Chapter One--Party

"So, is this party totally lame or what?" Cassidy Wells shouted in the ear of her best friend above the annoyingly loud techno music blasting throughout the woods. Val Watkins nodded her agreement and took a sip of her beer. They were at the back to school pit party, which was usually a blast, but since the cops have had busted up last year's, the mood was a little more cautious than usual.

"You'd think," Val yelled back, as Cass bent closer to hear what Val was saying. "They'd just get a new location if they're so damn paranoid."

She nodded earnestly and drained the rest of her Budweiser. Val followed suit and then chucked the empty bottle by the fire. She wasn't even motivated to walk the few feet to grab herself another one. Cassidy tapped Val's arm suddenly, her eyes wide with excitement.

"So did you hear? Caleb's girlfriend moved away, he's totally single again."

"Really?" Val replied, not sounding very interested in the subject. "Poor guy, he must be upset, I heard he really liked her."

"Yeah well," Cassidy cut in. "Who cares, he's single, that's all I care about."

"Well good luck with that," Val replied. "He's probably really depressed and besides," Val smirked. "Reid still totally has the hots for you."
"Oh please," Cass rolled her big blue eyes. "You had to remind me, didn't you?"

Cassidy and Reid hooked up briefly before the summer last year, Cassidy had been smashed as usual, but from what Val had heard from Tyler he was really into her.

Mmm, Tyler. The thought of him sent goose bumps rushing down the back of her spine. Val had really been looking forward to seeing him at the party, but it was getting late all ready and her hopes had been dwindling along with her supply of beer. She suddenly felt Cassidy grip her arm tighter as she dragged Val around.

"Val," she hissed excitedly. "Look, look, they're here!"

Val's stomach gave an irritating whoosh as she spotted the four figures approaching her and Cass.

"Oh my god, they're coming over here! Quick, Val, how's my hair?"

"Cass," Val laughed. "Calm down, it's just the guys."

Cass gave Val an exasperated look and began twirling her fingers in her hair as the four boys walked over to us.

"Hey Cass, Hey Val, how was your summer?" Pogue smiled and Cass gave him an eager hug.

"Oh it was fabulous, you know, what about yours?" She chattered enthusiastically. Val groaned inwardly, remembering how her inbox had been full the majority of the summer of emails from Cass complaining about how boring and horrible her summer was.

Pogue shrugged, pulling a hand through his long, disheveled hair.

"Could have been better, you know. Me and Kate broke up."
"Aww, that's so sad. Are you okay?" Again, Val was tempted to slap her friend, knowing that the minute they returned to their dorm, Cass would be raving excitedly about how Pogue and Caleb with now both single. Val's sharp, hazel eyes drifted over to Tyler who's own pair of eyes were watching her intently.

"Hey Val, how was your summer?" He grinned. God, Val had missed that voice. "Did you get my emails?"

"Well, seeing how I wrote you back on several occasions, that should give you the answer shouldn't it?" She smiled deviously. "It was good, how was Europe?"

"It was amazing," he breathed, stepping closer to her, his hands swaying casually in his pockets. God, he was too adorable, Val thought.

"I wish you could have seen it, I actually have some pictures, you should stop by my dorm sometime and I'll show them to you, if you want?"

"That'd be awesome," Val started when a loud, obnoxious voice cut in.

"Oh yeah, stop by the dorm Val, Tyler will show you an awesome time."

Val rolled my eyes and laughed.

"Nice to see you to, Reid."

Tyler shoved Reid playfully.

"Man, you have no manors whatsoever."

"Pfft," he sneered. "Who needs manors when you have good looks and natural charm? So ladies," He shoved Pogue and Tyler backwards so he was practically leering down Cass and Val's shirts. "Did you miss me?"

"Not in the slightest," Cassidy muttered, looking very displeased.

"Man, leave the poor girls alone, it's their first day back." The fourth of the boys had finally joined the group and pushed Reid aside and smiled at the two girls.

"Hi Caleb." Val grinned back, wanting to laugh at Reid's sour expression.

"Thanks for saving us from Sir-Perv-A lot," Cassidy smirked.

Caleb laughed and flashed his winning smile, which definitely explained why every girl on campus was dying to jump into bed with him.

Everyone joined in laughing while Reid bitterly "Ha, Ha, Ha'ed" along.

"Hey, you girls want another drink?" Tyler asked, touching the small of Val's back gently.

"Yeah definitely," She replied. "It's about time this party got started."

"Cool," Tyler grinned and jogged over to the nearby cooler and pulled out a round of beers.

"Cheers everyone," He yelled as he passed out the bottled. With a loud crack, everyone twisted off the caps and began to chug back. A loud spluttering and coughing noise came from Reid as the foam from his beer went spewing all over him.

"Mother fuck!" He swore, trying to whip it all off. Pogue howled with laughter and everyone else joined in.

"Not having a good night are we bud," Tyler laughed patting his best friend on the back. Cassidy began to avidly chat with Caleb and Pogue about her "amazing time in south California" leaving Val, Tyler and Reid to sip back on our beers in earnest.

"So yeah, some party isn't it?"

"Definitely can't beat last years," Tyler grinned.

"Are you joking," Val asked in surprise. "The cops showed up half way through and some kid died, remember?"

Tyler and Reid's expressions frowned at my mentioning of this.

"Yeah, that's true. Well, the four of us had some fun running away from those pigs." Reid let out a little giggle as he reminisced the memory. Val quickly changed topics as to not ruin the mood by bringing up the death of the kid.

"So, Tyler, did you get my present?"
Tyler's face lit up again.

"Oh yeah, thanks, it was great! We played table hockey drinking games all summer long. I only wish it would fit in the dorm."

"Yeah well, my dad's company had extras so I thought it might be a good investment for you to practice, see if you can actually beat me at a game this year."

"I agree," Reid added. "Tyler sucks at it."

"Man, shut up, I do not!"

"So, I take it you had a good birthday?" Val laughed. "Sorry I missed the party."

Tyler frowned. She looked at him, questioningly.

"Well, yeah, it was alright. I didn't actually have a party, it was sort of—"

"More of a family affair," Reid finished.

Val nodded, puzzlingly. "Oh, I see, well, better than being horrible I suppose."

"Yeah, totally." He smiled.

Again, she began to search his gaze. Tyler was such a mystery. Val figured that had to be the main reason she was so obsessed with him, that and his quirky laugh, incredible good looks and overall sweetheart personality. She definitely had a little bit of a crush. Tyler had intrigued her since the day they had first met, back in grade nine. Val suddenly jerked back to reality, realizing that she had been staring at Tyler the entire time she had been daydreaming about how hot he was.

She looked over towards Cassidy, who was now twisting her blonde hair vigorously into a ponytail all the while nodding enthusiastically whilst Caleb and Pogue were telling her about surfing in the Caribbean. Val grinned and shook her long, red hair and then took another swig of cold beer.

She noticed Reid staring at Cass longingly, with such big puppy eyes it made her feel really sorry for the guy, until she remembered how much of a Perv he could be.

"If it makes you feel any better," She whispered to him quietly. "She didn't have a single fling all summer."

"It kind of shows," Tyler murmured. "If she stands any closer to Caleb they'll practically be doing it."

Val tried to stifle her giggles but instead slopped a good amount of beer over her face because Tyler had caught her mid swig.

"Here," he laughed, brushing her wet face off with his sweater.

"Thanks," She smiled guiltily.

"You look cute all covered in beer."
"Oh thanks!" She shoved him playfully. "It's totally all your fault."

"Oh, whatever you slob!" He ducked as Val aimed a swipe at him.

"Alright you two, cut it out, you sicken me." Reid drawled dramatically.

"Man, loosen up! It's time to party!" Tyler put his arm over Reid's and clinked their beers together.

"Well, you present a strong case Mr. Simms," Reid smirked, shot gunning the rest of his beer.

"Let's stir things up a bit here shall we?"

"What did you have in mind?" Tyler asked with a sly grin. Reid began to whisper in his ear and Tyler's grin turned into a splitting smile.

"However, we're going to acquire the assistance of Miss Val." Reid said innocently, as he rung his hands. "What do you say?"

"No, no way, whatever it is you two are plotting—" Val began to back away, waving her arms. It was to no use however, as Tyler and Reid both tackled her to the ground.

"Come on Val, where's your sense of adventure?" Tyler wheezed through fits of laughter, all the while trying to restrain her as she kicked and flailed.

"Val's going to be our bait, now all we need is our competitors."

"I am not going along with this! Cass! Cass! A little help?"

"What's that?" Tyler yelled loudly to drown out her muffled pleas for help.

"Oh Val, you love wet t-shirt contests? Why don't we have one right now!"

Reid was cackling viciously with laughter as they began to drag Val away from Cassidy who was completely oblivious to the fact that she was being kidnapped.

"Hey boys!" Tyler yelled loudly. "Val will do a striptease for anyone who can beat me and Reid in a race to Hawthorne Point!"

"Just go along with it," he whispered in her ear in between giggles.

"Okay, fine! Just let go of me!" They finally released her and she rolled my eyes in disgust when she realized Aaron Abbot strutting over towards them.

"What's this, what's this?" Aaron leered at Val, which gave her a strong urge to throw up. He was more perverted then Reid would have been if you had set him loose in the playboy mansion.

"That's right," Tyler said. "Val here says she'll strip if someone can actually beat us to a race."

"In front of everyone," Reid said excitedly. "Right on top of the DJ's turntable."

Val shot him a murderous look, but Tyler just patted her head reassuringly.

"So, you up for the challenge boys?"

"Why not," Aaron sneered, speaking directly to Val's chest. "I could use a little entertainment around here."

She glared once more at Tyler but he just merrily winked back.

"Excellent, then, to the cars!" Reid roared dramatically and began to charge towards the parking space that was hidden beyond the trees. Aaron and his cronies followed suit. Val turned to Tyler and burst out laughing.

"You don't honestly expect me to strip on the turntable if you lose, right?"

"Baby, the word 'lose' is not in Tyler Simms vocabulary." He grinned and took her hand. Val's heart definitely skipped a couple of beats.

"Course, I wouldn't mind loosing just this once, given the circumstances,"

"You better not mess with me Simms," She warned, raising her eyebrows. "Besides I don't think you could handle it."
"Oh, touché!" He grinned and began to pull her along to the woods. "Come on, let's get this party started!"