Semi-Edited!

Song above is...Head Above Water by Avril Lavigne (it fits this book really well)

Thank you for the cover! Its so cute! <3

Happy Reading! :)

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"You!" It was the really cute blonde guy from the bookstore yesterday.

"You know each other?" Alex asked, looking between us.

"We met at the bookstore called 'Sofia's' yesterday. Riley right?" I felt myself blush as he remembered my name. I nodded not trusting my voice. I wasn't expecting to see the cute guy from yesterday again yet here he is, and apparently friends with Alex.

"What were you doing in a book store?" Alex asked, a smirk on his face.

"Unlike you some of us have to do homework and study." From the corner of my eye I noticed Alex send Noah a look. I glanced over at him curious about the comment and look. Before I could open my mouth Noah started talking.

"You do know your early right? We don't have to be there until 6 o'clock."

"Didn't expect this one to get ready so fast." Alex gestured towards me with his head.

"What is that suppose to mean?" I finally found my voice and glared over at him.

"That you aren't a girl."

"Ha. Ha so funny." I shot back.

"Ignore my smart ass of a friend. What made you tag along?" Noah asked, moving further into the kitchen. He shoved Alex and reached into the fridge to grab two waters.

"This one." I nodded towards Alex. "Barged into my house and demanded I come along. I'm not really sure whats going on here." I replied truthfully. "I don't even know Alex." I added.

"Oh is that so?" Noah smirked, leaning over the counter and handing me a water bottle. The two of them had a little stare down as I stood there severely confused.

"Okay what's going on?"

"Nothing. We have to get going." Alex said with one last glare to his friend. When Alex started for the front door I stepped in front of him.

"No."

"No?" I didn't miss the amused look he had.

"No. You need to tell me where we are going right now. I don't even know you two are and I will not go off somewhere with two complete strangers."

"You know me from school freckles, I'm hardly a stranger."

"Don't call me that."

"Whatever freckles." Judging by the smirk on Alex's face he wasn't going to stop calling me that anytime soon.

"Seriously where are we going? Noah?" I turned to him hoping he'd answer. Noah stared at me for a moment as if he was trying to see something.

"Trust me Riley you will like it."

"But I-" Alex interrupted me before I could continue.

"Freckles I'm not leading you to your death. Just come along, you may find yourself enjoying it. Unless nerds don't like to have fun?" He taunted. I knew what he was doing and I hated that it was working.

"I'm not a nerd." I spoke through clenched teeth.

"Then come out with us." Before I could talk myself out of it I found myself agreeing to tag along. Why? I have no idea.

"Lets go then." With a huff I turned on my heel and headed for the front door. Behind me I heard someone chuckle.

For the life of me I had no clue why I was even here. The only thing I knew about Alex was from rumors around school. And Noah...well I literally said two words to him yesterday at work and I didn't even know his last name. I was literally being one of those stupid girls in horror movies that blindly trusts the guy. This will more than likely end up as a disaster but nothing could stop me from staying.

The reasonable voice in my head was telling me to go home now, that I will be going home in tears if I go wherever we were going. But...another part of me didn't want to go home. If I went home it was like admitting to Alex that I didn't know how to have fun, and I would literally just sit in bed moping.

Ever since this whole fiasco I haven't been able to do anything and here I am with a chance to get out of the house. How could I really say no when I was bitching about not going out just a few hours ago.

Tired of arguing with myself I shut off any thoughts about this being a bad idea. If anything this will be a one time thing and that's it. The chance of being around Alex or even Noah after tonight was slim to none so I might as well enjoy it.

"Come on freckles." Rolling my eyes I followed behind the two of them as we left the house. Once we were seated in Alex's car I realized I hadn't really said anything to Noah.

"So how do you and Alex know each other?" I asked, leaning forward from the backseat.

"Been stuck with his ass since we were in diapers." Noah explained.

"You like being stuck with my gorgeous ass." Alex retorted. I couldn't help but grin as they started bantering back and forth. It was clear they are really close to each other.

"Why don't you go to Central High though?"

"I live closer to Crescent High and didn't want to over shadow this one at Central High." Even though I've just met Noah I already liked him.

While Alex drove us wherever we were going Noah and I got to know one another. I learned he was the same age as us and played soccer at his high school. His last name was Thomas, which rung a bell but before I could ask more Alex was pulling into what looked like a huge field, but it was too dark to know for sure.

 Instantly my mind went to horror movies and how nothing good came from dark empty fields. Glancing out the window I made out lights up ahead and tons of people. I had absolutely no clue where we were.

"Where are we?" The closer we got the more I saw cars and people standing around. "Please tell me I'm not going into a cult."

"A cult seriously?" I didn't have to see Alex's face to see him rolling his eyes. Beside him Noah just laughed.

"It's not a cult Riley."

I continued on staring out the front window as Alex drove slowly forward. We were in an empty field it seemed, probably about 15 minutes out of town. When Alex finally parked the car near the front did I finally talk again.

"Seriously where are we?"

What I thought were street lights were actually car headlights. A long line of cars were parked with their lights on illuminating an the rest of the open field.

"Come on. You'll enjoy it."

I sat there as the two of them got out of the car. I was starting to question why I was even here. I literally got in a car with two guys I have never talked to before. I was stupid, incredibly stupid.

"Freckles, you coming?" Alex's head popped back inside the car.

"I think I'm going to stay in here, thanks."

"You serious?"

"Yeah I'm good in here. Go have fun. See you later." I waved him off. No doubt that if I got out there someone would recognize me and instantly I'd be mocked and told off. I would rather that not happen. So instead I'll spend the next few hours in this car until they are ready to go.

"Yeah that's not going to happen." His head disappeared before he suddenly opened my door. When his hand grabbed my elbow and started pulling me I let out a squeak.

"Alex!" With little to no effort Alex yanked me out of the car, making me stumble into him. In a matter of seconds the door was shut and locked. Pulling away I glared up at him.

"What was that for?"

"You're not sitting in the car because your a wimp. Now come on." With a hold on my arm he tugged me after him. It was like he knew I would turn around if he didn't hold onto me.

Alex lead us all the way up to the line of cars using their headlights. What I saw made my eyes widen in shock. How did I not know about this? Up ahead was a huge open field with a big bon-fire in the middle, and off to the right down the hill you could see the ocean.

"Woah." I breathed.

"You've never been here?" I shook my head taking in everything. I could make out figures near the water but most were hovering around the bit bon-fire. There quite a bit of people but not as many as say the house party being hosted in town.

The tugging on my arm brought me out of my staring. Alex was now moving us towards the fire. With every step I could feel my introverted self wanting to break free. Parties were not my scene. Even when I was with Mitch I felt so out of place and more often stood off to the side while everyone else had fun.

Thankfully so far the people we passed I didn't recognize. Maybe they were all from Crescent High instead of my high school. That would help with no one recognizing me and hopefully it being dark would help as well.

I hadn't realize it was cold until the closer we got to the fire. Alex had let go of my arm and I now had it wrapped around my middle. I watched as Alex walked right up to a group of people and was immediately greeted.

Standing a few feet behind them I watched as two guys clapped him on the back. As they moved away and two girls came forward to greet, I noticed Noah standing there as well. The group of 7 seemed pretty close as I watched them talk.

My eyes moved around taking in everything. This 'party' seemed so different than the other ones I've been to. No loud music, no grinding and sexual tension in the air, and while there was clearly alcohol no one seemed drunk...yet. It was definitely a more chill party.

Turning back I noticed Alex's group of friends were now staring at me. From where I was standing I noticed one of the girls had a scowl on her face as she looked me up and down. I frowned wondering what her deal was. The other girl at least had a small smile on her face.

"Riley." Noah called out, gesturing for me to come. Feeling beyond intimidated I slowly made my way towards the group. Coming to a stop beside Noah and Alex on my other side I looked at the other 4 people.

The guy straight ahead of me had shoulder length hair that looked almost black. He had high cheek bones, a nose that has definitely been broken before, and a strong jaw. A pair of dark brown eyes stared at me in curiosity. The guy was super tall too.

The guy to my right was just as tall with shorter curly brown hair. His jawline was just as defined as the other ones but he had more of a baby face. A pair of light brown eyes sparkled in amusement. He seemed more like the goofball of the group. And he looked very, very familiar.

Next to him was the girl who smiled at me. She looked like the perfect girl was next door. Blonde hair, blue eyes, high cheekbones, and an air of confidence around her. For some reason I knew she wouldn't be the bitchy type. I was once again struck with familiarity.  

And finally my eyes landed on the girl with the scowl. She was standing next to the tall guy with long hair; and arm wrapped possessively around his waist. She had short black hair that looked like it was dyed with purple strips. The girl was severely beautiful even if she had the 'goth/badass' vibe about her.

The only thought I had was...how the hell are all of them gorgeous?! Every single one of them looked like they could be in a magazine. And yes this even included Alex. Noah was already a given.

"Guys this is Riley." Noah introduced.

"Now Riley this is Lexi." He pointed to the dark haired girl who didn't even say anything.

"That is Nico." The long haired guy sent me a nod. I sent him a weak smile in return.

"This here is Derek." The curly haired guy grinned and nodded.

"And finally this is Olivia."

"Hi!" The blonde, Olivia, chirped coming forward. Before I could blink I was pulled into a tight hug. Olivia was surprisingly small and only came to my eyes and I wasn't that tall of a person. "I am so excited you are here! Now theres another girl to the group."

I awkwardly smiled back at her. Her friendliness threw me off guard as well as her hug.

"Hi." I replied when Olivia pulled away from me. I felt everyone's eyes on me making me wrap my arms around my middle. Yeah coming here may not have been the best idea.

"You go to Central High right?" Derek asked, looking at me in curiosity. I nodded looking up at him. With him closer to me I knew I had seen him before and his name rung a bell, but for the life of me I couldn't remember where. 

"I go there too!" Olivia chirped in with a grin. "Me, Derek and Alex go there and the others go to Crescent High."

At the mention of them going to the same high school as me I felt my stomach drop. I stared at Derek and Olivia with wide eyes. If they went to the same high school they knew about me, they had to know about me.

Now that they had said it I recognized the two of them. I now remember seeing Alex with Derek and Olivia at lunch or in the halls. No doubt they have see and heard about me before tonight. I was going to have to get ready for the comments in just a moment.

I waited for them to start telling the others about me but nothing came. Instead they moved subjects and started talking about something else. I stood there silently taking it all in. Were they really not going to say anything? Did they know it was me? I mean it was kind of dark so maybe they don't recognize me.

Riley it is okay. Don't stress about it. They may not recognize you. Just don't say anything that will give it away and you'll be fine.

I nodded to my inner thoughts. As long as they don't bring it up it is okay. I couldn't leave anyways since Alex was my ride so I was going to have to suck it up for a bit.

"Hey do you want a drink?" It took me a minute to realize they were talking to me.

"Uh sure."

"Here come with me." Olivia gestured for me to follow her. I glanced over to Alex to find him engaged in a conversation with Nico and Derek. Biting my bottom lip I followed after Olivia.

"I didn't know you knew Alex." Olivia spoke as I caught up to her.

"I don't. I mean not really." She looked over at me with a raised eyebrow. "I mean we kind of...crossed paths the other day and today I ran into him. Somehow he figured out where I lived and showed up at my door." I explained not wanting her to think I was sleeping with him or something.

"When Alex wants something he won't stop until he gets it."

"Well he won't get me." I muttered but I was sure she heard me.

We finally reached an area with at least 8 coolers. A few people stood around holding beers in their hands talking. Everything about this 'party' was different than what I was use to.

"First time here?" Olivia questioned.

"Is it obvious?" I sent her a sheepish smile.

"Kind of plus we've never seen you here before." She opened a random cooler and glanced at me over her shoulder. "Alcohol or soda?"

"Soda please." No way was I going to get drunk around people I don't know.

"Here you go." She handed me a sprite which I took gratefully. Seeing her trying to hold five beers I quickly grab two. "Thanks." When she smiled I found myself sending her one back.

Something about Olivia made me feel at ease. I wasn't sure what it was but I already liked her. From past experience I've learned I'm a horrible judge of character so I told myself not to put my guard down around her or anyone else here.

"I am so glad you came. Lex can be such a bore sometimes and I hate being the only girl around 3 guys, they can be disgusting."

"Have you known everyone a long time?" I asked as we made our way back to the group.

"Derek I've known the longest. When I moved here when I was 14 from New York I had no friends but one day Derek walked up, took my bag of cheetos and sat beside me. A couple of months later we met Alex and Noah since they were already best friends. Over time we met Nico and Lexi even though they go to Crescent High." She explained. "We are a close group."

"It looks like it." I looked ahead to see Derek shoving Alex who was laughing. It was clear as day they are very close.

"You know this is the first time Alex has brought another girl to our group in a long time."

"Really?" I glanced at her surprised.

"Yeah he can be...closed off sometimes." Before she could elaborate we came up to the group. "Here guys." She handed Nico, Lexi, and Noah a beer. Feeling their eyes on me once more I handed Alex and Derek the ones I had.

"No beer for you?" Noah asked eyeing my sprite.

"Not much of a drinker."

"Well it is finally Friday bitches!" Derek suddenly yelled, holding up his beer. "Now lets get wasted!" I watched with wide eyes as he tipped his beer back and gulped the whole thing down.

"He does that then ends up passing out a bit later." Noah spoke, shaking his head as Derek grabbed Olivia's and gulped it down.

"What kind of drunk is he?" I asked.

"The stupid kind. He does stupid stuff like skinny dip in the ocean or try and kiss Lexi then gets punched in the face." I chocked on my sprite.

"Every time?"

"Yep." Noah grinned down at me. "So Riley." He walked ahead leading me towards two beach chairs closer to the fire. "How long have you worked at Sofia's?"

"For a couple of years now actually." I gingerly took a seat next to him. "I walked in there in freshman year and immediately fell in love. Helen, who owns the store, offered me a job and I've been there ever since." I found myself smiling as I spoke.

"As long as you love it there why leave."

"Plus Helen needs someone around as much as she says she doesn't."

"So you work at a bookstore and help the elderly, I like you already."

"What if I am secretly a horrible person? I could hate puppies."

"Do you hate puppies?" Noah asked in fake horror.

"I love puppies. Saying you don't is like saying you hate air...impossible." He let out a loud laugh.

"I like you Riley." Not knowing how to reply I took a sip of my sprite, my cheeks heating up. How are you suppose to react when a cute guy says something like that?

"So Riley." Derek spoke loudly, bringing everyone's attention back to me. "Tell us about yourself." I stood there with a gaping mouth, feeling palms all of the sudden getting sweaty. I hated being put on the spot.

"Uh what do you want to know?" I gripped my soda hoping I wouldn't have to say too much.

"Your address, social security number." Olivia elbowed Derek in the ribs.

"Um I'm 17, I have an older brother, my parents are surgeons...that's about it." I said lamely. There wasn't much to tell about me.

"Wow your parents are doctors?" Olivia asked.

"Yeah they are. My dad is a Cardiologist, and my mom is a Pediatric surgeon."

"Damn." Derek whistled.

"That's incredible." I noticed the awe look in Olivia's eyes.

"She wants to be a doctor." Noah supplied next to me.

"For the love of god please don't start talking about blood and all those big medical terms." Lexi groaned. This was the first time she's said a word. I looked her over trying hard not to let it be known I was doing so. I was only able to make out all the piercings on her ears before her gaze snapped towards me. I quickly looked down at my drink, totally feeling her eyes looking me up and down.

"What you don't want to hear about morsicatio buccarum, or synchronous diaphragmatic flutter." Olivia said, a huge grin on her face.

"Ew! No." Lexi scrunched her nose at the medical words. I know absolutely nothing about Lexi but I found it slightly amusing she found medical terms gross.

"Oh relax. The first one means cheek biting and the second is a hiccup." Olivia rolled her eyes.

"Why is it so hard to just say that. 'Oh you have the hiccups, not blah blah blah flutter."

"Cause it makes them look smarter." Noah added. Olivia glared at him only making Noah laugh more.

"Yeah don't be such a baby Lex." Derek chimed in. From the glare Lexi sent him I found myself slightly worried for his life. Lexie didn't seem like someone you crossed.

"Liv lets get another drink huh." Derek grabbed Olivia's arm and quickly tugged her after him. The guys around me laughed and Lexi glared after them.

A minute later Noah, Lexi and Nico-Lexi's boyfriend started talking to one another. I stood off to the side holding my drink awkwardly.

"You know you look like an idiot just standing there." Alex suddenly spoke coming towards me.

"No I don't."

"Yes you do. I brought you here to do something not just stand there."

"I am doing something." I shot back at him, a little hurt by his words.

"And that is?" Alex raised a perfectly shaped eyebrow at me. Of course the guy has better eyebrows than me.

"Drinking." I lifted my sprite and took a sip. I couldn't help but feel a bit proud of my comeback. Alex looked at me in amusement and shook his head.

"You are so weird, Freckles."

"Really that nickname again?"

"Yep."

"You do know my name is Riley right?" Alex didn't say a word. Instead he sent me a smirk and walked off, heading towards the coolers. I stared after him not really knowing what to think.

Alex was so...mysterious. I've read plenty of teen books to know how cliche that sounded about the 'bad boy' being so mysterious, but it was true. I knew absolutely nothing about Alex Kinley. At first he comes off as cocky and a tad bit arrogant, okay maybe a lot arrogant. Then he seems actually nice and making jokes. Then he's back to being mysterious. It was weird and I wasn't sure what exactly to do with it.

With Alex gone, Noah talking with Lexi and Nico, and Derek and Olivia were off somewhere, all I could do was just stand there. My mind went back through everything that has happened today. Besides having milk spilled on me in front of the whole school, I didn't think for one moment that Alex Kinley would show up on my doorstep and bring me here.

Right now I should have been all alone in an empty house, watching Netflix while eating junk food. But here I am at this so called 'party' with people I've never met before. It is so out of character for me to come along with Alex, even before all the drama happened with Mitch.

I've always been the type to just stay home and not leave the house. I rarely ever wanted to go out to parties. When I was with Mitch he would always beg me to come along so I did. It's just never been my scene. Those kinds of parties weren't my scene but standing here in this open field by a bonfire and people scattered around I felt like I could maybe get use to this.

No one here was grinding against one another. No music blaring so loud that you could feel it in your chest. There were no yelling, no fights, no alcohol being handed around. Here it was very low-key. You could drink if you wanted but didn't have to. You could swim in the cold water or stand by the bonfire. There wasn't any expectations.

I was kind of glad I came along with Alex. I got to see a different side to 'partying'. But I couldn't help but worry. Could this all be an act? Am I setting myself up for humiliation again?

And I wasn't quite sure if it was a good or bad thing I was on Alex Kinley's radar. 

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Hi guys! I am sorry about the little wait for this. My brother broke up with his gf so he moved back in with us and lets just say its been an adjustment. Its been hard to write or have time to sit down and focus on updating. But no worries here I am :)

I know this chapter is a bit short, but as we go the chapters will get longer. I was planning on writing shorter chapters for this book but the more I write the longer they get...so that plan is out the window :D

I hope you guys are liking this story so far though! I have been loving writing this book so far. I am on chapter 10 as we speak (I've pre-written a lot of chapters and now slowly updating them) and I am loving how this story is going so far. 

I was recently messaged asking that I please don't make this a cliche bad boy/nerd book, and I just wanted to tell you guys this back WILL have moments of cliche, cheesy, cringe-worthy scenes. But I do plan on adding some twists into this story so it isn't too typical as others. But do know that it does have some of that. Just wanted to give you guys a little more warning incase you don't like that. 

Anyways, I hope you enjoyed this chapter! I promise it will get better soon. I mean it already is! We just three new hot guys! Whats not to love!? :D

Love you guys so much! 

<3 <3

-Ken. 

P.S I am about 300 pages into Kingdom of Ash (Throne Of Glass Series) and all I can say is DAMN! This series has killed me every second and I know by the end of this book I will be dead! *No Spoilers please but those that have read it...did you like it?!