Chapter One

"Here...put this on."

I watched as a denim mini skirt was flung onto my bed, its hem ripped and worn. It looked immature and way too short for my long legs... I glanced over at my closet as a pink tank top flew on top of the skirt.

"This too."

"Jazz," I started to whine, my expression skeptical. "Why are you killing my closet? I just cleaned it, like, yesterday..."

Jasmine's head poked out from behind my closet door. "I am not 'killing' it," she replied in her own defense, "I'm rummaging through your clothes to find something decent for you to wear. I mean, you wanna wear something flattering, but not too formal...and you need to show some skin, but at the same time, not be a freakin' slut... Basically, you wanna attract the right kind of attention."

I rolled my eyes. "Thanks for the advice. I'll keep that in mind."

"No problem." Jasmine smiled enthusiastically in return.

After a few moments of silence, I interrogated her, "And, for what, may I ask?"

"Do you always have to have a comment?" Jasmine went back to work, digging through my clothes some more. "Just put on what I told you to. I'll be waiting by the door -- oh, and don't make us late, Blaire Alexandra. Ooh! And grab those silver-colored heels on your way out... They're pretty cute." As she eased out of my closet, she added with a smirk, "Oh, and one more thing: don't do anything else, though... You look gorgeous as is."

"Psshhfftt, please." I shook my head in response, grabbing the skirt and top Jasmine picked out. I stuck my tongue out at her as she did the same, making my way toward the bathroom.

___

We pulled up to the part thirty minutes later, college kids of all kinds doing whatever they pleased. I felt my chest tighten at the sight of it all... Me? At a party? No thanks... I had better things to do.

As soon as I looked at Jasmine, the expression on her face quickly went from pleased to defensive. "Don't say a word. Until you have fully experienced this party, you are not allowed to tell me anything about how much you don't wanna be here, so on and so forth." When my skeptic look didn't change, she simply said, "Just get out the car."

With an exasperated sigh, I got out of the passenger’s side, deciding I wasn't going to move until she got out of the car as well. But as soon as I shut the door, Jasmine hit the gas, leaving me behind in the blink of an eye. My heart instantly hit the floor.

"Jasmine Claire!!!" I screamed after her, my head spinning. I didn't know where the hell I was... Stranded at a party by my best friend. How lovely.

I crossed my arms and glared at the back of her disappearing car, not being able to process things very clearly. And while I stood there, I felt people watching me, some even having the audacity to size me up. How did I know this? Don't ask...I just did. During my frustration, I watched as two guys walked pass me, turning back for one last look. I just scoffed.

Suddenly, someone threw their arm around my neck. "Hey there, Sissy," he said with complete enthusiasm, "thankya for comin'!"

I could recognize that voice anywhere.

"Jake..." I tried to turn to face him, but he held my neck tighter. "Jakie, let go..."

My brother seemed to gladly ignore me. "Did I tell you I have someone to meet you?" he managed to say while holding my neck as tight as possible, pulling me toward the party. And the more I resisted, the harder force he used. What can I say...having a brother a year older had its negatives. "Oh, and when you see Jazz...tell her I said thanks."

Then and there, it hit me.

My best friend and my brother had gotten together, devising a plan to get me to go to a party for the first time in a few months.

...amazing.

As Jake guided me through a sea of college students, I tried to ask over loud conversation, "And, um, when exactly is Jasmine coming to pick me up?"

He replied subtly, "When the party's over."

"And when is that?"

"Three hours."

I sighed in exasperation. Three hours? Great. Just what I needed... Three hours of drunks and whores. How fun. Muttering under my breath, I slipped out of my brother's arm, making my way around a crowd of people. To my surprise, there was a humongous bonfire in the apparent center of the party. And randomly, there were benches around it. You know, for sitting? So I sat. To be respectful.

Anyways, so there I was, sitting respect-fully, when my dear older brother walked up with some guy a few inches taller than him, their faces glowing from the fire behind me. I was instantly intrigued.

I immediately started to wonder if this was the guy Jake was talking about. If he was...he didn't like a drunk or a whore. Yay!

"Chase," Jake started with a grin, "this is my sexy sister, Blaire -- "

"Jake!" I exclaimed, astonished he said that. I shot him a look.

My brother smiled in return, apparently not noticing my cheeks going red. Chase's eyes met with mine, a small smile finding a way across his lips, but in a smirkish manner. Trying not to laugh, I attempted to do the same, although I ending up failing in the process. Sure, I might've felt embarrassed, but on the bright side, I got to hear Chase's laugh. A bit higher than most, and even a bit raspy, but nice overall...

"A pleasure to meet you," Chase said with that smirk of his, taking my hand. He brought it up to his lips, his gaze on me and simply kissed my hand. In the gentlemanly fashion. Did I enjoy it? Yes, why thank you for asking.

"Aw, stop flirtin', man," Jake interjected. With a skeptical look, he finished, "This chickie's for Jonathon...you know that."

Chase laughed in response. "Whatever..." He winked at me with that same smirk on before adding, "I just couldn't help myself."
I felt myself smile back. "So, who's this Jonathon?" I asked Jake, turning toward him.

Jake instantly shushed me, pulling out his cell phone from his pocket. Flipping it open, he answered, "Hello?" I glanced over at Chase who was watching his feet as he kicked at the sand, taking this time to look him over...messy brown hair, falling over his eyes... you know, the kind you just wanna push back with a laugh and watch fall into place?...dark green eyes, glowing from the fire, that could suck you in if you looked long enough...his infamous smirkish smile, thin lips to help accomplish that...a t-shirt and some levis, torn in the knees, the hems ripping as well...and bare feet to finish.

In general, a type of guy I felt like getting to know.

"Blaire?"

I snapped back to reality. "Yeah?"

"Jonathon's not gonna be able to make it, tonight," he said in disappointment, shrugging. "But I’m sure you won’t have a hard time getting to know some’a the other guys…"

"You know I’ll take care of her," someone said, slipping their arm around my waist.

"Get off’a her, Felix," Chase snapped immediately, causing me to jump a little.

Felix let go of me, scowling at Chase. "Whatever, man…" Without a word, I watched as he walked over to a group of girls, flirting with the first one he saw.

Chase scoffed, flipping his hair to the side quickly. "Don’t let him touch you… Only God knows where his hands have been." The tone of his voice made me shudder, a sudden urge overcoming me to take a shower as soon as possible.

Abruptly, I asked, "You have a swim suit?" When Chase looked at me curiously, I added, "Just randomly wondering."

He glanced around us, then turned toward me. "No, ma’am, I don’t." Cocking his head a little, he asked, "Well, do you?"

I plucked my tank top strap, responding, "No sir, this is all I have." I watched as Chase started to take off his shirt, my heart sipping a beat. "Wha-what are you doing?"

Chase glanced at me. "We’re going swimming, aren’t we?"

"In our clothes?"

"Why, yes indeed. What else?"

I smiled. "Mmkay, then."