"Wait," Ryan's hand caught my wrist, stopping me from walking away another step. I turned my head back at him with a confused look. I was in a hurry to get down there and stop whatever mess Chad was creating. "I'm coming with you."

"No, it's okay, Ry-"

"I won't take no for an answer," he calmly stated. "Remember the last time we ran into that guy? There's no way I'm letting you go alone." 

I was borderline speechless at his words. His dark orbs were gentle as they looked down at me, but yet still intensely serious. I merely gave him a head nod as confirmation, along with a soft "okay."

Satisfied with my reply, he let go of my wrist, moving his fingers down to entangle with mine. The warmth of his hand calmed the unsettling nerves I had, making me feel completely safe as he guided us into the elevator. 

I could already hear Chad's rampage as the elevator transcended down to the first floor. This guy just never gives up, does he?

The doors opened and Ryan was the first one out, leading me behind him. I could tell this was his form of protection. A blush began creeping up to my cheeks as I admired his build from behind. He was wearing a semi-unbuttoned, black dress up shirt that was loose enough but still hugged his back muscles perfectly.

"This is my girlfriend's party! How dare you tell me I'm not on the list?!" 

The eruption from Chad unfortunately pulled me out of my gazing daze as we got closer. A scowl replaced my look of admiration as I saw the fuming blonde standing five feet away from me. He was so wrapped up in telling off the giant, unfazed security guard that he didn't even realize Ryan and I's presence.

"I have to be on that list! I am Chad Leslie Livingston for crying out loud!" 

A hearty laugh then let out from Ryan. My cheeks puffed out as I tried to hold in a chuckle myself. I knew exactly what he thought was humorous. 

Chad then changed his attention towards us. An angry and slightly annoyed look showed on his face as he eyed the entangled hands of Ryan and I. "Something funny?" He glared at Ryan.

"You tell me, Leslie," Ryan smirked.

"I'll have you know, Leslie, is a longline aristocrat name!" Chad defended. "I wouldn't expect you to know anything about that," he chuckled off.

"Or your mom just always wanted a girl," I spoke up as I took a step forward, now directly by Ryan's side. 

"Babe-" he quickly backtracked when he saw the angry look that soon appeared on my face from hearing my old nickname. "Er— Daisy. Please tell this blockhead man that I'm on the list." The guard then furrowed his brows with a menacing look as he stared down at Chad, who was beyond oblivious at this point. "I'm ready to get my party on," he smirked as if he really was going to be allowed entrance.

"I can't do that," I simply told him.

"And why is that?" He folded his arms with an annoyed look.

"Because you're not on the list, idiot. How many times do you have to get told that?" Ryan answered for me. His expression hardened greatly, I could tell he was getting angrier by Chad's behavior.

"What did you just call me?" Chad raised a brow as if he couldn't believe what Ryan just said.

"Hard of hearing?" Ryan shot back.

"All right, that's it! Come behind this rope, dude, I dare you!" Chad yelled out as he stood behind the purple entry rope.

My breathing hitched as Ryan untangled his fingers from mine. The cool air hit my now free hand as I looked up at him. If looks could kill, Chad would be dead already. Ryan's perfectly angled jawline was clenched so tight to the point that I was afraid his pearly white teeth would break. I took a glance over at Chad who was motioning for Ryan to come closer, clearly asking for a fight. One that I wasn't sure he'd win, might I add.

Just as Ryan quickly took a step forward, another masculine voice reached out from a distance. "Woah, hold up!"

I turned my head in the direction of Brodie jogging closer, along with April and Gwen trailing further behind him. He sprinted in front of Ryan, who looked defensively towards him, not knowing what his intentions for getting so close were. Brodie, being able to read Ryan's features, patted his back in assurance. "No. It's cool man. Let me talk to him instead."

"What the hell was that?!" Chad questioned Brodie from his standing place. "You know this dude or something now?!"

Brodie sighed exhaustively as he sat his hands on his hips, "Chad, man, you've got to stop this."

"Stop what?!" He then paused as he took a long look at Brodie, trying to sum up something in his head. "Why are you here?"

"I was invited," Brodie simply replied. 

"So why wasn't I, Daisy?!" Chad turned his attention to me. Almost instantly, Ryan and Brodie both defensively stood in front of me as if their bodies could block off Chad's voice from getting to me.

"Yell at her like that again, and see what's going to happen," Ryan huskily said, each word seriously laced with venom.

"I sent the invites out to everyone," April spoke up as she and Gwen finally caught up to my side. 

"Oh I see what's going on," Chad suddenly chuckled out, causing everyone to look at him quite questionably. "I should've known never to trust you, Brodie. You think this is finally your chance to make a move on Daisy, huh? Do you think I don't know how you've lowkey always wanted her?" Chad folded his arms across his chest as he glared from behind the rope to Brodie.

"What?" Brodie questioned as he looked disbelievingly at Chad. Clearly thinking that he was now losing any ounce of sanity he had left. "Look," he then took a deep breath as he tried to gather his thoughts. "If you're implying that I think Daisy is beautiful, then yes. However, unlike you, I can take a hint." This caused Chad to glare even harder as Brodie continued. "You won't be getting her, or any girl for that matter, until you stop this erratic behavior."

The atmosphere soon grew uncomfortably silent as Brodie finished. Chad then narrowed over an icy death stare, not leaving a single person out as he made eye contact from Gwen to April, then Brodie to Ryan. "I don't have to stand around and take this kind of treatment." The hard look in his cerulean orbs softened only slightly when they soon wandered over to me, causing me to unsteadily shift a bit in anxiousness. A deep sigh escaped his medium sized pink lips as he brought his eyes to look down.

I don't know why, but I was sure there was a hidden look of remorse showing through them. 

"Well it's about time he left," April let out as she watched Chad stagger across the street to his red Lamborghini. 

"Really, Sergio?!" Gwen turned her attention to the enormous security guard who was boredly standing in front of the entry rope. "You didn't do anything at all! Are you completely useless or what?!"

He quickly folded his giant biceps across his broadened chest as he looked down at her. "With all due respect, Miss Gwen. You're paying me to simply guard the door, only allowing those on the guest list entrance." Another yawn escaped his mouth as he continued, "getting involved in the frickle frackle of teenage drama is nowhere on the job description."

"It doesn't matter, everything's handled now anyway," I spoke up, already wanting to forget everything that just happened in the last ten minutes. 

"Let's all just head back inside," April suggested. "Daisy hasn't even had the chance to open her presents yet."

"Sounds good to me," Brodie shrugged. In agreement, we all strided over to the tall, illuminating glass entrance doors before riding up the elevator. 

•••

I tried to act as normal as possible for the entire duration of my celebration party. But, it was kind of hard. Standing beside the dessert table, I took a sip of the sparkling apple cider from my champagne glass. I watched as everyone danced around the spacious floor. Laughs and smiles resting on their faces while their bodies rhythmically moved along with the tempo of the bass boosted music. Meanwhile, all that was replaying in the back of my mind was how my shit of an ex decided to ruin my night—again! And on such an important day as my birthday.

I furrowed my brows as I took another gulp of the sweet cider. Why did I never notice this erratic behavior from Chad before? Surely it had to be there all along? I started dating the guy freshman year for crying out loud! But no. For three years I had never detected a thing.

Maybe that's because there wasn't anything off about his personality up until now. I hate to admit it, but our breakup has truly driven that man insane. And in all honesty, it serves him right. He decided to fall into Lindsay's trap and decided to kiss her. He's to blame for our notorious downfall...

Closing my eyes, I tilted my head back a bit as I chugged the remaining of the almost empty glass, allowing the cool liquid to run down my throat. 

"Rough night?" A voice came up beside me.

"What would give you that idea?" I sarcastically asked back, not even bothering to turn my body in their direction.

"Well considering how you just downed that sparkling apple cider as if it could actually get you wasted, I'd say you might have something on your mind."

"Well I don't drink so this'll have to do," I folded my arms as I faced Ryan. He chuckled at my statement as his onyx eyes looked down at me. His face then gave off a hint of curiosity. "Do you not enjoy your party?"

"No, the party is great," I sighed while looking around at the perfectly hung up decorations and set ups. "Look, I know I sound horrible. I should be grateful for this awesome soree that the girls threw, but I'm just not in the partying mood anymore."

"You don't sound horrible."

"What?" I unsurely questioned up at him, not fully believing him.

"You have the right to be upset," he elaborated more. "Heck, I would be if I had an idiot stalker ex like you do."

I know I shouldn't be laughing at that but I could help but to automatically chuckle. "But still," I started once I gained my composure back. "I hate that he can just pop up and completely ruin my entire mood."

"Then don't let him," Ryan casually announced, as if it was really just that easy."

"What do you mean?" 

"He can only ruin your night if you let him, Daisy. Don't allow someone like him to even occupy up a single space in your mind."

I rolled my eyes at his words. 'It's not like I'm thinking about him on purpose.' 

"Look I know you have a point, but it's just not as easy for me as it is for you, Ryan!" I told him, allowing my inner frustration to seep through.

He clearly was pondering something as he looked down at me. I had no idea what he was thinking— per usual, but I definitely wasn't expecting what he said next. "You want to get out of here? Obviously you need to clear your head."

My mouth opened slightly as I was taken aback by his question. Was he serious? I looked up at the open dark sky that I was closer than ever to, due to standing on the tall rooftop building. "At this hour?" 

"The night's still young," he smirked down, his eyes showing a hint of mischief.

Ugh, he's so cute when he does that. It drives me nuts! I held in a blushing smile as I tried to come up with a suitable excuse. "But this is my party. I am the main even after all," I flipped my hair over my shoulder with a cute smirk. "I can't just leave early."

I could see the outline of his rock hard pecs as he took a step closer to me. My eyes fluttered up to meet with his. Despite being outside in December, it suddenly was extremely warm. Oh—wait, no, that's just Ryan making my body temperature increase to dangerous levels! Why must he stand so close?! I couldn't help but to inhale slightly deeper as my breathing hitched. And why must he smell so intoxicatingly delicious?! 

"I never took you for a girl who needs everyone else's permission, princess," he huskily cooed so only I could hear.

I rolled my eyes at his condescending nickname for me as well as his statement. "I don't need anyone's permission to leave," I folded my arms under my chest.

"Is that so?" His smirk widened as his eyes narrowed, which only made him look even more mischievous. 

He was obviously challenging me. I shouldn't give in, but I'm Daisy Nickels. And Daisy friggin' Nickels isn't one to back down from a challenge, okay. A devious look soon etched upon my face as I subtly peeped up at him. I saw his eyes widen slightly at my confidence, which only made my glossy lips smirk up. I just love feeling dominant. 

"Yeah, let's go then."