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Chapter Text

Hailey was never really one that loved school. Sure there were some enjoyable aspects of it, like the club and her friends. But that was really it. And in all honesty, who actually did like school? 

She walked to her locker, putting away her books to go have lunch with her friends in the club. Locking the metal door, she only just made it past the food vending machine before her name was called out by someone in the hallway.

“Hailey.”

She sighs, turning around to see who it was. She paused. 

Drew. 

Her eyes widened slightly, raising an eyebrow. He looked annoyed, angry even. 

But was that ever a surprise? 

He beats her to saying anything though, slapping his hand against the machine beside her head and trapping her between him and the vending machine.

“Drew-” 

“You’ve got Jake wrapped around your little finger, embarrassing him just as you wanted. Are you happy with yourself?” 

She frowns. 

“Piss off, Drew. Go be a possessive asshole somewhere else .” She huffs, moving to walk away from him. But he beats her to it again, grabbing her wrist before pulling her back and holding her more firmly with a tight grip.

“Don’t act innocent .” He grits. “You wasted all this time playing ‘families’ with him, and kicked him out.” 

Her frown deepens, snatching her wrist away and rubbing over where he gripped her tightly. He continues, staying close. 

“Now he’s spouting out all this nonsense !” He leans his head even closer to hers. “This clearly all you freaks getting to his head!” 

Her eyes widen slightly, and for the third time that day, someone interrupts her once again. She’s almost annoyed for a second, but her brief annoyance is overtaken by who interrupted her this time. 

“Hey!” 

Jake situated himself between her and Drew. 

“Back off , Drew!” 

She takes a step back, catching a glimpse of her bully’s face, seeing his expression mirrored her own of surprise and shock. 

The next few minutes were a blur. She was shocked, confused and utterly exhausted. Jake and Drew were fighting, she knew that much. Xander ran up to her, asking if she was okay, but she could only reply with a chaste, turning back to the two friends. She was trying to figure out what was going on, and with all the recent drama, she couldn’t focus on a single thing. 

But she did hear one thing.

“Have a nice life… freak .” 

She saw Jake’s face crumble . She had never seen him so… broken. And at that moment, she felt bad. She felt bad despite the hurt the blonde had caused her. 

Drew walked past Jake, shoving his shoulder. He moved past her too, but not before giving her a look that was half empty, and half angry. She frowns slightly, turning to look at Jake instead. 

Jake quickly turns back, seemingly remembering something. 

“Hailey, are you-” 

She doesn’t hear the rest of it though, blacking out into Zander’s arms. 

***

“It seems Hailey hasn’t been taking care of herself, sir. She’ll need to undergo a blood test, and until we get the results, I suggest she eats her full three meals per day and gets an average eight hours of sleep.” 

After passing out in the middle of the school hallway, she was immediately taken to the school nurse, who then called up her parents to bring her home. Her dad came and took her to the hospital instead, to see what was wrong with her. 

The ride back home was painfully silent. Hailey could see her dad glancing at her every so often out of the corner of her eye, but she kept her eyes trained on the road in front of her. She didn’t want to talk. She didn’t want to do anything. 

Michael lets out a soft sigh.

“Hailey-”

“I’m fine.” She cuts him off, still keeping her eyes on the road. The man let out another sigh. There’s a few moments of silence before he speaks again.

“Look, I just want you to hear me okay?” He glances at her, waiting for an agreement.

She briefly glances at him, before letting out a sigh of her own.

“... Alright.” 

Michael smiles softly before taking a deep breath.

“I understand that you’re going through something, whether you accept it or not. And I’m not going to pry, but if you ever want someone to talk to, I’m always here for you okay? If you ever need something, or to just let it out, I’m there. I’m always there. Okay?” 

She can’t help but smile too, nodding. Michael’s smile widens. 

“There’s my beautiful girl’s smile.” 

She laughs, rolling her eyes. 

“Thanks Dad.”

“Always, Hailey.” 

***

“Zander, for the last time, I’m fine!” She groans. 

It had been already three hours since he had returned from school, and the purple-head was still pestering her about her fainting in the school hallway. 

“I know, I know, but still. Are you sure ?” 

She throws a pillow at his face.

“Go bother Luke or something.” She grumbles before kicking him out her room. Zander huffs, throwing the pillow back at her before leaving and closing the door behind him. Once she’s alone, she sighs, flopping onto her bed. She picks up her phone and plugs in her earphones. She plays a song before scrolling through Instagram. 

She sees texts from her friends and Jake, but she’s too tired and lazy to respond. 

I’ll just talk to them tomorrow. 

It was most likely to be about the incident in the hallway anyway. 

After scrolling for a few more minutes, she’s about to put her phone down and go to sleep when something catches her eye. 

Drew with Leo . 

Chapter Text

“Man, you’re wild for that one. Dating Hailey? Really?” 

Drew takes another swig from the beer can in his hand. Leo chuckles in response.

“Definitely a time of my life. No regrets though, she’s cute.” 

Drew pulls a face.

“Hell nah, I’ll pass. Are we talking about the same Hailey Wickham here?” The two drink some more, and laugh some more. “For how long?” 

“Four months.” 

“Hell of a lot longer than I thought it was gonna be. Dang, how’d you manage that one?” 

“You know how. ” Leo winks. Drew’s eyes widen and he lets out another laugh.

“No way! I didn’t know she had it in her.” Leo shrugs, offering him a cigarette to which Drew happily took, almost immediately putting it to his mouth and taking a long drag. “Excited to see her tomorrow, then?”

“ Very. ” 

The two laugh, drinking and smoking some more into the night. 

***

A groan escaped his lips as the sun’s bright light slipped through the cracks of the curtain and into his large bedroom. He covered his eyes with his arms. 

Stupid mornings.

Wednesday was usually an alright day, the one full day the Jomies had Jake to themselves. 

Clearly that wasn’t happening anymore . 

“Dude… The fuck is your room so bright for?” 

Drew turns his head, seeing Leo annoyed by the sun on the giant black beanbag.

“My bad, gang. My mum made me get these stupid white curtains.” Leo grumbles something inaudible and buries his face into the bean bag. As Drew was getting up into a sitting position, there’s a knock on his door. 

“Come in.” 

A lady hurried in, her heels clicking against the floor. Her magenta hair was tied up into an elegant bun, her face finished with a bright red lip. 

“Ah, son, you’re awake.” She glances at Leo and purses her lips slightly, the blonde partially passed out on the bean bag, before returning her eyes to Drew,

“Your father and I will be out this week.”

“Again?”

“An important business event, love.” 

Drew sighs, leaning back against the headboard of his king-sized bed. It was nothing new for him in all honesty, in fact, his parents were both away more weeks than they were here. 

“Alright.”

“Good, good. Alexander is staying at his girlfriend’s on Thursday, but otherwise, he should be here.” Drew nods, half paying attention to his mother. 

“Call the housekeeper if you need anything. Bye, Andrew.”

Drew nods again, saying a dry ‘bye’ to his mother before picking up his phone from the bedside table. His mother nods, watching him for a brief second before hurrying out, closing the black door behind her. 

“I forget your real name is Andrew.” 

Drew grunts in response, pulling the covers off his legs, moving to the edge of the bed.

“So… party on Thursday?” The blonde asks slowly, standing up from the bean bag as well. Drew shoots him a look that immediately stops Leo from speaking anymore. He quickly moves to the bathroom to freshen up, and to avoid Drew’s gaze. 

Fucking hell. 

The magenta-haired boy nearly lets out a groan, rubbing his aching head. Drinking on a school night was one of his least best ideas yet. He reached to the bedside table again, pulling out a drawer and taking some pain killers. As he swallowed them, he thought about Leo’s words. 

Maybe a party was what he needed. To get his mind off all the bullshit happening at school. To get drunk and high as fuck with close friends. But Alexander would dog him out. 

Whatever. 

He walks into his bathroom. 

“Leo.” 

“... Yeah?” 

“Seven. Let everyone know.” 

Leo grins.

***

“Class, please welcome our new student, Leo. He’s transferring from Pinemeadow High, so please treat him with respect.” 

Drew listens to his mate introduce himself for the third time that day. Funny enough, Leo shared the exact same time table as him, same classes and everything. He gives him another dap up as Leo moves to sit down beside him. 

Miss Jones began her lesson on History as soon as the class settled down. But he wasn’t focused on the lesson. He was in fact waiting on someone (who was fairly late) to see her reaction to the guy sitting beside him. 

She sure is taking her time.  

Leo nudged his arm, wondering the same thing.

“Thought you said she was in this class?” 

“She is. No clue where she at though.” 

Leo sighed, and Drew couldn’t resist teasing him a bit. 

“Aww, missing your musical girlfriend?” 

The blonde frowns at him but doesn’t deny anything. Drew chuckles quietly, trying not to get caught for talking by the teacher. 

Minutes passed and Hailey still hadn’t come to class. Around twenty minutes had passed. 

She’s definitely getting detention.  

Just as Leo kicked his foot for the fifteenth time in the last five minutes, the long-awaited teal-head walked through the door.

“Sorry miss, I-” 

“ Hailey Austin. ” 

He watched her fall silent. 

“Do you know what time it is?” 

She looks guilty.

“Yes, miss.” 

“Detention for two weeks.” 

Her eyes widened. 

“But-” The teacher cuts her off firmly. 

“No buts. Perhaps you should have thought about that when you decided to come to my class twenty-five minutes late. Go take your seat.” 

Drew continues to watch as she doesn’t say anything further and turns around to go to her seat. With her head low, he knew she wouldn’t see the blonde sitting beside him. So he decides to make her look, by doing what he does best. Taunting. 

“Aw, decided to not be a good girl this time?”

He grins as he sees the irritation mount on her face before she raises her head to snap something back. Except this time, her face falls. 

Bingo. 

She freezes at the sight of Leo. 

“Been a while, Hails. ”

Chapter Text

Kill me now.  

She should have known something was going to happen when she saw him with Drew on that story. Should have known there was a chance he was going to show today. 

Luckily, she sat at the very back of the class, so she didn’t have to make eye contact with Leo. She wasn’t paying attention to the teacher’s lesson, watching Milly throw a paper ball at an annoyed Zander. 

She hadn’t realised that she was shaking until Luke put his palm on her arm. She glances up at him.

“You alright, Hails?”

Hails. He called me that.

“Hailey?” 

She looks up at him again, nodding. She didn’t trust herself to speak. She goes back to watching Milly and Zander.

Slowly her eyes drifted from Milly’s bright pink hair to a certain person’s magenta hair. 

She wondered if he knew . Knew what happened between the man beside him and her. 

Would he tell everyone? 

Her heart was beating fast. Seeing Leo had thrown her incredibly off track. All the memories of the past torturously coming back to her one by one. If Drew knew, knowing him, she would never be free from the chains of the past. He would torment her, again and again. 

I hope he doesn’t know.  

Her breathing was shallow.

No one can know.  

“Hailey, did you hear me?” 

She was pulled out of her thoughts by Miss Jones’ voice. She sat up straight and out of the corner of her eyes she could see people looking back at her. 

“No, miss.” She sighs.

The teacher purses her lips. 

“You came late, and now you are not paying attention to my class?” Hailey stays still. “I suggest you stop making eyes at Drew and listen in if you don’t want to increase your time in detention.” 

Her eyes widened and for a moment she was lost for a reply. 

Drew?  

“I wasn’t-” 

“Don’t justify yourself, young lady. You are on thin ice.” 

Hailey grits her teeth and moves her head down on the table, but not before she catches a glimpse of Drew. She wanted to die . 

***

“Hailey…” 

She looks at Jake slumped against the fence on the rooftop. Slowly she walks to him.

“You know… I thought I’d always regret letting you into the club when you first auditioned.” She begins, a wry smile on her lips. “That it would come to bite me in the backside later on.” 

She watches his head drop further. 

“But… I don’t regret it.” 

She moves closer to him. 

“You’ve been more brave today than I’ve ever been. And… I wish I had been like that instead of running away the other day.” Her gaze drops, reaching up to rub her arm. “I should’ve heard you out.”

She takes a deep breath.

“I’m sorry, Jake.” 

She watched Jake’s eyes widen in surprise, his eyes shining. She doesn’t stop, tucking her hair flying in the wind behind her ears.

“You’re not just a member of the club. You’re my friend . An idiotic one sometimes, sure, but… an important one. I can’t lose you so easily.”

Jake slowly stands up, a slightly sceptical expression on his face.

“Does… that mean you forgive me?” 

She laughs softly, a small smile curving her lips.

“Yes, silly.” 

He rubs his neck.

“And do ya… still wanna sing with me?” 

She crosses her arms over her chest.

“I suppose.” She replies coyly, teasing him lightly. “Just remember to share the spotlight fairly, okay?” 

“Thank you!”

She smiles as she sees Jake smile, but what she wasn’t expecting was for him to pull her into a hug. Her eyes widened slightly for a brief moment before returning his embrace.

She’s about to say something to tease him again, but they were interrupted by someone slowly clapping behind her. Jake pulls away slightly, but keeps his arms around her.

“Aww, how adorable .” 

She tenses in Jake’s arms. She’d recognise that voice anywhere . 

As much as she didn’t want to. 

“Who are you?” She hears Jake ask.

“Lovely Hails would know, wouldn’t you, Hailey?” 

Hailey tenses further. She could feel Jake look down at her.

“You know this guy, Hails?” 

Has everyone seriously been always calling me that? 

“... Yes.” She replies quietly. 

Leo laughs, moving closer to the two. 

“Mind if she and I talk alone, mate?” 

“Uhh… sure?” Jake says, his voice a mix of uneasiness and uncertainty. 

She could picture the face that Leo was probably giving Jake in her mind. She lightly grips Jake’s jacket for a moment, not wanting him to leave, but letting go eventually.

“I’ll see you later then, Hailey. And uh…” 

“Leo.” 

“Right, Leo. See you around, I guess.” 

“You too, mate.” 

Once she hears the door to the rooftop close, only then does Hailey turn around to face someone who has always tormented her. 

She takes a deep breath.

Chapter Text

Drew took his seat at their usual table in the cafeteria, placing his tray down.

Henry and Liam were arguing about something dumb that he didn’t really care to listen to. Instead, his mind was on something else. 

Someone else. 

What happened in class today was still replaying in his head like a broken video player. The teacher’s words, Leo’s frown, the class going quiet, her face – 

He shook his head slightly. He had to stop. 

The teacher was obviously just taking the piss out of her, but why was she staring in the first place? 

“Drew? Did you even hear me?” 

Liam’s voice drew him out of his thoughts, his head snapping up to meet his mate’s. 

“What?” 

“Bruh, seriously? No way you pulled a Jake on us.” 

Drew’s face darkened slightly. The mention of Jake was still a slight sore spot for him. Afterall, it was hard letting go of someone you’d been close friends with for a while. 

“Sorry.” He mutters lowly. 

Henry shrugs.

“Where’s Leo? I thought he was gonna sit with us?” 

“Looking for someone.” 

“Who?”

“Someone.” 

Henry groaned. Liam laughs. 

“Why so secretive?” 

Drew shrugs, his responses dry. 

“Is it a secret girlfriend?” 

Drew shrugs again. 

Of course he knew that Leo had gone looking for Hailey, but he wasn’t sure if the rest of the group was allowed to know about the blonde’s thing for the girl. Or whatever it was Leo had for her. Besides, he wasn’t bothered to give both Liam and Henry the whole explanation and everything, knowing their loudmouths and endless questions. 

He pulls out his phone, silently giving the other two the message that he didn’t want to speak anymore, or be spoken to. Thankfully, for once, both Henry and Liam seemed to have taken the hint, going back to their own conversations.

Drew zoned out again. He sips on his juice box every now and then, eyes glued to his phone. 

In the corner of the cafeteria, a commotion breaks out, and he briefly lifts his eyes up to glance at the area before returning his eyes back to his screen. It didn’t interest him, it was probably just another one of those stupid fights people had over the last pieces of food. 

At least that was what he thought until he heard the familiar screech of his ex-girlfriend’s voice. Drew lifted his head again, looking closely to the area where people were beginning to gather. And sure enough, he caught a glimpse of the all too well known head of bleached blonde hair. 

Zoey. 

His friends seemed to have noticed at the same time.

“Drew, isn’t that?” 

“Yeah.” 

“Should we go see?” 

“If you want.” 

“You’re not coming?” 

“Fine.” 

Drew sighs, slowly getting up from his seat. He wasn’t in a hurry to get there since it was his ex after all. People would talk about him standing there to see what was happening anyway. 

“I want to see that piece of shit!” Zoey shouts. 

As he got closer, he wasn’t surprised to see that the person on the receiving end of her yells was no other than one of the music freaks. 

Millicent. 

The hot-pink-head was also yelling her fair share of insults at the fake blonde, barely being held back by Sean. 

Drew sighs, bored. He’s about to turn around and walk away but Zoey’s next words make him pause. 

“Bring that bitch with ugly ass teal hair here!” 

Teal hair?  

Drew knew who Zoey was talking about. 

Hailey. 

And suddenly, the reason why Zoey was so pissed clicked in his head. 

When Drew and Zoey broke up, he wasn’t expecting her to make such a big deal about it because, well, she cheated on him. And for the first few days, his expectations were met. But slowly and subtly (in Zoey’s pov), he saw her getting mad at random girls that would bump into him, or talk to him. He knew what Zoey was doing. Keeping the girls away from him, one by one, so then he would have no choice but to come back to her. 

What she didn’t know however, was that even if Zoey was the last girl on Earth, there was no way he would get back together with her. Never again will he even date a girl like her. He’d had enough. 

But what he couldn’t quite get was why Zoey did it. She claimed to be so happy with her new (dude she cheated on Drew with) man, so why ruin your ex’s chance with girls?

Drew sighs again. This wasn’t the issue right now. Actually, for him, there was no issue. But for Hailey, she was about to face Zoey’s infamous wrath for ‘making eyes’ at him during class. 

Milly lunged at Zoey again, accidentally hitting Sean in the chin. 

“The only ugly hair is your fried pieces of hay on your balding scalp from all that bleach!” 

“Excuse me?!” 

Drew barely suppressed his laugh. 

That was funny. 

“Hailey’s there!” Someone yells, pointing at the entrance of the cafeteria. Drew turns his head to look. Sure enough, the teal-head was walking through the doorway. In the arms of a blonde. A blonde that wasn’t Jake. 

Leo. 

He saw the bruise forming on Leo’s cheek before he saw the smug smile plastered on the man’s lips. His eyes widened slightly. 

Something happened. 

His eyes turned to Hailey, who briefly made eye contact with him before looking away. She looked normal, but as he looked at her closer, he could make out traces of uncomfortability lingering on her face. 

Something definitely happened. 

He saw Leo’s arms tighten around Hailey’s waist. 

I wonder how Jake would react to this one. 

Zoey’s shriek echoes throughout the whole cafeteria, everyone else going silent. 

“Hailey!” 

Only then does Drew remember the situation at hand. 

Hailey had unknowingly walked into the room where the monster waiting to kill her was. 

She better run. 

Chapter Text

“What do you want?” 

Leo laughs in her face. 

“Oh my sweet Hailey, the same as ever, huh?” 

She frowns, tapping her foot. Out of impatience or nervousness, she wouldn’t know. 

“It’s been so long, and this is how you greet me, hm?” 

It hadn’t been that long. In fact, the last time they saw each other was a couple of months ago when she bumped into him at a grocery store. She never went to that grocery ever again. 

Eugh. 

“What do you want.” She repeated, her voice flat. She wasn’t playing his games, feeding into his sick amusements. 

Leo’s smile immediately dropped into a dangerous look as soon as he saw she was being defiant. 

“So tough now, are you?” He taunts. “Don’t forget the past, lovely Hailey.” 

She falters a bit at the mention of their past, but quickly regains her composure. Leo, however, caught the momentary slip up, a cruel smirk playing on his face. 

Asshole. 

“I remember when you used to hang onto every word I said, practically worshipping the ground I walked on. When you were such a cute, obedient, innocent little girl. When you used to send me those delicious pic– ”

She didn’t really think when she did it. 

The anger had slowly built up, along with a short moment of adrenaline pumping through her veins, as she delivered the punch straight to his cheekbone. Only when she saw him recoil was when she realised her mistake. 

Shit. 

A laugh escaped his lips. 

Her heart raced. It wasn’t a humorous, soft chuckle. No. This laughter was scary, she’d heard it before and she knew what it meant. 

Before she could react in any way, or say anything, Leo’s hand shot out and grabbed straight for her neck. She immediately gasped for breath, her airway being cut off by his grip. She winced as she pushed back against the metal fence on top of the rooftop, a loose metal piece digging into her back. 

Leo had a dangerous look in his eyes. 

“You think you can hit me and get away with it?” Another cruel laugh escapes his lips. “No, no. You silly girl, only I can .” 

She clawed at his hand, desperately trying to breathe. Her eyes teared up. 

“Listen to me, Hailey. You will listen to me, you will do what I say. After all, you don’t want anyone to know your true colours, hm?” Leo sneers as he finally lets go of his grip on her neck. She gasps for air, filling her lungs with as much oxygen she can at once. Her knees give way and she slips to the ground, a fit of coughs escaping her. 

Leo kneels down in front of her, reaching out and gripping her chin, tilting it up so she could meet his eyes. 

“So, what will you do for me, sweet Hailey?” 

The hatred in her eyes was evident, the disdain for the man in front of her exceeding her abhorrence for any other. 

“... Fine.” She replies, her voice coming out hoarsely. 

“Good girl.” He grins. 

She had never hated anyone more in that moment. 

Never in her life. 

***

She tried not to let it show on her face how much she disliked Leo holding her like this. There was only like five minutes until lunch was over anyway, and then she wouldn’t have to deal with him for another two more classes. 

Walking into the cafeteria, she noticed that many of the people were gathered at the corner near the entrance. 

Damn. 

She didn’t pay much attention to it though, until someone pointed at her and yelled her name. 

“Hailey’s there!”

She frowns, scanning her eyes across the crowd. She briefly locks eyes with Drew before looking away, and only then does she see Milly being held back by Sean and Zoey shrieking. 

Hailey felt Leo’s arms tighten around her waist as Zoey shrieked. 

“Hailey!” 

She raised an eyebrow, Zoey pushed past the crowd to stalk up to her. The girl stopped as soon as she saw the man wrapped around Hailey, momentarily thrown off by the unexpectedness of the sight. 

“Leo? What are you… doing with her ?” 

“What, got a problem with my girlfriend ?” 

Hailey barely holds in her disgusted expression. Zoey looked utterly shocked. 

“Your… girlfriend?”

“Yeah. What’s up?” Leo replies dryly. 

Zoey frowns.

“Well… your girlfriend was staring at my ex-boyfriend!” 

Hailey frowns. 

“I was n-” Leo squeezes her waist, cutting her off. 

“You mean during class?” He grins, pulling Hailey closer to him. “Well, you see, the teacher thought she was staring at Drew, but actually she was staring at me. ” 

Hailey internally groans, but she didn’t say anything since he was basically saving her ass. 

“Oh? Really?” 

“Yes, really. Is it so hard to believe I was staring at… Leo? Why would I be looking at Drew in the first place?” Hailey retorts, tired of this situation. “You aren’t even in my damn class.”

Why was the five minutes going so damn slow? 

Zoey doesn’t seem entirely convinced.

So much for being a dumb blonde. 

Luckily for Hailey though, just this once, God hears her plea. Zoey relents, not pushing it any further, but not before she gives a warning. 

“Whatever. I don’t know what the hell this is,” She gestures to Hailey and Leo, “But if I hear anything like you staring at Drew ever again, you won’t hear the end of it.” 

Whatever. 

Hailey isn’t given a chance to reply as Zoey stomps off, just as the bell for the end of lunch rang. She groans. 

I’m hungry. Ugh. 

Leo leans down to whisper in her ear, making her tense almost immediately. 

“See you later , Hails.” 

I hope not. 

***

When Hailey came home, all she wanted was to crawl into bed and pass out. But of course, her siblings were always there to not make things happen the way she wanted it to be. 

“Haileyyy, you said you would play tea party with me again! Miss Unicorn is waiting for agesss.” 

“No way, Bethany. Hailey and I have something important to talk about.” 

She sighs. But if she were being honest with herself, she’d much rather deal with a whiny younger sister than her seemingly calm step-brother. Because she knew that Zander was not calm. At all. 

“Well, it has been a while Beth-”

The poor girl could barely even finish her sentence before she was yanked further into her room and the door of her bedroom was slammed in Bethany’s face. 

“Zander-” 

“What the hell were you thinking?” 

Oh no. 

“Hailey. Leo, again? Seriously?” 

She tilts her head down in guilt. Though Zander didn’t know the whole truth between her and Leo, he knew the fact that Leo had hurt her last time. She couldn’t look at the anger, annoyance and traces of hurt in the purple-head’s eyes. 

“No, look at me. Explain .”

“Zander-”

“Don’t ‘Zander’ me.”

She lets out a soft sigh, unable to meet his gaze. 

“I don't know what you want me to say. I’m sorry.”

Silence filled the room, the thick atmosphere gripping at her throat and suffocating her slowly. She would tell him the truth, but then how would he react? And Leo would hurt him too, she didn’t want that. Not now, not ever. 

“Not good enough, Hailey. But if this ends badly, again might I add, don’t come crying to me.” 

She winces internally at his words, the truth in them hitting her hard. But she nods, giving him a wry smile. He doesn’t return it, and just walks out. 

What am I doing?

Chapter Text

The mall was bustling with lots of people, the sales being utilised to the max. Many were walking (or running) back and forth, and all over the place, their arms filled to the brim with bags. Drew watched for a few more more moments before returning his focus back on the two that were pestering Leo with questions.

“Bro, why didn’t you tell us you liked Hailey?”

“And you literally made her your girlfriend on your first day! You gotta teach us how man, pulling Hailey is like one of the hardest things to do.”

Drew rolled his eyes. Leo chuckled, enjoying the attention, despite Liam and Henry being total airheads. 

“Oh you know, just some natural rizz and reminding her of our past.” 

Drew zoned out of the conversation, he wasn’t going to hear the stories Leo was making up about how he pulled Hailey. He had yet to ask how the blonde had really got the now purpling bruise on his face. It was too accurate to be just be a bump into the door like he claimed.

She definitely punched him.

The magenta-head wondered why she would have such a strong reaction though to her ex. From what Leo told him, there was nothing that possibly could have aligned with her need to punch him. Perhaps it was because he left her. 

Whatever, beats me.

He sighed, this was none of his business. He didn’t give two shits about the music freak, and besides, the two were dating now anyway.

“You’re quiet, Drew. What’s on your mind?”

Your girlfriend.

“Nothing, I’m gonna go grab something to eat.”

“Get me some coke too!” 

Drew barely heard the request, already out of his chair and leaving the sitting area they were resting in. He plugged in an airpod, going to find a place that he was feeling like eating from today. 

Subway sounds good. 

The worker definitely found him attractive, if the eyes she was throwing at him were any indicator. While waiting for his foot long to be made, he looked everywhere but at the girl. Sure, she was pretty, brunette and tan with some sort of coloured eyes he didn’t care to observe, he just wasn’t in the mood. Besides, this sort of thing was mostly his friends’ thing. 

After a good long ten minutes, his sandwich was finally ready. Italian herbs, cheese, chicken, lettuce and onion. No olives, beetroots, tomatoes and carrots. Just like how he liked it. 

After slumping onto a nearby chair, far enough so the worker won’t bother him later, he relaxed and slowly began eating his Subway. 

Tomorrow was the party at his place. Drew didn’t really know what to think about it. He wasn’t thinking about the consequences, he just wasn’t sure about why he even said yes to one now in the first place. Now that he thought about it, he kind of just wanted to be by himself and drink until he blacked out. 

But he was shaken out of his thoughts by two voices that he recognised. One belonged to a girl he hated with a passion, and the other was a friend he let go of. 

Hailey and Jake. 

“Oi! Give that back!”

Drew watched with a bored expression as Hailey chased Jake around the food court of the mall. Her cheeks were flushed in embarrassment or anger, it was hard to tell. Jake had his usual teasing grin on his face. 

“Jake! Give it back before I tell the world your dream about Dai-” 

Drew raised an eyebrow as Jake pulled Hailey by the waist and quickly covered her mouth with his hand. 

Leo won’t be happy about this one. 

Jake handed her lost item back, and Hailey smacked him on the head. As he watched them, Drew couldn’t help but notice the difference between the way the teal-head acted around the two blonde men. Around Jake, she was more loose and free. She was also completely at ease with his touch, even when he grabbed her by the waist. But with her supposed boyfriend, Leo, he remembered that she tensed when he held her the exact same way Jake held her. She even flinched, like she was… afraid of him. 

Weird. And none of my business, whatever. 

Wiping his mouth after finishing his meal, he let out a soft sigh of contentment before standing up from his seat to leave. Only to accidentally make direct eye contact with Hailey from the opposite end of the food court. They stared at each other for a good frozen second or two, her eyes widening ever so slightly in surprise before quickly looking away just as quickly. He didn’t look at Jake, and didn’t look back after she took Jake’s hand and walked away with him, instead going his own way. 

The girl at the counter who had clearly found Drew attractive, noticed him leaving and quickly left the cashier place to walk up to him. 

“Hi, I’m-”

He barely glanced at her.

“Not interested. Sorry.”  

He didn’t stick around to see her expression fall, he didn’t care all that much. He didn’t want to be here anymore and so he left, taking the bus home from the mall. On the way, he sent his mates a quick text to let them know not to wait up for him.

***

The next morning, Drew woke up to the headache of the century. 

Not from drinking again – though he might as well have – but instead from the avalanche of unread notifications on his phone. Snaps, instagram tags, texts from people he hadn’t spoken to since middle school. 

The last message he opened was from Leo. 

‘Cant wait for tmrw’s shi, almost everyone’s confirmed. Hope u stocked up, haha 🤙’

Drew stared at it for a whole second, confused. Then he opened the blonde’s instagram story and nearly dropped his phone. 

Leo had posted a full flyer. 

Bright neon colours, loud fonts, a photo of Drew’s lavish backyard – his backyard – and the words: ‘TOMORROW. DREW’S PLACE. WHOLE GRADE PULL UP. YK SHIT’S GONE BE WILD.’

Replied to the story at the bottom, there were at least thirty comments. 

‘Bro this is gonna be 🔥’

‘Finally a REAL party. c u there!’

‘Drew’s hosting??? Again? Never thought id see the day lols’

“Leo,” Drew muttered, getting out of bed and yanking on a hoodie, “what the actual hell. You’re a dead man walking, Leonardo.”

Total piece of shit. 

***

Drew caught up with Leo just outside the school gates. 

“Leo!” Drew hissed lowly, grabbing his mate by the collar and pulled him off to the side. Leo laughed like nothing was wrong, like he hadn’t turned a chill kickback into a full-blown rager. But his laugh did abruptly stop when he saw Drew’s face. 

“... Ah, what’s up bro?” Leo asked cautiously. “You see the hype? Umm, we’re gonna be legends after tonight…?”

“Legends?” Drew snapped darkly. “When I said ‘let everyone know’ I meant our mates, you dumb cunt. Not the entire fucking year level.”

Leo gave him a sheepish smile. “Sorry mate…” Then the blonde let out an exhale of air. “But c’mon, g, you know how these things go. We say it’s just us and the boys, and then it gets boring. Trust me, this is how parties are meant to be. And, don’t act like your place can’t handle it.”

Drew’s eyes darkened at that last comment, his grip on Leo’s collar going tighter. His jaw ticked. 

Leo noticed and immediately backtracked. “Wait I didn’t mean it like that, I-”

“Piss off, cunt.” Drew roughly pushed Leo back and put his hands back in his jeans pockets. He hated this, hated that Leo couldn’t ask to clarify, or that he wasn’t clear enough. His chest was filled with anger and annoyance, making it hard to concentrate. He wasn’t the kind of guy who liked surprises. He didn’t like lots of randos in his space who were there just for the free drinks. At least not anymore, he didn’t throw huge parties like this like he used to. 

“You used my name, my house, and you didn’t even ask to make sure you understood?”

Leo put his hands up in surrender. “I know, I know. That was my bad, mate. I’m sorry. But it’s too late now. Word’s out, and pretty much everyone knows.”

“Who’s fucking fault is that?” Drew clenched his jaw. But Leo did have a point, it was too late to cancel. If he pulled the plug, he’d be the buzzkill of the year. “Fine,” Drew muttered. “But if anything gets broken, you’re paying for the fixes. And nothing in my house is cheap.”

Leo sighed in relief, but winced at the last part. “I guess fair enough, deal. This is gonna be sick though, bro. Just trust.”

Drew didn’t respond, he just walked off into the school campus and went inside. He yanked his locker open harder than necessary, while Liam and Henry trailed behind him a few minutes later, already buzzing about “which girls are coming” and “who’s bringing what.” 

Today was going to be a long day. 

***

By lunch, the whole school pretty much knew. 

Tables were crowded with chatter – who was going, who was bringing who, what drama might unfold. Even the teachers looked vaguely suspicious, wondering what was going on.

Drew tried to ignore it. He kept his head down low, eating silently as Leo advertised the flyer on his story for like the fifth time to another random group. 

This idiot is still inviting people? Did he not hear me this morning? Piece of brainless rot. 

Hailey passed by once, tray in hand, followed by Jake and Zander. It seemed that the music freaks had all made up with Jake. Drew didn’t look up, not really. But he did see her take her seat, and the glance she made to the blonde sitting beside him. Then he saw the way her hand trembled, just so slightly, before she took her first bite of her fresh sandwich. 

He wasn’t sure why that stood out.

But he lowered his head again and went back to eating his cold pasta before his mind could dwell on it for any longer. For now, he needed to focus on getting through this stupid party. 

Leo leaned over and commented. 

“Hm, I need to talk to her. Convince her to wear that black number she used to like. That’d be fun.”

Drew rolled his eyes, and forced himself once again to not think about Leo’s comments any further. 

***

By the time school ended, Drew was halfway home when he realised – he didn’t have enough liquor for the sheer amount of people that would come. 

He hadn’t bought drinks, cleaned the house, hidden the valuables his mother always warned him about or locked non-entry rooms for the public. 

He sighed, turned around, and caught a bus to the nearest bottle shop. This was not what he signed up for. And tomorrow was going to be hell.

Chapter Text

Hailey let out a huff of irritation as she dug through her closet.

Her annoying boyfriend had demanded the dress she’d worn to his birthday party about two years ago. A short, black, tight dress that did make her look hot but she hated wearing it. Not because it exposed so much of her skin, she was alright with that, it was more what she had to experience when she wore it the last time. Which was at Leo’s party. 

And this time it was Drew’s party. 

She prayed that history would not repeat itself, because she knew she couldn’t handle it a second time.

When Leo told her about the event, she knew she didn’t have a choice. And that included her dress which she didn’t even know if she still even had. 

“Hailey! What’s taking you so damn long? Jake is waiting for you at the bus stop and we’re gonna be late to school!”

Hailey huffed again as Zander yelled for her for the sixth time. She gave up on looking for her dress and just grabbed her bag by the door and swung it over shoulder as she left her room. 

“Hailey, I swear-”

“Coming! Hold on!”

She rushed down the stairs, saying bye to Bethany and her stepmum on the way to the front door. She grabbed a slice of semi-warm buttery toast and nearly ran to catch up with Zander. He rolled his eyes when he looked at her. 

“Geez, one would think you had a whole makeup session in there to look good for your stupid boyfriend. But no, you look completely the same. And ordinary.”

She scoffed. “Wow, thanks. Real nice.”

“I didn’t say you looked ugly.”

“You implied it.”

He shrugged. “That’s all you. Not me.”

Now it was her turn to roll her eyes, but before she could retort back to him, he spoke again. “What were you even doing? You took so damn long, like way longer than usual.”

“I was doing nothing. Just procrastinating.” She lied easily. “I’m dreading going to school. And dad won’t even let me take a sickie.”

“Well, next time, don’t use a goddamn school morning to procrastinate. You are so lucky our parents are married, otherwise I would have strangled the hell out of you.”

That pulled a laugh out of her, genuine and loud. Typical Zander. And despite his initial annoyance with her, he couldn’t help but smile when she laughed. Afterall, he hadn’t seen her really happy in a good while.

“Weirdo. I didn’t know saying that I’d strangle you would be the reason you laugh.”

She laughed even more. 

“Ouch, you’re gonna make my sides hurt.”

“Then stop laughing, idiot. Seriously, what is so funny?”

“Shut up, you’re laughing too!”

As they reached the bus stop, Jake gave them both a weird look. He took in their slightly flushed faces, out of breath pants, and lingering smiles. 

“Did you two race here or something?” 

The stepsiblings looked at him, then each other. Then she shrugged. Zander huffed. 

“Something like that. Where’s the bus?”

Jake looked down at them, slightly dumbfounded. “You guys do know what time it is right? The bus left like five minutes ago.” Hailey and Zander sobered up a bit at the blonde’s words. They both knew that the next bus would take forty minutes. 

Zander glared at her. The teal-head offered him a sheepish smile. 

“... Sorry?”

“Come here, you rat! I’m going to strangle you for real now!”

She ran, using Jake as a shield. 

Lord, help me. 

***

The hallway was too narrow for her taste. Narrow, crowded, and humming with the buzz of Drew’s stupid party. Posters were taped unevenly on the walls, shoved up by overeager hands. Even the font was annoying – all sharp edges and faux-rebellion. It literally screamed “I’m trying too hard” in neon writing. 

Typical.

Hailey adjusted the strap of her bag, half-listening to the pair of girls in front of her who were still gushing about how “Drew might take his shirt off if there’s a pool”. 

Gross. 

As if on cue, fate decided to be ironic. 

She turned the corner. And slammed right into a broad chest. Hard. 

She stumbled back, biting her tongue to keep a curse in and replace it with a quick apology instead. Fingers curled reflexively around her bag as the person she had collided with straightened. 

“Watch where you’re going, freak.”

There it was. That voice that she knew oh so well. That she hated so much. Her stomach coiled. She didn’t even need to look up to know it was. But she did anyway, because her pride wouldn’t let her act like she was intimidated. Not ever to him.

“Drew,” she greeted coolly, her nose wrinkling at what she saw. He was wearing his usual worn out hoodie, a black backpack slung carelessly over one shoulder and his magenta hair looked like he’d run a frustrated hand through it too many times that morning. His eyes looked the same, still dead and still tired. “Still compensating for something with your ego, I see.”

He scoffed. “Still being carried by your little clique of misfit violin kids?”

“Still under the illusion that being popular makes you interesting?”

His eyes narrowed just slightly, a flicker of amusement crossing his features, but it was short-lived. The grin he shot her next was venomous. 

“You’re lucky I don’t deck people in the hallway.”

“You’re lucky I don’t carry my guitar case. You wouldn’t survive the blunt-force trauma.”

There was a pause between them, thick and electric. Other students were still walking by, brushing past them, laughing, chatting – but the bubble between Hailey and Drew was tightly wound in mutual contempt. 

She went to step around him.

He sidestepped. 

Of course he did. 

“Where’s your shadow?” he asked suddenly, voice too casual to ever be genuine. And when she blinked in confusion, he added, “You know, the blonde bitch that follows you around you now.” 

Oh, Jake. 

“How would I know?”

He sneered, but shrugged. “Where’s the other one then?”

She blinked again. “What?”

“Leo,” Drew replied flatly, eyes scanning her face. “Your boyfriend. Ring a bell? He loves parading you around everywhere. And you two are usually together when you’re not with anyone else.”

The name hit her like a bucket of ice water.

She hoped her face didn’t show it – the way her jaw tensed involuntarily, how her stomach twisted with unease. But if there was one thing Hailey was good at, it was hiding how much she hated that name.

She blinked once. Twice. Then forced a roll of her eyes and a scoff. 

“Why are you asking me? Aren’t you his friend?”

“Girlfriends always know better than the mates.”

She huffed. “He has better things to do than babysit me between periods. Not everyone’s clingy like you and your fan club.”

Drew tilted his head, studying her in that way he used to do when they were both stuck doing detention in sophomore year – that irritatingly observant way that made her feel like he was always trying to call her bluff. 

“You don’t look thrilled,” he replied, shrugging. “Rough morning? Or is Leo just as charming in private as he is in public?”

She fixed him with a sharp glare, her dark eyes piercing his. “Wow, are you jealous?”

He barked out a laugh that was more disbelieving rather than amused. “Of you? Please. As if I’d ever be jealous of a music freak.”

“Could’ve fooled me, especially with how obsessed you are with him lately.”

“You’re the one dating him. You’d know all about obsessions.”

The air between them crackled. Her heart was beating too fast and not from fear. Just the tension. And something else she didn’t want to name.

Drew stepped aside, finally, and nodded towards the hall they were in. 

“Well. Tell your boyfriend I said hi,” he said, the sarcasm on his tongue as thick as syrup. “Better yet, tell him I’ll see him at the party tonight.”

Hailey raised an eyebrow. “You two need messengers to deliver words live now?”

He shrugged. “Just do it.”

“All you guys do is party.” She huffed, rolling her eyes. 

His face broke into a grin. “You jealous?” He echoed mockingly. 

She gave him an unimpressed frown. “Of you? Please,” she snapped back before brushing past him before he could respond. 

But her stomach still twisted at the mention of the blonde. And as she walked away, she could feel Drew’s eyes on her, not that she’d ever admit it of course.

Not that she’d admit her finger curled just a little tighter around her bag strap. Or that her skin still burned from where his arm had grazed hers. Or that her pulse still hadn’t really slowed. 

No. 

Because she hated Drew Rodriguez. More than anyone else. Absolutely, completely.

And he was the last person she hoped would ever find out about anything about the relationship between her and his friend. 

Chapter Text

Drew watched her walk away, her teal hair tied up into a ponytail swaying with every step like it was personally offended by his existence. She didn’t look back. 

Of course she didn’t. 

Hailey never looked back. She only ever stormed forward like she had something to prove.

But he saw it. Barely a flicker, but still there. A subtle freeze when he said Leo’s name. His mate who was literally dating her. 

Most people wouldn’t have caught it. The half-second delay, shift in her posture, the way her shoulders had tensed before she forced them back down into relaxing again. She recovered fast, as usual, all attitude and fire, snapping back with one of her usual sharp remarks the two shared in their arguments. But it was there.

Something just wasn’t sitting right. At all.

Drew frowned slightly, watching the groups of students swallow her up as she disappeared down the hallway.

She wasn’t good at faking indifference – not to him, anyway. They’d had too many run-ins, too many verbal jabs and cold glares for him not to notice when something was off. And today?

Something was definitely off.

And a deeper part of him had suspected something wrong as soon as he saw her stiff posture when Leo held her by her waist in the cafeteria on the first day. But what? Leo had told him that she was practically down bad for her, so it couldn’t be him as the problem. 

Weird. 

He leaned a shoulder against the locker behind him, arms crossed now. His mind should have moved on, especially now because there were much more important things to think about. The party. Jake being a backstabbing traitor and getting kicked out of their friend group because of a crush on the stupid class president and now he’s with the freaks who play music instead of sport. The history presentation he hadn’t started at all. Anything.

But instead?

He found himself thinking about the bitch he’s practically hated since forever. About the sharp little breath she took – barely there, just before she rolled her eyes and snapped back at him. And all because of the mention of a boy. 

And Leo. Leo, who had been suddenly all buddy-buddy with him lately. Leo, who was constantly acting like he had Hailey wrapped around his finger. Leo, who was always quick to show off but never let Hailey speak for herself. 

Drew’s jaw clenched. 

Weird.

He shook it off with a scoff and pushed off the locker. He didn’t care, obviously. She was just a music freak, dating his mate with good cheekbones. 

Still… 

That tension? He couldn’t shake it off and he’d seen it before. In other people. The kind of tension that didn’t come from love or lust. It came from fear. 

And if Leo was the reason for that flicker in her eyes. Then Drew might have to just start asking questions, even if he hated the damn girl.

***

The final bell of the day rang louder than usual, like it was announcing war. And maybe, in a way, it was. Or just Drew had been waiting for it. 

He tugged his hoodie over his head as he stepped out of Rosemeadow High, ignoring the groups of people rushing from the same place to escape at last. He heard the buzz, the chatter. Everyone was talking about the same thing. 

The party. 

Drew’s first party in years. 

The biggest one of the year, apparently. Not that he meant for it to be. It hadn’t even happened yet and people were bringing all this glory. 

He sighed to himself. His house was going to be full tonight. Cheerleaders, footballers, randoms from the year above and the year below, people from out of school, and people he hadn’t even talked to since Year 7. They were all acting light this was the event. 

He didn’t even care that much. He just wished Leo hadn’t wished invited half the fucking school. It would have been fine with him and his mates, drunk on a Thursday night and skipping school on Friday. But no, Leo just had to be a ‘legend’. 

Drew grit his teeth. 

Long night. 

***

The sun was getting ready to set in the sky by the time he pushed open the tall glass doors of his house. The place was way too quiet, and the added space from opening the doors made everything echo. 

He dropped his bag at the base of the stairs, and pulled out his phone, checking for a message he knew wasn’t there. Still nothing from Leo. 

I swear. 

He was probably off dragging Hailey around by the wrist again. 

Drew shut that thought down fast, but it still stuck to the back of his mind like glue. He wasn’t going to dwell on it. There wasn’t enough time for this now.

His footsteps echoed down the hardwood hallway as he passed the dining room, then the lounge, then the kitchen. All of it was clean, pristine. Barely touched all week. When his parents were out, their private chef didn’t usually come over. So it was either takeout, or Drew and his brother had to make their own food. And more often than not, the brothers always agreed on getting outside food, even if they disagreed on everything else. 

Their house was the kind of place that looked like it belonged in a magazine: black marble counters, minimalistic white couches, floor-to-ceiling windows no one ever actually looked out of. 

A mansion, basically. 

But it was cold. Just like the people that lived in it. No one had a real relationship with each other, besides maybe his parents. But even that was debatable. Drew got used to it long ago, and honestly, he didn’t care enough to fix it anymore. 

He went up the set of stairs near the back of the house, and paused at the middle of the staircase. He called out for his brother. “Alex?” 

Nothing. 

“Alexander?”

Still nothing. 

He waited another second before grinning faintly to himself and bounding up the steps two at a time. He did get a text earlier to confirm it, but he wanted to be sure. 

Drew knocked on his brother’s door, then tried the handle when he didn’t get a reply. Unlocked. Empty. 

One glance around the room showed Alex’s gym bag was gone, probably carted off to his girlfriend’s. Drew’s grin widened further. Perfect. That meant there was a high chance he wouldn’t come back until the weekend was over. 

No bro breathing down his neck, no judgemental older-sibling lectures about “underage drinking” or “respecting the property” or “not being an idiot” even though he’d done all of that and probably still does. 

Just silence. 

And that meant the party was still going to happen. And Drew could do whatever the hell he wanted. 

***

The next hour passed by in a blur. Drew set up the backyard first, stringing up warm golden lights across the pergola and checking the speakers. Then he moved through the kitchen, clearing counters and hiding the good wine so no one accidentally broke an expensive bottle. Again. 

He ordered food, unlocked the pool gate, tossed spare towels into a basket. He even changed the guest bathroom soap to one that didn’t smell like his mother’s lavender addiction. 

Every motion was smooth, practiced. 

He leaned against the couch, catching a break for a few seconds. He checked his phone again. Leo said he’d be there in ten minutes. Liam and Henry said they were on their way already to help with the rest of setting up. Drew sighed. That gave him enough time to clean up and change. 

***

Sure enough, after his mates came, the doorbell started ringing. 

Once. Then twice in a row. Someone even banged on the glass. 

Drew rolled his eyes, and tossed the last pack of solo cups onto the kitchen island. He chucked a fallen pillow at Henry’s head, who responded with an ‘ouch’, on his way down the hall to open the door. Liam put on the music, and the closer Drew got, the louder the chatter got. 

By the time he opened it, the front porch was practically vibrating. 

Showtime. 

“Drewwwww!” someone yelled, arms already in the air like this was a music festival. 

“Let’s go, party king!” another voice echoed from the front lawn. 

He smirked, stepping back to let them in. “Shoes off if you’re going upstairs,” he muttered out of habit, not that anyone would listen. He barely got through that sentence before five more people piled behind the ten and rushed in. 

Within minutes, the house was alive. 

Loud bass thudded through the walls, kitchen lights were on to the brightest, and someone opened the fridge even though there was literally nothing in there for them. Drew made sure of that, he didn’t want his brother to annoy him about having to go buy more stuff. But mostly, there was lots of laughter, out of pitch singing and shouting. 

Liam cranked the music up louder. A few guys took that as a time to get in the pool, shirts flying off. Girls lined the edge of the patio, drinks in hand, phones up, lips glossed. Every hallway buzzed with movement. Luckily no one was getting frisky this early on. Yet. 

Drew just walked through it all, moving through the motions. Nodding, fist bumping, flashing half-smiles that didn’t quite reach his eyes. He kept things smooth. Kept moving. 

He didn’t mind this part. The chaos, the noise, the distraction. It was like riding a high he didn’t need to explain. He didn’t need to think about school, about drama, about anything. So he didn’t. 

He talked to the people he didn’t hate, messed around with the music settings, and even let someone jump from the brick wall dividing his and his neighbor’s house (who thankfully were away) into his pool. He didn’t even mind when someone had snooped through his backyard shed and found packets of water balloons. 

And for a while, things were fine.

Until Zoey had to make an appearance. And that ruined his mood.

“Drewy-bear!” She walked up to him on the patio, Lia trailing behind her with her own cup of whatever. The blonde was wearing little jean shorts with a polka-dotted bikini top, a big smile on her pink lips and thick wedges on her feet, making the top of her head reach to his eye level. 

He shot her a dry look, his brow creasing into a frown. His stance became slightly guarded.

“Don’t call me that. What do you want?”

Zoey pouted. “Aw, don’t be like that. I just came to say hi.” 

He sipped from his cup, shrugging. He glanced at Lia, then back to watching over the party. Zoey huffed, seemingly annoyed from not getting enough of his attention. 

“Seriously, that’s it? What’s up with you these days?” She complained, leaning against the cool metal pole of the patio. “Ugh, must be Jake joining the freaks.” 

Drew’s jaw ticked, but he didn’t respond to her needling. 

“Go enjoy the party and leave me alone.” 

Zoey rolled her eyes. “Whatever. I’ll be at the pool when you realise you miss me.” 

Then she took Lia’s hand and dragged the girl with her to where a group of other girls, who were her friends, by the pool. She shot Drew a wink on the way, before Drew scoffed to himself and walked inside his house, throwing the empty glass out on the way.

Then he bumped into Leo.

“Ay, man of the hour! I’ve been looking everywhere for you, mate. This party’s so lit. A couple of chicks wanna talk to y-”

“Not interested.”

“What?”

Drew moved to the kitchen counter, grabbing a can of beer and flicking it open. Leo followed after him, leaning against the edge of the marble counter. 

“Come on, mate, let loose a little.” 

Drew took a large gulp of his can. “Not in the mood, dude.” 

Leo huffed, but didn’t push further. He took a cup and poured himself a glass of some random opened bottle. “Whatever, but let me know when you are. Those chicks seem into you. But besides that, you’ve outdone yourself mate. This party’s hella fire.” He held out his cup to Drew. 

“Cheers, gang.” Drew barely hummed in acknowledgement, clinking his can with Leo’s drink before taking large gulps of his beer. He found himself asking before he could stop himself and think.

“Where’s your girl? Thought you said you were gonna talk her into coming?”

Leo paused from his cup, before his mouth spread into a grin. 

“She’ll be here in a min, said something about band practice for her comp I think. But hell yeah, I’m excited to see her.” Then he spoke lower, shooting Drew a wink. “She’s wearing the sexy black shit I bought her some time ago. I’m gonna get some.” 

Drew found himself nodding, playing up a grin, but something deep down in his heart paused. He pushed it out of the way though, hyping Leo up. 

“Oi, Drew! Come help with connecting the music to the speakers upstairs!” Liam called for him, and Drew clapped Leo on the back before going to help his mate. 

So far, the night wasn’t so bad.