Chapter 2 The neighbourhood

"And he... apologized?" Maya's mouth is hung wide open in shock as she listens to me explain last nights and this mornings events. "Cameron Holden? Are we talking about the same person?"

"He didn't come right out and say he was sorry, but he more or less said he was. I was in shock too. Believe me."

Perched on my bean bag chair, I watch as she holds her leg up and dips the brush she's holding back into the nail polish.

"That's weird." She shakes her head again, swiping at her toe nail to put another coat on. "And don't take the bore comment too seriously. Ethan and him think anyone who doesn't party is a bore."

"It still annoys me." I pout, twirling my pink comforter between my fingers. "Jennifer and Sadie seemed to agree with them too."

"And?" She replies. "They're both bitches who think they're too hot for everyone. Are you really going to care about their opinions?"

"Well, no, but I don't want to be remembered as the girl who was a bore. I may try to do good in school, but I'm not trying to be a loser."

"You're far from a loser." Maya says. "You're just a loner."

"Oh, because that's so much better." I laugh. "Thanks." 1

Screwing the top back onto the nail polish, she flings it onto the carpet and wiggles her toes to try and get them to dry faster. "It's not a bad thing, Mads. You just like to stay in instead of go out. That's not always a bad thing."

"But to everyone else it seems to be a bad thing."

"Everyone as in... Cam?"

She sends me a knowing look, and as much as I try to deny it she'll manage to get it out of me. She was the only person in middle school who knew I liked nerdy Cam, so it doesn't take rocket science to tell that I'm still into him.

The old him.

The nice him.

The guy that was downstairs in the kitchen this morning.

"Maybe." I mutter. "I don't know. I'm just tired of being that girl."

"So don't be." She shrugs as if it's that simple. As if I can magically transform into a different person.

"You know what? You're right!" I laugh sarcastically. "That's exactly what I'll do. I'll just stop being me."

"That's not what I meant." She rolls her eyes and grabs the remote on the floor next to my bed to turn on the television. "I just mean to try and be more outgoing. Just put in a little effort."

"And how can I do that? I don't know how to be like you, or Sadie, or Jennifer..."

"Did you just put me in the same sentence as Sadie and Jennifer?" Giving me a death stare, I can't help but laugh again.

"I'm not saying you're like them, I'm just saying that I don't know how to be pretty like you guys. I can't do my makeup, or my hair... and I've never even been to a party before."

"So let's change that." She grins, a plan forming into her head. We've been best friends for years. I know her too well.

Rising up from my floor, she cautiously walks over to my closet -careful not to mess up her toes- and begins to look through my clothes.

"What are you doing?" I ask inquisitively.

"Picking out what you're going to wear to Kelsey's party tonight..." she trails off, letting out a disapproving sigh. "I think you're going to have to borrow something of mine though."

"Kelsey's party?" I wrinkle my nose up in disgust. "We hate cheerleaders. Why would we go there?"

"Well, I wasn't going to go! But you're the one wanting to learn how to be cool for mr. popular, and going to this party will do just that."

"Are we even invited?"

"The whole school is invited." She replies. "Her parents are gone for the weekend I guess. She wanted to throw something big."

I look at my floor length mirror that sits directly in front of my bed, analyzing the way my frizzy hair is going in a bunch of different directions. I look like a loner for sure. I look like someone that stays in bed and watches Netflix all day.

For once I want to be a different person. I want to be the Maddie that's outgoing. The Maddie that can be fun. Before I cared so much about college that it made my head spin. The Maddie before everyone got popular and I started to compare myself. The me I used to know.

"Okay." I agree, and Maya looks at me in disbelief.

"Seriously?" She asks. "I thought I was going to have to talk you into this. That was way easier than expected."

I'm not going to fight her on it. I'm going to look different. I'm going to prove to everyone that I'm not some goody-two-shoes.

I'm Maddie.

And I'm fvcking amazing.

Cameron:

After my fifth shot I'm beginning to feel good. Really good.

Ethan and I are busy trying to win a game of beer pong, and after each shot I take, my aim becomes a little worse. It's hot as hell in here, the leather jacket beginning to stick to my skin.

I see Sadie in the corner leaning against the wall, her leather pants so tight that you can basically see everything. I'll definitely be taking her up on round two tonight. That's for sure.

"Oh, shit. Here." Ethan passes me the blunt. "Sorry. I'm so high I didn't even realize I was holding it."

Taking a long drag, I shrug and let out a laugh. "I'm so high I didn't even realize you had it."

A random rap song is blaring through the speakers, and it's so crowded that you can hardly move in here. Between the smoke, the girls and the liquor I can hardly keep my senses in check.

"Shots for you both." Kelsey passes us some, her fingers dragging down my chest before bringing her lips to my ear. "I'm really glad you came tonight."

"Oh yeah?" I ask, wrapping my fingers into her belt loop. "How glad?"

She smiles, her dimples coming alive on her tan cheeks. "Meet me in my room in five. Upstairs. Third door on the left."

I watch her go, watching her ass as she moves it side to side on purpose. Sadie is giving me a death glare from across the room now, but it doesn't phase me. I don't give a fuck. She knew who she was getting involved with when she fvcked me. I never stay on one girl for too long.

"What the fvck?"

I snap out of my thoughts to see Ethan's face red with anger, his hands balled up into fists at his sides. He's looking across the room, and I'm unsure of what he's looking at until I finally see it.

Maddie.

Maddie Davis.

There's no way in hell she's here. At a party? With alcohol?

She's downing a shot around a random group of guys, Maya right at her side, and when she turns around to celebrate I feel my dick instantly respond.

She's got a black little mini skirt on that's hardly covering her ass, a red lace bodysuit tucked in that make her tits fully on display to me.

Her curly blonde hair is pulled up into a gelled ponytail, and she's straightened it, and her makeup is done heavy, fake eyelashes and red lipstick.

I don't have the words.

I can't find them.

My mouth dries out, and all I want to do is be anywhere but at Ethan's side right now.

"I'm going to fvcking kill her." He seethes, slamming his beer down on the table before he makes his way over towards her.

I'm trailing quickly behind him, and when we reach them Ethan grips Maddie by the wrist, pulling her towards him.

"What are you wearing?" He hisses through gritted teeth. "What the hell are you even doing here?"

"I'm... drinking!" She giggles, and my dick gets hard.

Fvck. Not now.

She's so innocent.

So pure.

So fucking hot.

"Since when do you party?" He asks irritatingly. "You're not staying here. Especially dressed like that. I'm taking you the hell home."

"Oh, come on, Ethan." Maya rolls her eyes and places her hand on his arm. She knows exactly what she's doing. "Just let her have some fun, okay? Just this once." 7

Ethan's eyes grow dark at Maya's hand placement, and after a few seconds he lets out an irritated sigh, taking advantage of his sister being drunk so that he can place his hand on Maya's hip.

Maya bites her lip, clearly affected by what he's doing.

Looks like she's into him too?

"Fine." He smiles devilishly. "Just watch her, okay?"

"Where else would I be?" She challenges, making his eyes grow dark again.

"Wouldn't you like to know?" He smartly responds.

I grin.

I taught him well.

Maddie takes another shot, and I see two guys to the left of her check out her tits. Not like I haven't done the same thing tonight, but still. A part of me is protective over her, and she doesn't need a couple of pricks to ruin a night that she's finally not being a square.

"I'll be right back." Ethan mutters, and I follow his gaze to Jennifer, who is currently waiting by the staircase. "Make sure she doesn't do anything stupid, okay? Give me like ten minutes. I'll make it quick."

"Will do." I give him a two finger salute as he disappears into the crowd, and when I turn back around I see that Maya has disappeared too.

What the hell?

"I love this song." Maddie squeals as Drake blares through the speaker, moving her hips side to side as she begins to dance.

Ethan isn't around, so I selfishly let my eyes rake up and down her body, watching out of pure enjoyment as she rolls her hips to the beat, her ass looking finer than it ever has.

I picture my lips all over it. How she would feel if I bit it gently, easing the sting with my tongue.

"Where did Maya go?" She asks and looks around her.

"I have no idea." I reply honestly. "Is my company not enough?"

"Hardly." She scoffs, and my dick twitches again in my pants. It's not often that a girl is so feisty with me. I'm beginning to like it.

"Is that so?" I lean back against the wall to continue to watch her as she dances, drinking all of her body in.

I want those tits in my mouth.

I want to suck on those beautiful nipples.

I want to make her scream my name again and again.

"Yes." She says confidently, or tries to until her eyes lock with mine. She must notice the way I'm looking at her because she clears her throat, stumbling slightly in those heels she's wearing.

I always knew she had legs for days. When I went with them on their annual family vacation to Myrtle Beach right before my freshmen year of high school, and Maddie wore a swimsuit for the first time in front of me. They seemed to run for miles. It was one of the first times I remember seeing her in a different light. 3

The thing is, Maddie is all dressed up when she doesn't need to be. She's a girl that has natural beauty. I am, however, very pleased that she decided to drink tonight. I'm glad she's coming over to the wild side because she needs it. She's way too uptight.

I'd like to loosen her right up.

Mark- another member of the football team-approaches her side, and I start to wonder why he felt like he had the balls to talk to her when I'm right here, but then I remember that she's Ethan's little sister. Everyone knows I obviously wouldn't hit on her. I couldn't.

"You look amazing." He tells her, and her eyes become a lighter shade of blue.

You do. I agree with him, pissed I can't tell her that myself.

They go into conversation about her interests, all of which I already know. I know her like the back of my hand. Well, at least I used to.

She hasn't changed much. Her favorite artist is, of course, Drake. That's been the same for years. I know her favorite food is still pizza, because every time I come over there I see frozen ones stacked up in the freezer.

"Listen," he tells her, and I narrow my eyes when his hand goes onto her elbow. "I'm having this after party at my house, and I'd love if you could make it. I could drive you?"

She's about to say something, but I push myself off of the wall I'm leaning on and walk to her side. "She can't." I say quickly, and Mark looks at me questionably.

"Because...?" He trails off.

I fight the urge to punch him in the face.

"Because Ethan will kick your ass, bro. I suggest you keep it moving."

He still has his hand on her elbow, and Maddie rolls her eyes at how childish we're being. "I'm fine." She groans, stumbling again. "I can make my own decisions."

"So you'll go?" Mark asks.

"Mads." I warn. "Don't."

"Since when the actual fuck do you care?" She blurts out. "We haven't been close for years, Cam. Now you suddenly want to act nice?"

She's got a point, and the liquor seems to be spilling out how she actually feels. I did stop talking to her once I got into high school, but it didn't have anything to do with her. I got wrapped up in sports, and the girls...

"You're right." I tell her, which catches her off guard. She probably expected me to be an asshole, but in order for her to not make this stupidly rash decision to go with Mark, I need to say whatever she needs me to say. Otherwise Ethan will definitely kick my ass if she leaves with him.

"I'm right?" She repeats.

I nod, watching Mark let out a frustrated sigh.

"If you want to come, just meet me at the mustang parked out front. I'll wait for five minutes before I head out."

Sending me a look that could kill, he roughly hits my shoulder as he passes by, but my eyes don't leave Maddie's. I could care less about how Mark feels right now.

The music is still blaring loudly. I can hardly hear anything, but when she stumbles again she grips onto my arms for support. My body is on fire from her touch.

She peeks up at me through her eyelashes, seeming embarrassed that she had tripped again.

Good god she's hot.

The liquor is coursing through me, and I have to keep reminding myself to not make a move. This is Maddie for crying out loud.

My dick is outweighing my brain though, and my eyes move down to glance at her tits before they slowly move back up to her collarbone, to her jawline, her lips, and then her eyes again.

And oh, what a look it is she's giving me.

Lust, want, desire, all wrapped up into one. Her sky blue eyes have gone as deep as the ocean, and it takes everything I have to pull away from her.

I may not want to, but I have to.

"Thanks for staying." Ethan joins us once more, and I've never been more thankful for an interruption. "Kelsey asked me on my way down if you were still going upstairs?"

Oh, shit. Kelsey.

That's exactly what I need to get my mind off of whatever the hell just happened between Maddie and I.

"Perfect." I smirk, the same asshole facade coming back into play. "I'll leave you two to it then."

Maddie's eyes drop to the floor, and I wonder if she's jealous. She'd never say if she was or not. That's more of a Maya thing than her. She always keeps her emotions to herself. Except when she drinks. I something new about her tonight.

Heading up the stairs two at a time, I find Kelsey's door and am greeted to her slender body sprawled out across her comforter in just a pink lace thong.

"What took you so long?" She giggles, and I can't seem to get over there fast enough.

I take the condom out of my back pocket, my dick already hard and throbbing from Maddie. This one's going to be quick.

Flipping Kelsey onto her stomach, I crawl on top of her and chuckle lowly into her ear. "I have no idea, sweetheart..."

TBC