Hey everyone!! I hope you like the edit I made from a past chapter <3 <3
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Things were quiet in the group for the longest time until Hero spoke. 

"Anyone up for a game of Kings Cup?" He shouted. 

Sticking around for a party was the last thing on my mind, but after seeing Hero's attempts at making things right, I was fine with standing by his side.

He said that he loved me in front of everyone he knew. Knowing his past from Jo, it was clear he was ready to commit. 

Was I? Of course I was! He was simply stuck in a rut with the wrong people. He just had to lose a few. 

A fraternity girl with a shredded crop top and volleyball shorts that barely reached her thighs approached. Just like every other girl I'd seen on campus, she seemed affected by Hero's presence, fluttering her lashes at him.

"I'd much rather play a round of strip poker. Just so we're clear, I'm betting all my cards on you." she said. 

"Why the fuck would I want to play that?" Hero spat, looking at the girl in disgust.

"Oh, I wouldn't mind a round of strip poker!" Luke called, rushing over. 

"Oh, I don't really-" I began to say but was cut off by Ellie, heading over as well. 

"What a great idea, Lukey," She taunted in a venomous tone, "I'm prepared to give it my all."

After looking around at the rest of the group, Hero shrugged, taking a look at the fraternity girl that clearly had a thing for him. 

"I'll play a round." he said.

"Perfect!" The girl squeaked, grabbing onto Hero's bicep, barely taking a minute to notice me. "I saved you a seat."

I stood back, feeling like the third wheel. Was Hero trying to be a dick or was he just clueless? That girl was trying to get him in her good graces. I couldn't believe it. He even announced that I was his girlfriend!

Sensing my discomfort, Annie nudged my shoulder, watching the rest of the group sitting in a circle around some furniture. 

"So...You and Hero, huh? When did that happen?"

I simply turned away, sticking my nose in the air. 

Annie peeked around me, attempting to see my reaction. "Did I do something wrong?"

"To be honest with you," I huffed, "This little charade of Ellie's is starting to get on my nerves. I get that she has severe jealously issues, but it's been ongoing. Not only that, but you didn't bother telling me that you're friends with Kylie?"

Annie hit the tips of her shoes against the ground, looking uncomfortable. She seemed to have sobered now.

"You should know I do consider you a friend, but we barely hang out. I didn't think telling you was a priority..."

What? She was the one who warned me about her. 

"Look, let's forget about all this," Annie smiled, "Let's just have a good time?"

I sighed, knowing I was probably blowing it all out of proportion anyway. I allowed her to lead me to the group's lopsided circle, watching as they passed around a bong.

I may have been born into a strict family, but I definitely knew what it was used for. Despite my being uneasy, I sat cross-legged, eyeing Hero and the girl across the way. 

She might as well have been sitting on his lap, the way she was perched on his side. As she giggled and asked him about the lighter he brandished from his pocket, he tried explaining himself as if she really was as stupid as she looked. It made me want to grab the back of her ponytail and drag her away from him.

Get your filthy hands off of my boyfriend, you dirty harlot.

I had become utterly focused on Hero's new distraction that I didn't notice the game had started or even that the bong had landed in my lap.

"You need help ripping that?" Luke asked from beside me. 

"I'm sorry, rip what?" I asked confused.
 
"Oh!" Luke threw his head back, laughing. "My bad! I meant, do you need help smoking through the bong?"

"Um..." I paused, eyeing the glass pipe. "I'm sure I can figure it out... If only I could... Do you smoke it from this end?"

I didn't know what I was doing. The high school version of me would have never even dared to try something like this. 

Luke grinned. "No silly. That's the bowl."

He grabbed a strand of my hair, placing it behind my ear. As he did this, not only did I see Ellie getting more infuriated, but I saw Hero tense from across the way. 

Served him right, letting that fraternity girl flirt with him.

"Just put your lips right here and suck."
Luke finished, making me cringe at the hidden innuendo.

Before I could finish breathing in, I felt an uncomfortable sensation hit my throat, making me cough violently. This was literally the worst thing I had ever done in my life. I shoved the bong towards some girl I didn't know.

"Can we get back to the game already?" Ellie whined. 

"Well, I bet Luke wouldn't draw a Joker so he has to drink from the Vodka sometime in this age and remove some of his clothing..." Hero looked off into the distance, rolling his eyes.

The fraternity girl gasped dramatically, laughing like a deranged banshee. 

"Oh my god, Hero, you're so smart!"

I watched as Luke took a swig and removed his Hawaiian shirt. Apparently, I had been staring for too long because Hero interrupted my reverie. 

"Could you quit eye-fucking him, Kristina?" He threw a stack of cards my way. "Make a fucking bet!"

"Oh, okay," I began, looking at the confusing numbers and hearts. "Well, I'll bet... well, I'm not actually sure how to bet..."

"Just name a fucking card!" Hero yelled, sounding quite exasperated. 

"No worries," Annie winked. "I've got your back, Kristina. I'll bet you can't pull a five of hearts."

As I took another look at my cards hoping some unforeseen force would give me all the answers, Luke leaned a bit too close into my space, running a finger across my deck. He then shook his head. 

I shook my head at the group. "I don't... I don't think I have that card..."

Luke nudged me playfully. "Looks like you have to take something off."

I looked around, feeling out of my element. "I don't feel comfortable doing this."

Like a wizard, Kylie appeared from a mass of people, sitting with the group. 

"Come on, Sandra Dee. It's the rules of the game. Unless you're too chicken to participate. In that case, I'll stand in for you."

I nearly jumped in the air as I saw her fingers reach the strap of her bra. The fake girl hanging all over Hero did get on my nerves, but Kylie set me off even more.

Without a second thought, I snatched the Vodka bottle, with a sneer plastered on my face. When I felt the strong burn hit my bladder, I followed it up with another swig, slowly unbuttoning my blouse, wanting to give Hero a taste of what he was missing.

He sucked in a sharp breath, forming his hand into a tight fist. 

"Okay, this is enough!" Hero shouted, jumping to his feet. "Kristina, you've had too much to drink. You're stripping for everyone to see. We're leaving."

I jumped to my feet as well. 

"That's how you play isn't it?" I shouted back. "Everyone in this group is stripping! Even-"

I stopped myself before I could call out Kylie's name. Everyone probably thought I was crazy enough at the moment. 

"My fucking girlfriend isn't some mannequin to gawk at!"

"Oh, am I your girlfriend?" I challenged. "Funny, coming from the guy letting the whore next to him sit on his lap!"

The fraternity girl that had been leaning so comfortably on Hero, straightened up guiltily, widening her eyes. She then tried to feign innocence. 

"What are you talking about?" She asked. "Hero and I are just super close. I'm sorry if you're too insecure about any girl that comes to talk to him."

I paused, waiting for Hero to stand up for me, though nothing positive came out of his mouth. 

"You should be talking, flirting with Luke, when you know all he wants is to get into your pants!"

I glowered. "I hate you right now. Why do you always have to be such a dick?"

This seemed to have set him off. 

"Oh, yeah?" Hero challenged. "You want me to be a dick?"

With a flourish of his hand, Hero snatched the fraternity girl's- much to her satisfaction- and yanked her to her feet. 

"I have another idea for a game to play," He said. "How about we play seven minutes in heaven?"

I wasn't quite sure what kind of game this was, but something about it didn't sound right. 

"How do you play that game?" I asked with a tremble in my voice. 

Hero smiled with ill intent in his gaze. "Not surprised someone like you doesn't know. Let me demonstrate. Two random people go into a room alone and kiss for seven whole minutes... or whatever else they can think of. Right now, me and Nora are going into the closet upstairs and having you count down, Kristina."

I felt like I had been punched in the gut. Where had the sensitive boy gone that had taken me to his one special place? The one boy that had fought for me to be his girlfriend? What had I done to deserve this punishment from him?

Because Luke did something that was beyond my control? 

As Hero headed away from the group, I covered my face in my hands, not wanting to see any more.

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