"Hey, I'll be right back, I have to go to the restroom," Trechial told Jared over the loud music. He bobbed his head to the music, leaning against the pool table, and smiled with mischief. Maylee found some guy and dragged him to the dance floor where they reenacted a mixture of scenes from Footloose and dirty dancing complete with the running start and her date attempting to pick her up. The clash to the floor was her favorite part. Leandro rocked his shoulders side to side while a brunette swung her hips in a circular motion against him. Like, why would the DJ think it was a good idea to play Body Bumpin' in a room filled with horndog teenagers? One or two chaperones went around trying to break up the bumping and grinding of some of the teenagers b, but they were mainly focused on their kids.

"Do you want me to come with?" Jared interceded in her observations.

Trechial glanced at him sideways. "Think about what you just said, and I'll get back to you."

He chuckled. "I'll be right here."

She hurried out the door, hoping Devin hadn't left. Most of her time was given to Jared as Devin's was to Candice. Not once had they talked during the party. It wasn't until she saw Devin and Candice leaving together that she realized they hadn't spoken a single word to one another the entire night.

At the very least, she wanted to wish him a Happy New Year. She caught her breath, standing in the middle of the empty reception area spinning in all directions.

I'm too late.

She dashed out the door and into the brisk air, shivering upon impact and rubbing her hands together. In the parking lot, she squinted looking for Mr. Liao's car.

The lot was empty under the heavy blackness of the night. No headlights. Few cars. No Devin.

Sighing, she turned around and started walking towards the double doors.

"Looking for someone?"

Devin leaned on a brick column pole with his hands shoved in his slacks, his two-tone gaze examining her from head to toe with no apologies. It unnerved her, gave her butterflies, and made her self-conscious.

She squeezed the sides of her dress, admiring him in a white dress shirt and slacks. His black bangs covered his eyebrows, but she could see them perfectly through them. Knew right where to look. He switched out his diamond earring for two black studs. Devin oozed coolness. Ice had nothing on this boy.

Eagerness bubbled within Trechial, but she tried to match his relaxed disposition.

"I––" she began, but her brain malfunctioned when Devin pushed off the pole and started to walk to her.

"I wanted to tell you Happy New Year before you left," she blurted.

He stopped in front of her, first looking her head to toe again, then embracing her in his arms. "Happy New Year, Mini."

She melted into him, inhaling the scent of Ralph Lauren. She was a sucker for the classics. And cheating on her five-minute relationship already. She pressed against him in an attempt to get a little bit closer, clutching the back of his jacket.

They pulled apart and silence slammed down over them.

He noticed her chattering teeth. "You want to go inside for a minute?"

Trechial nodded, leading the way inside and down a hall with flickering lights— opposite of the party.

"Are you okay?" he said, breaking the silence as the pace slowed down the hall, shoulder to shoulder.

Do you mean about you slobbering Candice down or almost being murdered by a psychopath? Her mind exploded with sarcasm and a million questions. She took a deep breath and released it. "Yeah."

He spoke something harshly in Chinese. "Promise me you won't go off by yourself again?"

"I already made this promise to Trey," she muttered.

He grabbed hold of her wrist, stopping her in her tracks. She took in the firm grip on the base of her forearm and met the wildfire that consumed him. "I'm not Trey."

He swallowed regaining control of his emotions.

He let go of her wrist, blowing a heavy sigh. "I don't want anything to happen to you so can you––"

Trechial took hold of his cold hand and squeezed it, looking into his twisted face. "Who was that chasing me?"

Devin raked his fingers through his dark locks, freezing in place. "Charlie. I saw him leave the house."

Trechial creased her forehead. "What?"

"He was wearing a trench coat and one of those detective hats. He had a scarf or something covering half his face." Devin left no room for skepticism as she often deflected to when she was afraid.

Her insides turned to puddy, and little bumps prickled her skin. She rubbed her arms, drawing in a long breath. Tonight, panic was her best friend.

Trechial started down the hallway in a new, quick pace. "How am I supposed to go home knowing this piece of information, Tae?"

"What do you mean?" he said.

"Momma is working tonight."

"You're going to be home alone with that predator tonight?" Devin trailed on the back of her heels and sped past her, blocking her path. "Sleep over at my house," he demanded.

She came to a screeching halt. "What?" As if her mother would allow such a thing to happen. She patted Devin on the shoulder. "Not happening, Captain."

"Fine, sleepover at Maylee's."

"She's spending the night at Daniella's house."

"So? Sleep there."

"No. I don't like her, and she likes me even less."

"Crash the party."

"No." She side-stepped him and proceeded to the end of the hallway, making a left turn.

"Sleepover at my house, Trechial. Please." His desperation wrapped itself around his words.

She scoffed, rolling her eyes. "I'm sure Candice would simply love that."

"Trechial, I'm not asking you to sleep over for whatever trivial girl crap is going through your mind. I'm telling you to sleep over because I don't want anything to happen to you."

She paused, clenching at the thought of her mom finding out. "Mom will seriously pulverize me if I'm not home when she gets there in the morning."

"I'll take the beating for you," he said, lacing his fingers with hers and pulling her a step closer to him. Devin tilted his head, his face filled with worry.

Trechial sighed heavily, knowing it was a losing battle with Devin. "I'll see if I can go with Maylee."

"If you can't?" He raised a single brow.

She looked at the floor, ruffling her loose curls, his words picking at that memory of them kissing at prom, drawing her eyes up to him.

"Then you can sleep in my room tonight," she said. "But just to let you know, Charlie sometimes picks the lock to check on me in the name of safety."

Devin face hardened into a scowl. "Well, I guess he will be in for a rude awakening because he'll have to explain at the very least why he's sneaking into your room at night. And while Ms. Dee is beating him to a pulp," His lips spread into a boyish grin, "It will give me time to make a break for it so she doesn't kill me next."

Trechial reached over and pinched his cheek, "What happened to taking my beating, little boy?"

***

Trechial tossed Devin a sleeping bag, watching him spread it out on the floor. After leaving Devin in the hall, she mingled with Jared until his parents arrived. They dropped her off at home. Kissing Jared in front of his parents was in bad taste, so they ended the night with an awkward side hug.

Charlie was gone, so there was no need for Devin to show up. Instant dismay swept through her as she stuck her key in the lock and twisted it until the door popped open. A cold hand gripped her shoulder and froze her solid, her heart beating in her ear and deafening her for a moment. Her knees weakened, Trechial did the only thing she knew to do and screamed to the top of her lungs. His cold hand quickly covered her mouth, his other arm circled her waist.

He's got me. He finally caught me slipping.

"Whoa, girl, you're going to wake the dead with all that."

Devin released his hold on her, humming a laugh. Trechial whipped around and slapped him on the arm several times while he chuckled.

"What are you doing here?" she hissed.

His eyes shimmered with humor under the porchlight.

"I told you I was coming over, didn't I?"

"Charlie isn't home. You can leave." She turned and opened the door, welcoming the warmth and silence of her house.

"He may come home." Devin followed her inside, locking the door behind them.

"Whatever," Trechial grumbled. "I'm going hop in the shower. You know where everything is, so do whatever it is you're going to do, kid."

She flipped on her bedroom light, fished some clothes from her dresser, and then left the room. Once she was safely secure in the bathroom, she leaned against the door and slid down to the floor, placing a hand over her erratic heart. The blood rushing through her ears subsided once she was sitting down.

It was only Devin. Not the creep.

He had shown up. He actually kept his word and showed up. Not that he wasn't a guy of his word because he's always been that way.

A cool chill came over her and she shook it off like a seal.

How was she going to get through the night being in the same room with him? Her thoughts weren't X-rated, but she knew they weren't exactly PG either. Midnight had passed, yet the urge to ring in the new year with a smooch from the guy who haunted her every waking thought and dreams had not subsided since she laid eyes on him earlier.

The kiss Devin and Trechial had shared at prom instilled inside of her a brand-new sensation that still somehow felt familiar. He had kissed her. And she had kissed her best friend back. And now she longed to do it again no matter how wrong it was.

She inhaled, acquiring the one thought that would calm her sudden and wild passion for Devin: Candice.

She stared at the side of the tub. Ah, how jealousy and desire can quickly shift into a ball of unfiltered hatred.

***