Hey guys, I'm back! It's the summer holidays so I'm definitely going to be updating a lot more often.

Enjoy x

Riley's POV:

Today's the day.

It's the day I've been avoiding for the past few months, the day that sends me shivers each time I think of it.

Today's Maya's 18th birthday party.

I sit on my bed, my fingers gently stroking the ribbon on Maya's present. My mind ponders for ways I can avoid it. A doctor's appointment? Perhaps a dentist appointment instead? I sigh, knowing that this is completely unavoidable. It's basically an unwritten rule that you have to attend your best friend's party.

I love Maya, and of course I want to celebrate her special day with her- only maybe if they were less people to celebrate with. Perhaps people I'm comfortable with, people who won't judge. I begin to panic, and have to remind myself to breathe as my social anxiety kicks in. My breathing becomes irregular as I'm reminded of the looks and stares people give me. The room spins, and I clutch onto my bed for support. Calm down! My mind screams it's only a few people! Practically the whole school, I remind myself.

Do this for Maya, your best friend.

And so I do, I pull myself together and begin to get ready, for Maya.

I smooth down my dress, and brace myself for the noise behind the large door. I panic, and then suddenly envision the last party I went to. "I dare you to light a firework inside this room" I was in the centre of it all, the flames gradually heading for me.

"This time will be different" I whisper quietly to myself.

I push open the door, with an immense amount of courage. I immediately spot a crowd of people surrounding my best friend, gushing over her beautiful outfit. I smile, and decide to speak to her later. The music blasts through the speakers, filling the whole building with its sound. Red solo cups litter the ground, whilst new ones are already being handed out. I push through crowds, eventually finding a small couch in the corner of the room. As I sit I take in the scenery, observing the crowds. I spot dirty blonde hair, towering over a smaller figure with platinum blonde hair. Since their close to me, I can hear their conversation.

"Please Chloe, give me another chance!"

"Forget you Lucas! You still can't even remember my name"

I laugh slightly, remembering how this was the same girl he was arguing over the phone with in the coffee shop.

"What are you laughing at burning hazard?" Suddenly Lucas is approaching me, apparently having heard me laughing.

"Nothing Lucas, I'm really not in the mood for fighting" I deadplan.

"Looks like you're not in the mood for partying either" He notes, realising that I'm not dancing like everyone else. He then looks over to Maya, who is currently laughing amongst a group of her friends. "How does it feel?" he asks me.

"What do you mean?"

" I mean" he pauses " I mean how does it feel to always be left out?" He looks over to Maya and her friends again, and then turns his attention to me.

"Your delusional, I'm not left out" I defend.

"Yes, you are. Maya's basically friends with everybody and you seem to only have her. That must hurt. I mean, have you even talked to her once today?"

"Listen to me Lucas, Maya is the best friend anyone could have, and frankly I don't care about my lack of friends- I'm fine with the one I have!" I tell him, how dare he come and insult me!

"Of course, I guess I just feel..." He stops, looking down at his feet in an attempt to avoid my gaze.

"Feel what?"

"Guilty" he whispers.

"Lucas Friar feels guilty, since when?" I laugh, but he doesn't join me, maybe he's being serious.

"I don't want to be the reason you aren't like Maya, I don't want people to judge you because of what happened that night" He looks up, his green eyes meeting my brown ones "I'm sorry Riley, I really am"

And before I can respond he passes out on the floor.

"Alcohol poisoning" A dark skinned boy says. "I told him not to drink so much!" his heavy southern accent is laced with concern for the green eyed boy.

"Who was the last person with him?" he asks, searching the crowds for an answer. I look into his brown eyes, avoiding them as soon as he captures my gaze. "It was you wasn't it?" I nod slightly, and can hear everyone questioning to why he was even talking to me.

"I'm Zay, his best friend" he explains "how long were you with him?"

"About half an hour"

"Okay, I'm going to call an ambulance, but your gonna have to go with him"

"Why!?" I ask a little too loudly.

"Because you were with him before he passed out, you can give the doctors the most detail"

I sigh deeply , wondering how I keep ending up with Lucas Friar.

Thanks for reading, is anyone else excited for ski lodge? A lot of rumours have been circulating but we'll have to wait and see!

Who do you think will end up together in ski lodge?

Until next time,

hintofmint x