It's Sunday and Colton hasn't called back. I'm starting to lose hope, not that there was much to begin with.

Things with Bryce are fine, almost good even. He's been thoughtful and he's taking things slow. He hasn't tried to kiss me yet, and I don't know what it's going to feel like when he finally does because everything else has felt slightly strange.

I keep thinking about how Colton cupped my face in his hands and kissed me softly. I keep trying to remember what he felt like, but it's like he slips a little bit farther out of reach with each day that passes by.

I'm starting to truly realize what it means. Colton is not going to have a relationship with me, and even though it feels strange to be with Bryce, there's no sense in saying goodbye to our relationship yet.

"Hey," Rachel says. I look up from where I'm sitting. I'm just finishing my shift at Brooke's family's restaurant.

"Hey," I say, staring warily at her.

"I don't really care, but are you and Colton like a thing?" she asks, biting her lip.

"No." I sigh. "We're not together."

"But you were?" Rachel asks. "Or you cared for him?"

"Yeah," I tell her. Her demeanor seems a little bit softer and less bitchy.

"Look," she says, "I know I've been a bitch, but I just wanted to warn you."

I raise my eyebrows. "About Colton?"

She nods. "Yeah." Rachel sighs, and her eyebrows furrow slightly. "Something changed with him a little while ago. Like he got distant and started acting like an asshole."

I frown. I'm not really sure where she's going with this, but it's still interesting. "So, you broke up with him?"

"No," Rachel tells me. "He wouldn't stop hiding shit from me. And I kept trying to talk to him."

"Okay?" I say. "This isn't really going anywhere."

Rachel sighs. "He fucking left one day, like he was just suddenly gone with a duffel bag's worth of stuff. It fucking hurt. I just wanted to warn you."

I almost smile. "You're a few days too late," I tell her. "He already did that."

"I'm sorry," she says, touching my arm lightly. "Don't spend time on him. Move the fuck on. He's not coming back. That's what I wish someone would have told me."

I don't say anything for a minute. I feel my face reddening as I realize what this means. I feel so fucking naive. Colton did the same thing to Rachel. He could have been playing me all along, and I had no fucking clue.

"Thank you," I tell Rachel as I stand up. I feel anger building up like a slow burn. I grab my stuff quickly and walk outside of the restaurant without saying anything to Brooke. I grab my phone and dial Colton's number aggressively.

"Colton, You fucking asshole," I tell the voicemail. "You stupid prick motherfucker. You left Rachel just like you fucking left me. Did you even care? Or was it all some shit show? Were you just playing me for some reason? God, you're such a coward. And you won't even call me. Fuck you."

I end the voicemail and my hands are shaking slightly. Deep down, I know that Rachel's not lying.

"Hey," Brooke says. I turn around and look at her. "Are you okay? Tasha told me about what happened."

I sigh. "Rachel just told me that Colton did the same exact fucking thing to her," I tell Brooke. "I feel so stupid."

"I'm sorry," Brooke says. "How are things with Bryce?"

"Fine," I say. "I feel guilty."

She shrugs. "You guys have been together for a long time. It was bound to happen at some point."

"Yeah." I feel my face soften. "I fucking miss him, though."

"I know, girl," Brooke says. And we both know I'm not talking about Bryce. "If you need a distraction, I'm having a party tonight. It's gonna be lit."

I grin. "School starts tomorrow, you know."

Brooke grins as she shrugs. "I know."

********************************

"Time to get lit!" Tasha yells as she throws back another shot. It's one in the morning and Brooke's party is raging.  Music is blaring so loud it's shaking the walls. "Here! You need one too!"

I know I shouldn't, but I grin and take a shot. I'm only kind of drunk, but I just want to fucking forget. I look around. The lights are dim and everyone is either dancing, making out or drinking.

"Another round, bitch!" Tasha yells and she hands me another shot.

I take it and grin. "This is my last one!"

"If you say so," Tasha says.

Brooke stumbles over to where we are with a guy draped around her kissing her neck. "You guys having fun?" she asks.

"What? Yeah!" Tasha yells. It's so loud. It almost feels like I'm back at a high school party, which makes me smile. Brooke grins and then walks away. Tasha nudges me. "How are you?"

"I'm okay," I tell her. "I just wish I could fucking forget."

"Me too," she says. "Majeste hasn't woken up yet."

"Oh, fuck. Really?" I ask. She nods. "Shit. I'm sorry."

"I'm sorry Colton was a prick," she says. She looks away from me and her eyes focus on something. "Hey! Isn't that you boy?"

My heart stops for a second, thinking that it's Colton. I follow her gaze and my eyes land on Bryce. "Oh, yeah. I guess. I should go talk to him," I tell her. I take another shot to try and numb the feeling of disappointment in my stomach.

Bryce smiles when he sees me. "Hey!"

"Hey!" I say.

"It's really loud in here!" he yells over the music.

"Yeah." I feel the booze start to warm my stomach and I smile as I look at Bryce. "Why'd you come?" I ask him.

"You invited me," Bryce says.

I grin. "Oh! Right." Someone pushes past me and I stumble into Bryce's chest. I feel his hands on my waist and I look up at him. It feels like time stops for a second. 

"I wanted to talk to you about something," Bryce says and I blink.

"Okay. We should find a quiet room," I say. Bryce nods I start stumbling around slightly, trying to find a room. I find the staircase and lead Bryce upstairs. The first room I check has two people going at it. I shut the door. The next door is a small bathroom.

"This works," Bryce says. I nod as I lean back against the sink.

"What's up?" I ask. It's a lot easier to hear in the bathroom. The music is muffled.

"Where did you get that hickey from?" he asks. I feel the color drain from my face as my hand flies to my neck.

"What the fuck?" I mutter as I turn around. My neck looks clear, but maybe I'm just drunk.

"I'm kidding," Byrce says as he grins. "Sorry. That was a bad joke."

"You're so funny, asshole." I look at him. "What did you really want to ask me about?"

"I just wanted to make sure that you were okay when I was gone," Bryce tells me. "That you weren't too lonely or anything."

Colton flashes across my mind. I definitely was not lonely. I look at Bryce and guilt floods over me. Fuck.

"I was..." I trail off, trying to find something to say. I sigh. "I'm just happy you're here right now."

I wish it didn't feel like such a lie.

Someone knocks on the door. "Occupied!" I yell.

"Man, come on. I gotta piss," the person says on the other side of the door.

"Fuck off!" I yell. The knocking stops and I look at Bryce. He's smiling.

"It kind of feels like we're back in high school," he tells me.

I shrug. "Yeah."

Bryce puts his hands on my hips as he kisses me. I freeze for a second. I haven't been kissed by Bryce for a long time. And my lips can remember is what Colton felt like. I place my hands lightly on Bryce's chest and close my eyes as I kiss him back.

His hands tighten on my waist as his mouth closes over mine. It fees...I don't know, It doesn't feel bad. But it doesn't feel right. Bryce is kissing me aggressively, which I used to like but now all I want is the slow way that Colton kissed me.

I try to shake Colton off. I wrap my arms around Bryce's shoulders and move my hips closer to his. He trails his hands down my back.

There's another loud knock on the door and Bryce pulls away. "We should probably go," he tells me. I nod as I straighten my shirt and smooth down my hair.

Fuck, I might regret this when I'm sober.