Cos you don't taste like you should
And you don't fit in my arms like she would

-Passenger


Luke trailed after Grayson, struggling to keep up with his best friend's speedy walk. "Mate, I don't think this is a good idea..." Luke said quietly, hearing the music blaring from the house at the end of the street. Teenagers were milling around the lawn, laughing and holding plastic cups of what Luke assumed was not pumpkin juice. A group of giggling girls ahead of them entered the house where the music was blasting.

Grayson stopped, turning to glare at him. "Luke, when was the last time you had a decent shag?"

Luke stopped, thinking of the night before. Grace had come over...

"Exactly," Grayson said triumphantly when Luke failed to respond. "It's been far too long."

"Actually," Luke told him, "there's been this girl- "

Grayson let out a cold laugh. "A girl? As in just one? Don't be a fucking wanker, Luke."

Luke frowned. "I'm not a wanker."

"Seriously," Grayson said, "it'd ruin my reputation if I suddenly began hanging out with a fucking pussy."

Luke's eyes hardened. "Which girl?"

Grayson grinned wickedly, swiveling back around. "How about Victoire Weasley?"

Luke stopped. Grace's best friend? He felt his stomach drop. "No way," he said. Even though Grace was furious with Victoire, Luke knew she still cared about her.

"Scared?" Grayson cackled.

"No. She's just not my type."

"She's a fucking veela, idiot. She's everybody's type."

"Then why don't you go for her? Too scared?" Luke crossed his arms, grinning victoriously as Grayson's smile faded.

"Please," Grayson scoffed. "If I wanted Weasley, I could get her."

Luke raised his eyebrows. "Then go get her."

Grayson glanced back at the party. "Five galleons I leave with her tonight."

"Deal. There's no way Victoire would even waste thirty seconds of her time on you." Luke smirked, knowing he'd just cheated his best friend out of five galleons.

Grayson scowled. "Come on. And don't think I've forgotten about you either."

"Me?"

"You need to find a nice, shaggable girl." Grayson stopped, surveying the party. "How about a blonde?"

Luke thought of Grace's silky, dark hair. "I'm not really into blonde's at the moment."

"Fine, then a brunette. Whatever. Just find somebody."

"I found Victoire," Luke told him quietly, nodding to the front deck of the house. Victoire was sitting on the porch swing with Skylar. The two were surrounded by a group of admirers. They kept exchanging smirks, amused by all the attention. "Go ahead," Luke said, giving Grayson a small push.

"I need to get some shots in me first," Grayson told him. Luke shook his head, watching as Grayson traipsed into the house. He considered leaving the party right then, before Grayson could notice he was gone, but then he heard Grace's name.

"...Grace not here?" Victoire asked, once she had shooed away all the love struck blokes around her.

Skylar shrugged. "You know Gracie. It's just not her scene."

Victoire nodded. "Yeah..."

Luke shuffled over uncomfortably to them. He wanted to tell Victoire that Grace was just hurt, that she still cared about her, that they were still friends. But how could he bring that up without arousing suspicion?

When Skylar noticed Luke, her eyes narrowed. "What do you want, Bishop?" she demanded, annoyed.

"I actually came here to talk to Victoire," Luke said, turning to face Victoire.

Victoire raised her eyebrows. "If you've come to flirt with her- " Skylar began, but Luke cut her off.

"I came to warn you...about Grayson."

"Ah," Victoire said.

"We sort of made a bet..." he began apologetically.

Victoire shrugged. "I wouldn't expect anything less. So, what exactly is he going to try?"

"To shag you."

Skylar glared at him. "You two are disgusting."

Luke shrugged. "Maybe so, but now's your chance to leave."

Skylar blinked. "Why would we leave?"

"So you could avoid Grayson. I mean, the bloke's my best mate, but he can be a bit of a tosser when it comes to women."

"You want me to leave because some prick is going to try to hit on me?" Victoire asked, sounding slightly incredulous.

"Trust me, you won't have fun...not when Grayson selects you as his next target," Luke warned her.

Skylar and Victoire exchanged looks. "Don't worry about me," Victoire finally told him. "I can take care of myself."

"Yeah," Skylar said, a grin spreading across her face. "Me and Vic know how to handle pricks like Grayson.

Luke stared at them suspiciously. "What- "

"Skye! Vic!" A loud voice barked from behind Luke. "I thought we said we were meeting at your house!"

Luke turned around to find himself face to face with Finn. "What are you doing here?" Finn demanded, seeing Luke. He shot Victoire and Skylar incredulous looks.

"Leaving," Luke told him firmly. He had promised Grace the week before that he wouldn't get into anymore fights with her friends. "Anyway," Luke said, turning back to Victoire, "I did warn you."

Victoire smiled. "Thanks," she said, her eyes twinkling. For a moment, Luke remembered why so many people were drawn to Victoire. It wasn't just her beauty, because well, she was absolutely gorgeous. It was her smile. It was the way her eyes lit up and twinkled when she smiled at you. It made you feel like the most important person in the world.

"No problem," he said gruffly, walking away awkwardly, fully aware of Finn still glaring after him.


Grayson clapped his hands together. "It's time," he announced, pointing to a girl in the corner. "She's the one," he told Luke.

"The one for what?"

"For you to shag," he said, clapping Luke on the back. "Now, you go get her, and I'll go get Victoire."

Luke glanced to the kitchen, where Skylar and Victoire were now dancing on top of the tables. "Good luck," Luke told him.

"No need," Grayson said confidently, straightening up. The two of them went their separate ways. Luke shuffled to the corner of the living room, and Grayson strutted toward the kitchen.

A few minutes later, Luke found himself talking to Jennifer Goode. Jennifer was sixteen, home schooled, and platinum blonde. "So," Jennifer said, "who's your friend?"

"My friend?"

"The one you keep glancing back at," she said, nodding toward Grayson.

"That's my best friend," Luke told her. "He's about to make an arse out of himself."

"Why's that?" Jennifer wondered.

"Because that's what he does," Luke replied, shaking his head grimly.

Jennifer glanced past Luke, a small smile spreading across her face. "Looks like you're right," she said, giggling.

Luke turned around. Grayson was walking toward him, soaked in something foul-smelling. Behind him, Victoire and Skylar were cackling. Sour faced, Grayson stopped in front of Luke. He handed Luke five galleons before stomping away.

Luke shook his head. "Stinksap," he told Jennifer.

"How'd you know that?" she asked, surprised.

"The real question is where did Skylar and Victoire get it?" he said, glancing back at the two girls. Skylar was high-fiving Victoire. A few feet away from them, Teddy and Finn were laughing. Finn looked incredibly pleased and proud, especially considering how much he hated Grayson. Teddy, on the other hand, was watching Victoire laugh with a small smile on his face.

"Is that the girl you fancy?" Jennifer asked quietly, her eyes on Victoire.

Luke shook his head. "No. Her best friend. She's not at the party..."

"But you were hoping she would be," Jennifer guessed.

Luke looked back at her. "I'm sorry."

"Why don't you tell her how you feel?" she wondered.

"She doesn't feel the same way. All her friends hate me, and she's still in love with her ex-boyfriend. I'm just a rebound." Luke didn't know why he was telling Jennifer all of this. Maybe it was the firewhiskeys he'd had a few minutes ago, or maybe it was the fact that nobody had cared to ask before; whatever the reason, he suddenly felt the urge to tell somebody how he felt about Grace. "I never expected to like her so much...she was supposed to be just a good time, you know? A fit girl to shag once, a way to piss off a few people..."

"Where is she now?" Jennifer asked quietly, taking a step closer to Luke.

He shrugged. "No idea."

"Maybe, you need somebody to help you forget about her," she breathed before gently pressing her lips against Luke's.

"You know what," Luke said decisively, pulling Jennifer closer to him. "I think you're right."


Somehow, Luke and Jennifer had left the party in record time. Luke remembered Jennifer pulling him through the living room, where they passed a bitter looking Grayson. Luke had smirked triumphantly at Grayson before Disapparating with Jennifer. They'd arrived at the gates of Luke's house and had somehow made it inside the house, stumbled up the stairs, and found their way into the bedroom. Jennifer didn't even give Luke enough time to lock the door before she had shoved her tongue down his throat.

Vaguely, Luke remembered Jennifer pushing him down against his bed. However, a moment later, their lips had found each other again. It wasn't like with Grace. With Grace, he wanted to treasure every single touch, every kiss. With Jennifer, on the other hand, he couldn't wait until it was over. He just wanted it done with. Jennifer didn't fit in his arms like Grace did. She didn't kiss him like Grace did. She didn't shudder slightly when Luke slowly kissed her collarbone. It didn't feel right at all.

"Oh my god." A small voice interrupted them. Instantly recognizing the soft voice, Luke shot up.

"Grace!" he cried, jumping out of bed.

She stood frozen in the doorway, staring at Jennifer in horror. Her face was pale, but it was her eyes that really made Luke nervous. They were wide and bloodshot, like she'd been crying.

The three of them were all speechless, unsure of what to do. Jennifer sat on Luke's bed, using the covers to hide her body. Luke stood beside the bed, staring at Grace in astonishment. And Grace just stood in the doorway, her hand still on the doorknob.

"I should go," Grace finally squeaked before slamming the door shut and running off.

"Grace! Wait!" Luke cried, running after her. He followed her down the long spiral stairs, finally catching up with her in the foyer. "Wait!" he shouted, reaching out to grab her arm.

She slowly turned around to face him, a forced smile on her lips. "Sorry about that," she said in a fake-cheery voice.

"Are you okay?" he asked concernedly, tucking a strand of dark hair behind her ear.

She flinched away from him. "Yeah, why wouldn't I be?"

"Well, me and Jennifer..." he trailed off, realizing how stupid of him it was to say Jennifer's name. "...and you looked upset..."

Grace looked away from him, refusing to make eye-contact. "My parents..." she stopped, taking a deep breath. "It's nothing."

"Are you sure?" he asked quietly.

"Positive," she said cheerfully, though her voice was cracking. "You should really get back to the girl...Jennifer."

Luke glanced upstairs. "I can send her away if you want. Honestly, it was nothing. Just some girl I met at a party."

Grace finally met Luke's eyes, but he suddenly wished she would look away again. Her eyes were hard and cold, much like the look of disgust Skylar had given him earlier that night.

"Does it matter?" she asked coldly.

"What?"

"It's just sex, remember?" she said coolly. "With us, that is. No strings attached. Just a good time to help me get over Collin."

He felt as if somebody had punched him in the gut. "Grace-" he began.

"-I have to go," she said, cutting him off. "I'll see you another time."

"Yeah, right..." he mumbled as she swiveled around, heading out the front door. He stood there, frozen on the same spot until he distantly heard Jennifer call his name.