After school, throngs and throngs of students made their way to the soccer field, filling the lines of bleachers in an orderly manner almost unheard of for students our age.

Everyone had changed into school colours and jerseys to support the team. Addy and I had our t-shirts tied in an attempt to make our oversized jerseys flattering. It seemed to work, because Brad had passed us on the field and gave us an appreciative nod. "Looking very nice, ladies. Am I seeing you at my post-game party?"

"Of course," Addy said, batting her eyes at him while I stayed silent and looked away.

"Leila? Will you be there?" he pressed.

I shrugged. "What's it to you?"

"I'm only asking because I'm sure Lucas will want you to be there," he said.

"Well aren't you a great friend. Thanks for checking for him. We're going to go find seats, try not to let us lose tonight."

I stomped away and Addy followed me. We sat down in silence for a few minutes before she spoke up. "Is he still hitting on you?"

"Addy-"

"I'll take that as a yes, then."

I sighed. "Why are you still hooking up with him? I don't understand. He's a complete piece of shit."

"Do you want my honest, pathetic answer?"

"Yes."

"The fact that someone that hot wants to sleep with me makes me feel good about myself."

"Addy! Oh my god, you're so much hotter than him. You don't need him wanting you as validation."

"I know what I'm getting with him. Don't worry."

"Do you really know, though?"

She opened her mouth to answer, but we were cut off by the whistle marking the start of the game.

We both shut up and let the conversation go, focusing intently on the game. It went by quickly, our team scoring goal after goal and completely annihilating the opponents. In the end, we won 5-0, with Lucas having scored two goals, Jason scoring one, and Brad scoring the last two.

Addy and I ran down to the field right after it ended to congratulate the boys. I ran straight into Lucas's arms and he spun me around, laughing.

"You were amazing today, Lukey! Your goals were insane."

"Thanks, Leil. I was only playing well to impress you."

"You definitely did. Messi who?"

He laughed and let me go, then I felt a hand ruffle my hair.

"Where's my warm reception?" Jason asked.

"You don't get one," I said. "I'm still mad about the pep rally."

"Mrs. Gilmore is fine, Leils. Chill."

I crossed my arms. "I'm never going to forgive you."

"At least you looked hot hitting our elderly principal in the face," he joked.

"One more word and I'll punch you in the face, J."

"Shit, now I'm scared. It's definitely time to get drunk now.'

We started walking towards our cars, but I didn't miss how Lucas pulled Jason aside as we were walking. "No drugs, right?" I heard him say quietly to Jason.

"Of course, Luke. Don't worry about me."

"I'm always worried about you."

"You don't have to."

I heard Lucas sigh. "If you need help tonight, call me. Not Leila, not Addy, okay? Please."

"If you're getting it on with Mel, I am not interrupting."

"I'd rather get interrupted and make sure you're okay, Jason. I mean this."

Addy glanced back at them. "Why are those two lagging behind?" she asked me.

I wanted to shush her so I could keep listening in, but she turned to them and told them to hurry up before I could. They shut up and caught up with us, the conversation dead and gone.

Addy drove us to Brad's house, which was already bustling with partygoers. We all got drinks and headed upstairs to the same stupid VIP section we went to last time.

After saying hi to some of the other soccer team players, we went and sat down on the same couch as the last party and tried to catch up to everyone's level of tipsiness. I was wedged between Lucas and Jason, a quite comfortable position. As we were on our second round of drinks, Brad showed up.

"I knew I'd see you here after all, Leila," he said.

Immediately, I felt both Lucas and Jason stiffen. "I'm not here for you," I muttered, wanting him to go away.

He ignored that and then plopped himself down next to Addy, throwing his arm around her. I watched in disgust as she snuggled into him. I wanted nothing more than to get up and kick him in the balls, but I'd communicated my opinion to Addy. I just hoped she was smart enough to realize that she didn't need Brad.

"Nice game today, Brad," she said. "You've got moves."

"Oh trust me, baby. My best moves are off the field."

"Oh?" she giggled flirtatiously. "I'd like to see them."

They got up and left the area quickly, leaving Lucas, Jason, and I all gagging in our seats.

"I hate that Addy's doing this," Lucas said.

"Me too," Jason said. "I tried talking to her, but to no avail."

"Same here," I said, and we all sighed.

The night went by a lot quicker than last time. Surprisingly, Jason didn't venture off for some hookup or drugs or whatever he usually did, he just stayed glued to my side, and so did Lucas.

I could tell it appeased Lucas that Jason stayed with us. This way we could keep an eye on him and make sure no dumb decisions were made tonight. So far Jason had been on his best behavior, limiting his substance use to alcohol and alcohol only.

Lucas didn't drink, always preferring to stay sober and make sure everyone was alright instead. I knew it was because he had this need to take care of people. There was nothing more important to him than our wellbeing. If he were the one drinking we would have to take care of him for once, and Lucas wouldn't have that.

I joined Jason in drinking, however I took care not to overdo it. My mother had once warned me that alcohol doesn't mix well with Anderson women, and that drinking usually always led to embarassment. I hadn't reached that level just yet, and I wasn't planning on it either.

Throughout the night, more and more people seemed to join us on the couch. Addy and Brad came back, and by then there was a large group around us, all drunk and chatty.

"Let's play drinking games," Tammy suggested.

The group seemed excited by the idea, and everyone settled on Truth or Dare. The rules were that if you didn't answer your question or do your dare, you had to take a shot.

The game got raunchy very quickly, which I guess was expected when you had a group of drunk, hormonal teenagers in one place. It was all fun and games until a girl asked Brad and he chose dare.

"I dare you to kiss whoever you think is the hottest girl here," she said.

A lot of girls straightened themselves up and inconspicuously fixed their hair at the question, undoubtedly hoping Brad would kiss them. Honestly, I was a little scared that he might choose me, but Addy was right there. There was no way even Brad would be stupid enough to do that.

But it turned out that I had underestimated his stupidity, because he got up and walked towards me. My first reaction was to look over at Addy. She had a complete poker face on, and if I hadn't known her better, I probably wouldn't have noticed the sadness in her eyes.

When I looked back at Brad, he had a smirk on his face and he was ready. He wasted no time in trying to lean in, to which I responded by putting my hand on his chest and pushing him away firmly. "Get the fuck away from me," I said. "What's it going to take for you to realize that I don't want you?"

Embarrassment wasn't enough to describe how Brad felt at that moment. A flush of red crept up his neck in anger and he walked back to his seat next to Addy, gave her a peck, and simmered in his anger.

The drama that question caused must have made it a popular question, because Tammy decided to ask Jason right after. This I was curious about, so I looked over at him to watch him make his decision to find him looking at me. A few moments passed as we held eye contact, though it felt like hours. For a moment, I genuinely thought he would kiss me. But then Jason glanced over at Lucas, back at me for a quick second, then back towards Lucas. He grabbed Lucas's face and planted a big kiss on his cheek.

"Who's hotter than the man responsible for our win tonight?" Jason joked.

Lucas rolled his eyes and made a show of wiping Jason's kiss away. It was clear immediately that the mood had been lightened, something you could always count on Jason for.

He took a shot anyway, and the game continued. Once it was close to being my turn to ask, I quietly excused myself from the circle and headed outside. I was very aware of the footsteps behind me, but something told me I shouldn't be worried. Once I was in the backyard, I turned to see that it was Lucas, who came and stood facing me.

"Enjoying yourself?" I asked.

"Some things are making that hard," he said, then reached out and brushed a piece of hair out of my face. I shivered when his fingers made contact with my face, unable to look away from him.

My heart was racing and the alcohol was getting to me, because the words that came out of my mouth were things I never would've said sober.

"If someone had asked you that same question, who would you have kissed?"

If Lucas was surprised by my question he didn't show it. He seemed to consider it, then answered in the answer I both expected and didn't expect. "Mel," he said simply.

I knew that was who he would've kissed, if not out of duty than anything else. Lucas had too much decency to embarass anyone like that, regardless if it was the truth or not.

"Okay," I said. "Is that really who you want?"

Lucas dropped his hand from my hair, and I immediately missed the warmth of it. "Let's not do this, Leila," he said. "We both know the answer to that." And with that, he turned and went back into the mansion.