"Everett! My man!"

As Everett and I stepped foot into the apartment, we were greeted with blasting music and flashing lights. River was right at the door, a red cup in hand with sweet smelling liquid sloshing around inside. He tossed an arm around Everett's shoulders and tugged him away from me.

"Guest of honour is here!" he shouted into the crowd. A wave of cheers responded, strangers raising their cups and whistling for him.

"River!" I scolded, grabbing him by the neck. "What is this?"

"Isn't it obvious? It's Everett's going away party." He shoved his cup into my hand. "Drink."

I rolled my eyes, watching as he vanished into the crowd before taking a long swig and shoving the cup into Everett's hand. I screwed my nose up, the taste burning its way down my throat. Whatever River had mixed into the cup, it was already beginning to buzz through me.

"I'm sorry," I said once the taste passed. "I didn't realise he'd throw one of these stupid parties tonight. I'll go tell him—"

Before I could walk away, Everett grabbed my arm and took a swig out of the cup himself. He wiped his mouth with the side of his wrist and grinned at me.

"It's alright," he shouted over the music. His thumb rubbed over my skin and my heart swooped in response. "It's just his way of saying goodbye, you know? Let's just pretend we're on Shellside Bay and there's a bonfire in front of us."

His hold dropped to my hand, and he pulled me closer until our chests were almost touching.

"Besides," he said, "this is my favourite song."

The speakers were blasting a song I'd never heard of and judging by the way Everett bopped his head to the complete wrong rhythm, I guessed he'd never heard it either. Nevertheless, the way he nodded to the music and grinned down at me, I was beginning to catch his energy.

Relenting, I smiled at him. I had to admit, River's parties had always been dull without Everett, but now that he was here...

"I guess I could have a little bit of fun before you go," I replied. I took the cup out of his hands and swallowed the remaining alcohol. "But you can't get too drunk, or you'll be hungover on your flight."

Everett shrugged. "So, I'll sleep the entire flight. It'll be fine."

"You're going to sleep for a whole twenty-hour flight?"

"Do you know how many times I've flown out here, Isla? You're lucky my dad sold his soul to the corporate world and my grandma likes it when I visit. I've probably slept on a plane more than I have in my own bed. I think I can handle one plane ride with a bit of a headache," he teased.

I shoved his shoulder. "Well, sorry for living half-way across the world."

He caught my hand and leaned closer, his smile growing. "Hey, I never said I didn't like it. I'd fly anywhere if it meant I could see you. Even for a second."

I couldn't help it. My lips twitched and I fought a smile before rolling my eyes and pushing him away. "You're so cheesy. Let's get drunk."

I didn't know what River had put in the drink I'd downed, but I was already feeling more alive. We found our way to more alcohol—beer bottles and plastic cups knocking against our llips.

It didn't take long for the room to start spinning.

We stumbled through the kitchen, squeezing between dancing bodies and other thirsty souls. Everett blindly grabbed for a glass bottle, procuring an almost-empty bottle of vodka. He grinned at me, his entire body tipping as he poured it into cups for us, the alcohol swishing against the edges of the plastic.

He raised his cup to mine and smiled.

"Cheers, babe."

Clinking our cups together, we knocked back the shot—or shot and a bit—the alcohol burning its way down our throats.

I gagged, sticking my tongue out at him.

"Where's your teen spirit, Monroe?" Everett teased, leaning in close so that I could hear him over the music.

I rolled my eyes, turning my head so that my lips brushed his ear. Even then, I had to shout, the music and chatter too loud to hear my own voice. "That was much more than a shot."

"Hey, I'm here for a good time. You want another or what?"

I settled him with a glare but lifted my cup anyway. I could complain all I wanted, but the buzz of alcohol was lighting my veins and I wanted more.

He filled it with even more vodka than last time. Again, we cheered and threw it back. This time, the burning bothered me less.

The next time he filled it, he added some soft drink to help wash it down. Vodka and cranberry Red Bull—my favourite. How long had it been since our last Shellside Bay bonfire? And yet he remembered. He always did.

One song faded into another and soon the room seemed to be screaming, girls squealing and dragging their friends and partners to the centre of the room. I gasped alongside them, dropping my cup onto the table, and grabbing Everett's arm instead.

"Oh, my God! This is my song!"

"Is this Taylor Swift?" he shouted incredulously.

I barely heard him, already screaming the lyrics with the rest of the room as I dragged Everett towards the edge of the dance floor.

Soon, we found ourselves squashed between bodies, Everett's chest to my back. I swayed my hips, grinning over my shoulder and yelling along to the song as Everett's arm wrapped around my waist, his hand gripping his own drink over my stomach.

His lips settled near my ear. "I don't know why you like this song so much."

"Are you crazy?" I shouted back at him.

"Possibly."

His lips brushed over the tip of my ear, his breath fanning over the skin there, cool over the sweat that lined my neck. They trailed down, sliding behind my ear and down to the place where my jaw met my neck, gently biting the skin there.

I gasped, leaning further into this touch, Taylor Swift long forgotten.

My hand slid up to grab his hair, holding him to my neck as I pushed my body closer to his. Around us, people continued screaming to the music, dancing, drinking, but to me—we were the only ones in the room.

And Everett—Everett was here. If there was anything that could prove it to me in that moment, it was his hard body against mine, his lips on my skin, his hands trailing over my stomach and lower, lower, until his fingers reached my upper thigh, curling around the flesh there.

"Everett," I mouthed, my voice drowned out by the music, but he seemed to hear me anyway. He pulled back to smile at me, a smirk in the very sense of the word before I'd had enough. I turned to him, pressing my lips against his.

He fell into me immediately, his mouth moving against mine, his tongue eagerly seeking my own. With my body facing his, I could press our chests flush against each other, his arms wrapping around my waist, his cup knocking against my lower back as he held me close.

One hand trailed lower, tugging at the hem of my shorts and I pulled back to shoot him a look.

"When did you become so—"

"So what?" he challenged.

"Such a tease," I finished.

"Since I got some alcohol in my system." To prove his point, he lifted his cup, tossing his head back to take another drink. He leaned closer and I could smell the sweetness of the drink on his breath. "Why? Do you like it?"

"Hmm. I don't know. I might need to test it out a bit more."

His smile grew. "I'd be happy to help with that."

Before I could respond, he was kissing me again. His fingers were roaming over me again. His body was pressed against mine again. And I couldn't breathe. My heart was pounding against my ribcage, the noise buzzing in my ears along with my blood.

All I could hear, feel, breathe, was Everett.

And when his fingers crept under the hem of my shorts, pressing beneath the curve of my bum, I pulled away with gasping breaths.

"Maybe we should go back to my room," I muttered against his lips. His chest rose and fell as quickly as his lips twitched in response.

"Is that a direct invitation?"

"Would you like me to take it back?"

He shook his head immediately and it was my turn to grin. I trailed a hand down his chest, pausing at his stomach. Through the thin cloth of his shirt, I could feel the heat of his body, the fast rise and fall of his breaths.

"Follow me," I said. He didn't have to be told again.

We turned together, only to stop in our tracks.

"Isla!" Lachie shouted. He was already halfway towards us by the time we'd met eyes, and within frantic seconds of searching for a hidden path to my room, he closed the small gap between us, lifting a hand in greeting.

My smile fell, then returned as I smoothed my hair back. Everything was spinning. I could feel Everett's hand tensing against the back of my thigh. I wondered if Lachie could see it. I hoped my shorts hadn't ridden up.

"Lachie," I said. "Hey."

"I knew that was you!" he yelled back. "I was calling you!"

"She was a bit preoccupied," Everett murmured, too low for Lachie to hear, but just loud enough for me. I elbowed him in the ribs, keeping my smile steady.

"I didn't hear you," I shouted.

Lachie shrugged, his eyes falling to Everett beside me. His eyes landed on his face, then fell to his hand, wrapped around my thigh. His gaze flickered back to Everett's face.

"Good to see you again, man. How was the flight? Wasn't expecting you to be back so soon."

"My girlfriend lives here, obviously I'd be back." His voice was curt, and I frowned, looking up at him over my shoulder. His entire focus was on Lachie. It seemed as if every muscle in his body had tensed up. "How's college going, Luke?"

"Oh, it's Lachlan. Or Lachie." He paused to crack a smile at me. "Or Lachlan Lachie."

I forced a laugh, my eyes flicking to my bedroom door, just out of reach. "I almost forgot about that."

"You know, for a second, I thought you really believed that was my real name."

"I would never! I'm not that dumb."

"Really?"

"Positive."

"Because I seem to remember a blank lab manual that day we met in the library..."

I scoffed. "I was—well, that was because—I just hadn't started working on it yet."

"Really? Because you were sitting in that library for a while. Staring at your blank pages."

"How did you—I was not."

"She was top of her grade," Everett jumped in. We both turned to him. "Valedictorian," he added.

Lachlan met my eye, then snorted. "Valedictorian? I think that's an American thing."

"I was dux, yeah," I said. Everett's fingers tightened around my thigh, and I leaned back, hoping my touch would calm him down. Lachie was joking. It was who he was. He couldn't get through a conversation without teasing.

"Well, you have to admit, that's a stupid name," Everett replied, smiling down at me.

"Stupid name? Like valedictorian is any better," I shot back.

"It is better. By miles." He raised a brow at me, challenging me. I was never one to turn down a challenge. I lifted my chin defiantly.

"You literally say dick every time you say valedictorian." Not my strongest argument, but my head was still foggy with alcohol and the feeling of Everett's fingers on me. All I could focus on were his lips, just there, centimetres from mine.

"It's a Latin word," he replied.

"Because so many people speak Latin these days."

"And what language does dux come from?"

"A... language. That everyone speaks."

He smirked down at me. "Oh, really?"

"I think it's Latin too," Lachie said.

We both spun, suddenly remembering our persistent guest still standing in front of us. My whole face warmed as I realised just how close Everett was leaning towards me now. I shifted slightly away from him, but his grip on my tightened and he refused to move back.

"See?" Everett said, his voice tight. "Latin. Such a useful language."

We fell into an awkward silence, although Lachie didn't seem to be bothered. It felt as if every person that passed knew him and patted his shoulder or slapped his hand in way of greeting.

Everett's fingers seemed to be massaging me now, his other hand moving to hold my hip, as if urging me to keep walking—to reach our final destination. I shook my head slightly, waiting for Lachie to finish talking to the latest passer-by so that I could wrap up this conversation and drag Everett against me again.

Beyond him, the rest of the room continued to bounce. If I narrowed my eyes, I thought I could see River—except it wasn't him.

No, this person was taller, and distinctly less Asian. The only reason I'd mistaken him was the buzzcut and the fact that Alistair had him pressed up against a wall, his fingers palming across the not-River's skin.

I warmed, turning back to Lachie who was finally saying goodbye to his friend.

"Alright, well..." I started, but Lachie interrupted.

"Actually, I've been meaning to ask. How'd you go on your midterm?"

My smile fell. "Oh. The midterm. Yeah. It was—uh—not bad. I mean..."

"Isla," Everett interrupted. "I need to use the bathroom. Can you show me the way?"

I turned to him, my mind whirring. He knew where the bathroom was. He knew the way. He—I swallowed hard, catching on as he sent me a sharp look.

Lachie, however, did not catch on.

"It's just down the hall, mate."

Everett paused. He settled Lachie with a glare, then slowly said, "I think I need clearer instructions."

"Clearer? Mate, it's an apartment. You'll know it when you see it."

Everett's jaw twitched.

"Listen, mate, I said that I need clearer fucking—"

"It's fine!" I shouted. "I'll take him. I needed to go too, so... yeah. I'll see you at uni, yeah?"

Lachie frowned but nodded. I nodded back, taking Everett's hand and continuing through the crowded room until we reached my room. I lead him through the door, shutting it behind me.

As soon as it clicked shut, he had me against the door, one hand on the wood beside me head, the other on my hip as he pressed his lips against mine.

"Never thought that fucker would shut up," he muttered against my mouth.

I laughed. "You need to be nice. He's my only friend."

"You really couldn't find anyone else?"

"Stop complaining you jealous idiot and kiss me again."

He did. His hands slid down, tracing my body until he reached my thighs. He lifted me easily and I wrapped my legs around his waist, sighing as our hips met.

"Fuck," Everett murmured. "I missed this."

"I missed you," I replied.

I could feel him smile as he kissed me again, this time his lips parting and his tongue sliding into my mouth. Before I can wrap my mind around what is happening, he spun, dropping me with a rush onto the mattress.

I blinked, my eyes still adjusting to the darkness of my room compared to the party outside, when I realised, he was pulling his shirt off. He leaned over me, and I took advantage of his bare chest, running my hands across his skin, loving the feeling.

His lips moved to my jaw this time, trailing down to my neck where he sucked hard. My grip on his bare shoulder tightened and he pulled away a moment later, staring down at his handywork.

"Don't tell me you left a mark," I chided.

He smiled back. "Was that against the rules?"

"Very. River will never let me get over it."

"Well, that's too bad for you. I need to leave you with something that'll last when I'm gone tomorrow."

I frowned. I'd been trying very hard all night not to think about the fact that in a few hours, he'd be gone again. Vanished to the other side of the world.

Back to intermittent phone calls and scattered texts.

For now, I reminded myself. For now, until he transferred here. Until he was mine permanently.

"You're lying," I teased. "You're just upset about Lachie."

His eyes settled on me, and he grew serious. "I am upset. I'm fucking devastated that he gets to keep talking to you and looking at you while I'm gone. I just gave him something to look at."

I rolled my eyes. "Jealousy isn't a good look, Everett."

His smile returned, this time softer. "Will you forgive me?"

"That depends," I said.

"On what?"

"On how I'm feeling."

"Oh?" he hummed. His hand slipped down, tracing down my chest until it reached the hem of my shirt. His fingers slipped under, laying flat against my lower stomach. "And how are you feeling?'

"Impatient."

He laughed, leaning back down to kiss me. My clothes were gone in seconds, tugged from my skin until his bare body was pressed against mine.

Outside, we could still hear the party going, music blasting, people shouting.

But in here, it was just us. It was just Everett and me. And our breaths mingled into one, our voices blended, and our chests pressed against each other, rising, and falling in sync.

He held me in his arms until the sun began to brighten the sky and leak into my room. Until the sky turned into orange clouds dotted against deep purple.

Until the promise of his flight home became sealed, and tears began to well in my eyes.

"I don't want you to leave," I whispered into the dawn.

Everett's hand slipped across my bare waist as he tugged me against him. "I'll be back soon."

"I can't—" tears fell freely now and a sob choked my words—"I'm not sure if I can see you go. I don't—I can't—"

"You don't have to," he murmured, pressing a kiss against my forehead. "Go to sleep. I'll leave when you're not awake anymore."

I couldn't deny that I felt tired. My whole body ached to sleep, my eyes refused to open, but I refused to let go. I clung onto what little consciousness I had left, my hands gripping Everett's. My voice came out quiet.

"But... I don't want you to leave."

"Sleep," he whispered. His thumb stroked my hand, and I felt my breathing turn heavier.

"Sleep," he repeated.

The world seemed to fade in and out. I swore I could feel Everett's lips on my forehead again. His hand left mine.

And I knew, when I woke later and the sun turned the sky its pale blue, he'd be gone.

And I'd be alone.

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AUTHOR'S NOTE

This chapter is somewhat unedited so sorry for any mistakes, I hope you loved it nonetheless!

Next time: Everett leaves