Chapter 6

MILA

How did I end up here?

Oh, that's right. I wanted to be the good girlfriend once again. I took the high road and I apologized for some reason. Just to smooth things over. Just so Ward would calm his ass down and I could effectively write my extra credit, five-page paper.

Which I did, by the way.

And the paper? It's stellar. If I may brag about myself for a second.

But now I'm standing at another college party that I want nothing to do with.

A red cup in my hand. I've barely had a sip.

It's not just Ward that has me here.

Violet and Ruby are here somewhere.

How did I end up alone? I'm not sure. Probably lost in thought about my paper and Dr. Donahue. I feel like all I've done is talk about the paper. But you know what? I'm allowed to have something for myself that I'm happy about.

Someone bumps into my left shoulder.

"Thanks, asshole," I growl and look to my left.

I suck in a breath way too loud when I realize it's Jax standing next to me.

He glances my way and smirks. "I'm an asshole?"

"You could have spilled my drink."

"Yeah, I know. It's full. Not drinking tonight?"

"Not in the mood."

"Here, let me help," Jax says.

He reaches for me. For my hand. For my drink.

I have this sudden chill attack my body and I'm unable to move.

His fingers touch my fingers as he takes the cup from me.

"What are you going to do with it?" I ask. "I've been holding it for a while. It can't taste good."

"I'm not drinking this," Jax says. "Want me to dump it over the head of some freshman?"

"Wow. How cool."

"Relax, honey, I'm just messing around," he says.

Honey…?

That sudden chill from a second ago? It's now a warm feeling…

Jax places the cup down on the nearest object he can find - which is a shelf out of my reach that has some dusty trophies on it from when this frat won some kind of volleyball tournament back in the eighties.

"Out of sight," he says.

"I could have done that myself."

"With a stepladder."

"I meant I could have ditched the drink myself. Didn't ask for your help."

Why am I being a bitch to him? He's just being… nice…

I mentally shake my head.

Jax? Archer? That guy is…

"How'd the paper turn out?" Jax asks.

Now I let out an audible gasp.

I look away for a moment as I feel heat flood my cheeks for making such a noise.

How the hell does he know about my paper…?

Is he some kind of stalker?

Sensing my worry, Jax inches down closer to me. "You've been talking nonstop about it. Right? Telling Ruby and Violet. They talk. I hear. You talk. That whole thing. Better be careful with what you say out loud."

I shiver.

I can't believe he asked me about my paper.

Does he… care… or…

"Want to tell me what the paper is about?" Jax asks.

"Wouldn't you rather go drink and find some drunk girl to fool around with?" I ask.

"Nah. I'm good. I'd rather hear about your paper. I'd rather hear you talk."

I swallow hard.

There's a voice in my head telling me I need to just simply walk away.

Laugh this encounter off and just… walk away…

I can't even talk right now.

Me. Not able to talk.

Me. Silent.

Staring up at Jax.

The silence between us is broken up by someone yelling, "They're playing chicken with no water!"

A small group of people suddenly push through the party to get outside.

Someone hits my back and I stutter step forward, right into Jax.

His right hand touches my back - almost instinctively.

"Whoa," he says. "You okay?"

"Stupid college parties," I whisper.

"No offense, honey, but I think your guy is the one involved…"

Jax nods his head.

I look to my right and through the large window out back I see what's happening.

Ward is on someone's shoulders.

He has his shirt off, waving it around above his head.

This kind of stuff was honestly the reason why and how Ward and I ended up together.

I just thought it would be different by now.

Or - not just such a constant thing.

Believe me, I don't walk around with a stick up my butt. I know how to cut loose and have fun. Once in a while.

I wander outside, as much as I don't want to.

Now I'm left with a choice - to be that insane looking girlfriend screaming for my boyfriend to get down. Or just shut up and stand there.

"Get him!" Ward cries out.

A few feet away, there is someone on someone else's shoulders.

They're going to play chicken. Drunk.

Running at each other.

Ward versus some other guy who I don't know.

I can't tell whose shoulders Ward is on, but whoever it is… they are drunker than Ward.

Everyone is cheering and laughing.

The cheers are sarcastic. The laughs are real.

Ward and the other person get tangled up and it takes all of a second before Ward falls to the ground. Not in a nice fashion either. He goes slightly up into the air, rolling back, and all I can picture is him snapping his neck.

Somehow he turns and lands on his left shoulder.

He lets out a scream.

There's more laughter. More cheering for the winner.

I have to play the good girlfriend part and walk over to check on him.

Ward rolls to his back. "Mila! My shoulder…"

"Move your arm, let me see," I say.

Ward moves his arms, groaning in pain.

He's fine. Nothing is torn. Nothing is broken. It'll be sore for a few days.

Embarrassment floods my body even though I'm not the one involved here.

I look over my left shoulder and the last person I want to see is staring at me.

Jax is near the door, arms folded, staring right at me.

Ward grabs for my leg. "Ah, Mila, help me… this really fucking hurts…"

My chin quivers for a second.

I can't stop staring at Jax.