Everyone wakes up by the loud music blasting through the room, multiple groans erupting one after another.

"What the fuck!" Ashley whines, putting her hands over her ears and I sit up a little groggily on the couch, my eyes moving to the floor where everyone has annoyed faces.

"Caleb. It's your alarm!" Austin groans, shaking him and he jolts awake, his eyes widening as he looks at his boyfriend.

"Are you okay?" Caleb asks, worry filling his eyes and Austin's expressions soften a little as he nods. "Oh fuck, I forgot to turn it off. I'm so sorry, you guys!"

He stands up, making his way to the kitchen where he left his phone last night before turning off the alarm. Max sits up too, Natalie following suit as Ashley rubs her temples. Caleb moves to get himself a glass of water, and I rotate my neck a little because I'm pretty sure I pulled a nerve last night sleeping in the wrong position.

"Now that we're all up, want to go get breakfast?" Natalie asks.

"Yes, please. I have a hangover from beer. I feel bad for myself." Ashley groans, making me laugh a little.

"I think I'm going to head home." I tell them, because I don't feel like eating right now, and honestly I had a dream about James and I just really want to meet him. I'm acting like a school girl but I really don't care at the moment.

"Yes, me too. I really need some more sleep. You want to come, babe?" Caleb asks Austin who shakes his head, running a hand through his hair.

"I'll have breakfast first. You go ahead though, Natalie will give me a ride." He waves it off and Caleb nods.

I stand up from the couch, moving to bathroom to freshen myself up. I don't take a shower because I don't have fresh clothes. I just brush my teeth before changing into my dress from yesterday. When I step out, everyone's ready to head out in their pjs.

"How are you going back?" Caleb asks as he takes the bag from my hands when everyone starts to move out of the apartment.

"I'll probably take a cab."

"Don't bother, I'll drop you." He offers, and I wonder if I should decline but I know it won't get me anywhere.

He goes to hold Austin's hand who's walking ahead of us, the sight making me smile. If these two don't end up getting married, I'd be really sad. When we all get down in the elevator, everyone starts moving out of the building and Austin turns to Caleb.

"You sure you don't wanna come?" He asks.

"Yeah, I'll just drop Lil off and head back home. I'll see you later." He kisses him on the cheek and steps back.

Austin nods before moving to give me a hug, followed by everyone else except Natalie who just smiles at me and I nod at her. When they turn around the corner, Caleb moves to his car and opens the door for me, making me roll my eyes as the gesture reminds me of James.

"Will you put the address in GPS?" He asks as he buckles down the seatbelt and I nod, moving to do so.

"Natalie kind of tried to make a move on me last night." I blurt out as soon as he starts driving and he looks at me wide eyed before focusing back on the road.

"What?" His voice is laced with shock.

"Yeah, she told me that she has been attracted to me. God, Caleb. I have no idea about anyone's orientation and I know it's rude to assume, so just tell me what I don't know already." I literally plead, making him laugh.

"Okay, calm down. Max and Ashley are both straight, as far as they've told us. Natalie is a lesbian and Austin is gay. And I'm bisexual." He tells me calmly, leaving me surprised again because I had no idea he was bi, I just assumed he was gay because he was dating a guy. What the hell is wrong with me?

"Her worst make out was with a guy, so that makes a lot of sense now." I mumble, making Caleb laugh who nods along. "God, I feel really embarrassed. I just told her no, and she didn't force herself upon me, she just immediately backed off so I really appreciate that."

He nods, "She's a nice person, Lil. She met Austin through LGBTQ club in the college, that's how I know her. It's kind of like a safe space thing."

"That makes sense. I'm straight, like I don't mean it in an offending way, but just so that I'm clear." I breathe, wondering if I'm just making things worse for myself but when he laughs, I know that everything's fine.

"Why do people always assume that saying that you're straight would offend others? Pride is about equality of every orientation, if I wear the badge of bisexuality with honour, so should you."

His words make me smile, relaxing me immediately as I process them. Caleb is honestly one of the most mature person I know, and I'm so glad that I confided in him when I chose to do so.

When he takes a turn for Clark Mansion and enters the huge driveway, he looks at me with shocked eyes. "You live here?"

I nod, a sheepish smile on my face. "I know it's a lot. I had the same reaction." He laughs, shaking his head before parking the car. "Come on, let's go inside."

He immediately shakes his head. "I promise to visit some other time but I really need to go home and sleep." He yawns and I nod, moving to give him a hug over the middle console.

"Thank you for dropping me."

He smiles at me and I get out before opening the back door to get my bag. When he backs out of the driveway, I wave at him and he smiles before disappearing from the view.

I make my way back inside the house, a smile playing on my lips. My phone is in the bag so I pull it out, frowning a little when there's absolutely no messages from James, but I immediately brush it off. I decide to have breakfast first before going upstairs so I keep my bag by the stairs before going into the kitchen.

Just as I enter, I hear a laugh that's not very familiar to my ear and immediately freeze in my track when I notice Amy sitting on the bar stool, her elbows resting on the kitchen island. She's in night clothes, and my eyes move to James who's sitting across her, eating cereal with amusement covering his entire face, and I notice how he's in his sweatpants and a t-shirt too.

I gulp as the worst case scenario runs through my head but I remind myself that it can't be. But the hurt I feel overwhelms as I stare at the sight in front of me.

"I have the worst hangover e—"

I turn around to see Chloe standing behind me, her eyes furrowed as she stares at me, her jaw tightens but then she looks behind me and a smirk takes over features. She winks at me, clicking her tongue before moving inside the kitchen, shoving my shoulder with hers deliberately.

When I face the kitchen again, I realise that both James and Amy have realised my presence and it only makes me gulp as I take a deep breath before I move to a cupboard to pull out a bowl and box of cereal.

I open the refrigerator, getting milk for myself before going to sit a stool away from James. I can literally feel his gaze burning through my skin but I pay no heed to it as I pour myself cereal in the bowl before pouring milk on it. There's an awkward silence prevailing in the kitchen and I try so hard to not glare at Amy who seems to be wearing a smug look on her face.

"Get me something to eat, please." Chloe groans, her voice annoying me further. All I've ever seen her do is whine. What a typical brat.

"I'll make you some coffee." Amy offers, smiling at her friend before looking at James. "Would you like some, James?"

James shakes his head at her before focusing his attention back to me. "I thought you were going to come after breakfast?" He says, his voice low but loud enough for everyone to hear.

"Change of plans." I shrug before putting a mouthful of cereal and chewing on it, in order to avoid speaking.

"Did you take a cab back home? I should've asked you if you wanted me to pick you up."

His words make me frown and for the first time since last night, I turn to face him, my eyes staring straight at his green orbs. He's frowning at me but I have no idea why. I really want to assume the worst but I remind myself to ask him first, so that's what I do.

"Did you spend the night with her?" I ask, pretty sure that Amy heard me and Chloe glares at me but my words only make James scowl at me further.

"Fuck, no!" His voice is laced with shock before he takes in the entire situation and sighs, looking at me. "I know how that can be the first thought that crossed your mind, but no."

Half of the assurance is that we're having this conversation in front of Amy so he cannot lie to me. I do trust him, but no one can blame me given the complicated relationship James and I share.

"You told to ask rather than assume, that's all I'm doing." I tell him, feeling a little guilty as I relax, and he nods at my words.

"Are you seriously going to talk like I'm not standing right here?" Amy scoffs, shaking her head at James, and Chloe's just throwing daggers in my direction.

"How are the two of you even getting along? Aren't you supposed to hate each other?" Chloe looks at her brother and James rubs his temples.

"Do I need to remind you both that she's my wife?" His tone is snappy and it gives me a little satisfaction before he looks at Amy. "If you have a problem with the conversation being held, leave."

Her lips visibly part in shock as James stands up moving to put his empty bowl in the sink. "Come on, you can eat upstairs." He nudges by my side before picking up my bowl of cereal.

I nod, sliding off the bar stool. When he takes my hand in his, I visibly sigh because I have missed his touch. As soon as we reach the stairs, I pick up my bag before going to the elevator. When we reach our floor, James leads us to his bedroom. I'm about to settle myself on the couch before he speaks up.

"You can sit on the bed, you know? It doesn't bite."

"Couch is good." I shrug at him, because the thought of sitting on James's bed itself it too intimate for me. "What is she doing here?" I ask, dying to know the answer.

He sighs, giving me the bowl as I sit on the couch and he plops down next to me. "Chloe and her went clubbing, I think. She must've crashed with her."

I nod, because that makes a lot of sense. "What did you do last night?" I ask, knowing how prying my questions are but he doesn't say anything before answering.

"Came back home, had dinner, went to bed. How was your night?" He asks, his hands moving to tuck my hair behind my hair as his fingers graze my skin. I try not to lose my focus as I form words in my mouth.

"It was good, I was super tired though." I lean back in the couch as I eat the cereal. I should probably tell him about Natalie but I don't want him to be pissed at me. His words from the day he kissed me for the first time ring in my head and I shake off the thought.

"I was thinking of taking a swim. Shanley cleaned the pool yesterday. Do you want to join?" He asks and the offer immediately makes me smile as I nod.

"Yes, please. I'm not a fan of summer." I tell him honestly.

"Same." He grins. "Did you drink last night?"

I shake my head, "I had a little wine but that's it."

I have realised that the more time I spend with James, the more my nerves start to resolve around him. I have started finding this comfort in his presence, it's honestly surprising because I never thought the two of us could hold of a casual conversation like this on a Sunday morning. He has his moments where he shuts me out from time to time, but I'm glad he's relaxing around me too.

After I'm done eating, I look at him. "I'm sorry that I assumed about Amy."

He sighs, "It's okay. I'm glad you asked me though. Also, you never told me how you got back home."

"Caleb dropped me back."

He stands up from the couch before moving to his side drawer and pulling out my rings and handing them over to me. "I know you don't want to right now, but you have to tell your friends some day, okay?" He says and I nod, biting on my lower lip.

"There's something I have to tell you." I look up at him, standing up and he frowns at me.

"What is it?"

"Natalie kind of tried to make a move on me last night." I breathe, my voice barely a whisper as my nerves start jumping around in my stomach. "I stopped her before she could even do anything. I promise."

His eyes grow dark at my words and he takes a step back, nodding, "This is exactly why you need to tell your friends."

"I know, I will. I just need some time." I tell him, reaching out for his hand but when he takes a step back, I gulp, breathing through my lips. The rejection hurts but I don't let it show on my face.

"I'm going downstairs. You can join me if you want." He says as he moves to his closet and pulls out what looks like swim trunks.

He leaves the room, and I realise that I'm alone in a bedroom that's not mine. I don't like the idea of being here without James so I pick up my bag and move out and go to my room. I look for my swim suit through the closet but I can't recall ever unpacking it from the boxes Jeremy left. I sigh before pulling out a pair of sea green cotton shorts and a plain pink t-shirt. I pull it over my head in the closet before moving to take the pill. It has become a routine now, something I do as soon as I have breakfast.

I decide to take stairs for a change today. When I reach downstairs, I make my way to the backyard and notice that the door is already open and there's two glasses of orange juice set on the table. I can see James's toned back in the pool as he does a lap from one end to another.

When he finishes, his eyes meet mine and I can see his broad and defined shoulders, his dark blonde hair looking even darker because of the water. I have never seen James shirtless so just seeing bits of him is making knots twist in my stomach in an amazing way.

"You don't have a swim suit?" He asks as I walk over to the edge.

I shake my head. "I seem to have misplaced it."

I can't tell his mood right now with water dripping down his face. He nods before swimming on his back, his front exposed to the sun and I take in a very audible gasp when I look at his defined chest and perfectly toned stomach. I can see very faint line of abs, but it's not completely there yet so he must be working towards that.

Oh my god.

James Peter Clark is godsent. There's no other way of defining how a perfectly attractive human being like him can exist. I literally gulp, forcing myself to close my parted lips as I have to look away from him. I take a breath when he starts swimming towards the edge again and I put my toes in the water to check the temperature of the water.

It's freezing, as expected. But I keep my toes in, to get used to it for some seconds before going in. Just when James comes to the edge, he keeps his elbow on the floor, looking up at me, his eyes squinting a little.

"Take a deep breath." He commands and I frown at him until I register his words.

"James, no!" I shriek when his wrist moves around my ankle and he jerks me forward, making me lose my balance.

My body goes numb as the chilling water surrounds me, the impact feeling like a slap against my face. I keep going further down before I manage my focus and start moving my hands and legs to come up to the surface.

When I finally emerge from the water, James is leaning against the stone surface, his arms stretched behind him upper floor level and a huge grin surrounding his face.

"What the fuck is wrong with you?" I literally yell, swimming over to him but it only adds onto his amusement as he laughs.

"I couldn't take another minute of you standing there and contemplating jumping in. You're welcome." He shrugs, before bringing his arms back in the water.

When I reach him, I muster up the best glare, "You're going to pay for that. Sometime in future." I promise him but it only makes him smirk at me wider.

"Come on, now. Don't be like that." He chuckles, wrapping his arms around me, pulling my body against his, making the heat rise in my cheeks.

"Did you girlfriend leave?" I ask, making him scowl at me as he moves, backing away from the support but then turning me around so now my back is against the hard surface.

"Petty, are we?" He smirks, making me pout at him.

"You're one to talk." I tilt my head a little to read his face.

Even in the cold water, his naked torso pressed against mine leaves warmth throughout my skin. I gulp when my eyes move to his lips and the image of last night runs in my head. Suddenly I start to crave the taste of his mouth against mine. When my eyes finally meet his, there's so much lust and desire behind them that I can't help but lean forward.

He smirks at my actions before mirroring them as he places a long peck on my lips, making me crave more but he slowly moves his lips down to my jaw, just like last night, but this time I don't stop him. My breath falters a little when his lips move down to my neck, his wet hair grazing against my cheek as he places open mouth kisses on my skin.

His fingers come up to the neck of my t-shirt as he stretches it to left a little to expose my collarbone before moving his kisses in that direction, leaving me panting. His lips move back up a little, right where neck meets the collar bone.

A wave of heated pleasure rocks through me when he presses his tongue against my skin, an involuntary moan erupting through me. It only makes his grip on my body tighter as he starts grazing his teeth on the skin there, nibbling on it before his tongue and lips suck on it. The desire in my stomach keeps building as he continues the torture until I can't help it anymore.

"James." I moan loudly, my hands moving to his hair as he parts from my skin a little.

He presses a kiss on it before parting and looking at my face with feign innocent. "Yes, love?"

I groan before leaning forward to press my lips against his. My fingers play with his hair as he kisses me back, his hands moving under water on my waist, making me resist a moan as his tongue meets mine. I wrap my legs around his waist underwater, pulling his body closer to myself, his groin rubbing against my core, making me gasp.

How the fuck is he hard in the pool with cold water?

James takes the opportunity to bite on my lower lip before his tongue skims over it and he starts moving his lips against mine. No one in my entire life has made me feel the heat rising in my stomach as he continues to kiss me.

"You both need to stop sucking each other's faces off." I hear a familiar voice from behind me and immediately part away from James who literally groans at my actions.

His eyes filled with desire meets mine as he leans forward to press a kiss against my lips before looking above my head and back at the only person who could've thought of interrupting us.

"Thomas." James glares at his best friend and I crane my neck a little to look at Hale who's looking at us with extremely amused expression. He's dressed in jeans capri and a white t-shirt.

I'm about to unwrap my legs from his waist and untangle my hands from his hair when James looks at me, shaking his head slightly as his hand presses against my thigh around his waist, giving me enough indication to not do it.

"Clark." Hale grins as he comes to lean above my head. "How you doing, Lil?"

I can't help but scoff, "Now that you're here? Dandy." I give him a pissed off smile which only makes him chuckle more. "Hey, can I borrow your phone?"

He frowns at me but nods nonetheless. I untangle my right arm before stretching it above my head, palm up as I move my eyes to James's face who seems to be arching an eyebrow at me so I just grin at him.

"Do your magic, Mr. Clark." I whisper low enough for only him to hear and my words register in his head, his face splitting with amusement.

As soon as Hale puts his phone on my hand, James very smoothly moves our body a little to the side before reaching his hand out to grab Hale's ankle and pulling him forward. A very loud shriek leaves Hale, making me laugh loudly as his body hits the water.

"Oh my god." I laugh, burying my head in James's neck to control my laughter when Hale comes up looking all pissed off.

"I had my fucking wallet in the pocket, you ass!" He barks at James just cranes his neck back a little to look at his fuming best friend.

"Well, that's the price you pay for interrupting us." He shrugs, making me laugh harder.