The rest of the week passed in similar fashion. Kate and I continued to wear hot outfits, boys continued to ask me out, and by the time Friday night rolled around, I was waiting with apprehension to head over to Michael's. It had taken some time on my part, convincing my mom that this wasn't a party. It's just a get together, I told her a hundred times. There won't be alcohol.

"Do you think Christian will be there?" I asked Kate, applying mascara to my lower lashes.

"Who cares?" She scoffed. "You don't have to talk to him. Just pretend he's not there, like you do in class."

Little did Kate know; it was completely impossible to pretend Christian wasn't beside me. Even though I felt stronger, and was now used to my new reality, every class was still difficult. I'd hear his breathing, feel the warmth of his body radiating heat next to me – and want to curl up in his arms. I wondered how long that feeling would take to go away.

I finished my look with a pair of white gold earrings and stood, admiring myself in the mirror. I was wearing a mini denim dress and chucks. I wanted to keep it sexy but still casual. I kept smiling, revealing my pearly whites. I still couldn't get over how straight my teeth were.

"You look hot, come on," Kate said impatiently as I finally tore myself away and followed after her.

She wasn't driving in case we had something to drink. Michael had sent his brother, Marc, to pick us up. He was older than him and just as gentlemanly.

"Looking lovely ladies," he said with a smile as he opened the doors for us.

In the car, Kate fussed over her lip-gloss and asked me if she thought Elliot would be there.

"Probably," I deduced, realising that Michael was one of his best friends.

I didn't care much. I wouldn't be speaking to him if I could help it. our last conversation had ended turbulently, and he'd tried several times in passing to apologize. I'd ignored him.

"You don't still like him, do you?" I asked Kate, wondering why she kept mentioning him. This was now the third time this week.

She shrugged. "I know he's horrible and I'd never go there again but…there's something about him," she sighed. "I wish I hated him."

"I know the feeling," I said darkly, my thoughts drifting to Christian.

I wondered if he'd be there and if so, whether he'd bring his new girlfriend. I didn't know whether I was ready for that yet. To witness her from a distance was one thing, seeing her up close and personal was another.

We pulled up to Michael's after about fifteen minutes. He had a nice house; modest but elegant. There were flowers out the front and a pearly gate. Inside, it was warm and smoky. There was the faint smell of candles.

"My sister," Marc said, by way of explanation as he closed the door behind us. "She likes candles and all that incense shit. Females."

Kate and I both laughed.

Marc led us through a small corridor and turned left into a large living room. The room was hazy and warm with soft sofas, bean bags, and an assortment of coloured cushions. There was low music playing and some people on the floor having a game of cards. The rest were seated in various places, looking comfortable. This was very much a get together and I was glad I hadn't overdressed.

"Ana," Michael said at once, standing up from his place on the couch. He came over and gave me a hug.

I really liked the smell of his cologne.

"I'm glad you came," he pulled back, smiling. "Come and sit. I'll get you both drinks."

Kate strode over to a piece of unoccupied couch and I sat down next to her. Elliot was indeed one of the guys playing cards on the floor. He looked up with a small smile before continuing. The other people mainly consisted of Elliot's senior friends and a few juniors. Both boys and girls. I couldn't see Christian. Kate and I seemed to be the only sophomores here.

"Hiya," one girl said, coming over to us. She was African American with long braids, flawless skin and bright red lipstick.

"Hey," Kate smiled. "I'm Kate, this is Ana."

"I know," she grinned, flopping down beside us. "Babies. Sophomore's, right?"

We both nodded.

"Nice to meet you," she said, offering out a hand to shake. "I'm Nia."

Michael came back with our drinks and Nia chatted to us for a while whilst we drank. She was a senior and was going to be studying art at college. I was particularly interested in this, especially when she told me she got paid sometimes for her pieces.

"You get paid?" I asked in awe. "How?"

She nodded and smiled. "I get commissioned from people who want specific designs. I do all sorts, but mainly surrealist portraits."

I told her all about my interest in painting, and she offered to help me set up a website and put a good word in to some of her established clients.

"You'd really do that?" I asked, feeling extremely fond and grateful.

"Of course," she said rolling her eyes. "A girls got to help another girl out, right?"

A few more people drifted in and out of the gathering. At some point, Kate got to speaking to Elliot over on a bean bag and I found myself very close to Michael.

"So, you're an artist?" He asked.

I shrugged, blushing. "I wouldn't say I'm established. I'm not even that good."

"Don't downplay your talents," he replied. "I bet you're fantastic. What do you like to paint?"

I told him all about my art. How I liked to paint celestial pieces and landscapes. He never seemed bored; he was genuinely interested in what I had to say. He told me about his passion for film and photography. How he hoped to study the two at college.

"I'd put you in a movie," he said as he took a sip of his drink. I watched the apples of his cheeks go slightly red and I found it incredibly endearing.

"What kind of movie?" I asked, scooting a bit closer.

He shrugged. "One about a beautiful girl."

"You think I'm beautiful?" I asked, flushing.

I thought it might feel strange to be talking this way with another guy, but I found that it wasn't, at least not with Michael.

"Of course I do," he said instantly. He reached out to tuck a piece of hair behind my ear and I felt shivers at his touch. The good kind.

"And for the record," he continued. "I thought you were beautiful before you changed your hair and everything. The only reason I didn't ask you out was because I thought it might be too soon. I respected your relationship with…"

He trailed off and I was grateful for that. I definitely didn't want to talk about Christian with another guy.

At that precise moment, a flurry of people walked into the house. Turning, I saw Christian standing beside Adam, Jose and Brody.

Kate's gaze flew in their direction too, and I watched as Christian's eyes moved toward me and the space – or lack of it – between Michael and I.

Michael, like the good host he was, got up and told everyone to come and sit. Whilst he went to fetch them drinks, Christian's gaze never left mine. I felt the intensity of it all throughout my body.

"Hi Ana," Jose said, coming to sit down next to me. "How have you been? I've missed you?"

"Really?" I scoffed, taking a sip of my wine and crossing my legs. "I didn't disappear Jose. I've been right here."

He had the decency to look ashamed.

Michael came back with the drinks and resumed his seat next to mine.

"Are you okay with him here?" He asked, somewhat regretfully. "Elliot invited them."

"It's okay," I smiled, touched at his concern.

We continued talking, but it felt heavier somehow. I knew that was because Christian was staring at us. I drank more wine, in the hopes it would drown out all the background noise. After a few more drinks, it finally seemed to work. I felt all warm inside and the blue of Michael's eyes was becoming increasingly more appealing.

"I think that's enough on the wine," he chuckled slightly as I almost spilled my glass. He took it gently from me and placed it on the coffee table.

I giggled and scooted even closer.

"You're really good looking," I said.

I remembered what Kate said about casual touches and decided to try the theory out. I brushed my thigh against his and heard his intake of breath. I watched as he looked at my lips and back up to my eyes again.

"Your eyes are gorgeous," he said quietly.

I really wanted to kiss him. And so I did.

He kissed me back instantly, as his right hand threaded through my hair. His kiss was powerful yet gentle and sensual all at the same time. My first thoughts? He was an excellent kisser.

We broke apart from the loud sound of a door banging shut. I looked up in time to see Christian storm through and Jose follow him quickly.

Kate raised her brows over at me and I blushed.

"Want to come outside for a breather?" She asked, coming over.

"I'll be back," I told Michael, taking Kate's hand.

"You're tipsy," Kate said as we walked through the corridor and out in the fresh air.

"I'm not," I insisted.

"Kissing Michael," she grinned. "Good for you. He's a great guy. Christian's in a right mood though."

I shrugged. He'd been the one to kiss somebody else first…

Even as I thought it however, a small wave of guilt came crashing over me.

Outside, Kate lit up a cigarette. A nasty habit she still hadn't fully shaken from freshman year.

I stood by her as I watched Christian and Jose arguing a few yards across. Jose suddenly came toward us, bypassing us completely as he made his way back into the house. Christian noticed me by the door and gave me a seething look.

"Happy are you?" He shouted at me.

Too shocked to speak, I didn't answer.

"I can either do two things," Kate said beside me. "I can go and smoke this out the back and let you two have a talk, or I can kick him in the balls and tell him to fuck off."

I let out a weak laugh. I knew I ought to talk to him; the silence had gone on for far too long. I remembered my mother's words about communication and supposed it was best to get it all over with.

"I'll talk to him," I finally conceded.

She nodded and gave me a kiss on the cheek. "I'll be out back," she said, walking back through the house.

With a deep breath, I made my way toward Christian.

"What's your problem?" I said, once we were both in front of each-other. "Why are you shouting at me?"

Now that I could see him properly, I realised he had dark circles under his eyes and his face was pale. Was he ill?

"You're really going to sit kissing boys in front of me?" He asked, incredulous.

"What, like you did?" I asked sarcastically.

"Oh, that's right. You mean when I was drugged?" he said in the exact same tone.

"I phoned you that night to tell you I believed you," I said angrily. "I was prepared to eat my words and be there for you. And then you got your trampy girlfriend to answer and hung up on me."

"She's not my girlfriend," he said instantly.

A weight I hadn't realised was on my shoulder, suddenly lifted. Why did I still care?

"I don't care," I snapped, angry at my stupid feelings. "That's not the point. You hung up on me without caring what I had to say."

"You dismissed me first!" He retorted. "You told me you didn't care that I was drugged!"

"I phoned to say sorry!" I yelled.

Christian didn't reply. We were both quiet as we studied each-other. Along with the waves of anger rolling off me, I couldn't deny the intense longing I felt at just being in his presence again. Speaking to him again. He was like a drug to me.

"I was drugged by Danny," he said after a second. "It wasn't Leila. She didn't know what was in the drink. Danny's idea of a practical joke."

My mind whirled. Danny, not Leila. I wasn't sure if that was better or worse.

"Right," I finally replied, not knowing what else to say.

"What now?" He asked quietly. He sounded so…defeated.

"I don't know," I said, just as quietly.

He sat down on the grass and I followed suit. I picked at the blades as he watched me.

"You're different," he commented.

"Well, I got my braces removed and changed my hair," I shrugged, twirling the blade around my finger.

"Not that," he dismissed. "The way you are. You're braver. Outspoken."

I felt myself flush and was glad of the darkness.

"I'm sorry about that night," he said finally. "Before the drugs. I shouldn't have let Elliot wind me up. I shouldn't have gone to the party in that frame of mind. The truth is, I wanted to capture other girl's attention. It was wrong of me. I flirted when I shouldn't have. I should have known there was nobody else I needed apart from you."

The words I'd waited so long to hear… I stayed quiet, still not knowing what to say. Suspecting something and then hearing the person actually confirm was two separate things. I felt hurt and relieved all at the same time.

"And Hattie?" I finally asked hesitantly, when I couldn't bear the quiet any longer.

"There's nothing there," he said honestly. "I tried to move on, but I feel nothing for her. We're just friends."

It must have been a sign of my maturity (or his honesty) that I actually believed him.

"There's never going to be anyone I want more than you Ana," he said then, even quieter. "You're everything to me and I took that for granted."

I stared at the grass in case I did something silly like cry.

"I don't deserve you," he said, standing up.

He held out a hand for me and I took it.

The warmth heated all my insides and I never wanted to let go.

"I understand that you don't want to be with me anymore," he said. "I blew it and I get that. But, can you forgive me? Can we at least be friends again?"

I nodded and he leaned in for a hug. It was tight and warm and everything I'd been missing for weeks. I buried my face in the crook of his neck, inhaling deeply. I loved him so much, but I knew it was going to take time to let everything sink in and come to terms with all that had happened. I couldn't be with him right now, I knew that. But friends...I still wanted to be friends with him. I'd missed him.

"You'll always be my best friend," I said firmly.

He gave me a kiss on the head and a little tear escaped.

Stupid damn tears.

A/N What do we think is going to happen next? Please review, love to know your thoughts! xxx