After exhausting herself on the dance floor, Lizzie finally joined us. I handed her my half empty bottle of water and she eagerly accepted.

"So what did I miss?" she let out breathlessly.

I shrugged. "They haven't let me in on their conversation for the last 40 minutes. Every time I tried to join in Blake looked about ready to sucker punch me."

"Oh, he wouldn't do that. He's too much of a sweetheart."

"A sweetheart? Are we talking about the same giant?"

"Just because he's the size of a football player, doesn't mean he's as reckless as one."

"Hmm..."

Lizzie's voice was became hushed so Denisse and Blake wouldn't hear. "Okay I admit he has his moments, but that's only when he's with Harold. But ever since he fell for her" she gestured with the water bottle "he's really calmed down. I think she'll be good for him."

"Wait a sec, I thought he just had a crush on her or something."

She actually laughed in my face. "Wow...you really don't see things do you?"

I was about to question her until a male voice interrupted our whispered conversation.

"Hi Lizzie."

My head snapped to face the anonymous stranger. He was a tall, clean cut guy. He had that all-American look about him. Too generic for my tastes but what the heck did I know about fashion trends and the such?

"H-hi Steven." Lizzie looked almost startled to see him and nervously cleared her throat. "How are you?"

His grin revealed a mouth full of pearly whites. "I've been doing really well. I haven't seen you around school. How have you been?"

"Good...I've been doing good."

I didn't have to study her too closely to realize she was uncomfortable as hell. I shot her a meaningful glance that read are you okay? During these past several months we became as close as ever. Almost as if we had never spent those two years apart. So, now as always, we were able to read each other without having to breathe a word. She caught my expression and visibly relaxed a fraction.

"Steven, this is my good friend Gordo. Gordo this is Steven...we used to go out."

I didn't like this guy the second I heard his voice. He seemed too sure of himself and it came off as pure arrogance. And now with this new information, I definitely didn't like him. Not because he used to date Lizzie, but because whatever happened between them obviously ended badly, otherwise she wouldn't be this uptight or tense. And it obviously came from his side of the relationship because he just looked so damn smug.

He thrust his hand forth and I shook it. His grip was considerably tight and I shook back with equal force. My initial reaction to his macho-ness was utter vexation. Then it clicked. The only thing that explained his behavior was that for some reasoned he felt threatened by me. And that reason was none other than Lizzie herself. Was he actually jealous? I couldn't help but indulge in that little tidbit and I smirked.

I abruptly stood up which surprised both of them. "I'm gonna go see how Miranda's holding up. Wanna come help me find her?" my stare pointed at Lizzie.

I was offering her an out and she gladly took it. "Yeah sure." she stood up to stand beside me. "I'll see you later, Steven."

"Save me a dance later," he grinned.

Her laugh was a polite, nervous one. "We'll see."

I took her hand for support and pulled her through the crowd.

"Mischa Barton."

"Meh..."

"Mila Kunis."

"Nope."

"Scarlett Johanssan."

"Hmm...okay yeah."

The guys in the crowd hooted and crashed beer bottles and cans together. Harold was naming (who he thought) were the hottest women in entertainment and Miranda would deem which ones were hot enough for her to make out with. Of course all guys are drawn to talk of anything lesbian so she had the crowd's attention yet again.

"Jessica Alba."

She lazily saluted Harold with her Corona. "Now there's a fine choice. I'd go lesbian for her."

Laughter and shouts ignited.

Daniel decided to join the fun. "C'mon Randa. Would you ever actually make out with a girl?"

"Are you saying I wouldn't?" her speech was starting to become slurred, but she was still understandable.

He shrugged in response. "I don't know. I just don't see it."

One of the guys surrounding nearby spoke loudly. "Damn, maybe you should get inside my head."

Harold spoke up. "I think she would. This girly is one wild child."

She held up her almost empty beer bottle. "Amen." She quickly finished off the rest of the bottle and spoke. "I think if you give me another drink or two I'll make out with a girl here right now."

Harold crowed and more than one guy eagerly offered their beers to her.

"Lizzie, what are you doing?"

She hastily ran a hand through her long locks. "I just need a drink."

"But you're driving."

"I'll just have Denisse drive us. She hasn't drank anything but water tonight."

Before I could stop her she pounded a straight shot of Vodka. She coughed a good deal afterward but as soon as she stopped she pounded another.

"Hey c'mon, McGuire. This isn't like you."

The alcohol was already having its effect on her. "Oh? Well you may think you know everything about me but you don't."

"What are you talking about?"

Her laughter was sardonic. "You were gone for two years. You have no idea what kind of things took place while you were away."

My curious stare narrowed and I couldn't keep the grave concern out of my voice. "Did something happen?"

She ignored me and grabbed a bottle of Jack Daniel's. "I think we should go look for Miranda now."

I began to follow her out of the kitchen until she suddenly stopped in front of me. She took a long sip of her drink and turned to face me. Her smile was smug.

"You didn't really want to find Miranda, did you?"

"Does that matter?" I asked.

She giggled and stepped even closer. "You just wanted to get me away from Steven." It was more of a statement than a question.

"Yeah well, you looked pretty tense and I figured you didn't want to be around him."

Lizzie then did the unexpected. She deftly locked both her arms around my neck and brought our faces as close as possible without actually touching. It felt awkward having my arms just hang lamely at my sides but I felt I didn't have much of a choice. She was already out of line with her behavior and the last thing I wanted to do was encourage it. The most obvious thing to do was to disengage myself from her...yet I couldn't. She must have realized this too because she chuckled lightly. Having her this close was doing strange and wonderful things to my body. I was fighting for self-control and I was holding my own pretty well until she began running one of her hands through my hair. As a guy, let me just say this...there is nothing sexier than having a girl run her hands through your hair. For some reason than no man has ever been able to figure out, it feels so damn good that you feel like your under some kind of spell. I find the thought disconcerting that a girl can have you under her complete control with such a simple motion of the hand. Simple...but sensual as hell.

"I can't believe you cut your hair so short." Then as quick as it all started, she quickly pulled away from me only to grab another bottle of beer.

She waved without looking back as she squeezed through the crowd. "I'll be looking for Randa. Go tell Denisse and Blake that we're leaving."

I stood there motionless and stunned. What the hell just happened?

When I finally reached Blake and Denisse they were still talking. I don't think I had ever seen a guy so smitten.

"Guys! Hey, sorry to interrupt but we're leaving."

Blake peered behind me. "Where is everyone?"

"And what happened to Lizzie?" Denisse asked. "Weren't you guys just dancing?"

Was she that caught up in their conversation? That was probably over an hour ago...

"Do you still have Lizzie's purse?" I asked her.

She pulled it from underneath her chair. "It's right here, why?"

"Her keys should be in there. Listen, your gonna have to drive."

She immediately grew worried. "What happened? Is she okay?"

"She's fine. She just had a few drinks."

Blake's eyes widened, and the two spoke at the same time. "You let her drink!"

"Uh...I wasn't aware she was under my command," I commented sarcastically.

Blake rolled his eyes. "Look bro, you'd better go find her and fast."

"Why?"

"She tends to get overly friendly when she's had a drink or two. She can't handle much."

"What do you mean?"

Denisse spoke. "Let's just say I've had to pry her off a stranger or two in the past..."

"What?!"

Blake stood and placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder. "Look man, just find her and bring everyone out to the cars. Me and Denisse will meet you at her car, all right?"

I was still trying to process this newfound information.

"David, did you hear me?"

"Yeah, yeah..."

Lizzie and Miranda were giggling like crazy when I finally found them. They were both sprawled out on a leather couch with their precious beers at hand. Harold wasn't much of a help and was simply sitting nearby and enjoying their drunkenness. And where the hell was Daniel? I thought I could at least count on him to be responsible enough to stop the girls from having one beer too many.

"Gordo!" Miranda excitedly yelled as she noticed my presence. "Where have you been?"

"With me," Lizzie proudly grinned.

Her insinuation sent several hoots and whistles up after her declaration. I waved them off and planted myself on the couch between the girls.

"Are you girls ready to leave?" I asked. "Blake and Denisse are already waiting outside."

Harold's voice was full of indignation. "What? We can't leave yet. Damn, Blake! He's always been a downer for parties."

I had to coax them all out of here before things became more hectic. "Well Denisse has Lizzie's keys, so I suggest we leave before they get impatient and just ditch us here."

Miranda waved it off as nothing. "Oh who cares. Let 'em go."

"Wait!" Lizzie appeared to sober a bit. "How are we going to get home if they take my car?"

I spoke up. "They won't take your--"

"No biggie," Miranda explained. "We'll all just ride with Daniel."

"It's a four-seater,"I challenged.

She pointed between herself and her blonde headed friend. "One of us could sit on one of your laps."

Lizzie had a new can of beer in her hand and giggled. "That sounds like fun."

I sighed and reached for her Tecate. "Don't you think you've had enough, McGuire?"

She pulled it away, but I still reached for it. She kept pulling further and further away and was grinning like crazy. Lizzie obviously thought I was playing when I so obviously wasn't in the mood. I just wanted to go home. By the time I finally had the can in my grasp, my body was settled fully on top of hers. Her smile was smug. I groaned in frustration, and pulled away with the can in my hand.

I stood and pulled Lizzie with me. "C'mon we're leaving."

"Hey c'mon man, let them have their fun," Harold objected. A few nearby supported his statement and saluted him with their drinks.

"I don't care. I'm just trying to watch out for my friends before they get too carried away."

Lizzie's balance wasn't its best so I draped one of her arms across my shoulders for support while I encircled her waist with one of my own arms. Just then Daniel made his way back into the room. His expression was that of great concern as he approached us.

"What's going on? What happened?"

"We're leaving. Get Miranda and let's go," I ordered.

After taking in her drunken state Daniel's expression grew even more concerned if that were at all possible. He followed my example and maneuvered Miranda the way I had Lizzie.

"C'mon Harold," I called over my shoulder.