"Dylan, please!" Abby groaned on the couch beside me, "You have the entire thanksgiving long weekend to study for this midterm. Please come with me! Please!"

I looked over at my dark-haired friend and let out a long, dramatic sigh, more for effect than anything else, "Fine. Give me five minutes to finish this question."

Abby sprang to her feet, jumping up and down as she clapped her hands with a broad grin slapped across her face, "I'll go pick out your outfit!"

As she ran off to my room, I turned back to my work. Going to a party tonight wouldn't hurt, I knew that much. I especially knew Abby didn't want to go alone, and her constant begging was more about that than actually caring if I attended. I didn't mind. I would show up, wait for her to find the guy she was dying to see, and then make a swift escape. However, the thought of going out tonight formed a twist in my stomach, which only seemed to grow the more I attempted to shake the feeling.

I closed my notebook and placed it on the coffee table before getting up from the couch. Walking into the kitchen, I grabbed two glasses from the cupboard and filled them with wine from the fridge. Maybe a drink would help settle the unknown nerves brewing inside. I let out a deep breath, taking a sip from one of the glasses as I walked into my room. Abby had already begun digging her way through my closet, sporting a top of mine she had seemed to find for herself. I placed her drink on the desk and sat on my bed, waiting for her to find something, taking another sip from my cup.

"Here." She held up a dress. "Put this on, and I'll even let you wear your sneakers."

Letting out a laugh, I rolled my eyes as I snatched the fabric from her. "Thanks, mom," I said sarcastically as she turned to the vanity to apply some makeup.

Undressing from my current attire of sweatpants and an old sweater, I slipped myself into the black dress. It was short with thin straps and clung to my body. It wasn't an outfit I was uncomfortable with wearing. In fact, I quite liked it. However, the clothes I previously had on which were now on the floor were still much more desirable.

"Perfect," Abby said in approval as she looked over at me.

Reaching for my arm, she pulled me over to the vanity, and pushed me down into the chair. As she applied my makeup, I listened to her talk about Jake. The two of them were too stubborn to admit their true feelings to each other. But it was clear to see. She liked him, he liked her. Was it so hard for them to just admit it to one another and finally call each other boyfriend and girlfriend? Apparently, it was. It wasn't, however, for everyone else around them, who called them as such.

"Is Hunter going tonight?" she asked, snapping me out of my thoughts.

I shrugged my shoulders. "I'm not sure."

"You're not... sure?" Her eyes flashed to mine in the reflection of the mirror, her eyebrows scrunching together ever so slightly.

"We've only been out a few times. It's not like I need to know his whereabouts all the time," I said with a light laugh.

Abby nodded, clearly not impressed with my answer.

"Seriously, Abby." I sighed, leaning forward to look over her work in the mirror. "I've been busy with school. I haven't really reached out."

Abby nodded her head again, with what I could tell was a forced smile. "So have you guys... like... done it?"

"Done it?" I repeated, rolling my eyes, "Are we in middle school?" I couldn't help but laugh, "But to answer your question, no, we haven't."

"He hasn't tried?"

I shook my head. "No, he hasn't even been inside my apartment."

Abby had a curious look on her face. "Weird," she mumbled.

I decided against questioning what she meant, not wanting to hear something that would leave me with regret. After all, Hunter said people like Abby didn't know him, and I chose to believe his word.

After letting Abby add some more touches to my face and loosely curl my hair, she finally decided she approved of her finished product. I gauged both of us needed some liquid courage tonight due to the speed at which we had finished our first drink. While I knew Abby was worried about seeing Jake, I was still struggling to place where the cause of my worrying was coming from.

Abby declared we were finally "fashionably late," and the two of us left my apartment and into a cab. I suddenly forgot about the nervous feeling I previously had as the car stopped outside the frat house. I took Abby's hand as we entered, the mass crowd of people making it difficult to clearly maneuver through. The music bleared loud throughout, the walls appearing to vibrate along to the beat.

"Drink?" Abby's voice shouted over the music.

Sensing my answer before I had a chance to respond, I was led towards the kitchen.

"Finally!" Rebecca's voice yelled as she walked over, pulling us both into a hug. The girl positioned herself in-between the two of us, swinging her arms over our shoulders as she led us towards the rest of our friend group.

"How the hell did you get her out tonight?" Evan asked Abby, pointing a finger in my direction.

"Oh, I'm very persuasive." Abby wiggled her eyebrows as she began to fill two cups with liquid.

I rolled my eyes at her response. "More like she doesn't quit until she gets what she wants."

Evan let out a laugh. "Yeah, that sounds more like it."

I took a sip from the plastic cup Abby had handed me as the group dove into a topic of conversation. Evan, who happened to be a part of the fraternity that was throwing the party, began to tease Abby about Jake. I continued to sip my drink, watching the exchange between the two with amusement.

"So, you gonna go find your boyfriend now, or what?"

"Shut up, asshole," Abby snapped, "We're not boyfriend and girlfriend."

Everyone around rolled their eyes in response. Yes, you are, I wanted to scream. I bit my tongue instead, not wanting to ruin my perfectly thought-out plan for escaping. If I questioned her about the relationship status, who would know how long I would have to wait until Abby would go find her non-boyfriend Jake.

Evan put his hands up in defence. "Alright, alright, calm down. He is in the living room, just saying."

Abby shot him a look from her narrowed eyes as she downed her drink. Her hand grasped hold of mine, tugging me along, as we trekked off towards Jake's direction. I didn't mind the idea of being the third wheel, standing awkwardly by as the two flirted with each other. Mentally, I had already accepted to be Abby's moral support system for the night before we had set out.

I did my best to keep a firm hold on Abby bumping into countless drunk bodies on our journey. Abby abruptly stopped, causing my body to almost crash into her backside.

"Uh," Abby turned to face me, her eyes wide, "Let's go back! I don't see him!"

"How can you see anyone in this crowd?" I asked with a furrowed brow.

"I just can!" Her voice quickly exclaimed.

The reaction I was getting from her confused me and simultaneously sparked my curiosity. I stepped in front of Abby, catching sight of what she was trying to shield from me. Instantly, I saw what caused her to become so quickly panicked.

Hunter.

And he wasn't alone.

Hunter sat on the couch, a blonde female companion pressed up against his side. Her leg dangled over his, and his hand rested on her upper thigh. I watched as she leaned in close, whispering something in his ear. He leaned slightly back, keeping a close distance between the two. A smirk crossed his lips, I could see an eyebrow raised, clearly amused by whatever she had said.

"Dylan, come on." Abby tugged on my arm.

I didn't move. My feet felt bolted to the sticky, beer covered floor as I continued to watch, trying to figure out the thoughts rushing through my head.

"Dylan!" Her voice shouted this time, loud enough to catch the attention of a few people around us.

Hunter turned his head, his eyes catching mine. Just as he quickly moved the girl off of him and stood, I felt my body finally give in to Abby's pull, allowing her to drag me away.

"Asshole!" Abby's voice shouted once again, "Fucking asshole!"

Abby briefly stopped in the doorway of the kitchen, waving over Rebecca and Evan. I assumed Abby's expression told them something was wrong as they hurried over.

But was it? Was something wrong? Something in my head wasn't allowing me to decide.

The four of us made our way towards the door and out onto the front lawn. Abby continued to shout curse words as Evan turned his attention to me, asking what had happened. I stayed quiet, still unable to process my emotions.

"Don't worry, love." Abby faced me as we stood at the end of the front lawn. "We'll go to a different party. Find you a hotter guy! A way hotter guy!"

I gave her a weak smile. "It's fine," I softly spoke.

"Hell no, it's not! We are finding you-"

"Dylan!" A familiar voice from behind shouted.

I looked over my shoulder, seeing Hunter hurrying himself over.

"Oh no, you don't, dickhead!" Abby lunged forward. Evan grabbed hold of her before she was able to take more than one step. "Don't go near her, you asshole!"

"Abby. Stop," I told her, placing my hand on her arm in an attempt to calm the raging girl down.

Hunter hesitated before speaking. "Can we talk? Please?"

I quickly glanced at him, giving him a short nod before I looked back at Abby."Just give us a minute," I told her quietly.

I began walking away from my friends, thankful that Evan still had a hold on Abby.

"Sorry," I mumbled to him once we were far enough away for anyone else to hear, "She's a little protective."

"I get it," Hunter nodded, briefly pausing before he spoke again, "Dylan..." his voice slowly continued, "What you saw in there isn't what you think. I wasn't going to do anything."

My eyes glanced down at my shoes. "It's fine, Hunter. You don't have to explain anything."

"Dylan really-"

"It's fine," I firmly repeated, looking back up to him, "You can do what you want."

Hunter stepped forward, his hands moving to cup my face, "I don't want her. I promise. She's just an old..." His voice trailed off, trying to find the right word.

Clearly, he found difficulty in finding another way of saying girl I used to have sex with.

"I said it's fine." I moved his hands from my face."We are not together. You can do what you want."

"Dylan?" I heard Rebecca call out. I looked over my shoulder, seeing the three of them standing beside a cab.

I turned to walk in their direction without another word. Before I could take more than one step away, Hunter reached for my arm, turning my body to face him. I watched as his eyes fixated on me as if he was trying to read my expression.

"Why aren't you upset?" He questioned, the confusion in his tone was matched by his expression.

"What do you mean?"

"Why aren't you upset?" He repeated, "Most girls would be upset if they say that. You know, look like they're about to cry and shit."

I shrugged my shoulders, "Why would I cry over you?" 

2019; yikes! this is only part 1 of the flash back. part 2 will continue from this same moment in time (i hope that made sense lol) and things may or may not end up worse for Dylan & Hunter...

Q1: do you think hunter would have slept with the girl if he hadn't seen Dylan? (i know what would have happened (mwahah) but i wanna know what you guys think) 

Q2: what do you think happens in part 2?

Q3: WHY WOULD DYLAN NOT CRY OVER HUNTER? (lol)

anyhoodle, i hope y'all enjoyed part 1 of the flashback. part 2 will be posted soon xo :)