Alicia,

I looked at myself in the mirror of the state of the art library bathroom.

My deep tan skin was offset by my mid-thigh pencil skirt, with a loose purple shirt tucked in. I had fought my instincts and left my new jade necklace from Brandon to wear a new ruby necklace from my father as a "Hope-You'll-Be-Okay-With-A-New-Little-Sister" present. And I had worn my grey platform sandals, and my long black hair was wrapped in a Katniss-Braid.

"Why did I go all out for him?" I mumbled as I began to straighten my skirt and make sure that the shirt wasn't poking out anywhere.

Easy.

I wanted to make Brandon jealous.

He needed to remember that he isn't the only one who I could have.

I shouldered my purse and started to walk out of the girls bathroom and towards the best table in the library.

Table fifteen.

The absolute best.

The sun shone in perfectly. You had peace, and you were close to the books but not too close.

I proudly took my seat, feeling like the queen again.

These little victories were what kept me going on like this still.

Massie, my personal Chizz (I looked it up when I heard her mumbling at it to me), was trying to take it all away from me. Well, her and her Click. But they couldn't do it alone. They had all been waiting for their alpha for years, and the queen bee had finally come back to her adoring fans.

I couldn't help but worry that I would lose this summer.

What would I do?

This was everything to me.

Or at least for now.

And then the god entered.

…Derrick Hammington.

His blonde hair shone like gold in the sunlight, and his tan skin was just as aglow as the sun outside. Like the heartthrob in the movies, he was taking off his aviator sunglasses and ruffling his hair as he walked in. And it felt like he was walking in slow motion, though I knew it was just the world slowing down around him.

He wore what he usually did.

Tee shirt, with "Miami Beach 2010" printed in bulk letters.

Board shoats, navy blue today.

Sunglasses, aviators instead of his usual Raybands.

And a pair of expensive sneakers.

Derrington smiled at me, and I forced myself to look annoyed instead of "Hmm" like I wanted to.

"Hello, Alicia," he took a seat beside me, "Miss me?"

He flexed his muscles, and I tried to seem disgusted.

"Miss is a strong word," I opened a book.

"Please take a drink," he held out a tin water bottle, "And loosen up, ya stuck up bitch."

I narrowed my eyes but took the water bottle.

XXXXX

"I'm fine, Derrington," I lied as I unlocked my car.

I knew how dangerous drunk driving was, with a DUI in the past (though my dad had it removed).

But I didn't want to admit that I was wrong.

"No, you're not," he took my keys from me as he shook the empty tin bottle, "You haven't eaten today, have you?"

I hesitated.

"Not yet?"

Derrick shook his head and pulled himself into the BMW.

"Let's go get you some food. You should wear it off by then," he cranked up the engine, and I continued to stare up at him.

"Why can't you just drop me off at home?" I crossed my arms.

"You're too skinny. We're getting you food."

"Too skinny?"

"You're what a size two?"

"Three."

"And you're a dancer. You're going to kill yourself if you don't eat something at least."

"I eat!"

"Then you won't mind eating with me," Derrington smiled.

I threw my hands up in exasperation as I came to sit in the passenger seat.

Derrington pulled the car to a stop as he leaned out the window to click his vintage Jaguar, and I suddenly felt him become even hotter.

I pushed on the air conditioning and pressed play on the latest hit, telling him to not speak as we drove.

"Why do you always do this?" Derrington kept his eyes on the road.

"What?"

"Act like your better than me when we've always been the same."

"We're nothing alike."

"We are both commitment-phob alphas."

"What about me and Brandon? You call that being a commitment phob?"

"It has been almost a year since Josh dumped you for Dylan. Brandon is the first 'serious' relationship since," Derrington kept driving on.

"Who was your last serious relationship with?"

Derrington's jaw tightened, and I could suddenly see it all.

Back like a drunken memory I had suppressed.

Miami.

Getting into a special offer to go to a school to finish our last semester our junior year of going around the coast. I had been hesitant to go, but my betas had reassured me that everything would be fine. So, I packed my expensive luggage and boarded my first class flight to Miami.

We got a week there. Josh and I had broken up while I was gone, but I was expecting spending my days earning a killer tan than finding someone. And I did so, but I was getting closer and closer to Derrington along the way. And then, finally, it happened.

The day before we were supposed to get on the boat came flooding back to me.

The elevator. His arms wrapping around my waist. That buzz as our lips met. Barely able to part with him long enough to open my hotel door. Dragging him to the bed.

And the two months following that, waking up with a new hicky almost every morning.

…and then basically ditching him as soon as we got home.

"You."

He gripped onto steering wheel and sped up as he drove to Slice of Heaven.

Dylan,

"You look hot, Dyl," Massie smiled approvingly, and I spun around happily.

It was my Goals for Dollars uniform.

The navy blue base matched the boy's uniform color, which Massie had especially ordered, and the hot pink heart with We're All In This Together printed in silver script matched the girl's uniforms. It was made like a flattering jersey, with Dylan Marvil printed on the back like I was a player. And the short mini skirt made my legs look longer. My navy and pink knee socks had the same saying, We're In This Together, engraved on the top stripe, and my cleats had my name in silver cursive.

But I didn't feel "hot" compared to Massie.

As alpha, it was natural that she looked best.

Her long brown hair fell around her perfectly without any styling needed, and she wore a non-permanent navy streak in her hair. Her dress was the same, only with the colors reversed. And she wore a number one underneath her name on the jersey.

"Where are the assignments?" Massie handed me her tablet.

Claire- Candy Station

Bay- Ticket Sales

Layne and Dylan- Drinks

Massie- Roam

"Roam?" I asked as I handed it back.

"I'll go wherever you guys need some help," Massie explained as she put her tablet in her bag underneath the table.

"Hey, guys."

Claire.

She hadn't been so great since Cam had vowed not even to answer her after she told him that she was still in love with him, and she had stayed far away from anywhere he could be so her humiliation wouldn't be doubled. In fact, we had all cut him off, except for Layne but she never talked about him anymore. The only thing that I had even heard about him was that those bruises that covered Blake weren't hickies.

Claire looked great in the uniforms, and Massie had spent forever making sure that it worked for everyone, which was a complete miracle considering how different we all are.

"I'm at the candy station, right?" Claire asked as she tugged at her side braid.

"The candy just got delivered," Massie nodded, and Claire smiled as she leaned down to fix her knee socks.

"Great," Claire's smile widened as she realized that she wouldn't be seeing Cam if she spent all of her time at the candy station since he was in the game.

"Who do you think will win?" Claire asked, and I shrugged.

It was Boys VS. Girls, but it was really Skin Cancer VS. Breast Cancer.

If the girls won, the money went to breast cancer research. And, if the boys won, it went to skin cancer research.

"I'd say the boys, but Kristen can definitely kick some ass," Massie smiled.

As if on cue of her talking about that, the players started arriving and heading towards Bay at the ticket sales.

"Come on, let's go help," Massie started walking towards to the ticket station, her hips swaying almost to the rhythm of In the Dark.

Claire and I hurried after her, but she managed to the overwhelmed Bay before we could even get half-way.

"Attention!" Massie's commanding voice dominated the crowds, "Girls, you sign in with Bay and meet Kristen! Boys, you sign in with me and meet Derrick!"

Order quickly came, and the two lines formed.

Claire purposely took a spot with Bay in a place where she couldn't take the chance of seeing Cam, and I began to help out Massie.

"Hey, Mass," someone whispered.

"James, you're out of class! I thought you couldn't come," Massie smiled as she turned around to kiss her boyfriend, and I moved around to handle signing in the boys.

"Couldn't miss this," James kissed the top of her head, and her smile spread to be about a mile wide.

"You play soccer?" the guy I was checking in, Noel I think, nodded towards James.

"Rugby. But I used to play soccer when I was younger."

"You wanna play?" Bay turned around from the line of girls, who were all staring at James with their mouths forming an 'O'.

"Oh, no, I couldn't."

"We have an extra spot in the game if you want in," Bay smiled, trying not to blush.

"Come on, John! We'll have so much fun," Derrington smirked, and James smiled with his eyes narrowed.

"I'm in, Devin."

Derrington narrowed his eyes.

Kristen,

I basically inhaled my Gatorade as I watched the game continue.

I had known this would be hard.

But, with James adding to their list of all stars, it was all we could do to keep it even. I had stayed in the game as long as I could, but it was either keep playing or stop myself from passing out on the field.

Mentally, I was looking through the Gossip Girl report on losing this game.

How would people react?

Oh crap…how would my mom react if she found out?

"Yo, Kris!" someone whisper-yelled, and I wiped the strawberry Gatorade off my chin and turned back to the bleachers, where Griffon was motioning for me to come talk to him.

"Yo, Kris?"

"Listen, Bay is about to come back from checking on things back there," he pointed towards the concession stands, "And I really want to talk to her. Can you go pick me up some popcorn? Please, I'm begging you, Kristen."

"She's coming back?" I raised my eyebrows.

"Well, uh, yeah," Griffon fiddled with his baseball cap, "We were talking about writing camp from last summer."

"So, if she had to go check on things, how long has she been here?"

"Um, a…" Griffon blushed again, "Yeah, if you can't get in the game, can you please go get some popcorn?"

"Sure," I nodded and started towards the concession stands.

One step closer to getting them together!

I was thinking of my next plan to get them together when I made my way to where Layne and Dylan were working their little asses off.

"Hey, Dyl," I smiled as I came to stand in front of the table.

"Best workout ever!" she pointed towards the group of girls who were on the 'Liquids-Only-Diet' that Dylan had tried all those years ago.

"Can I get some popcorn?"

"Popcorn? Now?"

"It's for Bay and Griffon."

"Really?" Dylan smiled, and I nodded.

"Coming right up," Dylan went right into making the popcorn, leaving me at the table.

"Hey, Layne, can I get a coke? This water tastes like crap."

"Sure, Dempsey."

I froze.

Run or talk?

I ran my hand through my blonde hair, which I found was covered in my sweat, and I groaned before turning to look at Dempsey.

Even covered in sweat and tired, he looked like god. His dark brown hair was sticking to his face, but it always looked perfect. His dark tan caused a great contrast to his navy soccer uniform. His mouth formed a friendly smile, and, as he brought his shirt up to wipe his face, I got a glimpse of his perfectly sculpted abs.

"I thought you were still in the game, Kris," Dempsey smiled as he noticed me.

"They forced me out," I nodded, forcing myself not to smile too much at him.

There was always Daphne.

"Then we just might have a chance," Dempsey smiled.

"Shut up," I playfully pushed him, and I avoided the way Layne seemed to be mentally trying to remind me of what I had felt when I had seen Dempsey with Daphne, not that I could forget it anyway.

I wanted to though. We were friends now, and, to be friends, I've got to get rid of my feelings for him (Romantic or Angry). And, to get rid of those feelings, I've got to get rid of those memories with Dempsey.

"One coke. All players are on the house," Layne handed Dempsey the drinl.

"Thanks," Dempsey nodded as he sipped as his coke and started walking towards me.

"And your popcorn," Dylan handed me the large bucket, and I thanked her as I started to slowly walk back to the game with Dempsey.

"So, you going to the after party at Derrick's?"

"Uh, I guess. Are you?"

Dempsey nodded as he ruffled his hair, and I knew he was about to say something. But then he stopped himself.

"Uh, are you taking Daphne?"

"Daphne?" Dempsey rubbed his neck, "…I'm not taking her."

I was about to respond to that when I got to the bleachers.

"I better give Griffon his popcorn."

"Griffon?"

His jaw tightened.

"You should probably get to him," he quickly started walking towards the boy's team, leaving me to stand there like an idiot.

What was it with him and Griffon?

"Hey, Kristen," Bay broke me out of my fog, and I started walking over to them.

"Here's some popcorn, you guys."

Massie,

As I wriggled into my party dress, I noticed a new bruise on my neck.

I cursed under my breath and leaned down in my bag to find some concealer.

As I spread the make-up over the hicky, I looked at my reflection.

My brown curls were held off to one side, cascading down my back with a diamond red carnation pin. My red spaghetti-strap dress was the same sort of beautiful shine as the diamond pin. As a gift for, as he put it, "being madly and forever in love with me", James had given me a simple ruby set that I absolutely adored and couldn't help but wear tonight.

I fixed the cuff on my bracelet and made sure that the dangling ruby earrings wouldn't slip off my ear during the party.

As I clipped the straps of my red high heels, I forced my bag into the bathroom closet.

"Here goes nothing," I mumbled as I opened the bathroom door and started to run down the stairs, where the party was raging on.

"Massie?"

I smiled as I turned around to see James.

"Hey, James," I smiled as he wrapped his arms around my waist.

"Why is it that I have to win a charity soccer game just to finally spend time with you?" he pushed some hair out of my eyes.

"We're just in a…busy stage right now. I promise that soon we'll be spending so much time together that you can barely stand me."

"That's a deal," he leaned down to kiss me.

"Massie! I need your help over here!"

James stopped, just two centimeters away from my lips, and I groaned.

"One hour. We are going home in an hour. Turning off the phone and the intercom. And locking the door," I wriggled out of his grasp, and I headed towards Derrington.

Derrington, still wearing his soccer jersey, smiled at me.

"I can't get this blender to work," he pointed towards it.

I climbed over the fence to the bar, and I plugged the small machine in.

"Thanks, Mass."

I picked up a lime and threw it at him.

"Ow!"

I threw a handful of peanuts at him.

"What the hell?"

"What is your problem?"

"Says the girl throwing food at me!"

I picked up a shot of tequila.

"Woah, no, bad Massie," he raised his hands in surrender, "Put the drink down."

I aimed to throw the drink, so he knew what to do.

He grabbed my wrist, and his skin against mine almost made me drop the drink.

After a few seconds, I regained my focus and playfully pushed him.

"Oh shut up. You should be thanking me. You have to socialize with your guests," he motioned towards the party, "Not make-out with your boyfriend."

I rolled my eyes and tried not to see the logic in what he said.

"It's not my party."

"Hell it's not," Derrington laughed as he began to mix a drink.

"Dylan's house."

"Your beta."

"My friend.

"Slash beta."

I climbed back over the fence, and I pulled myself onto the barstool.

"Have you heard from Cam?" I nibbled on a random bowl of pretzels.

"Yeah, he's not taking it well."

"What? CeCe cheating? Or with Blake?"

"All of it. Especially Claire telling him like that."

I nodded, knowing it hadn't been her best move.

"She wasn't going to tell him before."

"But she did," Derrington shrugged as he began to shake the tin shaker.

"Does he…" I trailed off, suddenly worrying that I was crossing a line here.

"I don't know," Derrington smiled as he handed me a martini.

"Thanks."

I coughed after taking a sip.

"What the hell?"

"Triple. So you can have a buzz during the party even though you won't have much time to drink."

"A buzz? One more sip, and I'll fall off the stool," I handed the drink back to him, and he shrugged, downing it for himself.

"Alright, let's go get this party done with," Derrington left the bar and started walking towards the party, making it so that I could barely keep up with him.

Like only a real alpha could, he dominated the party, and I helped him along.

And the party was undoubtedly a hit by the time I was supposed to leave.

"That does it for me. I've got a hot date," I started to walk away from him, but he pulled me back.

"One last dance?"

"But James…" I tried, pointing towards him while he was stuck talking to some LBRs who were in love with him.

"He can wait two more minutes," Derrington pulled me back by my arm and into his grasp as a slow song started to play.

How long had it been since Derrick had held me like this?

Five years at least.

Probably more.

But it felt like he had done it five minutes ago as he pulled me close, and we began to sway. What I thought was weirdest was how I seemed to hit into him. My hand with his hand. My head on his shoulder. My torso with his rock-hard abs.

It was like I was almost made for him.

I had only felt this feeling with one person, James.

But, sometimes, we didn't even seem to be like this.

"Nice to have my little Queen Bee back," he nudged me.

I blushed and looked to the floor.

"Well, one of my little Queen Bee's," Derrington finished.

I looked up.

"You're not the only alpha I'm allowed to fall in love with."

I blushed.

"Who is it? Duh-Livia?"

"You know I could never settle for a beta.'

My eyes widened in understanding, and he raised his pinky.

"Our little secret?"

I laughed as I shook his pinky, and he glanced up at the clock.

"Tell James we still would have won without him," Derrington motioned up to clock, and I forced myself out of his strong arms.

"Maybe in the morning."

He raised his eyebrows in question.

"Shut up," I playfully shoved him, and he nodded towards the alpha I loved so much, telling me to leave already.

I kicked off my sandals, not caring that I left them in Dylan's hallway, and I hurried to the front door, where the LBRs had basically trapped James as they asked him question after question.

"Ready, James?"

The LBRs parted for me, and James smiled at me.

And then he surprised me by coming up and kissing me.

Not just a peck.

Or a little "I love you" kiss.

An actual kiss.

The kind he gives me when we're alone, the kind that leave me smiling like an idiot and weak in the knees.

But I could feel that the kiss wasn't for me.

It was for who was watching.

Derrington.

I knew I should have done something about my boyfriend being jealous, but not right then.

Instead, I just kissed him back.

Claire,

Crap.

I spun around from going towards the bathroom after seeing Cam, and I started to quickly walk anywhere else.

The farthest place I could get away was to the bar outside, where I was about to order a drink when someone spoke up before me.

"Claire?"

I looked over.

Erik.

The male lead in the play, and one of the hottest guys in town.

During the school year, he wore his hair in the natural black that he had been born with. But his hair was navy blue this summer, matching his sapphire eyes. His face was perfect, like a plastic surgeon had helped god when designing what his face would look like when he was older. He has three piercings.

One on the top of his ear.

One on his left eyebrow.

And the one on his bottom lip, though he didn't often wear it.

But he was wearing it tonight, and showing off the tattoo on his chest.

"Erik?" I couldn't help but smile.

Westchester had every kind of guy.

Preppy.

Pretty boy.

Sporty.

Bad boy.

And so many more.

But, to me, Erik was a combination of them all.

Bad boy. Actor. Smart.

And pretty hot.

"Want a scotch?"

I took the glass, and I downed it.

"Damn! High-five!" Erik laughed, holding his hand up, and I high-fived him, feeling the bubbly feeling settle over me.

"Two more," he nodded towards the bartender, who got to work.

"So, I thought you were in the Hawaii for the week off while Logan is in LA."

"Nah, my parents needed some time alone, so I let them have it," Erik thanked the guy as he took the drinks and handed me one.

"You gave up on Hawaii for this?" I laughed as I motioned around to the party.

"And miss the drama with you and Cam," he nudged me.

I blushed to the shade of a tomato.

"How'd you find out?" I wrapped my arm around my waist.

"Blake. I was there when Cam finally got a hold of him. And I could just tell about the other part."

"About me telling him that I loved him..."

"He was an idiot not to love you," he nudged me again.

I blushed even more.

"Wanna dance?" he motioned towards the floor.

"You've obviously never seen me dance, huh?"

Erik began to laugh.

"How about I see next Friday?"

I raised my eyebrows questioningly.

"Are you asking me out, Erik Gomez?"

"I could be."

"Could?"

"Call and find out," he laughed as he handed me a blue napkin, and he climbed off the barstool and started to walk away.

I smiled to myself as I put the napkin in my pocket and started to drink another drink.

But then I looked towards the door.

I froze, paralyzed to sitting there.

Cam.

He stood alone.

No Blake.

No soccer friends.

…No CeCe.

Any other time, I would have been happy about this. I would have smiled and waved him over for dumb small talk.

But not this time.

Sliding my cell phone out, I typed something quickly to Dylan.

Feeling sick. Call you tomorrow.

-Gummi Claire'

I pressed send and got down from the bar stool.

At all cost, I avoided him.

But there happened to be only one door that opened.

"Claire?"

Someone tried to grab my arm.

Who?

I have a pretty good guess.

At the sound of his voice, I called on my few months of track and started to dart through the crowds and towards the car parking lot.

I didn't stop running until I was back inside my Camri, the door locked behind me.

Cam.

I pulled my small frame to move around to hug my knees, taking calm and deep breaths.

Two years.

Two god-awful and painful years.

And I got over it.

Cam was the last thing on my mind.

And then I see him. See him once.

Then it all starts up once more.

I'm in love with him again. I give him my heart again. And he gives it right back, as painfully as he can.

How many times will this happen to me.

Will it ever end?

When I'm ninety-nine, will I still be so naive? Still be such an idiot for him? Still love him like I do? Still try to make him love me?

"It's time to move on," I told myself as I cranked the car up and started to drive.