"Hey there," Chase says when I open the door. He's wearing the same outfit as he did in school. I don't think I've ever seen him take his Letterman jacket off. 

"Hey, you're early!" I exclaim. "I'll take a couple of minutes to get ready. You can wait in the living with my brother."

"Sure."

I worry about how Wyatt will be with Chase. Maybe they'll get along? They're both jocks, after all. 

"Wyatt, this is Chase McKnight. Chase, this is my brother, Wyatt," I awkwardly introduce. 

"Hey, man." Wyatt greets and they do the weird bro-fist-bump thing.

"I'll be back in 5!" I slip out and go to my room. I panic because I haven't picked an outfit yet. I call Macey.

"House parties are casual, aren't they?" I ask. 

"Wear a nice dress, Kat." She orders. 

"But Chase is wearing what he wore in school earlier!" I whine.

"Screw Chase. Wear something that's not too dressy, but not too casual either. Got it? I'll see you later, I'm driving!" She hangs up.

Great.

I decide to wear a black tank top with ripped jeans and my old studded boots that I probably should really throw out. Studs? Maybe Lindsey is right and I am a 2005 emo.

Not too casual, not too dressy. I put on a ton of eyeliner, mascara and do a quick basic smokey-eye. I wear bright red lipstick to go with it. I look at myself in the mirror. Wow, I look good!

"I'm ready to go!" I announce as I walk towards the front door. 

"Kat, you look incredible!" Chase says, looking like the heart eyes emoji. I feel the same butterflies in my stomach again. I flash him my best smile.

"See ya." Wyatt says as we get into Chase's car.

***

My eyes widen as Chase stops the car in front of the same house that I had unknowingly broken into with Will yesterday. 

"You okay?" Chase asks, noticing my expression. 

"Um yeah. This house is beautiful." I stutter, trying to mask how nervous I am. He seems to buy it.

The house looks different at night. It was empty when I was here last morning, but now there are people in clusters sitting around the yard and couples making out everywhere. I hear loud electronic dance music thumping. 

We enter the house and the living room is dark and dingy. It looks nothing like it did yesterday. The glass shelves on the walls are filled with red solo cups and bummed cigarettes.

I look around to see if I can spot Will anywhere; I can't. The house is filled with familiar faces, most of whom I cannot name though. Maybe this party will help me get to know more people. I catch a bunch of girls staring at Chase, their expressions saying 'What is the quarterback doing with the weird new girl?' He obliviously smiles at them.

"I'll go get us some drinks!" He yells so I can hear him and I nod.

I search for Will while I wait for him and walk around the house saying awkward hellos to people that I've seen around in school. I finally find Will near the pool, where the music isn't as loud. The pool is covered with a large blue lid. I guess Ashton Lizewski doesn't want a bunch of strangers getting into his pool. Whoever he is.

"There you are! I was hoping you'd be here," I shout. 

"Looks like you just can't get enough of me," He winks. 

"What the hell is wrong with you?!" I demand, ignoring him. I notice Alex, chuckling next to him. "IT'S NOT FUNNY!" I scream. 

"It kinda is," Alex gloats. 

"You broke into someone's house! Ashton Lizewski's, to be precise," I shriek, looking around me.

"Hey, I technically didn't break in. I used a key." Will smirks. 

"Yes, 'cause that makes it totally okay," I say as he and Alex laugh.

"We just needed to do a little something." Alex explains. 

"Oh? And what was this thing?" I question.

"You'll find out soon enough," Says a random guy with a British accent. Has he been standing next to Alex this whole time? 

"Whoa! Where did you come from?!" I gasp. He's tall and has dark spikey hair, pale skin and emerald green eyes that are a lot like...mine? Huh. He kinda looks like a shady drug dealer. His face looks pretty familiar. Maybe he's one of Wyatt's friends. 

"I was right here the whole time. You probably didn't notice since you Wilhelm here were pretty busy flirting." He says, coyly. 

"Wilhelm," I chuckle and Will shoots daggers at me with his eyes. Spikey hair just raises an eyebrow. 

"That's not even my name, dude."

"We weren't flirting," I inform him while Will smirks.

"I'm Colt," He flings his arm towards me. 

"Kathryn," I say, shaking it. 

"I know," He responds creepily. 

"So what was the thing that you needed to do?" I ask.

"Oh right. You'll figure it out. Maybe." He says mysteriously and walks away. 

"You're not gonna tell me either, are you?" I ask Will. 

"Sorry babe," He smirks.

I give Alex a pleading look. "No can do, chica." He shrugs.

"Great. So how do guys know him?" I question. 

"He goes to our school," Alex states. 

"Seriously? I've never seen him around," I say. 

"More like he's enrolled at the school. He never actually shows up. It's a wonder how he never gets in trouble for that." Will explains. 

"Is he a drug dealer?" I question making Will burst out laughing and Alex almost spits out his drink. 

"What?" I chuckle. 

"I don't think so," Will continues to laugh.

"Kat? I've been looking all over for you!" Says Chase, walking towards us. 

"Chase! Hey! I was just looking around and I ran into Will and Alex," I smile. 

"Oh. Hey." He says coldly to them. Will clears his throat and Alex nods. 

"See ya, KD." Alex waves and Will just stares at me.

"I don't get it. Why do you guys hate each other so much?" I ask Chase as we walk towards the rest of his friends. 

"We don't. We just don't like each other." He shrugs.

"But why?" I inquire. 

"Oh look, it's Macey! Let's go say hi," He says, turning around. Great. 

"Hey guys!" Macey squeals excitedly. 

"Hey!" I reply, trying to sound as excited as she is. 

"Ashton, this is Kathryn. Kat, this is Ashton," She introduces a buff blonde guy who's wearing a varsity jacket. His hair goes up to his shoulders and is extremely curly, resembling ramen.

"Oh, hey. Cool party!" I say. 

"Thanks! Chase and Macey have told me a lot about you," He reveals. 

"Really?" I ask, narrowing my eyes. 

"Yeah. It's good to finally meet you." He chuckles. 

"You too." I say politely. I look across the room to see Ashleigh leaning against a wall, laughing with Will. Ugh. 

"Believe me, I hate her too." Macey whispers to me, following my gaze. 

"I'll catch up with you guys later, okay?" I say and walk towards Will and Ashleigh before anyone can say anything.

"Kathryn," Ashleigh says, her eyes wide. 

"Ashleigh." I nod. 

"I am so sorry," She says, surprising me. "I really am. It was all a huge misunderstanding," She adds. Is she just saying that just 'cause Will is here? 

"It's true. It's all Chase," Will says. 

"What does Chase even have to do with any of this?" I question them. 

"I overhead Chase talking. He said that you were gonna try to get close to Will and then break his heart," She says, looking embarrassed. 

"WHAT?" I yell. I'm so confused but I can't stop laughing. 

"It sounded like some kinda evil plan thing, like what they did to John Tucker or something," She explains. 

"Hey! I'm nothing like John Tucker!" Will exclaims. 

"You've seen John Tucker Must Die?" Now I'm laughing even more. 

"It's a good movie, okay?" He defends.

"Totally." Ashleigh agrees. I just can't help laughing.

"So do you accept my apology?" Ashleigh practically begs. 

"Yes! Yes, of course I accept your apology," I continue to laugh. Ashleigh seems different. Not like the vindictive bitch that Macey and her friends make her look like. Not like the girl who made me get detention.

Was I too quick to judge her? 

"Chase keeps staring at you. Give me your number and we'll catch up, okay?" Ashleigh says. I nod and give it to her.

Oh no, I came here with Chase and I'm completely ignoring him. I'm such a bad date.

"I'll see you guys later!" I say to them and go back towards Chase.

"5 minutes to showtime!" Alex says, running past me. 

Shit, what are they up to?!

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A/N
Thanks for reading! What did you guys think of this chapter? And Ashleigh?
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