Finding Jessica Marano proved to be a challenge. Taking into consideration that there was over a hundred kids in the Dryer's house, it wasn't much of a surprise that I couldn't find the quiet, timid girl that more times than not, had her face buried in her textbook. She didn't really seem like a party type of girl, then again, I guess I probably didn't either.

As I poked my head into what appeared to be the only empty room in the house, I caught a glimpse of my reflection in the mirror. My mom had done a great job with my make up; I didn't even look like Paige Banner anymore. I looked like a new and improved, sexier version of her. My hair fell in loose chocolate ringlets around my perfectly painted face. My green eyes were bright against my rosy cheek and dark eyeliner and shadow. I looked like the girls I had always seen in the halls at school, confidence radiating off of them as they stalked by. Even looking as good as I did tonight, I couldn't say my confidence level was very high.

A few guys had cat called after me, but my mind had been on scouting out Zane or Jessica. Neither had crossed my line of sight in the twenty minutes I'd been here. Some part of me was sure this was a huge waste of time and I was making a complete fool out of myself.

"Damn, Paige." a slur broke through my thoughts, "You look hot."

I dropped my clenched fist to my side and stared down Marcus leaning against the door frame, a small bottle of vodka in his right hand.

I crossed the room and fell back on the bed. "You look drunk."

"I guess we're just stating facts here then." he winked.

Snorting, I pulled my phone from my purse and sent Zane a text, urging him to respond or meet me upstairs in ten minutes or I would be heading back home.

My stomach was uneasy, my mind was in constant reminder that I had a little boy waiting for me at home. I shouldn't be wasting my time here, at a high school party, when I could be spending as much time possible with him. My mom had warned me of separation anxiety, I just hadn't realized it would be this bad.

"About that whole losing your virginity to me thing." he stepped into the bedroom. "You still up for it?"

"Not with you." I averted my eyes. "Not anymore.

He snorted, taking another swing from the bottle before he set it down on the ground by the door.

"Come on, Paige. You came to me las-"

"Fuck off, Marcus." I snapped.

He gently pushed the door shut behind him, listening for the click before he crossed the room with a sigh.

"Is this sudden repulsion of me a result of spending so much time with my brother?" he questioned with a raised eyebrow, blue eyes dilated. "As much as I hate to tell you this sweetheart, he's across the hall banging some poor freshman as we speak."

He stared down at me expectantly, as if he had the delusion I'd be angered by what he'd told me.

"That's great." I smiled. "I'm happy for him."

"Are you really?" Marcus collapsed on the bed beside me, resting his head against the cool surface of the white comforter.

I met his intense stare. "I am, Mark. The kid has been itching to have sex for a while, I'm glad he finally got his wish."

"What about you? Don't you want to lose it too?" he propped his head up with one arm and reached out to brush a strand of my hair out of my eyes with the other.

I toyed with the thought of texting McKenna and asking her to come meet me so I wouldn't have to face the hands drunks downstairs alone, but I knew she had a test tomorrow and would kill me if I even proposed the thought this late at night.

"Paige?" Marcus tried again. I shrugged my left should in response.

"I don't care anymore, Mark. It isn't that important either way."

He sat upright and took my face in his hands. "Then why not lose it to someone you know that already loves you."

"If you loved me, Marcus, you wouldn't have done what you did." I leaned into his warm touch. "You wouldn't have run out of the room when I asked for it the first time around. You're letting the alcohol in your system cloud your mind, you don't really want to do this."

He pressed his body into mine, forcing me back until I hit the headboard. "How would you know what I want, Paige? I can say sorry all you want, but I know it won't make that much of a difference."

I could feel the warmth of his breath tickling my cheek as he spoke, slowly closing the gap between us until his lips brushed against mine. Not able to fight the rebellious part of me that just wanted this over with, I deepened the kiss and tangled my arms around Marcus' neck. The taste of alcohol on his tongue wasn't the only thing causing a churning in my stomach, but I had no plans on backing out now.

"Still a great kisser, I see." Mark whispered when I pulled back to pull his shirt over his head.

I could feel his hands roaming my back freely, feeling around for the zipper of my dress. I pressed my cheek against his shoulder blade to give him easier access, eyes on the bedroom door.

"Mark?" I pushed off him.

"Hmm?"

"Did you remember having sex with a girl, say, ten months ago?" I questioned. He kissed along my collarbone as he thought up a response.

"I don't and it doesn't matter. The past is the past." he whispered. Squeezing my eyes shut, I felt his fingers trace along my bare shoulder before his lips found mine again.

*

I didn't expect to be faced with my mom when I snuck back into the house after curfew. Dad was nowhere in sight, and I got the sickening feeling that I wasn't going to like the answer if I asked where he was.

"So you decided to come home?" my mom stood, disappointment darkening her eyes as she turned the light on. "Do you know how worried we were? Your father and Matthew are out looking for-"

"Matthew?" I blinked. "Do you mean Zane?"

She nodded. "He showed up here a little after you left, Paige. He said you told him to meet you here."

"No." I gaped at my mother. "Marcus said-"

"So that's where you've been?" Mom barked. "With that boy?"

I bit the inside of my lip. "Mom, you don't understand. I-"

"That was the first place Zane checked; his house. He said you weren't there. You not only lied to me, Paige, but your son too." she gestured down the hall. "Is that fair to him? To not know where his mother is?"

I bowed my head and sat on the arm of the couch, the aching in my body growing stronger at the thought of the lecture I knew I'd have to sit through when my father got home.

"Why isn't your dress zipped?" my mom's expression softened a fraction. "Paige, what were you doing with Marcus?"

I sniffled, shaking my head as the front door flew open, nearly slamming into me. My father grabbed my arm and checked my body for any serious injuries before shaking his head angrily.

"What right do you think you have lying to us?" he snarled. I looked toward Zane by the door; he looked as if I'd told his deepest, darkest secret to the entire student body at our school.

"I'm sorry, Dad." I knew there wasn't any use in fighting back or giving any sort of explanation. I just wanted my punishment so I could go check on Liam and pass out on the floor beside his bassinet.

My dad wasn't too keen on letting me off that easy. "I was this close to calling the station and having them help look for you, Paige. I don't know what's gotten into you, but I'm not for it at all. You'll be eighteen in a month and a half. You're an adult now, start acting like it."

I dropped my head with a curt nod. "I know, Dad. I'm sorry."

"Go to bed, Paige." he rubbed his forehead.

Without another word, I turned my back to my family and Zane and hurried down the hall to my room. I had just sat down on the edge of my bed when a figure casted a shadow in my doorway.

"Why weren't you there?" I whispered.

Zane stared at the empty crib at his side. "Did you do it?"

"Don't answer a question with a question, Matthew." I said through my teeth. "Why weren't you at the party?"

"Because I didn't want to be. I just wanted to hang out with you, Paige. Watch movies, study, whatever. I didn't want to be in that house during a party for once in my life." he answered bitterly.

When neither of us spoke for a few minutes, he cleared his throat and broke the silence. "Did you do it?"

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Did you get your wish? Did my brother make you feel all warm and tingly inside?" his words dripped with sarcasm.

I stared at him for a moment. "Why do you even care, kid? You should be concerned with your sex life, not mine."

"I don't give a shit about who you have sex with as long as it's not him, Paige. I love you, you know this. Whatever happens between you two isn't my business until it is. I've seen how much pain he can cause you and I don't want to see it again." he lowered his voice to a whisper.

"If you care so much about me, why did you let him spread those rumors, Zane? Why did you let him ruin my childhood?"

"I don't know." he shook his head with a bitter smirk. "Did you ever think I might have been pissed that yet again, my brother got what he wanted? Our entire lives, our parents gave Mark everything he asked for. He got the toys, the pets, the video games, the friends, and girls. You actually payed attention to me when we were kids, Paige. No girl, no friend of Mark's, had ever done that. I was jealous that he got to have such a great friend when I didn't have anybody."

"So that makes it okay to allow rumors like that to spread all over town?" I laughed. "Did it make your poor little heart feel better that nobody would ever get to have me, Matthew?"

He cringed at the mention of his full name, eyelids lowering.

"What kind of lesson is that teaching Liam?" he changed the subject drastically.

"Excuse me?"

"You know, running back to the guy that ruined your childhood and having sex with him." I clenched my hand into a fist on my lap.

"Get out of my room, Matthew." I growled.

He didn't budge. "Did you do it?"

"No!" I finally exploded, shooting off the bed. "I didn't have sex with Marcus. We came close, but I couldn't do it. I couldn't do it because I'm weak. Because I'm a slut that's never had sex, right?"

Zane tightened his arms around me and pulled me into the safety of his warm embrace, the anger and bitterness draining from us both. I stayed in his arms until I heard Liam's whimpering.

"Paige?" he caught my hand.

I nodded, waiting for him to continue.

"You're not weak, you're just afraid." he paused. "Fear is a strong emotion, don't let it get the best of you."

****AN****

Hope you guys enjoyed! 

Did you guys think she had sex with Marcus? Do you think she has ANY feelings for Zane? Do you think Zane still has romantic feelings for her?

Let me know what you thought/think!

~ChasingMadness24