Hello(: How are my lovely readers? Good, I hope! So, I've truly been loving all of these reviews I've been getting; they make me smile! I hope more of you will click that little green button at the end (Or yellow if you're reading off of a cellular device like I do) and leave me your comments. Also, I've put up a poll on my profile. I wanted to know if anyone would be offended if I made this an "M" rated story and added sex scenes? I don't want to loose many readers (if any) and all of your opinions really do matter to me. So, either leave me a comment/review or head over to my profile and vote. Or, hell, you can do both. I'm sure I have a few over achievers in the bunch.

Okay, I'm done rambling... Enjoy the chapter!

Previously:

"Well, you're just going to have to trust me," he said placing his hands on either side of her face once they had stopped near the edge of the fire. "Zaria, if you haven't noticed, I'm not really like other guys," Zane said softly.


Zaria couldn't believe her ears; how was she supposed to believe him? So many guys had told her those exact words paired along with the identical look in their eyes and conviction in their voice. Yet, none of them ever kept their promise; it was always a hump-and-dump relationship. Zaria would never complain; she'd learned a lot about life through her short-lived relationships, but she always wondered if there was something more. She'd never actually given it a thought, because she never had a reason to believe it to be true.

"How are you supposed to trust someone who you barely know? Whom you have just met?" Zaria asked looking at Zane's chest refusing to look into his intoxicating sea-green eyes as her voice got suddenly quiet. "It doesn't matter what you seem like. The nicest guys can be the cruelest because you don't suspect it," she said her voice barely audible over the noise of the party.

"Do you really think that of me? Honestly?" Zane asked quietly.

Zaria only shrugged; she had been burned too many times to count from the time she was five years old with her father to now, with her latest ex-boyfriend. Her big eyes were slowly filling with unshed tears and sadness.

"I-I do-don't k-know." Zaria muttered, her voice breaking and sounding gruff even to her own ears.

"I don't think you really do," Zane said enveloping Zaria's tiny form into his long arms. He rubbed her back comfortingly. "You don't have to date me or anything, Zaria; I just want you to trust me," he added quietly and honestly.

As Zane pulled Zaria towards him, she couldn't help but melt into his touch. Begrudgingly, a few tears fell down her cheeks and onto Zane's deliciously smelling shirt; she felt horrible getting Zane's hopes up about trust. She didn't trust anyone. Ever.

Zane tightened his hold on Zaria and rested his chin on her head. He could've sworn he felt a few drops of water, or maybe tears, soak into his shirt. He knew better than to say anything about it though. He knew what Zaria felt like. He knew what having a crappy family felt like; he'd lived through it all. Hell, he was still living through it. He and his brother had raised themselves, just as Zaria did for herself. He knew her situation better than anyone.

Zaria was trying to compose herself in the confinement of Zane's arms. He might claim to be a nice guy, but she still didn't trust him; she doubted she ever would. Pulling away from him with her face neutral, she finally looked up into his green eyes; Zaria didn't know what to say. She opened and closed her mouth a few times looking like a fish, but nothing came to mind. Zaria was just trying to come to terms with were they stood now. Sure they both had hard lives, but... There was no but. Zaria had finally found someone who knew just what it was like to have your parents not care and that is what scared her more than anything: the fact that she'd found someone whom she could be with.

"You know," Zane mused aloud, "we aren't that different. I don't trust easily either, but maybe over time you can learn to trust me," he said calmly as he gazed into her lovely blue eyes.

Zaria began shaking her head no, but stopped herself. "Maybe," she said; her normally musical voice gruff.

However, despite his attempts, Zaria was very doubtful that that would ever happen. Her eyes locked with Zane's and she had the sudden urge to kiss him, but she suppressed it. She wouldn't do that, damage their... friendship? It didn't seem to fit them right, but it was the only word she could find.

"That's enough for now," Zane assured her placing a kiss in her hair.

At the makeshift bar, Reed was rolling her eyes at Noelle's huff of annoyance as the dark eyed girl made her about Ivy known and how relieved she was now that Reed knew just how horrible and bitchy the pale girl was.

"Yes, well, when the only thing that comes from trying to stick up for someone like Ivy is this," Reed said gesturing around the party area that had been previously barren due to Ivy's failed attempted to get them busted, "Getting stabbed in the back, and having the knife twisted you tend to see the light."

Reed no longer talking about her ruining the party. She was sick of being friends with someone for the sole reason that she felt guilty for having Ivy take the bullet that was meant for her. It wasn't Reed's fault that Sabine had bad aim, and it also wasn't her fault that Josh pushed her out of the way making the bullet hit Ivy. She had no control over either of the situations; fate did; God did, certainly not Reed herself.

"Yes, I know the feeling all too well," Noelle said thinking back to Ariana Osgood. This train of thought was something she usually never allowed herself to do because it hurt so much. She shook her head full of dark hair as if to rid herself of all the memories of Ari; all of those long lost moments.

Reed didn't say anymore as she thought of a certain blond, curly haired boy for the hundredth time that night. Every time his smile or the way he used to look at her popped into her head, her hurt shrunk, paining her chest as if she was having a heart attack. Then it hurt even more because once she thought about him, she couldn't get him out of her head. His curls, his smile, the paint that forever resided on ever article of clothing he owned, the way he smelled of Dial evergreen soap and paint, everything was brought to the front of her mind making Josh's memory suffocating.

Noelle, sensing Reed's train of thought, poured the blue eyed girl a red plastic cup full of beer from the keg and nearly shoved it down her throat. "Here, drink up," she directed Reed before pouring herself a drink of her own.

Reed just took the cup numbly from Noelle, raising it in a sort of thank you. She couldn't get the images of Josh's curly mop of blond hair out of her head. It made her heart shudder in pain, a pain that massive amounts of alcohol couldn't even cure, as she was beginning to find out.

After Noelle let a satisfied sigh escape her lips, she looked over at Reed's somber face, "What's got you so down in the dumps?" she asked before taking another sip of the amber liquid in her cup.

Reed shook her head, trying to get the images of Josh out of her mind. "Nothing, it's nothing. Don't worry about it. Was last years party this boring?" Reed asked quickly changing the subject, trying to act like her cheerful self. "We need to do something to get this party going." Reed said giving Noelle a mischievous look. "What can you come up with?" She asked raising her eyebrow in question.

"No," Noelle sighed, "none of our parties have ever been this dead," she said looking around at the lazy and yawning crowd. "Kiran usually helped me come up with things. Usually it was a game of Strip Truth-or-Dare," Noelle shrugged. She missed Kiran's wild and crazy ways. Their time together on St. Barth's was not nearly enough time.

Reed chuckled at the thought of this crowd joining in a game a strip truth-or-dare. "Hell, I'm in." Reed smirked devilishly. She wanted excitement in her life, this was it.

"Okay then," Noelle shrugged. She walked to the center of the field and cuffed her hands around her mouth, "Who's up for a game of Strip Truth-or-Dare?" After everyone cheered their eagerness, Noelle let out her powerful smile, "Good. Who's going to start?"

Zane heard Noelle's announcement and turned around to listen to her, but he wasn't really paying that much attention. She mentioned the stripping game they all participated in every year. He grinned slightly and turned back to Zaria. "What do you say?" he asked. "You up for it?" he said with a Cheshire cat grin.

Zaria only smiled meekly at him. At the mention of strip-truth-or dare, Zaria brightened up considerably. "Are you trying to get me naked there, Mr. Zane?" Zaria asked jokingly as she took his hand, walking them back towards everyone else. "Of course I'm up to it," she said; it was one of the easiest ways to get over being upset: keeping busy.

Reed giggled, getting slightly buzzed, but loving the feeling of finally being relaxed. Reed walked up to Noelle. "I'll start," She giggled, sitting down on a log near by.

"I'll go first," Cadi said at the same time as Reed.

As Ryler walked away after Skyee's sweet kiss, he heard her begin her conversation and made it right back to the fire ring circle just in time for a game of strip truth-or-dare. Now, he may have just been all sweet with Skyee, but he was still a guy and of course wasn't going to turn down a chance to see a bunch of rich girls get down in their La Perla undergarments. Ryler couldn't help but smirk in anticipation.

"Okay," Noelle beamed at Reed, "go ahead; Cadi, she was first, but you can give her the dare," she compromised.

"Maybe," Zane shrugged nonchalantly trying not to think about Zaria's hot little body in as little clothes as possible. His green eyes however where dancing with excitement. He noticed that Ryler had joined them again. "Where have you been?" he asked. He hadn't seen him or Skyee in some time.

Skyee fought her way through branches and bushes to get out of the woods, but she finally found her way after getting a few scratches on her hands. The Amazonian girl was relieved Ryler's jacket was still on her shoulders and blocking them from the branches' wrath. As she passed the make shift bar, she grabbed a bottle of Blue Moon beer. She then began walking over to where Ryler, Zane, and Zaria were standing.

Reed nodded, "Alright, Cadi, what do you got?" Reed questioned raising her eyebrow as her stomach twisted in knots of excitement.

Ryler shrugged his shoulders at Zane. "Hey pixie, how's it going? You going to be showing us your La Perla's?" He asked smirking at her and winking.

Zaria only rolled her eyes at Ryler, "For your information, I can handle anything anybody throws at me so that translates into: You aren't going to see anything," Zaria said smirking and winking back at him mockingly.

"Well damn," Zane sighed truly disappointed.

Skyee reached her friends and smiled at them. She stood next to Ryler, but she didn't show any affection towards him. She wasn't really sure what to do around him right now. Skyee noticed that Zane and Zaria's hands were intertwined, and she let out a big smile, but once again, she didn't say a word about it.

"Hey mates," Skyee Fairchild greeted warmly.

Standing up on her tippy toes, Zaria grabbed Zane shoulder, pulling him down the rest of the way so she would be able to whisper in his ear. "Maybe if you are lucky you will get a show afterwards," she said pulling back and giving him a devilish smile. Zaria may not trust easily, but casually hooking up never hurt anyone.

Turning, Ryler pulled Skyee to him, wrapping his arms strong arms around her tall willowy frame. "So I'm going to get a show of your La Perla's, right?" He whispered huskily into her ear.

Zaria looked up at Zane with a questioning eyebrow and nodded her head towards their friends, mouthing, "Do you know what's going on there?" She asked glancing at Ryler and Skyee.

"I don't wear that stuff," Skyee said giggling slightly trying to fight off the nausea. "But you may get a show of my Huit's," she teased him swallowing her fear of the unknown. She was now really happy she chose to wear the sexy French lingerie, despite her reluctance to let anyone see them. They didn't exactly cover her scars very well or at all.

"That's probably why they were in the woods so long," Zane said in Zaria's ear chuckling slightly. Ryler was already hooked on the tall girl, and not twelve hours ago he said he wasn't interested in a boarding school relationship.

Zaria's tiny nose scrunched up when Zane told her his suspicions. Hitting his chest she pulled away from him. "Ew, that is disgusting!" Zaria screeched.

"French lingerie is my favorite." Ryler stated grinning like he had just won the lottery. "I think we should cut this night a little short, and I get my viewing," he said smirking seeing if Skyee would agree.

"Hmm," Skyee said pondering the offer, "no," she said smirking wildly. She didn't want to lead Ryler on, and that's why she had to decline; at least for now and probably for a while.

"What? It's obvious," Zane defended himself. "Don't hit me woman, that hurt," he said with a fake pout as he pretended that Zaria's feather light hit actually hurt.

Ryler couldn't help but frown; he knew that Skyee would never agree, but he couldn't help but hope. Instead of letting his disappointment linger on his face, Ryler just shrugged his shoulders. "Another time then, and I always collect my debts," he told Skyee completely serious, until he winked at her because of her nervous expression that was plastered on her stunningly gorgeous face.

"Oh yes because I know how to hit so well." Zaria said rolling her eyes, her nose still scrunched up in disgust. To further prove her point, she held her fist up in an incorrect way to throw a punch, her thumb inside of her fist. "See?" She said gesturing towards her hand. "Besides, we were in the woods a long time, are you trying to say all girls that go in the woods with boys are an easy lay?" Zaria asked, unscrunching her face as she raised her thin eyebrow in a challenge.

"They were in there a lot longer than us," Zane said raising his slightly bushy eyebrow at Zaria.

Cadi stood with on hand on her right hip and her left hand on my chin thinking of the perfect dare for perfect little Reed. "Okay, Reed. I dare you," she paused smiling wickedly, "To strip down to your undergarments and run around the clearing singing Happy Birthday."

Reed laughed at Cadi, "Okay, easy. Are you going to come watch me to make sure I do it?" Reed asked, beginning to un-button her jeans. Reed was comfortable in her body now that alcohol was now coursing through her veins and the woods weren't that large, so it's unlikely she would be caught.

Cadi smiled back at Reed, "I will watch you but not because I don't think you'll do it or I'm gay or something; I just need to get away from this lame-ass party for a little bit. Hell, I'll even join you; it's something fun to so," Cadi shrugged slipping out her shorts and top, leaving just her ample cleavage in a lacy Victoria Secret bra and matching boy shorts.

"Have fun," Noelle smirked as Reed began to run around the woods..

"Oh yeah, Noelle, I will," Reed said sending her a joking wink. "Chill Scene Queen," she laughed using the nickname Ashley had so kindly given Cadi. "I'm not a lesbian either, so calm down," Reed said folding her clothes as she stood in her Victoria Secret PINK undergarment set. "Are you ready to do this thing or what?" Reed asked finishing off her beer before sprinting toward the end of the woods.

"Woah," Skyee laughed, "wasn't expecting that," she said as she saw both Reed and Cadi running around in their undergarments. She then heard what Zaria said, "What are you two talking about?" she said with humor in her violet eyes.

"So? Here, Zane, I'm going to take you into the woods and prove to you…" But Zaria stopped speaking as Skyee caught the middle of their hushed conversation. "Umm, erm, ug- Nothing. Absolutely nothing, I just need to prove something to Zane," Zaria said stubbornly only meeting Skyee's eyes for a moment before she tugged Zane in the direction that Skyee and Ryler had come from.

"I am chill," Cadi shouted racing after Reed. Cadi liked that this Scene Queen nickname was catching on. She made a mental note to change her Facebook name. "Happy birthday, to me," Cadi yelled at a low volume, going around the edge of the forest; Reed only a few meters ahead of her.

Reed was loving the burn she felt in her muscles, while singing Happy Birthday at the loudest possible volume that was acceptable. Quickly finishing her lap, she waited for Cadi to finish her lap as well before she began jogging slowly back to where her clothes were.

Ryler only smiled at the violet eyed girl, trying to get the dirty images of Skyee on a pole in her French lingerie. Although, he wasn't being to successful and having Reed and Cadi come back in only their undergarments certainly wasn't helping matters. Damn skinny jeans.

"What was that all about?" Skyee said looking up at Ryler referring to Zane and Zaria's escape to the woods. She noticed him looking at Reed and Cadi parading around in their lacy garments, so she quickly leaned up and placed a hard forceful kiss on his lips, "See something you like better over there?" she teased.

Ryler was pulled from his Skyee fantasy by Skyee attacking him although you wouldn't see him complain. Pulling away from her, he held her by the shoulders. "What was that all about?" He asked her curious at the sudden outburst of affection, considering she wouldn't even hold his hand after she came back from the woods. Using her own words on her in a completely different context.

"I just wanted to ask if you saw something over there you liked better," Skyee said batting her eyelashes innocently, "but you seemed kind of dazed. I had to get your attention," she said wrapping her arms around his neck and smiling.

"Have fun?" Noelle said still nursing her beer when Reed and Cadi came back.

"That depends, where is my beer?" Reed asked looking around for the sacred red cup as if it were hiding from her as she pulled on her clothes.

"Right over here," Noelle said dangling the red cup right in Reed's face. "Okay, who's next?" she asked looking around the crowd that had accumulated.

Once Reed's clothes were all on and in place, she greedily took the beer that Noelle was dangling in front of her. "Thank you, deary," Reed said slurring her words slightly.

Ryler just smiled down at Skyee, rubbing up and down her arms that were draped around his shoulders and neck. "I'm not really into goth or preppy girls, besides, they are too short." Ryler spoke truthfully, smiling and laughing at Skyee acting innocent. "Heaven forbid I actually have a thought." He teased. "Skyee Fairchild wants to go," He said with a smirk unwrapping her from him and turning her to face Noelle Lange, slapping her butt lightly to get her to move forward.

Skyee let out a surprised yelp and looked back to playfully glare at Ryler. She, however, stood straight and put on a blank face when she turned back to look at Noelle.

"Okay," Skyee shrugged, "do your worst."

"Oh, we will," Noelle smirked. "I know exactly what I want you to do," she said as her dark eyes danced.

Ryler rolled his eyes at the Noelle's dramatic voice in front of him, but he laughed at Skyee's obvious naïve trait, knowing these girls they really would do their worse, not even batting an eyelash.

"We should make her get naked and give somebody a lap dance," Reed laughed as her alcohol induced brain filled up with crazy possibilities. "Or maybe, she could…" Reed began but was cut off my Noelle.

"I know what I want her to do," Noelle said. "I want Ms. Fairchild to strip down to her little lingerie and sing Madonna's Like A Virgin," she spoke. She turned to Skyee and looked at her with a snarky expression. "You do know the song, don't you, Skyee?"

"Of course I do," Skyee quipped back in her English accent.

"Well," Noelle said crossing her arms over her chest expectantly, "Get started."

"Alright," Skyee said closing her eyes and saying a small prayer for courage and strength, but it felt off praying to God to give her the courage to strip in front of a forest full of teenagers, so she quickly stopped and just took a deep breath.

Skyee looked over to Ryler who quickly flashed her a grin of encouragement. He tried to hide the giddiness and excitement in his features. He was going to see Skyee Fairchild in nothing more than a bra and underwear. How fucking great was that?

Skyee untied her sandals and discarded them before she started her show. Then, she took another deep breath and started singing.

I made it through the wilderness

Somehow I made it through

Didn't know how lost I was

Until I found you

The violet eyed girl shimmied out of Ryler's leather jacket and threw it to him. She turned around in a couple of circles while belting out the lyrics slightly off tune, but still sounding somewhat decent. She rotated her thin hips expertly and threw her arms in the air.

I was beat incomplete

I'd been had, I was sad and blue

But you made me feel

Yeah, you made me feel

Shiny and new

Skyee Fairchild pushed her hands up her stomach making her shirt lift as she did so. She began lifting the white garment over her head and winked at Ryler trying to hide the discomfort from her tan face. She pulled her shirt all the way off and threw it straight at him with a flirtatious smile. She continued dancing and singing there in the middle of the woods in only her jeans and her small B-cup Huit peach colored strapless bra. Her flat tan stomach was exposed and her delicate hip bones were slightly protruding from her sides. Her taut stomach muscles were moving as she rotated her hips in circles.

Like a virgin

Touched for the very first time

Like a virgin

When your heart beats Next to mine

Gonna give you all my love, boy

My fear is fading fast

Been saving it all for you

'Cause only love can last

Skyee stopped in her place and unzipped her jeans. She lowered them slowly and tauntingly. She slid them down her long legs and kicked them aside. She was still boasting out the old classic Madonna song and dancing around. She stood completely exposed in only her French lingerie strapless bra and boy shorts made of peach colored silk. She smiled tauntingly and began to circle Ryler, because oddly enough she felt somewhat at ease around him.

You're so fine and you're mine

Make me strong, yeah you make me bold

Oh your love thawed out

Yeah, your love thawed out

What was scared and cold

Like a virgin

Touched for the very first time

Like a virgin

When your heart beats

Next to mine

Skyee reached for the band that held her long, dark, and wavy hair back. She yanked it smoothly out and shook her long tresses out so that they hung to right below her bra. She ran her hand over Ryler's arm and her violet eyes took on a lusty haze that was foreign to her orbs.

Oooh, oooh, oooh

You're so fine and you're mine

I'll be yours 'till the end of time

'Cause you made me feel

Yeah, you made me feel

I've nothing to hide

She danced gracefully around the circle that had now formed around her. She smiled seductively at the guys and smirked at all the girls who had taken on a jealous stare. She resang the chorus.

Like a virgin, ooh, ooh

Like a virgin

Feels so good inside

When you hold me, and your heart beats, and you love me

Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh

Ooh, baby

Can't you hear my heart beat

For the very first time?

As Skyee finished the song. She smiled at both Noelle and Reed who just remained speechless. They never expected her to do it, and be good at it. They just assumed she would be awkward and a train wreck to watch, but looking around at all of the guys faces, they were proved wrong.

"May I put my clothes back on now?" Skyee asked waiting for their answer with her hands on her only underwear clad hips skillfully covering the long scar on her hip bone with her palm. With her long legs and taut tanned stomach exposed, she hoped no one would notice the scare that was right under her left breast.

"What exactly are you trying to prove?" Zane asked Zaria once they reached the woods. With the moon shining on Zaria's pale skin, he wanted nothing more than to reach out and make sure that she was real, because right now, she looked like an apparition.

Zaria rolled her eyes as if it should have been obvious. "To prove to you that two people of the opposite sex could have a few drinks out in the woods without jumping each others bones..." Zaria trailed off working her lip between her teeth, "And to do this." She said leaning up to kiss Zane on the cheek, which wound up being more on his neck because she was to tiny to reach his cheek.

"Are you also trying to test my self control?" Zane said through gritted teeth. The feel of Zaria's soft lips on his neck was already sending him into a frenzy.

Looking up at him through her long eyelashes, Zaria was trying to be coy and innocent biting her lip once again. "Yes. To prove my point." Zaria said running her hands up and down Zane's toned basketball arms.

Zane grabbed Zaria's small hands and intertwined them with his larger ones, "I don't know what you're trying to prove," he said leaning down slowly and placing a small kiss on her lips "Or what you're trying to accomplish," he added. "But, what ever it was," Zane said wrapping his arms around Zaria's waist and bringing her closer, "it isn't working." Then he kissed her again. He had to lean down slightly to meet her small frame, but he made it work.

"Mhm," Zaria agreed, gasping at the abruptness that Zane kissed her. After the shock of the kiss wore off, Zaria wrapped her tiny arms around Zane's broad shoulders, pulling him closer to her to intensify the kiss.

In the silence Cadi pumped a fist in the air and yelled, "Go Skyee! Come with me," she said grabbing Ashley who was standing right next to her. Both Noelle and Reed glared at Cadi, but she ignored them and headed to Skyee.

"Way to go, Skyee! You really put your foot up their asses!" Cadi grinned at Skyee and lowered my voice so just Ashley and Skyee could hear her. "So what's up with you and Ryler," she asked, smiling mischievously at Ashley.

Skyee just shrugged her shoulders. She was still just standing in her bra and underwear, but she told herself it was fine; it was just like a bathing suit. "I don't know," she said honestly, "I like him, but, I don't know. Why?" she asked Cadi and Ashley.

Cadi exchanged an Are you fucking with me look with Ashley. "Skyee," she began, "You and Ryler have been all over each other since we got to this damn party; don't act brand-new."

Skyee let out a loud, boisterous laugh, "And? I don't know, we certainly aren't dating; I honestly can't give you an answer I haven't got."

"Not boyfriend, eh? That's the way to go," Ashley smiled. "Oh, I don't think I've introduced myself, I'm Ashley."

Reed's mouth hung slightly open throughout the whole thing, she couldn't believe that some sophomore girl would actually go through with something like that. Wasn't Skyee supposed to be this goody-two-shoes? She wasn't supposed to be able to shake her goodies out there like a professional!

Ryler pouted slightly at the fact Skyee wasn't going to get naked like Reed suggested but quickly got over it once Skyee started her little dare. Once Skyee threw him his jacket, he couldn't help but to throw it over his lap to hide just how much he enjoyed what Skyee was doing. The way her body was rolling and moving to the music that flowed from her plump lips was driving him crazy. Was she a performer?

Ryler couldn't help was ogle her body. It was tall, lean, and naturally bronzed. There was nothing artificial about Skyee's physique. Her breasts were small, but they were natural, and that was saying something for this school. As he was staring at her chest, he detected a long scar, but he was instantly distracted by the rest of her body and never gave the scar a second glance.

Ryler could hardly contain himself after she finished, but while he was waiting for Reed and Noelle to answer Skyee, he was shooting death glares at the other guys around the circle who where admiring her body she so clearly got from her mother. Quickly, he stood up and went over by Skyee, Cadi, and Ashley effectively ending their conversation.

Wrapping his jacket around Skyee's thin form and encircling her waist with his arms, he pulled her closer, trying to cover up as much of her as possible. "You did great." Ryler spoke softly into her neck, kissing her from behind, willing away just how much he truly enjoyed her strip tease.

Old ladies in the shower. Dead bodies. Jock straps. Unibrows. Betty White. Perez Hilton. Rosie O'Donnell eating fried chicken on the toilet…

Ryler tried to think as many unsexy things as he could to get rid of the discomfort Skyee had unintentionally caused him, so far, it was working.

"Uh, yeah," Noelle said breaking out of her trance. "Get dressed."

Skyee was about to introduce herself, but she felt thick arms wrap around her small waist. Getting ready to whip around and question who ever was touching her, she heard Ryler's deep, sexy voice. She leaned back into him and snuggled into his jacket glad that something was covering her once again. She smiled at the thrilling feeling that shot up her neck at his kiss. She leaned her neck up to look at him and batted her long eyelashes.

"You really think so?" she whispered. Skyee turned around and wrapped her arms around him and squeaking slightly. She then pulled away blushing when she remembered the skimpy clothes she was wearing. "I need to get dressed," she said in a rush. She noticed that Ryler was glaring at some guy who was obviously checking her out, "Just ignore it," she said before running over to get her clothes and walk into the woods a few steps to get dressed privately.

"Aw, isn't that adorable," Cadi said, smiling at Ashley. As tough as she appeared to be, she was a hopeless romantic, and Ryler and Skyee were just too perfect together.

"Yes, you do," Ryler spoke through gritted teeth, glaring down a guy who kept starring at Skyee's exposed legs. As she scampered away to redress, he quickly adjusted himself.

He didn't like when people looked at his girls, and although Skyee wasn't officially his, he liked to think she was.

Trying to calm down, Ryler turned to go get himself another drink. He was trying to follow Skyee's advice and calm down, but it wasn't working well. Ryler felt like punching that guys eyes out. He had no right to look at her like that; nobody gave him permission. Filling his cup, Ryler took a large gulp, the beer calming his anger.

Back over deep into the woods, Zaria and Zane were still lost in each other. Zaria noticed that Zane seemed uncomfortable because of their height difference, so she pulled away, pushing him down onto a nearby log. "Sit," She demanded waiting for Zane to obey and sit down.

"Yes ma'am," Zane whispered huskily. He took a seat on the log and extended his arms for Zaria to join him.

Zaria pushed Zane's extended arm away. Walking towards him teasingly slow, she unhurriedly went and straddled his legs, so she was almost the same height as him. Looking into his lust filled eyes, Zaria smirked at him before bringing her lips the few millimeters they were apart from Zane's into a hard kiss.

Zane pushed his lips into Zaria's just as roughly as she did. He brought his large hands on her knees and slowly pushed his way up her jean clad thighs

Skyee quickly threw on her white top, Ryler's leather jacket, and jeans. She just picked up her shoes opting to go barefooted. She looked down and saw that her white shirt had gotten dirt spots on it, but she just shrugged it off. Unfortunately, she'd lost her hair band during her performance, so she was forced to leave her long, dark wavy hair down. Skyee looked around the clearing and tried to find Ryler; she spotted him by the make shift bar. She walked over where Ryler was and wrapped her arms around his torso from behind; much like he'd just done for her.

"Will you fix me one?" she asked while looking at the keg; she didn't know how to work it.

Ryler chuckled, pulling Skyee around to face him. "Sure, here," he said handing her his cup and simply fixing himself a new one. "Are you afraid of the keg or something?" Ryler questioned, teasing her as he pulled the knob getting some beer in the cup.

"No," Skyee laughed as she took the cup thankfully, "I don't know how to work it," she said. Skyee took a small sip of the amber liquid while looking at Ryler through her thick black lashes. "But, thank you."

"Well," Noelle sighed. "Who would have known? Skyee has major balls."

"Hell yeah she does. So who is next?" Reed questioned Noelle, rolling back and forth on her heels like a five year old.

Zaria was about to thread her fingers through Zane's unruly hair when she was pushed off of him on to the ground. She was about to start yelling at the pervert when she looked up and saw her brother throwing Zane on the ground.

"Quen got the hell off him!" Zaria shrieked at Daquen as he was punching Zane in the face.

Daquen had just gotten back on campus taking a taxi into the school instead of riding with his family. He was hoping that Zaria would have stayed back with him, so he could keep an eye on her, but of course no luck. He'd gone into Ketlar and changed into a nicer outfit than the simple jeans and tee he wore on the way up here and headed out to Gwendolyn Hall were he knew the annual get-together was being held.

Sneaking into the woods, he came across two people making out in the woods; at first he didn't think anything of it, but then he noticed the curly hair and when she pushed the guy away he saw it was his little sister with none other than his one of his best friends. All he saw was red; deep, dark, blood red. Daquen plummeted towards Zane throwing him on his back, catching him off guard, throwing punches at him right and left.

"What the fuck is wrong with you? That's my fucking little sister!" Daquen kept shouting as his fists kept connecting with Zane's body. He felt someone pulling on his arm to get him up, and he looked up to see his little sister; tears streaming down her pale skin

"Whoa, asshole coming through," Cadi whispered to Ashley, stepping back as a random fight broke out. The guys was punching Zane and swearing up a storm, but when he stopped and turned around, locking eyes with Cadi, her breath actually caught in her throat. His eyes were a stunning blue Cadi could get lost in. As he looked away, she felt faint and said, "Who is he?"

Daquen looked beyond Zaria for a moment and locked eyes with a girl who had multi-colored hair dressed in mostly black. She looked rather interesting, and definitely fun in the sack. This girl, whoever she was, just made it onto his conquest list for the year. He wasn't quite sure about he and his previous significant other, so it wouldn't hurt to have backup.

"Daquen! Quit, fuck!" Zane yelled as he tried to block his face and everywhere else his body was being attacked. He tried unsuccessfully to throw !Quen off, but two words made all of his muscles quit, little sister. Zane could feel blood running out of his nose and bruises begin to form on his body, but he couldn't seem to move. Zaria was Daquen's sister.

"I-I didn't know she was your sister! You said her name was Amelia!" Zane shouted as he was still being beaten. For a split second, the punches stopped coming. He looked over and saw Zaria's crying face; in that moment his own heart broke.

Ryler only chuckled under his breath again, taking a large gulp of his own beer. "Who knew girls from the Upper East Side never learned how to use a keg," he said wrapping his arm around Skyee pulling her closer. He looked over to see Daquen and Zane throwing punches, or rather Daquen throwing punches. Throwing the cup on the ground Ryler ran over trying to pull Daquen off of Zane.

Cadi ran over to Zaria and placed her hands on the petite girl's shoulders. "Zaria, what's going on? Are you okay? Did Zane hurt you?"

Zaria pushed Cadi away quietly sobbing, but shaking her head no. "D-D-Quen s-saw..." But Zaria couldn't finish her sobs racking her same body.

Daquen couldn't stop throwing the punches. All the could see was Zaria on top of Zane, Zane's hands all over Zaria's body. It made him throw the punches harder and more frequently. When Ryler finally pulled him off, he huffed and quickly went to examine Zaria leaving Zane on the ground in a bloodied mess.

"Are you okay?" The older brother asked Zaria looking at her for any signs of being hurt; he couldn't see any. He grabbed her tightly against his chest in a huge bear hug that he used to give her when their mother cursed her out for something that wasn't her fault.

Zaria punched at Daquen with ineffective hits until he let her go, and she went crying to Zane to see if he was okay. She was unable to speak, only meekly going to hover down on the ground above Zane looking down at him.

Reed nodded in agreement at something that Noelle said when she heard screaming coming from the woods. "What the hell is going on?" She questioned aloud, tipsily walking towards all the commotion.

When she reached the small group in the woods, Reed gasped making her presence known. "What the fuck happened?" Reed asked, looking around glaring at the members of the group. "Do you want to get caught out here?" She huffed, not noticing Zane's battered body laying on the ground with a sobbing Zaria.

Suddenly it dawned on Cadi as she looked at Zaira. Zane hadn't done anything wrong; he and Zaria were simply kissing, and this asshole ruined everything. Cadi didn't care how gorgeously amazing mystery boy was. He shouldn't come out of nowhere and fuck around with people.

"What the hell," Cadi said turning towards Daquen. "Who do you think you are to say who she can hook up with?" His eyes almost made her forget her anger, but as Zaria let out another sniffle, her fury ignited once more.

Daquen was still full of anger and when he heard this little twit who had tried to comfort his little sister before she ran towards Zane; he turned on her. Speaking through gritted teeth, he gave the multi-colored hair girl a death glare. Fisting his hands at his sides, controlling his anger the best he could, Daquen spoke roughly, "She is my fucking little sister so excuse me for beating the shit out of the guy who was trying to ruin her." Daquen stated sounding like he was from the 1800's, however he didn't care. It was his little sister, his little naïve sister; he promised their dad when he left he would protect her.

Zarai looked up at Daquen who was speaking eerily calm to Cadi and couldn't help but feel the anger bubble up in her. "What the hell makes you think I am so fucking innocent Daquen?" Zaria yelled, gaining her voice again. "Stop trying to act like my freaking father who walked out on us. You don't owe him anything so do us all a fucking favor and leave!" Zaria said, beginning to cry again as she looked down at Zane.

Normally she didn't cry, the last time she cried was when her father left when she was five. "Just leave Quen, go back to your mother. At least she likes you and the boys." Zaria said bitterly through her tears as she tried to smooth away some of Zane's matted hair.

Zane lying on the ground trying to gather all of his senses. The saying beaten senseless was the only thing Zane could think that would describe this feeling. He looked up with blurry eyes to see Zaria looking down at him. He tried to give her a smile, but it came out as a grimace. He started to cough so he leaned over to the side with a groan and started spitting out blood.

"Ryler?" Skyee said as she saw him walking towards a small crowd that had formed around Zane and Zaria. Skyee just dropped her cup and ran over there. She quickly found Zaria and jogged to her side. She folded down on her knees and wrapped her arm around her friends petite shoulder as her natural maternal instincts to comfort kicked in. She spotted Ryler and sent him a questioning glance.

Noelle ran over to the group behind Reed. She assessed the damaged quickly and looked around the gathering. She spotted Daquen with a red face and knuckles.

"Well, Daquen, I should have known. You've always known how to make an entrance," Noelle said rolling her dark eyes.

Zaria couldn't get her emotions together, she hated feeling this weak and helpless. One moment she was crying, unable to speak, the next she was yelling at Daquen for being a jackass, and then she was crying feeling helpless again.

"I'm sorry, so, so sorry" she whispered quietly to Zane, not really knowing what to do. Zaria opted to rub his back as he leaned up and coughed up blood. "I'm so sorry," she kept whispering so only her, Zane and Skyee could hear. Although, she was pretty sure that Zane couldn't hear her through all of his coughing. Zaria didn't want comfort though, and she shook Skyee's comforting arm off her tank top clad shoulder.

Ryler was standing next to Daquen who was red faced and knuckled making sure that he didn't end up beating Cadi's ass to a pulp, although if he was being completely honest he wasn't sure he would stop it right away.

Reed looked over and saw Daquen's icy blue eyes and immediately a shiver went down her spine. Those eyes always reminded her of Ariana Osgood. Shaking the thought from her mind, Reed stood stoically silent watching the scene unfold before her.

Daquen turned away from the girl in front of him at the sound of Noelle's voice. "Shut the hell up, Lange; this piece of shit was making out with my little sister," he said fiercely, pointing towards Zane who was whimpering on the ground in pain like a little baby. "Shut up Zane, I didn't get you that bad." Daquen spoke darkly, looking through Zane as if he weren't even a person, even his friend.

Zane slowly got up on his feet while grabbing Zaria's hand in his own. He used his free hand to wipe the blood that had accumulated on his mouth, "I don't know what the fuck your problem is Daquen," Zane fumed, "but Zaria can make her own choices," he said with deadly green eyes. He then spat a little more blood on the ground purposely just centimeters from Quen's shoes making some girls who gathered around them scream in disgust; Zane expertly ignored them.

Skyee just dropped her hand down; she knew somewhere inside of her that she shouldn't have tried to comfort Zaria, but her maternal and sisterly instincts came to the surface. She stood up on her feet and went to stand by Ryler. Over by him, Skyee felt safe.

"Oh? And is it your sperm that made her?" Noelle smarted back. "No, so just leave her alone. The whole you-touch-my-sister-I'll-kick-your-ass act is dead," she shrugged.

Daquen growled at Noelle in a warning to shut up. "Lange, shut the hell up! You don't know jack shit about this. Obviously you have been a spoiled little princess all your life, and you didn't have to worry about this kind of stuff. You don't have any siblings so don't act like you know what this is like," Daquen said his light blue eyes flashing as he looked between Noelle and Reed and Zane and Zaria with disgust.

"Fuck you," Noelle sneered. "I know, if I had a younger sibling, I would at least talk before I beat someone," she yelled.

Daquen just bit his tongue, which was rare for him and turned away from the seething Noelle Lange. Honestly, he could careless if he pleased her or not. "Noelle just get all your little pledges out of here okay?" Daquen said turning to walk back to Ketlar leaving the mess for someone else to clean up.

Zaria squeezed Zane's hand lightly, helping him steady himself on his own two feet. Quickly grabbing a Kleenex that someone was pushing down her throat, she grabbed it a began whipping the drying blood off of Zane's face. "I'm sorry," she whispered, ignoring her asshole of a brother.

Ryler felt Skyee come up behind him and turned to look into her frightened and sad violet eyes. "Skyee get your friends and leave. Somebody called the security guard here, and if you don't go now you will get caught. Take Zaria and Cadi with you." Ryler said, kissing her forehead quickly. "Hurry."

"Where are you going to go?" Skyee asked Ryler quickly as she searched frantically for Cadi and Zaria.

"It's not your fault," Zane assured Zaria gently. He barely heard Ryler through the ringing in his ears, but he heard him none the less. "Zaria, you need to go up to your room okay? I don't want you in trouble. Please," he practically begged her with his bloodshot green eyes.

"Skyee, Zaria," Cadi called from the edge of the clearing, "Come on!" she said gesturing with her hands to hurry as she and Ashley dashed towards Bradwell.

Skyee nodded at Cadi and went to get Zaria, "Come on, we have to go," she said to her petite friend; she turned around hoping Zaria would follow her. Skyee walked over to Ryler and planted a kiss on his lips, "Please, please, don't get in trouble," she whispered to him. She then started heading to Bradwell. As she got to the edge of the woods, she turned around and motioned for Zaria hurry up.

Ryler just smiled, trying not to laugh at Skyee. "Don't worry about me. Just get out of here okay? And make sure Amalia or Zaria or whatever the fuck her name is gets to her room quickly, 'cause I don't want Quen throwing punches again," Ryler said pecking her lips before she left, then swiftly turning her around and swatting her but to get moving; he couldn't resist.

"Skyee's right," Zane told Zaria. "You need to go, I can't have you getting in trouble for this," he told her firmly. He dropped her hand, turned her around, and gave her a slight push in Skyee's direction. He prayed that she didn't get in trouble; he wasn't sure if he could forgive himself for it.

Zaria knew that she should listen to Zane, Skyee, and her brother, but she wasn't going to let Zane and Ryler take the blame for her brothers attempt to save her. Turning back around Zaria held her ground defiantly, "No. I am not going to leave you here while Quen walks off like it is no big deal. It's my fault; let me help. Please." Zaria stated, biting her lip and folding her arms, hearing Skyee call for her to hurry up.

Reed rolled her eyes going up to Zaria with Noelle close behind her grabbing Zaria's arms as Noelle grabbed her feet taking her away. "Be quiet and just shut up; listen for once," Reed whispered into her ear as she and Noelle dragged the little pixie back to Billings realizing that the other Bradwell girls were to far ahead for Zaria to catch up.

"You're just a little martyr aren't you?" Noelle asked Zaria as they fled back to Billings.

Zaria rolled her eyes at the girls. "Can you kindly put me the fuck down?" She spoke quite loudly for trying to be sneaky.

Reed glared at her but quickly dropped her arms. "Happy?" Reed asked as she looked up at Amalia/Zaria from the ground.. "Now hurry up okay? We are almost to Billings."

After being dropped down, Zaria quickly stood, "Ecstatic, and I would hardly call myself someone who wants to die. I would much rather have my brother die instead, that way it wouldn't have caused this." Zaria stated matter of factly.

"I didn't mean it literally," Noelle rolled her eyes as she jogged to the dorm she'd called home for almost three years now.

Zaria hastily followed Reed and Noelle as they made a quick jaunt to the dorm she assumed was the infamous Billings.

Skyee ignored her hormones and just walked away from Ryler. Even though all she wanted to do was jump back into his arms and kiss him senseless. She faintly saw Noelle and Reed drag Zaria away from Zane and off to another dorm. She just turned around and ran all the way to Bradwell.

Zane glared at Daquen's retreating from, but didn't say a word. He sent a thankful look at both Noelle and Reed for getting Zaria out of there. He walked over to Ryler and just stood there trying to stay strong and not whine about the horrible pain in his left side.

Ryler turned to watch Skyee and Cadi leave until he could no longer see either of them. That is when he noticed Zane standing near him. "Yo, man, we need to book it out of here," he said hesitatingly looking at the dried patches of blood on his roommate's face.

"Yeah," Zane nodded. He started to run to Ketlar with Ryler behind him. Zane felt like he'd been hit by a ton of bricks, but he just kept running and wincing slightly.

Ryler quickly caught up with Zane running quietly towards Ketlar only being lead by the moon.

Daquen flew open the doors to Ketlar, not caring if he woke some of the guys up. It was their fault they missed the party and were losers. Walking to stairs quickly to his room, he flung open that door as well awaking his roommate, but he was not really up for caring. He still couldn't believe his little sister, tiny little Amalia Zaria Fletcher had been caught under Zane's spell. All the poor bastard was going to do was fuck her and dump her. Daquen couldn't stand to see his sister hurt like that.

Changing into some pajamas as his roommate grumbled about something, he feel into bed, thinking of ways he could keep Zaria and Zane apart.

Zane tried his hardest to calm his labored breathing as he opened the big oak door leading into Ketlar propping it open for Ryler to enter behind him. He walked up the stairs at a normal pace clutching his side in extreme pain and discomfort. After opening the door to his and Ryler's room, he entered and plopped down on his bed. He glanced out of the window and saw that Skyee was sitting on her bed just staring out the window at nothing. He noticed that Zaria wasn't with her, so he assumed she was still with Noelle and Reed.

Ryler could hear Zane's labored breathing in the quietness of their room. "Dude are you okay?" Ryler asked as he looked out the window seeing Skyee sitting in her room. He was happy to see that she hadn't gotten caught and was safely in her room.

"Yeah," Zane nodded. "My ribs just kinda hurt," he said from his sprawled out position on his twin sized bed.

Ryler nodded as if he knew what it was like. Sure he had been in fights before, but nothing as bad as what Daquen had done. "Put pressure on your ribs or something like that," Ryler said trying to remember things from the Red Cross training he had taken when he was younger about possibly fractured bones; his mind was coming up blank.

"You a boy scout or something?" Zane said trying to joke through his pain. He did however take Ryler's advice and press against his ribs. He winced at the pain and just bit his already bloody lip.

Scoffing, trying to down play the whole thing, Ryler gave Zane a curt nod. "Until I was ten," he muttered under his breath. "You might want to get that checked out sometime." Ryler suggested, grabbing a grey tee-shirt and going to the communal bathroom to change and wash his face off.

As Ryler left the room, Zane let out a shaky breath. He assumed at least one of his ribs were broken. Heaving himself off of his bed, he grabbed an old white t-shirt. He headed off to the showers to clean up and wash all of the blood and grime his body,

Ryler came back to an empty room. He assumed Zane must have went to go take a shower or something. Instead of waiting to see if he got back okay, Ryler laid down to sleep. After only a few moments, his emerald eyes closed and he feel into a deep slumber filled with dancing bodies and violet eyes.

After Zane washed all the blood and grime off of his body, he walked into his room at a very slow pace. He saw that Ryler was already asleep, and Zane followed his example. He laid on his twin sized bed and quickly fell into a dreamless state.

As Noelle and Reed neared Billings with Zaria following behind obediently, Noelle had forgotten all about the pixie girl's presence. For once, Zaria was being quite. The Billings President opened the door and walked in not trying to be quiet or discrete. It's not as if she would get in trouble of someone did come down. She just made her way up the stairs with Reed and Zaria at her heels . She opened her and Reed's bedroom door and kept it open sp the other two girls could enter.

Reed walked behind Noelle, happy to finally be back in Billings. As she fell onto her bed, she could barely keep her eyes open. She had drank to much and as soon as her head hit her pillow, Reed was passed out cold.

Zaria stood in the middle of the room not sure where to go or what to do. She could sneak out of Billings and run to Bradwell easily; they were practically right next to each other in the semi-circle that held all the dorms.

"Reed's such a light weight," Noelle scoffed. "You know, Zaria, you could run to Bradwell, or you could crawl in Reed's bed with her," Noelle smirked. "We just dragged you here so you would actually leave Zane's side," she explained.

"Ah, well, thanks for the comforting words, and here I went getting big ideas that you might actually like me, and we would just stay up all night braiding each others hair and gossiping." Zaria stated with fake enthusiasm, sending Noelle a smirk.

"I'll be going if you don't mind." Zaria said, laughing at Reed's passed out state. She must really be a light weight if she couldn't handle a few beers, Zaria thought to herself. "By the way, you really need to build up her tolerance if she is going to last with you guys." Zaria said gesturing to the building, referring to the girls who resided here. "Have fun hearing her snore all night." Zaria waved, laughing her musical laugh as she exited Billings making her way quickly to Bradwell.

Noelle just rolled her eyes not really having the energy in her to make a smart comeback to Zaria, "Suit yourself," she shrugged as Zaria exited her room. She looked over at Reed's sleeping form and wrinkled her nose,

"Reed, I swear to God, if you snore, I will have to kill you," she told her already passed out friend. Noelle got up and changed into her pajamas and laid back down in her bed. She soon fell asleep much like Reed.

Earlier, Skyee had quietly crept into Bradwell shutting the door ever so lightly. She walked on the tips of her toes through the common room and up the stairs. She slowly opened her door and almost had a heart attack at the creek the old door made. Once the door was ajar wide enough for her to enter, Skyee slipped into her room. Quietly, she shut the door and released a breath she didn't know she was holding. She plopped down on her still bare bed and thought about all of today's events. Her first day here had Easton had been eventful to say the least. She was thrilled that she'd gotten here on the Saturday before classes started; it made it easier to meet people.

Hopping up, Skyee quickly found her bag that held her white silk sheets and grey Anthropologie Nimbus duvet. The raven haired beauty grabbed her memory foam pillow not bothering to put a pillow case over it, and threw it onto her bed. She quickly changed into her night time attire: an oversized UCLA shirt her brother, Jett, had given her and a pair of Soffee shorts. She fell into her covers already on the brink of slumber. Just as she was about to surrender to her subconscious her door was swung open.

Zaria's short legs carried her quickly towards the large, foreboding building of Bradwell. What a great first night, Zaria thought sardonically.

When she finally made it into the building, Zaria quietly opened the heavy oak door having it creak opened and closed. Racing up the stairs at top speed, she ran into the first room she came across as she saw the house mothers door open slowly.

Zaria had run into Skyee's room seeing jump up at the sudden intrusion with her long, black hair flying everywhere.

"Pretend to sleep; the house mother chick is coming!" Zaria hissed, running into the closet since there was only one bed in the room, and Skyee was obviously occupying it.

Skyee stifled a yawn and laid back down on her bed closing her violet eyes. She heard her door open for a second and then close again. She could hear loud footsteps pound down the hall in the opposite direction. She reopened her eyes and looked at the closet.

"You can come out now," she whispered to Zaria .

Zaria peeked out of the accordion like door and surveyed the tiny room. Seeing that no one but Skyee and herself occupied the room, Zaria gave the tall girl a tight smile.

"Thank you," Zaria said slipping out of the room. "Goodnight," she whispered quietly before shutting the door soundlessly.

"Il più bello dei sogni," Skyee said as she was drifting back into sleep. "The best of dreams…"