Before reading this chapter, please take a moment to look at the beautiful new cover for this book created by Rolling_in_the_Dice They do a fantastic job on every cover they do and I certainly recommend them to anyone looking for good artwork! ALSO I CHANGED A LITTLE THING IN THE LAST CHAPTER! It's only telling you that Peni's mom isn't going to be home when she gets back... Really nothing big. I just felt like I needed to add that. Thank you loves. Love and adore all of you,    Lily

  "So... Uh, may I ask... Why you two were almost in tears, hugging in front of the skating park?" My throat ran dry and I gulped. We had pulled apart immediately as if nothing had happened when we first saw the crowd of people, but that didn't keep it out of my mind. Every bit of what just happened continued to race around in my thoughts. "Just... Um. I-I was trying to distract him from seeing you guys." Of course you were. I mentally slapped myself. Like Mel was gonna buy that. "Do you guys have anything to drink? I'm incredibly thirsty." I drove the conversation away from her drilling questions and attempted to search for some type of punch or refreshment. "Ya know, I'm gonna let this go but only because I love you and I know you're never going to tell me anyway." To be one hundred percent honest, I really was still confused about the whole thing. Adam's father had been so different from the first time I met him... He was so charming and kind that night. But when he stormed out of that house, he looked downright... Mean.

"Oh look! Punch!" I smiled and pointed to a large glass bowl filled with a champagne-colored liquid. I immediately took off in it's direction, not allowing Melody to even think about it anymore. Heck, I didn't want to think about it anymore... Adam had finally told me everything. I knew more about him than his own "girlfriend" did. I felt a slight tickle in my stomach when I thought of that... But forced myself to not think of it that way. He does love Charlotte. When he told you he didn't... He was drunk, he didn't mean anything he said that night. And I had to make myself realize that. It was so odd to me that within the short amount of time I'd known him, my entire image of  Adam had been distorted. The stone-cold, heartless jerk who toyed with girls and hurt them that I used to see him as had disappeared. The boy I now saw was intelligent, kind, loving, and hurt. Hurt, I thought. This boy was hurt and he needed someone who loved him and right now that's not what he had.

I frowned as I scooped myself out a tiny cup of punch. Who made punch? I took a big gulp and raised an eyebrow, it kind of tasted funny and it burned a little as it slid down the back of my throat. But... I kind of liked it. I just shrugged and finished off the cup, immediately grabbing another. I was on my third... Or maybe fourth cup when I could feel glare of someone focusing in on me. I slowly turned around, I began to feel so light and just... Good. A wide grin tip-toed it's way across my face as my eyes landed on Blake who gave me a questioning look. "Helloooooo, Buh-la-ke!" My words seemed to draw out a bit longer than usual but I really didn't mind. "Oh no... Oh no, Peni.... Please tell me you did not just drink that punch." His eyes got as big as plates and his hands were suddenly on my shoulders. I giggled, for some reason I was finding everything oddly funny. I took another gulp of my cup, finishing it off.

"You look-k pretty." I scrunched my nose and began playing with his hair. "Umm... Thanks, Peni. Here, let's go sit... JONAS! Let's go sit down. JONAS, DEAN!" I frowned and shook my head. Too much yelling. He was yelling too much. I didn't want to sit down though. I wanted to go dance! After all, there was music playing. "I wanna dance, Blak-kee! Let meeee dance!" I snatched my arm out from Blake's grip and started searching for a dance partner. Everything seemed brighter and I felt happy. I felt good. "Ad-deem!" Adam's dark blonde hair was the first thing I saw as I wrapped my arms around him and sighed. He smelled partly of alcohol and partly of a forest. I liked his scent. He looked down at me as I let go of him and the same look Blake had just moments ago was now planted on Adam's face. "Uh. Hey. Are you okay Peni?" I began to shake my head rapidly, but soon got dizzy and stopped.

"Yeah! Ad-eem! I'm gooooood! Leeet's dancccee!" I pulled his arm and he put it around me, pulling me a little closer than I was expecting. I could feel my eyes widen and I reared back. I was looking straight into his green eyes. "Your eyes are really green." I mumbled and stared closer. "Peni. Did someone give you something to drink?" I furrowed my eyebrows, "No, no no no no. I'm fine. I'm fine! Let me go. Come on Adam." He wouldn't seem to listen and the happiness kind of started to fade. I gulped and for some reason tears were biting the back of my eyelids. "Peni, look at me. Stop, okay? You're drunk." I shook my head. "No, noooo I'm not. I don't drink! I-I haaaaven't..." I couldn't think straight. My words were running together and nothing would come out right. What was wrong with me? I tried to change the subject and twist away from Adam's grip.

"W-whereeee's Charlotte? W-hy did-n't she come?" I didn't look at him because I knew that the bitter tears would be back if I did. "She didn't want to according to Jonas. But that isn't important right now, Peni. You are drunk." I looked up to see a blurry smile appear on his face. Drunk. Was I drunk? "Am I?" My bones started to relax. I wanted to lie down. "C-can we jusssst sit down? I-I don't feel good." I started to lean against Adam and I could feel his whole body begin to tense. "Alcohol is not your friend huh?" It was so crowded... And it was just all of a sudden. People were every where and everyone was talking at the same time. I didn't enjoy it at all. "Jonas..." That's a familiar name. I looked up from Adam's and my toes, grinning at the first person who came into view, which was in fact Jonas. Oh look, there's Dean. And Melody too! "Oh h-he-iiiiii guys!" I waved at them, still leaning against Adam for support. He was so strong and muscular.... "Jonas, did you spike the punch?" Adam's voice was like silly putty in my ears and I shook my head, trying to listen closer.

"No.... Not at- okay. Yes! I, I just thought..." Blah de blah de blah. "W-wait... You spiked the punch? I spiked the punch! Does that mean... Oh dude, no. Did Peni drink some?" Peni. Hey! That's my name! "Hmmmm??" I piped in but I only got terrified faces looking back at me. "Peni... Honey. How many cups of punch did you drink?" Melody wasn't looking at me, but glaring lethally at Jonas. "Hmmm.... Was it three? N-noooooo, f-five! No... Foooouur!" Yeah there you go! It sure was! Melody began to yell at Jonas and Dean and after that, it became a bit inaudible. I was just listening the little thumping sound I could hear, coming from Adam's chest. It was nice to hear that little thumping thing. It kind of... Calmed me. "Peni, look... I'm going to take you home okay? You need to go home and drink some coffee or something. Oh God. I really hope your mother's not home. I won't be allowed near you ever again." Adam was mumbling some words to me and I just kind of nodded. What a polite gentleman. "Okay, Peni. You kind of have to move now. Just go slowly." I nodded more rapidly now, "Yes. Yeah, I-I'm goin'." I pulled away from Adam and the world immediately started to spin.

I felt myself beginning to fall backwards but was soon caught with an "umph" and I was suddenly lifted into the air. My eyes opened wide. "Wait! Your partyyyy! Noooo, your party!" I didn't want Adam to leave his party for me. I knew that much. "Stopp, I'll be finee!" I tried to wiggle my way out of Adam's grip, not even thinking about what would happen if I succeeded which would land me right on my butt. "No, Peni. I don't need a party. You need to go home okay? Sshhhh, just go to sleep." That was such a nice suggestion. My head had already come to rest on Adam's chest a few moments ago and my eyelids were growing heavier by the second. Maybe I should just... The noise seemed to fade as Adam gripped on to my back and legs tightly, holding me to his chest. Slowly, everything faded to darkness and I had disappeared.

Late night update for my loves. Hope you enjoyed this chapter as much as I enjoyed writing it. I swear in the next chapter, there will be a surprise. You just wait! I'm so very excited! Thank you for your support! Don't forget to leave a comment and vote! I love you all dearly,                 Lily