***

A familiar perfume filled my nose as the girl behind me firmly stood her ground.

I guess this means Millie must've had that chat she promised to have with Brody.

I repressed a sneer before turning to face her. "Where's the fun in that?"

Millie narrowed her eyes at me and intensified her gaze, almost as if she were hoping that that would make me smaller. "He's not an idiot, he won't fall for any of your games."

"Then why do you look so worried?"

Almost immediately after my question, she let out a loud, disbelieving scoff. "You don't know the first thing about respect," she scolded. "Couldn't you go for literally anyone else?"

No - as a matter of fact, I couldn't.

She must've gotten used to my generic vacuous expression by now, I thought. You know, for an alleged player, she sure lets stuff get to her pretty easily - she can't have been in the game for long. Who in their right mind would get herself into something like this?

"That was a question." Millie's tone was sharp and resentful.

Sometimes I get so in my thoughts, I forget people are trying to have a conversation. Especially if it sparks no interest in me whatsoever.

I blinked a couple of times to snap out of my daze. "I'm sorry, your mouth is saying respect but your dress says 5am stripper on a week day."

Millie's jaw practically brushed the ground at my statement.

I allowed myself to utter a small chuckle at her expression. "Look, you should stop trying to stop me from talking to whoever I want to talk to." My voice dropped into a whisper as I spoke the following words. "You're starting to give off possessive vibes."

Rage was visibly escalating inside of her. "I'll tell him about who you are, he'll listen to me." Millie looked around in exasperation. "Where the hell is he, anyway?"

I just stood there, witnessing her adorable anger outburst.

She's desperate.

"By all means, tell away." I was about to turn around but stopped in my tracks to add some salt to the wound. "Oh, and give him a little peck on my behalf," I told her. "That is, if you're feeling in the holiday spirit - I know I am."

"Go. To. Hell."

Millie's phone ringing saved her from having to endure the intense stare-down we had gotten ourselves into, she broke eye contact with me to slip it out of her purse and took the call. "Hello?" Millie's brow crinkled. "I've been looking for you, where the hell are you?"

I watched her from up close, a smirk threatening to form on my lips.

"What do you mean, an emergency?" Millie huffed. "Are you serious?" She questioned before she paused to hear the caller out. "Fine, give me a minute."

Millie came up to me and pointed her index finger in my direction. "This isn't over," she admonished before storming out.

For once, I agreed with her.

This has only just begun.

I scanned the room until my eyes landed on a familiar pair of black ones.

As I made my way over to Jesse, I noticed the way his outfit hugged his body perfectly, which kind of threw me off for a second. He was wearing an untucked, navy blue, linen shirt that fell over some tight, dark jeans. The way he had rolled his sleeves up looked good with the slight bagginess of the shirt itself.

I wasn't expecting him to look like that tonight.

His light brown hair fell to one side with a mild wave, looking as if it had been meticulously styled. This boy could definitely pull this sort of look off when he put in a little effort.

Jesse's eyebrows shot up. "You look- " Jesse's mouth was agape. "Wow."

I rolled my eyes and pushed his chest back playfully. "You look wow yourself."

Jesse flashed a half-grin. "Yeah?"

"Yeah," I assured him. "You don't clean up too terribly."

A chuckle came out of his mouth and he took a sip of his drink. "I'll take that."

A sheepish smile formed on my lips. "Good, because that's all you're getting from me - like ever." I made my way to the table where all the drinks and the punch were.

I heard Jesse snort and felt his presence follow close behind me. "It feels like we haven't spoken in like forever."

"Yeah, well..." I concentrated on pouring myself a glass of punch as I answered. "I'm pretty sure you've had your hands full."

I caught Jesse trying to brushing off a mild blush with a cough, out of the corner of my eye. "Millie can be very insistent."

Yeah, I kind of noticed.

"Plus," he said. "I haven't really known how to talk to you since everything that happened the other night."

My eyebrows arched as I took a sip of punch. "You've had a drink or two already, haven't you?"

Jesse's eyes narrowed. "What gave it away?"

"Usually you would've stuttered about twelve times by now." I uttered a low chuckle at his slight scowl. "And you actually managed to talk to me when I showed up in this." I motioned at my outfit.

Jesse pursed his lips in a flat line but ultimately produced a slightly contained laugh. "The punch is the one to blame for that."

"I figured," I said. "And you're the one making things awkward, I haven't done anything differently."

"Yeah, maybe you're right."

I felt a wave of warm air as two arms suddenly weighed down on both our shoulders.

"Hello, my two favourite humans," Tyler announced, then glanced at me. "Or maybe my one-and-a-half favourite humans."

My eyes almost rolled out of their sockets. "Am I the only one who's not hammered?" My stare hovered over the pair of idiots as I lifted Tyler's arm off my shoulder. "What the hell did you guys put in the punch?"

Tyler didn't bother holding in his cackle. "Fruit mix, vodka and rum. It's pre made," he said. "And who cares? It's a party, let's move it!"

He waddled his way to the space they had created in the living room by moving the couches to the end of the room and began attempting to wiggle his body to the rhythm.

I was a little startled by the carefree laugh coming from the boy to my right as he watched his best friend in amusement. Jesse reciprocated my stare and produced a warm smile that showed off his dimples and I couldn't help but smile back.

"I'm pretty sure I heard someone say the word dance," Liz said as she jokingly grooved her way to where we were. She was grinning wide, but traces of a confused frown clouded her gleeful expression as she gave me a weird look.

"You heard right," I told her and dragged her by the wrist towards the dance floor.

I need a drink, I thought as I took a good chug of punch. Or several.

***

A few hours later, the living room was a sight to behold. This was probably one of the parties where I'd had the most fun in a while. Jesse and I were virtually roaring with laughter in the sideline while we enjoyed the show Liz, Victoria and Tyler were putting up on the dance floor.

"Jade, Jesse," Victoria shouted over all the noise. "Quit being wussies and get your asses over here."

Liz was right, I guess I didn't despise Victoria's company - she wasn't that bad after all. Or maybe this might be the alcohol speaking, who knows.

"Who are you calling a wussy?" I took Jesse's hand and lead him in their direction. "C'mon, Jessica."

We danced and drank for what felt like hours until shit started getting a little out of control.

In that moment I felt hands on my hips while I closed my eyes and moved my body against this boy's, just letting loose to the loud music that blasted through the speakers. The tightening of his grip made me turn around to face him and let out a giggle as I wrapped my hands around his neck.

Then everything happened so fast, even though time seemed to slow down for a second as soon as Jesse's dark gaze met mine. I felt the warmth of his breath tingle on my lips before we both started leaning in.

No.

I fled out of there fast. And when I say fast, I mean fast.

"No." I shook my head anxiously, striding towards the stairs. "Nonononono," I muttered relentlessly on my way up.

I barged into my room and smacked my cheeks a couple times to try to snap out of it, mumbling profanities under my breath.

This can't happen, not now. Not when I'm this close.

"Jade."

And him being there was definitely not helping.

I turned around to see Jesse standing by the door, scratching the back of his head sheepishly. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah," I said. "Yeah, why wouldn't I be?"

"I- I don't know, you kind of left in a hurry back then. I was just checking in."

"Well, I'm real great." I shut my eyes in instant regret.

Real great? I mentally kicked myself, hard. Real smooth, Jade.

"Okay," he said awkwardly. "Is it okay if I come in, or?"

This time I kept my mouth shut and just nodded.

Keep it together, I thought, he's literally doing nothing for you to be acting out like this.

He closed the door behind him and took a few steps into my room but still kept his distance. "I'm sorry if that made you uncomfortable, I probably shouldn't have -"

"You don't need to apologize for anything," I interrupted him. "It takes two to tango, Jessica."

Jesse's frown vanished. "You need to stop calling me Jessica."

Now, this feels more like my comfort zone.

I knitted my eyebrows in confusion, but my smirk hinted otherwise. "And why would I do that?"

Jesse made a pause to think. "Because I'm your friend?"

"Again, why would I do that?"

He just glowered at me.

"Kidding."

Jesse tried to keep a straight face but the subtle upward quirk of his mouth told me he was smothering a laugh. "It's never going to stop, is it?"

I held in a wolfish grin of my own. "Who's that girl?" I quietly sang the melody of the New Girl theme song as I cruised to the edge of my bed. "It's Jess," I concluded just as I plopped down on it.

He hummed softly with a sparkle in his eyes. "I hate that I know exactly where that's from."

He then opened his mouth to speak but shut it back close almost immediately.

A sudden frown clouded my face. "What is it?"

"Can I ask you something bold?"

I hesitated for a second but ultimately gave in. "Go ahead."

"Why play guys?" He came over and settled in beside me.

That was certainly not the question I was expecting.

I let out a small sigh. "Honestly, it's been so long I almost forgot why it started in the first place," I reasoned. "Plus, I am not going to drop the whole daddy issues bomb on you, Jesse. You already have enough of those to deal with."

He went silent.

That was a stupid thing to say, I just made it awkward again.

I curled my lips into a slight smirk in an attempt to lighten things up. "And I kind of save that for my actual victims."

Jesse raised his eyebrows suggestively. "Did you just call me by my real name?"

I glared at him in disapproval. Way to ruin a moment, Jessica.

He pulled a mocking pout. "Are you getting soft on me Cross?"

I jabbed his chest playfully. "Shut up."

Shaking my heels onto the ground, I made myself comfortable by crossing my legs up in front of me.

Thank the lord for black tights.

Jesse's grin lingered on even after he was done cackling at me. He let out a few small chuckles here and there as he settled back down.

"I like drunk Jessica," I teased. "He's fun."

Jesse gasped. "Are you saying sober Jessica is not fun?"

I rolled my eyes. "You don't want me to answer that."

"Well." He brought his legs up and mirrored my posture. "I, for one, like actual human being Jade," he said with a coy smile. "I could get used to her."

He planted his hands on the bed and shifted his weight onto them by slightly dipping backwards.

This bitch.

"Tell anyone and I'll deny it." I tried to make my glare prevail and pressed my lips together to stop a smile from showing up. "I have a reputation to uphold."

I bit my lip as a last resort, but all my efforts were in vain and I ended up caving in. I even allowed myself to let out a giggle when I saw Jesse's expression. "What?"

The next thing I knew, he had leaned in to kiss me.

You know? Alcohol is a funny thing...

Or at least that's what I told myself to justify the fact that I kissed him back.

Ironic, I thought.

I spend my time actively trying to get close to him, failing every time and the second I stop, it backfires.

We locked eyes as he pulled away and I registered the fact that I barely disposed of a few seconds to analyze, assess and evaluate.

This isn't happening right now.

My thoughts started a sword fight inside my head, it felt like my brain was about to burst and I couldn't help but wonder what the hell was going on inside of Jesse's head. I tried to decipher his puzzled expression but my eyes always seemed to end up on his parted lips, as he desperately longed for some air.

Vodka may have made Jesse grow a pair to get him to kiss me but now he was suffering the aftermath. His hands hadn't moved from their former spot, but they gripped rigidly onto the sheets, he was undeniably nervous.

I am so going to regret this...

This time it was me who closed the distance between us both. I'm positive I was no longer myself, I'd let my drunk alter ego take over.

Jesse lifted a hand up to my neck right below my ear and deepened the kiss, his other hand came to a stop against the outer part of my thigh. That was it, I didn't think, I just acted. Without breaking the kiss I got up and leaned towards him, dug my knees into the mattress and flanked him, resting both my hands on his cheeks.

Drunk Jesse is dangerous.

Before I knew it he his shirt was coming off and all I could think about was that I was in deep. This here, was me standing right over the point of no return, and it was way too late for me to turn my ass around.

Oh boy.

***

A/N

ASDFGHJKLÑZXCVBNM,.-1234567ˋW+SHWIEH20"'MD2 ¡DE MEOID0NOIJAJXKJDSKKJKJSAKJJKASJAJA,,JKAJELJLDKWLEO3'D80E BROOOOOOOOO ASEMNENDKW I CAN'T RIGHT NOW.

OH MY GOD IT'S HAPPENING. EVERYBODY STAY CALM, STAY FUCKING CALM. EVRYBODY FUCKING CALM THE FUCK DOWN!!!!!! WHAT'S THE PROCEDURE?!?!!?!?!!?!?!

I can't believe I waited almost 18 chapters for this moment, this feels unreal LMAOOAOAOOAO. And the best part is I have already written the two following chapters which means I KNOW EXACTLY HOW THE AFTERMATH IS GOING TO PLAY OUT.

AND Y'ALL DON'T HAHAHAH.

I'd hate myself rn if I were in your shoes😂😈

Anyways, I thought I'd come back from my exams with a strong blast - and boy did I come through with that, LOL. I HAVEN'T SHIPPED A COUPLE SO HARD IN A WHILE😂😂.

Thanks for reading, I hope you got what you wanted and catch y'all in the next chapter.

PEACE OUT SUCKAS✌️😌😈

***