Tyler looked at me expectantly, and I closed my eyes willing myself to remember everything. Forcing the memories back. It wasn't that difficult since I still remember everything like it was just yesterday.

"It was our first football match of the season last year, against Edgewood high, and Neil was very excited about it. We were all there to support him. But you might recall as you were still our team captain back then, that we lost the match, everyone was down and disappointed. After the match we were trying to cheer Neil up, it was only Ash, Avi, and I sitting at the bleachers when the crowd was slowly starting to fade away.

"That's when I first saw Max stone, talking to his fellow teammates still high on his victory. By pure coincidence, he looked in my direction at the exact same moment and our eyes met. I didn't know him back then, so naturally, I offered him a small smile, and he gladly returned it with a wink. I didn't have the slightest clue that I had just invited a monster into my life with a simple gesture." I took a deep breath to calm my nerves. 

Tyler reached out and gave a small squeeze to my hand silently encouraging me to go on. Reminding me it's all in the past now. It worked because I was soon lost. Zoned out in the sea of memories that I tried so hard to not drown in, all these months.

I didn't even see Tyler at this point anymore. I was taken back in time. And I started relieving everything yet again.

While we waited for Neil to get changed and meet us at the parking lot, I saw Max and his friends walking towards us. "Hey guys," Max greeted us and gave us a wide smile. We smiled and congratulated them on the win, it was the first time he had ever spoken to us, but he seemed quite nice and friendly.

"You guys should join us for the party we are having at my place," a guy standing beside Max told us. A fairly tall guy with an easy smile. A smile that I was instantly mesmerized with.

"And who are you?" I blurted out looking at the guy.

He raised an amused eyebrow at me and said, "I'm Paul."

"And, What's your name gorgeous? " Max interrupted us.

"Veronica."

"Beautiful," he whispered and turned to others, "So you guys in?"

"I don't know man, we are not really feeling it. And it's kind of weird to celebrate our own defeat," Avi answered, referring to the game.

"Oh come on, be a sport," Max placed a hand on Avi's shoulder which he shrugged off.

Before we could say anything else, Neil walked over to us. His eyes fixed on Max with irritation. "What's going on?" he asked. 

"They were inviting us over for a party at their place," Ash filled him in.

"We are not going anywhere," Neil said in an authoritative tone, leaving no room for discussion. And I knew something was up.

"Too bad," Max smiled and looked at me. "I was looking forward to seeing you there."

"Yeah too bad," Neil answered for me, before slinging a protective arm around me.

 I was officially lost. Anybody could sense the underlying tension between the guys. Even Avi, who was usually calm and collected, seemed to stare each one of them down.

They left without any further argument, and I turned to look at Neil, "Alright, spill."

"What?"

"Who was that?" Ash interjected.

"Edgewood high's football team captain," Neil answered vaguely.

"I know that." I rolled my eyes, "Why were you so hostile towards him?"

"They are our rival team V, the only real rivals we actually have. On and off the field."

"That's it?" Ash asked.

"Max is an asshole. He is known for foul play. He always gets what he wants, no matter what means he has to use for it," Neil explained.

"In short, he is bad news," Avi said.

"That guy was flirting with you, wasn't he?" Ash said, looking at me and I just shrugged in response.

"Don't even think about it V. I mean it," Neil warned.

"I'm not thinking about it." I sighed.

"He is hot, can't deny that," Ash said and both the guys rolled their eyes in response.

Sure he was hot. But the other guy, Paul, had caught my attention. And I was curious to know more about him. But I shook my head to clear off those thoughts, thinking I barely knew the guy, and I didn't even know if I'll ever see him again.

But I was so damn wrong.

Months passed, and I had forgotten about this little incident altogether. I was at a grocery store with my mom, when Paul walked in. He was just as gorgeous as I had remembered him. He spotted me at almost the same time and shot me a bright smile.

"Hey! Veronica, right?" he asked.

"Right." I smiled. We walked out of the store after he picked up a pack of beer he had come for, while my mom was ringing up the cart full of groceries she got.

"Long time no see," he said in an awkward attempt to make a conversation.

"What did you expect? We don't really go to the same school." I laughed.

"Yeah, that's true. And you are not a party person I guess, because I don't really see you in any of the lame high school parties that go on around the town. I see a lot of your school mates though."

"Well, you did just call them lame yourself." I smiled and he chuckled.

We talked for a while and he asked for my number, hoping that we could hang out sometime, and I gladly gave it to him. I really liked the guy.

For about a month we texted each other and hung out a couple of times. Neither Neil nor Avi were happy about this new development. But they could see I really wanted to give this a try and I convinced them that he wasn't so bad as they made him out to be.

Meanwhile, Max had run out of ways to get my attention. He tried to wait around for me outside our school campus, he had somehow found out every spot I liked to hang out at and had tried to talk to me but I had brushed off all his efforts.  

He had even reached out to Neil in hopes of getting my number but Neil was all too happy to tell him to fuck off. I remember feeling like I was being too mean to Max, but Neil and Avi thought that it was for the best and I trusted them. 

"If  Paul turns out to be anything like that douchebag Max, or tries anything inappropriate, you have to tell me. I'll gladly smash his face on a wall," Neil said seriously but I couldn't help but giggle.

"It's not funny V. He's right. Be careful," Avi interjected.

"Yeah, yeah, alright. I can take care of myself, calm down."

"Ok so now, tell me everything about him. Do you think you could fall for him? Like he's the one?" Ash asked, a dreamy look on her face.

"What? No! I don't know if 'he is the one', I just like hanging out with him and he is cute. That's it." 

"Okay." She rolled her eyes with a huff.

"Are you guys interested in coming for a party tonight?" Neil asked.

"Yes," Ash immediately answered, and I rolled my eyes.

"No," I replied when they all turned to look at me.

"Paul will be there," Neil said with a mischievous smile and I cursed. Which made them laugh.

I agreed to go, hoping to have a fun night. And I have regretted that decision every single day since then.