when I feel this way.

"Does it really matter? You knew about the bet, and did nothing to stop them. Baker was groping her, forcing himself on her... all because of the damned bet. Was it worth it watching Baker trying to get into her panties?"

He's driving me out of my mind, and when that happens, I say really shitty things. Always. Regretting it after, almost immediately.

"Is it really that hard? To get into her panties? I mean, you did it pretty easily." The second the last word leaves my mouth, Drake punches me in the face. I stumble back slightly and bump into someone. Some people gasp, some whoot, and clap. What's a great party without a fight, right? Idiots! I quickly wipe the blood from my bottom lip off my face and glare at him. "What's your problem?"

"My problem is assholes like you, who think they are all-powerful and can do anything they want." Drake hisses, balling his fists. "Don't you dare follow her. She's not your toy to play with."

"Because she's yours?" Mental note to myself, Colton Thompson, you suck. "I saw her getting in your car the other day."

"She's my fucking friend!" He yelps, ready to charge at me again, but someone steps in front of me, stopping him. I lower my gaze, recognizing his sister. "Layla, move!"

"Why was Ava in your car? Are you still screwing her behind my back?"

"She wanted to talk! We're just friends!"

I use this moment, twirl around and storm out of the house, hoping with all my might that she hasn't had time to walk too far away. I stride down the stairs, glancing to my right and then to my left, seeing her in the distance. Without giving it any thought, I run after her.

She hears someone approaching her and wheels around, a guarded look on her face. The second she realizes it's me, she rolls her eyes and turns away. I smirk to myself, lining up with her and matching her steps.

Ava exhales loudly and stops, shifting to face me. "What do you want?"

"To make sure you're safe."

"You're like a week late, Thompson." She argues, narrowing her eyes. "I don't remember you giving a shit about my safety when you let me walk back to my dorm alone after the movies."

"I'm sorry about that." I take a step closer, hovering over her and looking her in the eyes. "I'm sorry about the bet-"

"I don't care." Ava shrugs, averting her gaze from me and resuming her walk. I do the same, walking down the street with her.

"Clay wanted to talk to you about it-"

"I don't care." She repeats, this time louder. "Anything you want to tell me, I'm not interested."

What a stubborn little shit! I sigh exasperatedly, trying to calm down my fired up nerves. "He felt bad about the bet, and he knew it was wrong."

She doesn't try to stop me this time, and I feel hopeful. Not for long though. She covers her ears with her hands, shutting out any sounds. What fucking nonsense! She is acting like a freaking baby!

I grip her hands and tear them away from her ears. Her pupils dilate at once, and her mouth gapes open. "Stop acting like a child!"

"Me?" Ava raises her voice, her brows pinching together. "When was the last time you looked in the mirror? You're the biggest kid I've ever met!"

Warning! Foot in the mouth. Foot in the mouth. Nope, it's not working. That's how I'm used to always reacting. Even if it is a shit show after. "And you definitely seem to have a type. Benson, Baker, me. Who is going to be in your bed next?"

Ava's nostrils flare, as she pulls her hands out of my grip. "Fuck you!"

And an award for the most awkward apology goes to me. Just like the title of the most assholeish moron ever. "Ava, I didn't mean-"

A slap rings in the air and at first I don't even feel it. Though this emotion is fleeting, she didn't hold herself back and now it stings. She slapped me even harder than she did the first time. Damn it!

"Do you always hit people when they speak the truth?!" I snap at her, grabbing her hand again.

"What truth?! What truth are you talking about?!"

"You went upstairs with Baker! You let him win-"

"That's what you think of me?" Ava yells, wiggling and trying to free her hand. "That I'm so easy? That I'm a puck bunny? That I'll fuck anyone if they play hockey?!"

"It's just-"

"I fucking hate you, Thompson! You're so full of shit!" I let her pull her hand free, breathing heavily. She's beyond pissed, while I'm struggling to understand why she is reacting like that. The bitter truth about ourselves is hard to hear, but it doesn't make it a lie.

Ava opens her purse, takes her phone out of it and a moment later - she shoves it in my hand. I bend my head down, looking at the screen and suddenly, my insides are frozen. I'm such an idiot!

The photo is colorful and clear. A blindfolded Adam Baker is laying on his bed, with his hands tied up to the headboard. He's naked, with only his hockey glove covering his dick. She never planned to sleep with him, did she? She just wanted to make him pay for making a bet about her.

"I don't fuck just anyone, Thompson. And I definitely don't fuck someone who has zero respect for me." Ava snatches her phone out of my palm, hiding it back in her purse.

"You were upstairs for more than 30 minutes, and I thought-"

"I needed him to let his guard down. I needed him to think I wanted him. That's the only reason why it took so long." Ava roams her eyes over my face, chewing on the inner side of her bottom lip. My palms are sweaty, as I wait for her to say something else. She takes a deep breath, shaking her head. "I can't believe I thought I liked you."

My heart stops for just a moment, and then speeds up and thunders in my ears. She thought she liked me? Liked? As in past tense? No! That's bullshit. I refuse to accept it.

I invade her personal space, wind my hands around her waist and haul her to my chest. She puts her hands up, creating a distance between us. "You're lying." I tell her, holding her gaze.

"Nope." She shakes her head. "Physically? You're my type. Personality-wise? A hundred percent no."

"You don't know me."

"I'm a very attentive person, Thompson. I know everything about you." She points out, while my skin is already on fire. Her closeness is making me go crazy.

I lift her off her feet, making her wrap her legs around my waist. She licks her lips, her breath hitching.

"What are you doing?" Ava whispers, all her bravado gone.

"Kidnapping you." I shrug, heading in the direction of my apartment building. It's about twenty minutes away from here, and I'd carry her to my place without any problem. "Looks like it's the only way to make you listen to me."