A/N: I felt like exploring the world of Jim and Melinda dating. I'm working on an update for Lookin' in a Mirror, so don't worry. It should be up soon :) Enjoy xx Mariah

Ages:

Andrea - 27
Jim - 24
Melinda - 20

"Who brings their little brother to a college party? Honestly," Melinda muttered, hoping she said it just loud enough so that Andrea could hear her over the music.

She shrugged. "I don't know—if my brother hadn't been a straight and narrow guy in high school, he might've invited me to go with him," Andrea said, swigging the last of her Bud Light. Then she crushed the can and tossed it into the recycling bin, where it clattered against glass and aluminum. "Do you want anything to drink?"

Melinda rolled her eyes at her and shook her head at the drink request. "Well, the difference there is you're cool. Harvey's brother is not," she retorted, glancing back at the curly-haired blonde, who was chatting with some giggly, breathy brunette over near the glass doors of the porch.

Melinda was certain the girl was at least a sophomore, like most of the people at the party. She wanted to snort; no doubt this girl thought Harvey's little brother Adam was some college stud, with those obnoxiously broad shoulders and that smug smirk on his face. How much would she be laughing if she realized the kid was still in high school?

Melinda did not like Adam. His brother was a nice person, but in fact, it wouldn't be a stretch to say she hated Adam because he was a dick. He'd been a dick the moment she'd first met him last month when he'd called her "Melissa" and despite being corrected several times by different people refused to call her by her actual name.

Ever since then, they had been unofficial enemies. Their proverbial warfare had consisted of mainly death glares, snide remarks in passing, and the occasional middle finger if Melinda ever found herself at the same place as him

Like tonight.

Andrea hadn't warned her that Adam might be making an appearance tonight, and while Melinda hadn't even wanted to come out tonight, her friend had wanted to let off some steam after a hard work week. "Well, I dunno, Mel, I know you hate him and all, but the few times I've talked to him, he's seemed cool enough to me."

She gawked at her; her best friend just smiled cheekily. "Traitor," she hissed, but Andrea snickered as she grabbed some more beer from the fridge.

"This is seriously some bizarre hate crush you have on this kid—you sure you don't secretly want to fuck him?"

Her jaw dropped, and she sputtered incoherently at the absurdity of his suggestion, unable to think of a fast enough reply to refute it. "What—you—how dare you—I...fuck you!" she finally spat, her face flaming. Gale laughed boisterously, holding his hands up. "For one, ew, and for two, he's a minor."

"I'm just fucking with you, Melinda. But, look, maybe it's time you two bury the hatchet, yeah?" Andrea said harmlessly, still smiling, but before she could snap at her, her friend Bristol called to her from the living room. "Sorry, my prowess is needed on the beer pong table. Try to have fun, okay? Maybe find some other guy around here... or girl whatever you prefer. I still haven't completely figured out if you're just picky or bi."

And then her friend breezed past her, a few cans of beer in his hands. Melinda stared after her, startled when someone pushed past her to get into the kitchen. She mumbled an apology and tried to disappear into the wall. She hated parties; actually, she liked them when she was with people she enjoyed being around, but a mix of people she didn't know and people she didn't like and some she did wasn't the greatest.

And she couldn't even get drunk; the cup in her hand was full of water. She couldn't stand the taste of beer, and they didn't have any hard liquor. She supposed some of their friends might bring liquor for themselves, but she wasn't about to ask someone she didn't know if she could drink their alcohol.

With a sigh, she took a large gulp of her water, her eyes scanning the living room—and landing on someone new, yet familiar in a different way. It was Jim Clancy. He was listening intently to a brunette woman, who waved her hands animatedly as she chattered, but he looked over at her then, and she stiffened, her cup frozen at her mouth.

Jim seemed surprised to see her too and arched an eyebrow—was that a challenge of some sort? Her neck flushed in anger as she recalled the last time she had seen him. They weren't official or anything, but had gone out on two dates and texted each other quite often. Yet somehow, she didn't know he was off tonight and going out.), and she lowered her drink enough to smile at him sweetly.

Tonight had been shitty, and while she hadn't wanted to go to this party with Andrea it was seemed worth it when she noticed he was walking over to her.