CADEN

"You didn't get our cell phone numbers or at least our names; we can be fun." I can't tell who said that as I stride ahead, the two tails following behind me like some magnet.

"I am Brenda," one said from behind. Honestly, I can't tell them apart since I haven't spared them another look after I stepped down the staircase, fully dressed, holding up nothing but full of disgust for both of them.

Sorry, my bad, but it usually happens. At least the result is clear: Mad has claimed me, and I fucking hate the bitch for it.

I continue to push through the drunk crowd dancing on the loud floor, seeking freedom from both girls and the party entirely.

I desperately need quiet and peace. I have frustrations to settle, not some two random girls expecting happily ever after from me.

"And I am Madison; you can call me Maddy," someone among the girls proclaimed.

Okay, that got my attention. I spin around furiously.

"What the fuck?" I partially yelled, startling quite a few people around.

"What?" The girls were suddenly pale, frightened to the max from my harsh outburst.

My eyes briefly took in the environment. This isn't me.

I heave a sigh and shake my head.

Don't lose it here. Not at a party.

I swallow and step back. "I need to go."

"But you didn't..." The tall one began, but I took off without having to hear what she has to say.

I snatch a free bottle of beer from the table and shrug off some girls trying their luck.

Give me a break.

Tipsy, I stumble my way to the exit of the building, desperate for fresh air after having four girls in the last ninety minutes, and more because of having a threesome involving a girl named Madison for fucking fate's sake.

Honestly, it's not any better out here than inside; there are half-naked girls having it their way with each other on the sofa on the porch, just so they could please the drunk boys cheering for them.

By the terrace, a few people are hanging around, either talking and smoking or making out.

Empty bottles and used plastic cups are strewn about on the lawn.

Truthfully, the only difference between here and back inside is the chilling evening breeze. I can breathe properly, but my head is spinning; it's like I am about to pass out.

I have diverse anger right now.

First, I just screwed some whore called Mad. Meanwhile, the bitch back home has captured me in some insane galaxy where she's all I see, all I hear, and all I want.

A slap on my shoulder startles me, dizzy. I twirl to find a face similar to Paxton's, along with Jake and Jordan, the fraternity boys I've been dodging for no particular reason. Beside them are what look like four drunk girls giggling like babies, that's if my vision isn't messing with me. The giggles of the girls begin to sound like a lullaby in my head.

Damn! Screw me.

"Hey, man..."

***

"Good morning, handsome." I wake up to Paxton's voice and face, his hand gently slapping my cheekbone. It slightly hurts.

Through narrowed eyes, I mumble, "Hey. What's the time? Ouch..."

The sun pouring in is brutal, the sound of the TV also, and even my voice is harsh, alerting every organ in my head. I have to clench my eyes closed.

I wish I could go back to sleep.

"Afternoon," he answers, and I cringe at the intensity of his tone.

"Shit, what's wrong with my temples?" I complain, rubbing the spots with my thumbs.

"It's split again," Paxton retorts, scrunching his face at me when my eyes reopen.

"What?" I breathe. My brain is very aware of every small move or sound. It's like I'm going crazy. Bro, hangover sucks. "How come?" I question, helping myself seated on the living room couch.

A frown suddenly replaces his expression, and he swallows, dropping his eyes to the end table situated ahead of him. "Y-you got all irritated and insisted on driving. You had too much to drink last night... I-I tried, bro, but you wouldn't listen. You grabbed your key and drove away, running over two..." He pauses and inhales, bringing his regretful eyes on me before he concludes, "Two teenage girls from school. I'm sorry, Caden."

My eyes bulge out, my heart pounding at an abnormal rate. I'm positive my breathing is audible over the loud television playing at the side of the living room.

Shit.

"What?"

"I am so sorry." He can't look at me anymore.

With a gaping mouth, my eyes find a familiar face staring back at me. She is sitting across the room, looking completely miserable in an oversized sweatshirt.

"What about my car?" I ask the familiar-faced girl.

"You're a dick," the girl rumbles out an uncontrolled laugh. Again, I cringe just as she does.

Oh, now I know where I know her from, last night. Alongside Paxton on the lawn.

"Told you he is unpredictable," Paxton confirms to the girl, sounding more relieved.

He returns his eyes to me, scoffing, he shakes his head. "Seriously, dude? Have a heart and an emotion, at least." He rolls his eyes.

When my response is a visible wince, the girl begins, "For your information, you didn't run over anyone."

Ha! Better, I can't have my car ruined after all.

"You two got into a fight."

She pauses and motions to Paxton and me with her tiny finger before she proceeds, "Because I and your stepsister share the same name." She winces, she must be hungover too.

"In the end, you passed out helplessly on the lawn, and Paxton had to get you to the car." She finishes and folds her legs on the armchair.

Oh...

And then the flashbacks from the lawn came playing in colored images.

I remember a girl that looks like the very one across Paxton's room, smiling at me last night. "Hey, handsome." She smirks from Paxton's arm back at the frat house lawn. She herself looked mildly drunk.

***

Paxton glares down at her and warns, "Hey you, I wouldn't have you eyeing anyone."

While the other three girls alongside the rest of the frat boys giggle, the girl snuggled in Paxton's arm pouts, "I am sorry, he just looks so good even with purple bruises. Who looks good with bruises?" She shrugs lazily.

Intoxicated myself, I smirk at Paxton.

His nose flares up, and he requests for the girl to go back to the party.

Sometimes it's fun to acquire the eyes of every girl on a certain occasion; it pisses the boys off. "To do what?" She protests.

"Dance, anything." Paxton shoots me a glare while I jerk my head back and gulp down more beer into my system.

He looks absolutely pissed. I didn't even signal shit, why miffed already?

"Are you scared of something? Who is she?" I question along with a smug.

Paxton briefly glared at me again but ignored it, rather he continued blabbering to his rebelling party partner. "But I don't want to dance," she objects.

"What could I possibly be scared of?" Oh, he answered my question with another question. His attention was particularly on the girl, trying to hold her still. I'm sure to avoid any chance of her losing it and jumping on me.

"I don't know, you tell me." My gaze intense, I smirk and bring the bottle to my lips.

"I wanna go home." She whines, and I chuckle, not sure why.

"Madison!" He sternly warns.

Oh, please, not again.

"What the actual fuck?" I blurt at Paxton.

"What?" He looks unconcerned, like he didn't just mention the name I'm trying to avoid. I mean, it's not like he knows what happened between me and Mad, or I'm willing to share it with him.

But still, he should have some human feeling in him and at least be a friend.

Bro, I'm complicated.

"You've got to be kidding me." I huff and look away.

He grabs my arm and makes me face him, his brows creased. "Why?" he inquires.

"She can't possibly have that name." I exasperatedly laugh and yank my hand away, startling the rest of the girls.

"Chill, dude, there's a lot of girls like your sister out here." Jordan laughs, kissing some girl in minimal clothing.

Excuse you!

A lot like my sister? What does that supposed to mean?

Suddenly my gaze is a blazing fire, piercing right through him. "What the hell did you say?" I begin to pry.

He retreats, his wide eyes filled with fear. He should know better than to involve my sister in his situation. "I mean, there are a lot of girls with similar names." He breathes and swallows.

"My sister isn't some similar girl," I exclaim in his face, my eyes wild, my fist aching to punch his ugly face.

"Okay!" He nods in agreement.

"Caden!" It sounds like Paxton; his hand comes to my shoulder and pats my muscle. "Chill, bro."

The fuck?

I turn in his direction, shrugging off his hold.

"Do not fucking tell me to chill. Don't you ever compare Madison with girls like this?" My eyes briefly signal the girl in his arm.

He exhales a laugh, though I wouldn't call it a laugh exactly, given the sudden fury in his eye. "Yo! You! Hold it right there." He holds out his palm between us.

"Or else?" I curl my lip, challenging him.

He releases the girl and steps closer, facing me directly.
"I might fit your head in your asshole."

The surroundings are quiet; I'm convinced every eye is on us.

"What's your problem?" I question the dude in front of me.

Paxton isn't some guy to go getting all tempered for some random girl at a party. He used to not give a shit.

What the fuck happened to him?

"When addressing the others, do not include my girl. Go deal with your shitty sister and leave Madison out of..."

Whoa...

He doesn't finish his sentence before my fist collides with his jaw.

***

Shit!

I got my ass beaten up. Yes, I'm inebriated, must be powerless.

I look up at Paxton, his brows raised at me. He's standing on the other side of his living room.

"Who is she?" I gesture to the petite brunette resting on the armchair, a small smile on her lips.

"Madison. A very good friend," he answers, somehow uneasy.

For a while, I just investigate his composure, and he doesn't look honest. "Really?" I assert.

"Yup." He responds deliberately.

I take a deep breath, brushing back the locks of hair from my face. "Well, it is so overwhelming."

"I know. You broke my nose. So I understand." Paxton quips, trying to stifle a smile.

Yes, it's apparent, his face looks messed up.

Intoxicated, I still managed to throw a punch.

I sigh a smile and apologize; "Sorry about your nose."

He chuckles and grimaces, his lips curling up; "I'm afraid you would take that back when you look in the mirror."

Well, once again.

How great, in the span of two days, I got into a fight twice, oh... and also kissed my sister twice.

"How bad?" I inquire.

"Not much, you wear bruises very well, you know?" The brunette girl from the armchair says.

I almost laugh, not because of the typical comment I normally get, but because of Paxton's reaction when he blurts; "Seriously?" at her.

"Even you too." Her tone is instantly deceivingly soft.

It grosses me out.

"What are you two? Romeo and Juliet?" I scrunch my nose at them. "You do know they die at the end?"

Yes, I have everything against the mythical word 'love'. It's a scam. Dude better not believe in it or he'll end up like Jack, stranded in the middle of the sea, frozen to death, saving the girl he met only a few hours ago.

With a painful smile on his lips, he beams; "Bro, your phone has been going off the whole night. Mind checking it?"

"Can I just know what this is?" I gesture to the two humans before me, pressing purposely to provoke him.

That's because Paxton is more like me, he's not one to just fall in love as the movies have betrayed the youth.

He points his fingers at me, and a warning glare latches onto me. "Mind your responsibility first." He cautions.

Deciding to let it go, for now, I roll my eyes and grab my low battery phone from the couch.

I remember the device ringing all through the night while I screwed different girls at the frat party.

Looking through, I have fourteen missed calls from two unknown numbers and nine from Mad.

What is it with her? She should get used to me staying out all night. I've proven that to her; the other night, wasn't bringing a lady home enough of a description?

I mean, after the past couple of nights, isn't it obvious why I needed to stay away from her? She was pulling me into a cavity I wouldn't be able to break out of, and she was well aware of the consequences.

Clenched teeth and a flared-up nose, I rise from the couch and grab my key.

"You okay to drive?" The worried girl asks.

"I have a little headache, but I can manage."

"I can relate." She returns a soft smile.

Maybe she isn't that bad, but still, she should not share Mad's name.