dakota's pov +

once kelsey and i knocked on sam's door, it was quickly opened by jack, who immediately grinned at the sight of us.

"before you come in, what's the password?" jack questioned over the music, looking directly at me.

i knitted my eyebrows with confusion, "what are you talking about, jack?".

"kelsey, you can go ahead" he stepped aside from the door to let her in, but quickly stood in my way once i tried to follow.

kelsey chuckled at the confused look that remained on my face right now.

"looks like i'll see you inside, dee" she gave me a thumbs up, then soon disappeared into the crowd.

"jack, let me in" i said, placing my hand on my hip.

i trapped my lips in my mouth to hold back any smiles at this childish game that he was playing.

"the password first. what is it?".

"i wasn't told about a password, so you're gonna have to help me out and give me a clue".

jack smiled, licking his lips, "i don't give out clues".

his taller body towered over me as we stood inches apart. i folded my arms to keep a stern face at the smirk on his face, but soon gave up and let out a sigh.

"okay, fine. the password is: jack is the best person in the entire world" i tried, since it was likely he was just fishing for a compliment from me.

"that doesn't sound like much of a password to me".

i harmlessly punched his shoulder, "stop. quit being annoying and let me in".

"annoying?! do you want to get in to this party or not?" he questioned.

but i raised my eyebrows at him to say that i was serious and to stop with this mind games.

"okay, okay" he gave in and stepped aside. "but only because i want a drink and you are going to join me".

he put his arm over my shoulder and we walked through the huge crowd of people, who were socialising and dancing to the music playing.

we made about two stops on the way as people just couldn't stop greeting jack and giving him bro hugs. every time, i told him that i could just meet him after, but he'd insist that i stay and cut his conversations short for me.

when we finally made it to the kitchen, jack popped open a beer and i decided to have a cup of the alcoholic fruit punch.

i was excited to enjoy his company, but as if on cue, crystal walked in on her black heeled boots, closely observing our interaction.

"dakota, you're here again. at another one of our parties" she smiled with her arms folded across her chest.

even though she was insinuating that i shouldn't be here or that i belong here, i sipped my drink in peace and shrugged my shoulders.

"problem?" i questioned.

"yeah, crystal" jack spoke up. "problem?".

"no, i was just stating facts and making sure that you weren't lost or anything" she chuckled.

in the most fake way possible, i laughed along with her until she finally turned on her heels and left jack and i alone.

once she was out of sight, we suddenly burst out laughing at what just happened.

"wow. she definitely still wants you" i told him, leaning back against the counter.

he shook his head, "nah, crystal only wants what she can't have".

"so, you wouldn't ever go back to her?" i subtly asked, lightly swirling my cup to mix the drink.

"no way" jack scoffed, sipping his beer. "i couldn't deal with all of that again".

"oh. well, that's good".

"good?" he chuckled at my choice of words.

"you can do so much better, jack" i assured.

"like who? olivia?" he inquired. "because she's supposed to be coming tonight, but hasn't responded to any of my texts".

i wasn't quick enough to speak back since the mention of olivia completely threw me off guard. so, i just drank my drink and listened instead.

"i want her here, but i'm not going to let myself obsess over waiting for her like last time. i need to save myself from any possible disappointment" jack explained.

i could literally stand and talk to jack for hours, but if he was going to continue to talk about olivia, i know that i need to get out of this conversation.

"right. i, uh, need to go and find jonah because i haven't seen him yet" i announced.

jack snickered and leant closer to me, "i bet you ten dollars that him and connor are in full make out mode somewhere in this house".

"that's such an easy bet!" i exclaimed. "we all know that it'll be true, so you're not getting ten dollars off me that easily, gilinsky".

he laughed and shrugged, "it was worth a try".

"hey! you kids having fun?" sam suddenly came over to us with johnson.

he ruffled jack's hair up to greet him, then grabbed two beers from the counter behind me for him and johnson.

"well, i am. dakota?" jack looked to me.

i nodded, "yeah, so far".

at that moment, johnson clumsily settled right beside me and nudged my arm.

"dakota, you and i need to get to know each other more" he began.

"we do?".

he downed probably a quarter of his beer as i waited for him to speak again.

"yeah, we haven't really spoken since what? eighth grade. and you seem to be spending a lot of time with my best friend, so it would make sense right?" johnson added.

i looked to jack to get a further explanation of what was going on right now, but he just chuckled and scratched the back of his neck.

"he's just a little tipsy" he told me.

"no, i'm not!" johnson complained. "i just want to know more about the girl you talk about all the time...or is it olivia he talks about? i don't know, you're almost the same person to me".

i was glad that jack and sammy just laughed at johnson's words instead of taking them seriously, but my heart was still managing to beat much faster than usual.

"i really need to go and find jonah now" i told the boys and took my drink with me to start heading out of the kitchen.

"wait, dakota. if you see kelsey, tell her that i'm looking for her!" sammy called out with a quick wink.

i don't know whether it is really cute or really creepy how this guy never gives up on kelsey.

but, i nodded my head any ways and finally walked away before another conversation about olivia popped up for me to feel uncomfortable in.

+

it was getting close to 2am and the party was clearing out.

the last few people stumbled across the room to reach the front door until sam's house was just left with the usual jocks, crystal and her friends, then kelsey, jonah and i.

"where's jonah?" kelsey moaned, pulling on my arm. "i'm so tired and i just need to sleep before the hangover kicks in".

"he's upstairs getting re-dressed" i answered and before she spoke, i stopped her. "don't ask".

"okay, well i'm going to head to the bathroom because i either need to pee or be sick" she announced.

i always make sure that i drink slightly less than kelsey and jonah, because i know that they can take the alcohol more than me. and i mean, someone needs to look after them when they're completely wasted.

i chuckled at her words and patted her shoulder, "i'll wait for you outside".

kelsey rushed away upstairs and i tried searching for my denim jacket. i spotted it underneath derek, who was passed out in between two other girls.

i pulled it out from beneath them, trying my best not wake them up. when i finally did, i put it on and fixed my hair in the mirror then turned to make my way out the house.

"leaving so soon?" jack's voice said from behind me. "i lost you half way through the party".

he settled in front of me with a small smile and his hands in his pockets.

"i know, i just stuck with kelsey most of the night" i replied. "but i'm surprised that you're still sober".

he laughed, "the whole being drunk feeling starts to get boring when you do it enough".

"well, i can't relate because i'm sure that i've only been drunk once in my life".

"what?! we definitely need to change that" jack insisted.

i smirked, pulling my brows together, "are you saying that you want to get me drunk, jack?".

"of course i am. if you're fun now, imagine how hilarious drunk dakota would be".

i playfully shook my head at him. i could hardly imagine how i'd be around jack if i was drunk. i guess i'd just start spilling all of my emotions on how crazy i am about him.

"oh and before you leave, you left your bag in the kitchen" jack jogged out of the room, then promptly returned with my bag in his hands.

"thanks" i said, taking it from him.

i didn't even realise that the zip was open until a few of my things started falling out.

"shit, let me help you" jack bent down to pick up what had fallen on the floor - my keys, my lipgloss, mascara and with my luck, my other phone.

he slowly stood up, staring at the screen then looked up at me.

"is this your phone?" he asked.

i quickly grabbed it off him, "no, it's just—".

"why are my texts to olivia on there?" jack questioned.

-

omg omg omg

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