My stupidity strikes me the moment I get back in the dining room after an hour of comforting Nina outside Leo's house. I had a pretty deep conversation with her, and now I can't help but view her as one of my best friends. I'm pretty sure she feels the same.

Dom was asking me for permission because he was responsible for driving us home. I don't even know where he lives, and I don't have my license yet. Not to mention I'm not that much of a driver, but surely his car isn't so hard to control right?

"No, no, no.." I nearly hurl at the sight of three boys who've passed out. Nina went home earlier when she received a call from her brother that her parents found out about her sneaking out. She looked so devastated and horrified. I hope she's okay.

Leaving Joshua in Leo's house doesn't make me feel terrible. He lives around the neighborhood as well. It's Dom I'm worried about. He has that thing with his dad tomorrow too. What if his dad finds out he left the house this late and gets upset? Would Dom go back to despising him?

I carry both Leo and Joshua to the living room, and by carry, I mean drag them across the floor. Leo's shirt literally rips open when I try to put him on the couch, so I drag his legs first instead. Joshua is lighter than Leo, so putting him on the sofa isn't so difficult, though I still end up panting.

Seeing Dom lying on the floor makes me let out a whimper. "Dom, come on.." I shake his shoulders with desperation. My parents would also kill me if they find out I'm not home tomorrow morning. What if they also locked the back door? I can't climb up my window. I have a hard time climbing unlike Dom, but I doubt he can successfully make it to the window in his current state.

Dom's eyelids flutter open, and his mouth forms a thin smile. I resist the urge to tell him he looks cute. "Ann...?" his eyes squint at me with uncertainty.

For a moment, I get flashbacks of last year when Cornell was drunk. He had slipped out that his feelings were fading. I recall how much that hurt me. I look at Dom, hiding my fear. "Dom?"

Dom just smiles. "You're beautiful."

Flattered, I roll my eyes and search his pockets for his keys. I pull them out and wear a victorious smile before remembering that I couldn't properly drive safe for us both.

Frowning, I think of texting Nina and asking her if her brother could drive Dom and I home, but then I remember she's in a tight situation with her parents. Who else could help us? Who else—

That's when I remember Krista. She lives right around the neighborhood too. It won't be weird if I ask her for help, right? I pull out my phone and text her, asking for a lift home from Leo's place.

Thankfully she immediately responds, saying how I'm lucky her parents are out of town.

It takes a couple of minutes for Dom to stand up. His feet are wobbly, so he holds onto me, staggering for a short while. I get a little nostalgic and wonder if I was this drunk when he fetched me from the bar.

I haven't seen Krista ever since quarantine started. Her dark beach waves and green eyes catch my attention. She still looks the same. Almost. She's wearing a white crop top and light blue shorts. I wave at her and she gets out of her car, shocked at the sight of a good-looking guy next to me.

There's no tension between us. Well, at least for me. I don't really care anymore. I shove Dom's keys in his pockets and bat Krista away when she tries to cover her help.

"No need." I assure her.

She doesn't listen, taking Dom's other hand around her shoulder. I don't miss the quick examination she does of him, even when it's less than five seconds.

Yes, bitch. I know he's hot.

She helps me shove him in the backseat of her car. I join Dom at the backseat, not because I don't want to sit near Krista, but because I want to make sure he's doing fine.

"Thanks, Krista." I tell her once she gets in her car. I let Dom's head rest on my lap, his eyes already closed.

She nods, her hands on the steering wheel after glancing one last time at Dom and I. "What were you two doing at Leo's?" she questions curiously.

"Oh, Dom forgot something." I casually lie, still looking at Dominic protectively. I can't help it — he looks so peaceful when he's asleep. I wonder what he, Leo, and Josh talked about.

Most importantly, I wonder how Leo is doing. "The guy you're with..." Krista begins, like she's unsure if she has the right to ask or not. I meet her gaze in the rearview mirror. "That's the new guy from your section, right? Dominic Archer?"

So she's heard of him. Of course she has. "Yeah." I briefly reply, not wanting to explain any further.

Dom's eyes flash wide open. I smile at him as he sits upright and adjusts his position. "Hey." He lifts his chin at me in greeting, looking a little pale. He examines our surroundings and his eyes divert to the front seat. Krista glances over her shoulder and shoots him a quick smile.

Dom politely returns the smile. When she looks away, he darts his eyes at me and mouths "What the fuck?" with an expression that makes me laugh.

"Your car's at Leo's," I inform him, glad that he's awake. "My friend Krista's driving us to my place. You can sleep over there."

He groans, no doubt having a pounding headache. "Your parents..."

"They're asleep. I have my ways," I assure him with a smirk.

"I can drive Dom to his place after I drop you Ann, if you like," Krista volunteers. Both Dom and I look at her. "I mean, it's not a big deal."

"No." Dom flatly replies automatically. I low-key hide my mischievous smile.

Krista just nods, probably embarrassed. "Thanks for the offer though." I tell her kindly, not wanting her to think I have a grudge on her just because she's dating my ex. Even though she lied about it.

I always thought seeing Krista in person after the incident would be awkward, but now I don't see why it has to be. I wish she didn't feel the need to lie about her and Cornell though. It really isn't that big of a deal.

Krista knows where I live, though I instruct her to park not so near my house in case my parents hear the noise and wake up. Dominic can walk fine on his own now, so when the two of us get out of the car, he doesn't hold onto me for support.

Turning, I find Krista staring at Dom and I with an expression I can't read. It's weird, because I used to be able to read her so well. Oh, how times have changed.

"Thank you so much." I wear my most sincere smile. Others in my position would have chosen to drive regardless of the consequences, but I'm not like that - I know how many people are on the road even at this hour. I don't want to risk hurting people.

It's better to be the one hurting than to be the one hurting others.

Krista just regards me with a distant nod, like she's trying to see something about Dom and I's relationship. She's debating whether or not she can still ask questions and I can feed her the details.

But I remember that none of this is my fault. I'm not the one who disrespected the friendship, therefore her feelings aren't up to me. She knows she wronged me, and I know that too. If she still feels bad, that's really not my problem.

Hopefully this situation makes her see the light - I don't care about you and Cornell. I'm clearly the winner, what more can I ask for?

As those thoughts proudly sink in my head and her car exits my vision, Dom takes my hand. "Ann."

I look up at his brown eyes patiently. He kisses my forehead and I prevent myself from smiling too much. "What was he thinking?" he murmurs, "cheating on you..."

I immediately know he's talking about Cornell. "I'm glad he wasn't thinking," I tell him. God knows what I'd become if Cornell actually waited and allowed me to have some space. Thank goodness I don't have to find out.

We both enter the house through the back door. I know my way around even without the lights on, so I guide him upstairs to my room quietly, locking hands.
I turn on my bedroom lights and notice his eyes grow wide. I follow his gaze and realize he's staring at my bed.

One bed.

In other circumstances, I would've laughed at the look on his face, but then this situation is different. I've never slept with anyone before. Cornell hasn't even been inside my bedroom considering my father was never his biggest fan.

"I can sleep on the floor." Dom speaks up confidently, even though his eyes say a different story.

My floor definitely does not look super inviting, but I can tell that if I were uncomfortable with him sleeping next to me, then he willingly would sleep on the floor. I let out a snort. "It's okay. Just lie down next to me."

Nothing sexual is going to happen. He and I are just two individuals who are sleeping on the same furniture. I shove myself to the right side of my bed, and pat the empty space beside me while looking at him expectantly.

He turns the lights off and hesitantly slides in next to me. I force a smile as if my heart isn't shaking. Is this it? Will I lose my virginity today?

He looks at me with uncertainty. We lock eyes for a few moments before he looks away. "Goodnight, Ann."

Is he really that tired? Or does he not want to sleep with me? I nudge his shoulder. "Hey."

"H-Huh?" he flinches, sitting upright directly.

Restraining myself from laughing, I grin. "I have a question."

Dom just stares. Go on.

"It's not that I want to but.. I'm curious, you know?" I start to ramble. "How come you've never invited me to see your house? Not that I want to, okay? I'm just curious. I..." I shut my mouth when I see his mouth forming a bemused smile. Have I said too much? I hate how awkward I can really get sometimes.

"Do you want to see my house?" he asks, a hint of playfulness in his tone.

Heart racing, I gulp. I don't really know how to answer him. "No. I'm just.." I'm just wondering why you haven't invited me in the first place.

"First, I doubt your sisters would let you sleep over. Second, Kate would kill me," then he leans toward my ear and whispers, "third..."

"Third...?"

He pulls back and grins devilishly. "After September 9."

I hit him playfully, and the two of us burst into soft laughter, but then I remember that it's almost September. My smile fades, and he can tell it's because he brought it up. "Sorry." He mutters apologetically.
I want to ask him if he thinks it's really going to happen — I want to ask if he has any idea how it's going to turn out, but I don't.

What Dom and I have right now is special. I'm not going to ruin any of that just because I'm overthinking.
"I really want to kiss you." I hear Dom say in a low voice.

The first thing I think of is sex. Will it lead to that? I'm a virgin, so it's pretty much a big deal.

"Then kiss me."