The ride home was silent. Maky was paying attention to the road, Olicity was sleeping away the alcohol in her system and I had my mind wandering around what this whole night had turned out to be.

I had met the devil and she is really a bîtch. I never knew how much I wanted to hurt Devon until I saw him pinning Olicity down beneath his large frame and I also learnt that everyone lies... and that Preston Gere was now one of the few people that were marked down on my list of people to avoid (parties included). I knew now that the nameless guy that made my head ache and my tongue go into hiding was named Ashlin Jacks and that he was a good guy and apparently a good fighter.

Reasons why:

He caught me before I fell.

He cared about my well-being.

He protected me from drunken college boys and a wild crowd.

And he helped me save my best friend. (including kicking Devon's butt)

To sum him up, I'd say he had a gold star in my book, and maybe a few heart eyed emojis. My cheeks felt warm as I thought of him and how heroic he had been and how kind he was. I wonder if he got home, okay?

The car stopped, engine dying as I lifted my head and saw my house. "Aren't we going to bring Lici home?"

"No. Her parents do not need to see her like this. They'll ground her for sure, so she'll be staying over. I already called them. But you, you need to be home for your trip tomorrow." I smiled, she always knew how to save our butts when needed.

"Thank you, call me when you get in."

"I will, oh, and also I called your brother."

"Oh no, Maky." I sank in my seat just as my front door flew open. My brother came rushing out with worry stamped all over his face. I sighed and got out of the car along with Maky. I rounded the car, walking to meet him. "Wade."

He didn't let me get another word out before he pulled me into his arms. I welcomed his hug as he squeezed me to his chest. "I was worried. I almost drove down there myself." He pulled back. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. I didn't get hurt, or drunk."

"Did you smoke!" he asked in alarm.

I sighed, chuckling and then hugged him this time. "Wade, say no to drugs, remember," I pulled away, "I just hid away from the ones who were drunk."

"Oh, thank God." He hugged me again. "Mom and dad would have killed me. Wait, where's Olicity?" Maky pointed to the backseat to a sleeping Lici. He scoffed light heartedly. "She okay?"

"Her ex tried a wicked stunt on her, but Ali's friend came to the rescue." Maky chimed with a smug smile on to which I glared at her. I pursed my alms at that "Hmm, what friend?"

"He's just a guy from school, he's actually really nice. Anyways, I'm really tired." I announced before yawning and patting my brother on his stomach. "I'm gonna go to bed." I moved from my brother's embrace and walked down to hug Maky. "Drive safely, and thank you again."

"Thank you, and don't mention it. Sleep well boo." I smiled as I walked off to the house. My brother and Maky watched me leave. I shut the door then peeked at them from the front window, thankful the lights were off, so I was hidden. I smiled happily and left for my room.

"Thank you for coming to the rescue tonight." Wade said.

"Trust me, I'd kick anyone's ass who got in the way of that." Wade laughed, as Maky folded her arms over her chest.

"So, you gonna take her home now?" he asked, gesturing with his chin to the car.

She shook her head slowly. "Nah, she's crashing with me tonight. Need to get her sober for tomorrow."

"You could always stay over. You're welcomed to."

"Thank you, but I have two kids at home who I need to be with until their parents return."

He chuckled. "Sad, I like when you stay over."

"Oh really?" she asked, playing coy, her accent thickening as her tone dropped.

Wade stepped forward slowly. "Really, but I guess since you can't stay, you need to go home. Those kids aren't gonna watch themselves."

"Sadly."

"I always liked hearing your accent, by the way." He said in a soft whisper. His eyes were soft as they looked down at Maky.

"Well, I did spend the first five years of my life in England. Parents fancied the country."

"Maybe one day I'll be studying there."

"Maybe." Her smile was soft, eyes boring into those deep pools of blue as she gazed up at Wade. "I need to get going Wade."

He nodded. "Could I at least get a hug goodbye. I mean I'll be gone a whole long weekend." He said, his tone cheeky.

She giggled. "True." She stepped forward and slid her arms around his waist, his arms going around her neck. He hugged her softly to himself as he breathed her in. Maky too, taking in his sweet masculine aroma. She sighed as they began to part ways. Eyes blazing with heat as they closed the space between them. "Umm..." Wade dropped his arms, pulling back slowly. "You better get going. It's late."

She bit her lip, eyes searching his face as she chuckled lightly, shaking her head softly as she let go of him. She walked back to her car then turned back. "I'm not a child Wade, remember that." She got in and started the car before taking off down the street.

~ ~ ~

I took a warm shower to wash all of tonight away from my skin.

Feeling refreshed I dried off and looked for my pj's. I got into an oversized band tee of Black Sabbath that was not longer my brother's own and gray sweat shorts.

I had just turned off the lights and was climbing into bed when a light knock came from my door. "Come in."

The door pushed open to reveal Wade looking slightly lost. "What's up?" I sat up, he didn't seem fine.

He came in and kicked off his shoes as he sat next to me, the bed sinking in where he sat. He lifted his legs up and folded them as he looked at me. "Do you think I'm a screw up?"

"What? No, why would you think that? Did dad tell you something about no being a lawyer?" he chuckled.

"No. I mean..." he trailed off then he looked at me. "I—Maky... I think I made her slightly mad."

I sighed. Oh, that's why. "No, I don't think so. I can't see her being mad, not unless you're Olicity." we both snickered softly. Then silence joined us momentarily. "Did you say something that might her irked her?"

"No... it's what I did... or didn't do." I arched a brow at him.

"Explain." Huh, what had happened between those two in the short time that I took my shower?

"Well, we hugged after I told her that she should be getting home... and well..." he paused. "Please don't label me a jerk for this." I looked at him, giving him a pressing glare. "We were this close," he squeezed his fingers together a tiny amount of space between them, "To kissing, and I messed it up by saying that she better get going. She drove off, but not before making it clear that she wasn't a child."

I pouted sadly and touched his shoulder. "You were just being cautious, Wade. You didn't make her mad, maybe a little disappointed, but not mad. Maybe that attempted kiss was too soon." I rested my head on his shoulder and he rest his on my head.

"You don't think it's weird that I like your friend?"

"Nah, don't tell her I told you this, but she likes you too." I could feel him smiling as I heard he sighed in relief. "It'll happen Wade. Love takes time."

"How are you such a good consultant on the topic. Have you ever known love?" this question came as a little bit of a shock, because he was right, when did I get a degree in relationship consulting? I shrugged, I loved my friends and my family so, that was enough for me. "I just feel like it takes time. Good things shouldn't be rushed, and if you let her know that, then she'll understand. She's a smart girl, so you haven't messed up your chances."

The room fell silent as the conversation died down and he lied back on my bed, I chuckled and joined him. "I missed talking to you."

"I missed that too. We've been so busy."

He rubbed my shoulder, shooing away the coolness of the breeze from my window. "This trip came at the perfect time. We can bond over music."

"The drug of life." He laughed out a little too loud then sighed. "Yep, the drug that's the most addictive on earth."

We laughed for a few seconds then spoke about what kind of music we'd like to hear at the Resort. Humans never know how much they missed something until they're either reminded of that something or someone or until they reconnect with that something or someone. The night ended with smiles, laughter and a text from Maky reassuring her safe return home. The party was completely shut down by the cops at exactly twelve am and I didn't realize that I made it home at just about 10:03pm. Four hours of my life mostly wasted by mindless behavior, but it did have a positive ending. I found a new name to add to my book of favorite people and I got to spend time talking to my brother. The night couldn't have been any better than this.

I shut my eyes at one thirty-five after Wade left to go sleep and floated into dreams of music, smiles and of course books.

The surreality of the hellish part of my night had ended and I was finally back to my reality.