13

"You're on my heart just like a tattoo."

Sawyer

I shifted my weight from one foot to the other, stealing glances at Stella as I twirled my drink in my hand, avoiding eye contact with Asher. I'd been foolish, thinking he was inviting me here because he wanted to spend time with me, but I should have known better. Of course, a guy that looks like him would have a girlfriend.

"I'm going to see if the guys are here yet." He mumbled before bolting out of the kitchen.

Our eyes followed him until he was out of sight.

"What just happened?" Stella asked, walking around the counter to stand beside me.

"I have no idea."

A conflicted expression danced across my face as I replayed the confrontation in my mind. Siblings bicker. Noah and I fight daily, but this was something else. Their words were seeping into animosity and hatred.

"Sawyer!"

Sebastian's cheerful tone echoed over the thumping music. I turned to find him walking towards us with outstretched arms. I groaned as he squeezed me in a hug, but I couldn't help but hug back. He was like a human koala.

"Who is this?"

His eyes locked onto Stella. The corner of his lips raised in a subtle smirk. She was too oblivious to notice him checking her out.

"This is Stella." I said after she took too long to answer. "Stella, this is Sebastian."

I felt like a third wheel in their intense staring contest. Stella's cheeks were as red as her candy apple sweater. I kept retreating until I was back in the sea of people.

My fingers played with the ends of my cardigan as I searched for a familiar face. I wanted to accept Josh's offer to join him, but the surrounding group didn't appear welcoming. Especially the hate-filled glare from Ava. We'd never even spoken, and she hates me. In just a month, I had more enemies than friends. I opted for a dark corner, hoping that Stella would join me soon. However, Benjamin became my saving grace.

"Please don't tell me you were planning on spending the entire party in a dark corner."

My smile didn't reach my eyes.

"I was." I admitted.

I hated the look in his eyes. As if he was pitying me. Once again, I was the sad loner.

"Come help us set up." He said. "We could use an extra hand since we can't find Sebastian."

I chuckled.

"He's in the kitchen with my friend Stella."

He rolled his eyes.

"Of course he is." He muttered before motioning for me to follow him.

They were packing the instruments onto the makeshift stage. Liam nodded in acknowledgment before sorting the twisted strap on his bass. Asher avoided my gaze. He kept his focus on strumming a few chords, tuning his guitar with focused intensity. A subtle tension hung in the air as he dodged any attempts I made at eye contact.

"Sorry, I'm late." Sebastian said, followed by a giddy-looking Stella.

I nudged her, and her face burned.

"We're about to start." Asher muttered before walking away to take his position.

Sebastian looked to us for answers, but none of us could explain his sudden behavior change. He shrugged and reached for his guitar and stood by the microphone.

"Hello, everyone." The music from the stereo and the conversations hushed as the band took their places. "Happy Birthday, Elsie."

Cheers filled the room, but I couldn't tell who they were for. Benjamin established the rhythm as the room fell into darkness, with only a few lights shining on the stage. His voice soared, filling the air with raw emotion. Even more than he did during practice.

I tucked a strand of hair behind my ear as I kept stealing glances at Asher. He focused solely on his instrument, disregarding everything else in the room. A mix of nervousness and excitement coursed through my body. His gaze shifted and met mine. My stomach fluttered, a feeling I'd only experienced once. He smiled at me, but it faded as fast as it appeared. I jumped as a hand touched my arm.

"Are you having fun?" Josh yelled into my ear over the music.

I nodded my head as the beat flooded through my veins like a boost of adrenaline. He offered me an amiable smile, not moving from his spot beside me. I was unsure of what to say or do. I'd never had a guy approach me before. Our eyes met in fleeting glances, leaving my cheeks ablaze with nerves.

The song ended, and the roaring applause broke me out of my thoughts. Sebastian grinned, exchanging knowing glances with the rest of the band. As if they'd had a telepathic conversation, they dove into an encore, reigniting the adrenaline.

The pulsating energy faded as my hand brushed against Josh's. It was subtle, but enough to make me shiver in humidity. Unspoken words charged the air between us.

"Want to get some fresh air?"

Unsure if my face betrayed me, but Josh intuited my desire for solitude. I agreed.

The porch creaked as we stepped out into the night sky. The gentle breeze cooled my burning face. We settled into the porch swing. I couldn't help but admire the starlit canvas above. No noise from inside could disrupt the peace.

"You know, I'm glad you moved here." Josh broke the silence.

"I'm glad I moved here too."

The tranquil night embraced our shared smiles.

"I've been wanting to ask you something."

I sat up straighter, waiting for his question. As he opened his mouth to speak, laughter and loud whispers interrupted the moment. Ava and Elsie stuck their heads through the doorway.

"Stop being a buzzkill and come and play Never Have I Ever with us."

Frustration flashed in his eyes, but he mustered a smile and stood up. He offered his hand to me, and I took it. A stampede of bulls filled my stomach. I felt sick.

As the group gathered in a circle, I fidgeted with the red cup Ava handed out. The prospect of revealing personal experiences made me uneasy, especially since I didn't have many experiences. With a hesitant smile, I glanced at Asher as he took a seat beside me. He held out his cup.

"What's this?" I asked.

"Just drink it."

My nose scrunched at the foul odor before I took a sip. I placed my hand over my mouth to hold back a cough. It tasted awful.

"What was that?"

"Bourbon." He said with a mischievous grin. "Now it will make drinking beer that much easier."

Josh took a seat across from us, next to Noah. He diverted a hateful gaze towards Asher.

"I'll start," Ava said with a sly grin. "Never Have I Ever kissed someone while in a relationship."

A few took inconspicuous sips, but my cup remained untouched, as I suspected it would throughout the game.

"Take a sip, Asher." Elsie said, curling her upper lip.

"That's not how the game works, Elsie." He said. "I was never in a relationship."

Ava's pained expression almost evoked sympathy, but it swiftly turned into anger. And Ava directed her anger towards me.

"Why don't you go next, Sawyer?" She asked. "You've been quiet."

I felt intimidated by everyone's gaze. The air became thick with intensity.

"I'll go," Asher said, leaning forward. "Never Have I Ever been a self-absorbed bitch." A sickening grin widened. "Ava, Elsie, take a sip."

Tension crackled between Ava and Asher as lingering resentment and unresolved feelings floated in the air. We all exchanged uneasy glances as Ava and Asher caught us in their crossfire.

"I'm bored," Ava said. "Let's play Truth or Dare."

"Great idea." Elsie chimed in. "Sawyer, truth or dare?"

Asher leaned to whisper in my ear.

"You don't have to play. They're just being jerks."

A wave of irritation washed over me. I hated how everyone treated me like a child.

"Truth." I spoke before my brain could register a response.

They locked eyes, silently plotting my humiliation. I expected them to ask a ridiculous question, but it's as if they already knew the answer. They wanted everyone else to know.

"Is it true you've never been kissed?"

A wave of embarrassment washed over me, as enormous eyes fixed on me. I was tongue-tied as I fumbled with my words. The weight of everyone's attention was stifling.

"That's not true." Josh said, directing all eyes at him.

"How would you know?" Ava spoke as if she knew all the secrets of the universe.

"Because," He shrugged. "I've kissed her."

There were collective gasps, along with golf ball eyes. The dynamic of the room shifted.

"That better be a joke." The bitterness in Noah was evident.

"It wouldn't be very funny if it was."

"You kissed my sister?"

The aggression in Noah's voice filled the room. The tension escalated with every word. I had no idea what Josh was trying to accomplish, but I was grateful that he saved me from an unwanted confession.

"Leave him alone, Noah."

It seemed like the right thing to do. He defended me, so it wouldn't hurt to take some of the heat off him. However, the fiery look in Noah's eyes showed my words did more harm.

Asher stood up, shifting the attention to him. He clenched his jaw so hard I thought it might crack. Without a word, he marched out of the room. The room remained silent, followed by the slam of a door.

??