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Dedication: Randomly selected supporter of the story. Thank you Ella_Mayfair33 for commenting and voting on every chapter of this story! I really appreciate you taking the time and effort to help support me. <3

Recap:

We made our way over to Harvey's car and I stopped, my eyes glued on the back of Hayden. He walked towards his car, before slinging his gym bag into the back tray, before doing up the tarp. Mia laughed at something he said, before sliding into the passenger seat.

I gritted my teeth and went around to the passenger side, to see Caitlyn already there.

With a sigh, I went to the back and climbed in.

Apparently, Harvey isn't the only one I don't like sharing.

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"You look cute," Harvey compliments me as I tug at the sleeve of my hoodie.

"Aw thanks," I grin, pulling at the collar so that it sits more comfortably around my neck. "You don't look too bad yourself."

We are getting ready for the beach bonfire party that Ryan is hosting. It is a relatively warm evening, however, the wind picking up has become quite cool. I decide to go with a pair of denim shorts, a singlet, with a hoodie over the top. The perfect mixture of warm and cold.

Harvey is dressed in one of his new outfits and looks so nice.

"I told Caitlyn to meet us here, is that cool?" Harvey asks as he lifts his bottle of beer to his lips.

I fought off the scowl that wanted to appear and smile. "Sure."

"I asked her out," he tells me with a small, nervous smile.

"Really?" I ask, excited that he was brave enough to take the step. I ignore the disappointment in my chest at the thought of us spending less time together. I firmly push the feelings aside and focus on how happy and proud I am of my best friend.

"Yeah, so, we're official now," he beams, his cheeks reddening adorably.

"Aw, I'm so proud of you!" I exclaim, wrapping my arms around him.

He steps back from me, to have another drink but I hug him again. I tighten my hold of him and bury my face into his shoulder.

"Hey," Harvey says softly, hugging me back. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," I lie, holding him to me firmly. "I just want to hug my best friend, okay?"

"Is there something wrong with Caitlyn? You don't like her?"

"She's perfect for you," I say, leaving out the part where I was meant to answer yes or no. "I just don't want you to forget me, that's all."

"Forget you?" he laughs softly. "That would be impossible."

I smile into his shoulder, loving the security I feel with his arms around me. We stay like that for a few more moments, until a throat is cleared behind us. We spring apart and Caitlyn stands there, a frown on her face, a six-pack of Vodka cruisers in her hand.

"Caitlyn!" Harvey grins, rushing over to her.

She looks unimpressed as he hugs her and I look away, downing the rest of my drink.

I go to the kitchen, cracking another can. As I walk back into the lounge room, I hear Harvey explaining, in a hushed tone, that it is "nothing to be worried about" and that she needed to "understand that I was his best friend".

I bite back a smile as I welcome the cold, crisp taste of the alcohol on my tongue.

"Let's get going," I tell them, breaking apart their love quarrel about me.

I shove two cans of drink in my hoodie pocket and held two on top of each other, in my right hand. 

I can see the orange glow of the bonfire, the closer we get. I hug my hoodie closer to my skin as Harvey wraps an arm around Caitlyn's shoulders. My legs have goosebumps, making me question my decision about the shorts, but once we get closer to the fire, I warm up. I kick off my thongs and feel the sand squish in between my toes.

"Grace!" Leisel slurs, staggering over to me and engulfing me in a giant bear hug. I stumble back, holding onto her, laughing.

"Drunk already?"

"No," she grins cheekily. "I haven't got to hang with you at all!"

"I know," I agree. "You're always with Mia."

She rolls her eyes. "I know."

It irks me that she acts that way about Mia. Not for Mia's sake, but the fact that she acts like her best friend, but talks about her like this. It makes me question what she would say about me and whether she really is a friend or not.

"I want to hang with you more and her less," she explains, her words jumbling together along the way. "You're the type of person I want to be around."

I quirk an eyebrow at her in surprise. Maybe I take back what I thought...

"Come," she says, grabbing my hand and pulling me after her.

I look over my shoulder, not wanting to ditch Harvey, but he is already walking the other direction with Caitlyn. I scowl, turning back, allowing Leisel to drag me over to the group clustered near the fire.

"Well, well, well," Ryan greets, a playful smirk on his lips. "Look who's here."

I don't respond to him and instead, took a large gulp of my drink, noticing a frown appear on Leisel's face. The orange glow cast over everyone as the flames licked the air around it. I tug at my sleeves, covering my hand as a breeze rustled through the group, causing my hair to blow around my face.

Parked a little away from us, is someone's 4WD Cruiser. They have the doors open and the sub resting on the tailgate, allowing music to blare out the speakers. It was an awesome setup.

Something like this for my 18th would be fun.

Mia walks over and clutches Leisel's hand, dragging her away. I roll my eyes at the withering glare Mia sent me.

After downing my drink and cracking open another, everyone huddles in a circle near the fire. Someone had set up a stand type of thing with a light at the top so that we could see the cards as they were dealt out. Clearly, this group had partied on the beach before. They are prepared.

After playing two rounds of King's Cup, me getting the King's Cup the first time, I was beginning to feel lightheaded. By the second game, Harvey and Caitlyn have joined the group, sitting beside me. I am thankful to have Harvey close.

"Never have I ever," Leisel slurs, tapping her chin, looking around the group. "Kissed another girl."

A couple of the girls drank and I feel Hayden's eyes on me as I keep my can firmly sitting in my lap. I had hardly spoken to him all night, except during games. He was keeping his distance but isn't hiding the fact that he continuously looks at me. He is sending mixed signals and it is infuriating.

It is Caitlyn's turn to go. She looks awfully uncomfortable and I immediately feel sorry for her. This isn't her normal crowd.

"Never have I ever, done drugs," she announces, her voice considerably quieter than everyone else's.

Most people drank and again, I watch as Hayden stares at me, neither of us lifting our drinks. We both shared a look of slight surprise.

Harvey clears his throat as eyes turn his way. "Never have I ever... Been on the swim team."

"That's a good one," I say as I put my finger down and drink. That got quite a few of us. "Never have I ever..." I look around, scrambling to come up with something. Mia leaned over to one of the other girls, whispering something to her, sending a pointed stare in my direction. Anger swirled inside me and I lick my lips, a malicious smile curving onto my lips. "Had my head bashed against the locker doors at school."

Snickers can be heard as eyes dance between Mia and I. I gave her a sadistic smirk as her cheeks darken. She put a finger down and drank, her red cup crumpling from her grip.

I wanted to say something about her height, but I hadn't had the time to formulate the attack in my mind.

The game continues. When it gets to Mia's turn and she swivels her eyes to me. I stare challengingly back, preparing myself for whatever she is going to throw at me.

"Never have I ever screwed someone over the age of 20."

Eyes turn to me, to see if it is aimed at me and I keep my drink firmly in my lap, and my finger firmly raised. It is true--I haven't. I have only slept with one person before and he was in the year as me, only a few months older.

After a few more rounds, the game died off, growing a little stale. We turn to a new one, one I haven't played for a long time. It is called suck and blow. We shuffle around in the group, making sure that each of us was sitting next to the opposite gender. Harvey and Caitlyn excused themselves, not wanting to be a part of the game.

I notice that Ryan deliberately sits next to me. I ignore the fact because I am too busy watching Mia sit down in between Hayden and Mike. She would.

David shuffled the cards, which was unnecessary before beginning the game. The card dropped three times, before it even got to Mia, causing Alex and Becca, two people I have never spoken to except tonight, to kiss. They could have avoided it but it was obvious they wanted to. The game continued and I watch as Hayden sat there, ignoring Mia as she waited, the card pressed against her lips. It fell down to her lap and I snort, enjoying the fact he dogged her, in front of everyone.

"Hayden!" she shrieks, an annoyed look on her face. "You should have said you weren't playing."

"I thought that was obvious," he states with a flat stare, causing my smirk to grow again.

I internally cheer. Just the thought of them kissing makes me inside curls.

The game picked up where it left off, everyone still laughing at Hayden and Mia. Ryan turned to me, the card pressed against his lips. I lean in, just as he ripped the card from his mouth and presses his warm lips to mine. I jolt back in surprise, breaking the kiss.

I taste the alcohol on him. I let out a small laugh, knowing he did it deliberately. He suddenly gripped my chin, pulling my head towards his. His lips meet mine once more, his tongue trying to wedge in between my clamped lips. Whistles and cheers roar around the group. Instantly, I pull back again, a little annoyed that he is trying to make out with me in front of everyone. I have turned him down, even though he is always flirty and joking, time and time again.

"Stop," I say firmly but with a polite, awkward laugh as he leans in again, gripping my head, stopping me from pulling back.

Suddenly, he is yanked back, resulting in sand flying up into the air.

"Back the fuck off," Hayden spits, ripping Ryan backward, using the hoodie of his jumper. My mind can barely keep up with their movements as I gape up at the two.

"Let go of me," Ryan snaps, wrenching Hayden's hands from his jumper. "It was a joke, chill!"

Hayden's eyes are fiery as they glare at each other. Everyone watches in stunned silence. 

"Chill? She said stop," he growls, his fist clenching at his side. "Don't be such a prick next time."

"Why? Think I'll fuck her or something?"

I frown at Ryan's word choice when suddenly Hayden's fist projects into Ryan's face. He staggers backward, trying to gain his balance, before sprawling onto the sand. Mike jumps to his feet and grabs Hayden, reefing him back. Jay and Amy quickly went to see if Ryan was okay. My heart is racing as I watch Hayden shake out his hand, before stalking in the opposite direction of us.

I ignore the lingering stares on me and the groans coming from Ryan, as I scramble to my feet and jog after Hayden.

"Hayden!" I call out but he continues to storm away from me.

He finally slows down and sinks to the ground, quite a distance from the group, his hands tugging at his hair. Swallowing uneasily, I sit down beside him.

"Hayden-"

"You kissed him," he snaps, glaring at me with such intensity that I actually lean away from him.

"He kissed me," I correct, holding my hand up, quick to defend myself. "I told him to stop."

"You didn't try very hard," he scowls, a deep frown line appearing across his forehead.

"It was a joke. He was messing around. And it was just a game."

He clenches his jaw, looking away from me. I hate to admit that it pleased me to see him act the way he did. Not so much sending a punch into Ryan's face, but more the fact he felt compelled to in the first place.

"Talk to me," I plead, begging him to turn around and meet my eyes. "What's going on?"

"Nothing."

"You were jealous," I state matter-of-factly.

"No. I wasn't," he bites back.

"Yes, you were," I say to him softly. "I was, too."

He whips his head in my direction. "What?"

"I was jealous of Mia sitting beside you," I tell him honestly, my voice small. If he wasn't going to be open and honest, I needed to. It would be the only way for him to finally admit the truth. "I didn't want you to play the game, especially with her."

He blinks at me, his lips parting. "What?"

I laugh at his shock. "Don't make me repeat the confession, please."

"So..." he trails off, his eyebrows furrowing together.

"I like you, Hayden Cameron," I announce, surprisingly not feeling as nervous as I thought I would. "And it's obvious you like me, too."

"I don't-"

"Save it," I say, holding my hand up once more. "Don't waste your breath because I won't believe you."

He grew silent for a few moments, obviously thinking what to say next.

"Well, what happens now?"

"We sit here," I told him, scooting a little closer.

"And then?" he presses.

I choose not to answer. Instead, I lean my head against his shoulder. He stiffens slightly, surprised, before wrapping an arm around my shoulders.

I nestle into him and stare out at the waves crashing into one another.

Despite the events that took place mere minutes ago, this turned out to be the perfect night.

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Hmm... True feelings have come about. How do we feel about this? :)

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