Chapter 1

Okay...this chapter is going to seem extremely boring but I swear it'll get better towards the end😔🖐 i can't just jump right into action.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Holy...shit." I manage to hear over the loud music that was playing.

I look around, almost in disgust, before my eyes land on my friend who convinced me to come to this stupid party, and she looks at me back with wide eyes.

"Holy shit!" She yells again and breaks out into a grin. "This is exactly like the movies. The loud music, people dancing, the house is messy already, people so drunk they can't even form sentences- and look!" She points at some random guy taking a drink from his cheap plastic cup. "They even have red solo cups. Isn't this a dream?" She swoons.

"More like a nightmare." I respond, barely even able to hear her.

"I cannot hear shit you are saying, but I'm going to imagine you agreed with me for once. I'll imagine you saying something along the lines of 'Yes Lorena, this is so amazing. I'm so grateful and happy you convinced me to come with you' okay?" She put air quotations on what was meant to be my words. I just shake my head in response.

"Let's get a drink." She grabs my hand and drags me to the kitchen. "I heard, that the best part of this frat house, is that they're all rich and white so drinks are always provided. Isn't that great?" Lorena excitedly pours herself a cup of whatever bottle she first saw.

"What do you want?" She asks me.

"Water." I scrunch up my face at the smell of whatever she poured. "I want water. With ice." I add the last bit.

"You can't ask for ice at someone else's party. And you have to drink. This is our first actual college party. We are freshmen. You think we'll get invited again to one of these?" My friend puts her cup down and grabs my shoulders. "Live a little."

"Hun, if we're both drunk, how do you expect us to get home safely? You know what they say about frat boys..." I mentally gag. "They're dogs." I watch as my friend ponders in thought.

"You're right. I get completely and utterly drunk, and you take us home safe." She grins then grabs a cup and walks over to the freezer. She comes back in a matter of seconds, just handing me a water bottle.

"I don't think you want ice. It looks yellow." She shudders. I laugh and she chugs her drink.

"Let's go dance!" She pulls my arm and leads me back into the living room, where most of the people were at, dancing their lives away.

I hate dancing, and Lorena knows this. I don't know why, I just feel embarrassed whenever people want me to dance. Although I highly doubt anybody cares enough to pay attention to me dance, it just feels like the entire world has their eyes on me and are judging my every move when I do. Lorena starts dancing and has on such a big smile, trying to encourage me to move my body as she did. I shake my head no, but she just grabs my hands and starts tugging me around. I want to leave now. I should have never agreed to come.

"Callie!" I hear Lorena yell and then wave her hands in the air, motioning for our friend to come over to us.

Callie beams and quickly makes her way over.

"Hey girls!" She gives us a hug each. "Are you enjoying the party?"

"I am, she's not." Lorena points at me, laughing.

"Hey...I never said that." I respond, though we all know that parties are not my thing. I don't like being around so many people.

"It's just, there's so many people in here, and the music is loud...." I trail off. "I'm sorry. I'm complaining. I'm happy that you guys are here with me though, it makes it all the better." I add. I really did love my friends, but I hated parties.

"If you want, you can go hang out in the backyard. It doesn't seem like many people are out there. Cameron is coming soon, and I'm not drinking tonight so I can keep an eye on Lorena. Then after, the 4 of us can go home together. Sound good? I'll text you when we're ready to leave if we can't find each other." I am so grateful for her. I give her a hug and then quickly make my way out of the house and into the backyard.

It is huge, and there is a big pool to the left. It seems so nice to live here, but knowing how guys are they probably take it for granted. I look around, Callie was right. There isn't many people out here. I walk over to where the pool is and sit down on the steps that lead up to it. I pull out my phone and start scrolling through my socials. I was so deep into the for you page on Tik tok, that I didn't even notice a guy had walked up to me.

"Ahem." He clears his throat to get my attention. My eyes quickly snap up to him. "You're in my spot." He glares at me.

"Oh." I say stupidly, not knowing how to respond to that. This isn't even a seat, it's literally the stairs. "I didn't see anybody sitting here when I came out here. Sorry." I try to stand up, but he's too close.

The guy suddenly bursts out laughing, holding his chest. He takes a couple steps away from me and tries to regain his composure.

"I'm messing with you." He smiles and extends a hand out for me to shake. I stare at it, confused. Did he think that was funny? Is that what people here consider humor?

"I'm Ethan." He says, still extending his hand to me. I finally take it.

"Nova." I reply, giving a smile back out of politeness.

"But seriously, this is my spot." He tilts his head at me. "But I guess there's room for two." He sits down beside me, making me scoot over.

"You know," I say awkwardly "I don't think there is. I don't want to intrude so I'll let you be." I start to get up but he puts a gentle hand on my shoulder.

"Nonsense. Join me. It'd be nice to have some company, don't you think? Parties aren't really my thing."

I sit back down and turn to look at the guy. He is nice, I think. At least nice looking. He is tall, nice bone structure, brown eyes, brown hair. Basic. He is basic. He looks like every other white boy at this party- and I assume- this school.

He looks at me for my response.

"Sure." I nod.

"So," he starts, apparently he actually wanted to make conversation. "How old are you? Are you a student here? Who invited you?" He starts firing questions. Who does this guy think he is? It seems like an interrogation.

He must sense my uncomfortableness.

"Sorry, I don't mean to be nosy. I just want to get to know you." He flashes another smile at me. Maybe I was just being uptight. I notice my shoulders are tense, so I relax.

"You're fine." I said reassuringly. "I'm 17, I turn 18 next month. Yes, I'm a freshman, and my friend's boyfriend knows some guys from here so they had me and another one of my friends come along."

He continued to ask questions for the next 20 minutes or so before we suddenly fell silent. By now, we are the only ones who are in the backyard, and surprisingly enough, I was already feeling comfortable around him.

"Let's get into the pool." He suddenly says.

"Huh?" I look at him like he's crazy.

"Let's get into the pool." He repeats, suddenly grinning.

He gets up and climbs up the last few steps to the pool. He takes off his shirt, and when I see him start to take off his shoes and socks, I look away, knowing what would be coming next. Within a matter of seconds I hear the sound of him submerging into the water. I turn around again and climb up to the top of the stairs as well, but instead of stripping, I sit on the edge of the pool.

"You don't want to come in?" He stands in the water in front of me, submerged only to his waist. How is this man so casual with me, just in his boxers?

"Do you think I just carry a bathing suit around with me or something?" I laugh.

"Here, change into my shirt. It should be long enough to cover you. You're short." He reaches over to his pile of clothes and phone, grabbing his black shirt and pushing it into my hands. I narrow my eyes at him.

"I am not short." I put the shirt in my lap and cross my arms. "I'll have you know I stand at a proud 5'8." I say and let out a little 'hmph' at the end of my sentence.

"Yes, as I said before. Short." He taunts, and then laughs. "Please get changed, you wouldn't want me to be in here alone do you?" He grabs my hands and gives his best attempt at puppy eyes. I laugh and push him away.

"Be quiet. Turn around." At the sound of my words he grins and turns around, even making the extra effort to cover his eyes.

I have no idea why I'm doing this, I think to myself. With a stranger, of all people. I like to swim though, and this guy doesn't seem like he wants to kill me...at least not that I know of. He turns and I quickly strip of all my clothing, except my undergarments, and slip on his black tee. I hate to admit, but it did cover as much that needed to be covered. I cross my arms over my chest and walk onto the first step that the pool has to offer, then the next one, and the next one, until I was standing at the bottom of the shallow end, right next to Ethan.

"You can open your eyes." I tell him. He turns his body to face me and smiles.

"I didn't think you'd actually come in." He admits, scratching his head shyly.

"What? Why? You asked me to." I frown. "Should I get out? Only half your shirt is wet right now. I can wring it out and maybe it'll dry before you leave, if that's the problem." I start going back up the first stair leading out of the pool.

"No, wait!" He grabs my arm, laughing. "I don't care about the shirt. Sorry if I offended you. I meant I didn't expect you to come in because it's the spur of the moment and you were out here away from everyone, instead of inside where the party is at." He offers an apologetic smile.

See, that's where he's wrong.

"Excuse me?" I raise an eyebrow. I take a seat on the first step of the pool, a little less than half my body still out of the water. "Are you implying that I don't know how to have fun?" I question, does he think he knows me based off of our 20 minute exchange?

"Yeah, I am implying that." His response shocks me. I stare at him for a minute, mouth open a little.

"You..." I trail off. "Were you not outside too? We are in the same boat!" I narrow my eyes playfully at him.

"According to you, you were sitting where I was long before I even got here. And you want to say I can't have fun?" I ask. He just stares at me, amused.

"I know I can have fun, I just don't find parties fun." He grins.

"I can have fun." I cross my arms. "I got into the pool with you, a complete stranger who thinks he has me all figured out, after all didn't I?"

"You did." He grins "But can you really...have fun?" He takes a few steps further into the deep end of the pool and a massive smile comes over his face.

He starts splashing me. I squeal in shock and cover my face.

"Hey!" I laugh.

"Can you? Huh Nova? Can you have fun?" I hear the laugh in his voice as he splashes water at me.

Without a word, I stand up in the pool and start pushing water back at him. This goes on for several minutes, both of us becoming a laughing mess.

"Okay, okay!" Ethan puts his hands up in surrender. "You win! I give up." He's still laughing. I am too, but I ignore his statement and continue splashing him.

Within seconds he appears right in front of me, grabbing both of my hands so I can't splash him anymore. Both of our laughs soon die down and we just look each other in the eyes now. A small smile plays on his lips. I don't notice how close he is- actually wait- it seems like he's getting closer. For the second time since he sat down next to me, there is pure silence, but this time feels different. I watch as he tilts his head slightly, and before I know it, I can feel his breath on my lips.

Am I really going to do this right now? Am I about to kiss a stranger? I mean...I'm not opposed to the idea. Lorena has been telling me I need to stop being so stubborn and 'live my life' as she puts it. Maybe college is the time to reinvent myself. Maybe-

"Can I kiss you?" His words interrupt my thoughts.

"Do you want to?" I question him back. He smiles, though I can't quite see because of how close we are, but I know he does.

"I think you know I want to." He chuckles.

"Then okay." I whisper, and his lips immediately meet mine.

I have no idea who the guy in front of me is. He could be a serial killer, a peeping Tom, even a stalker. But here I am, letting him kiss me. Inside a pool. While I'm wearing his shirt. I wrap my arms around his shoulders and I feel him push himself closer to me. I feel vulnerable, but for some reason, I like it. I like the feel of his lips against mine. I like the way he cups my face after he kisses me. I like the shivers that are running through my body. It feels good. I feel good. I feel drunk, even though all I've had is water all night. Much to my dismay, he pulls away. It felt like only a quick second, though I know we had to be kissing longer than that.

I open my eyes and he's already staring at me, his gaze burning holes right through my body. I gulp, sort of intimidated. Then he smiles again, but this time it's different than the smiles he's been putting out all night. It's sweet, almost addicting. I want to see this smile more often.

Wait, what the hell am I thinking? I don't even know this guy. Oh god, what have I done? It was just a kiss. It was just a kiss. I try repeating in my head. He most definitely only seen it as that and you should too! Get yourself together Nova. I have a mental war with myself in my head. Ethan is still cupping my face with one hand, his other now twirling one of my curls with his fingers.

"What are you thinking?" He notices me lost in my thoughts. I unwrap my arms from his body, laying them limply at my sides. I expect him to do the same but he continues to play with my hair.

"I'm sorry." I blurt out, biting my lip. At this, he stops twirling my hair and puts both of his hands in front of him. None of us move our bodies away from each other though.

"What are you sorry about?" He furrows both his eyebrows. "Do you regret kissing me? Did I make you feel uncomfortable?" He takes a step away from me, putting not much of a distance between us.

"What? No. Wait, were you uncomfortable?" I ask, almost embarrassed.

He talks so casually about this. Maybe it really didn't matter to him. Maybe we can both go back to normal tomorrow. Actually, I probably won't ever see him again. What's the chance I have classes with him? Slim to none.

"Of course not." He gives me a reassuring, genuine smile.

I sigh and start walking towards the steps of the pool that lead out. I sit on the first step and Ethan stands in front of me.

"I don't...do that kind of thing often." I say, looking anywhere but him. "I don't just go around kissing people." I bite my lip.

"Only occasionally?" I can just hear the smile in his voice. I can't help but to chuckle a little.

"No- not ever. I'm sorry if I'm making this awkward." I dip my head down so he can't see the embarrassment written all over my face.

"Hey, you don't have anything to be embarrassed about." He gently grabs my chin, leading my gaze to him. "I don't do this often either. I'm kind of surprised I asked you to kiss me." He admits.

My face relaxes a little bit and I feel the heat coming to my cheeks. Thank gosh I'm dark enough, or I would be the same color as a tomato.

"Why do you talk so casually about this kind of thing?" I look at Ethan, and he releases his hand from my chin.

"Because it's a casual subject?" He tilts his head, looking at me. "What do you mean?" I feel a small pit form in my stomach.

How was this casual? He must have lied when he said he doesn't go around kissing girls often. He talks way too casually, he didn't even look a little bit weirded out when I asked him if he wanted to kiss me. Usually if a guy asks you to kiss him and you answer back with a question, they'd just be confused. Actually, most guys probably wouldn't even ask.

"You must have had a lot of 'casual' encounters then." I cross my arms around my body, suddenly feeling self conscious and a little stupid of me for thinking that this guy- a college guy not to mention- would think the same way I did on this topic.

"If you must know, Nova" Ethan grins at me, not seeming at all offended at my comment. "That was my first kiss."

I open my mouth to say something, but nothing comes out. Me?? His first kiss??? I can't believe it. I look at the guy in front of me up and down before shaking my head. I refuse to believe that.

"And I talk casually about this because it is a casual subject, at least in my opinion. It's not taboo or anything. I think society has taught us to not speak so openly about things that older generations chose to keep quiet about. But it's 2020 for Christ's sake." He laughed "If I want to talk about kissing, who cares? Nobody is around us anyways. Don't you agree?" He smiles. Huh. I guess I never thought about it that way.

"I guess so." I shrug. "I don't think it's not normalized by now. I think I'm just embarrassed." I laugh.

"Of what?" He questions me. I don't have an answer. What am I embarrassed about?

"I'm not sure." I answer honestly.

"That's okay." He moves closer to me again, he wraps his arms around my torso and pulls me until I am sitting at the edge of the pool step. "So," he looks down at me.

"Want to be my second kiss too?" I laugh, cup his face in my hands this time, and nod. But centimeters before his lips met mine, we both pull away from hearing a scream.

"OH MY GOD." I quickly remove my hands from Ethan's face, but he keeps his arms around me. It is Lorena. "I leave you...outside for two hours.....and you're already fucking someone. I love this for you. I love.....college for you." She slurs her words and drunkenly stumbles towards us.

Callie and her boyfriend Cameron come out, not two seconds later. I push Ethans arms from around me softly and get up and out the pool. I know my face looks guilty as hell.

"What's going on? Why is Lorena screaming?" Cameron asks, looking at us both, and the guy in the pool questioningly.

"Nova...was fucking that hot guy." Lorena grins at Cameron and Callie gapes at me.

"I was not!"

"She was not!"

Ethan and I scream in unison. But how am I supposed to plead my case if I'm standing here, wearing nothing but his shirt, and both of us have a pile of clothes on the floor outside the pool. I look guilty.

"Nova you sly dog." Lorena smirks and stumbles towards me, putting her hand on my shoulder.