Chapter 1 HOUSE PARTY

HAZEL

“Fuck it and let’s get fucked!” My best friend yelled in excitement, slamming her car into the driveway of the mansion where the party was being hosted.

It was my first time at a house party and the only reason I was standing here now is because of her.

I’m the girl you see in those high school movies… the dork. Straight A’s, a perfect record, and a painfully predictable future. Teachers love me. I’m practically their model student. My life is a straight line from here to college, neatly tied up with recommendation letters and heavy expectations.

If I had to describe it in three words, I’d say: safe, planned, and boring, with a capital B. 

“Trust me when I say you won’t regret this! I still can’t believe you’ve never attended a single house party throughout high school, Hazel!” Hailey whined.

We had only recently reunited after nearly four years of being apart. After middle school, my family moved away, leaving me to spend most of high school in a completely different city. But last month, my dad received a job offer back here, bringing us right back to where we started.

Hailey, on the other hand, had completely transformed. She was no longer the shy girl I grew up with. She's more outgoing, obsessed with makeup and fashion and has a big social circle. I was just grateful that she hadn’t switched up on me. Despite the miles between us, our friendship had survived.

The moment she mentioned hockey players— her school’s hockey players— I should’ve blocked her, but I wanted to see what she was talking about, and I let my curiosity get the best of me 

And now, here I was, heart racing, wearing a ridiculous short outfit I never thought I’d own, about to walk into a house where I knew absolutely no one except my crazy best friend.

Hailey reached for the front door just as it swung open on its own.

“Look who we have here!”

“Brandon!” Hailey squealed as she jumped on the huge guy in front of us. 

They proceeded to make out for thirty whole seconds. Yes, I counted mostly because I was glued to the pavement, watching the timid girl who used to hide behind thick glasses thoroughly devour this insanely hot boy.

What on earth possessed my best friend? Damn, but I was happy for her.

When she finally pulled away, a sheepish grin was plastered on her face as she looked at me and the boy followed her gaze.

“You didn't tell me you were bringing someone over,” he said, his eyes sweeping over my body with an amused glint when Hailey slapped his arm. “Back off, asshole,” she hissed, stepping in front of me protectively. 

“She's my best friend.”

An entertaining smirk tugged at his lips as if he’d heard my name a thousand times before. “The Hazel?”

“Yes, Hazel. Now shoo.”

“No need to be aggressive,” he chuckled, raising his hands in mock surrender before turning his grin back to me. “Hi, I’m Brandon. Hailey’s male bestie. Just wanted to see if you were into hot dudes like me.”

“Yeah, I heard that earlier,” I muttered, almost rolling my eyes before my brain actually processed it. Wait. I looked between Hailey and Brandon for a second, and I almost choked on my own spit.

“Bestie? Not your boyfriend?”

They burst into a fit of laughter, slapping hands like it was the funniest thing they’d ever heard. “Oh girl, welcome back to the real world!” Hailey beamed.

Before I could even protest, Hailey and Brandon flanked my sides, forcing me into the middle as we walked into the mansion like we had been old time besties.

The smell of alcohol was the first thing that welcomed me. The mansion had been turned into a mini club with segments. Half of it was the dance floor where they were rocking their bodies as they pretended to dance. Couples were making out at every corner of the room, but at the centre was the couch and I didn't miss the boy who stood out the most.

His golden ember eyes were the first thing that caught my attention. As if he could feel my gaze, he looked up slowly to meet my eyes and my breath stilled.

How can someone be so hot? His plump lips parted as he spoke to someone beside him, and for a moment, I imagined what his lips could taste like.

His hair was sleeked back and if he knew I was checking him out, he leaned back on the couch, giving me a better look at his muscles that flexed through his clothes.

“Damn, you throw the nastiest parties,” I heard Hailey say next to me, dragging my gaze away from the couch.

“I'll take that as a thank you,” Brandon chuckled and my head snapped up to him.

This is his house?

We pushed our way through the sweaty bodies as some guy pretended to be a badass DJ over the counter, playing a chaotic mix that made my head throb in an instant.

“Brandon, take Hazel to the others. I'll go get us some drinks,” Hailey yelled over the music.

Brandon winked at me. “Of course.”

He grabbed my hand, leading me straight towards the couch. I could still feel the boy's lingering gaze burning through my skin and I wished I hadn't looked at him.

He brought a cup to his lip, taking a sip of his drink and my stomach twisted. I looked away before he'd start to think I was a weirdo.

Boys like that can't be up to any good.

“First time at a party, huh?” Brandon's voice snapped me out of my trance.

I nodded in response and his smile grew bigger. “Well, you're about to have the best night of your life.”

Before I could even ask what that meant, he strode right up to the makeshift DJ counter and snatched the microphone.

“Hey, fuckers!” he shouted into the mic, gaining everyone's attention and a few people chuckled. “We have a special person among us tonight,” his eyes darted to me and my hands fidgeted at my sides.

Everyone was looking at me now and I sure as hell didn't like the attention.

“Meet Hazel, Hailey's long time best friend and mine too by hereditary,” he shrugged.

Hailey walked up to the stand and slapped the back of his neck.

“Don't embarrass her, dumbass,” she hissed before turning to walk towards me with two red cups in her hand.

“Don't mind him,” she muttered as she pulled me to the couch. My eyes met with the boy unconsciously before looking away.

Hailey handed me one of the red cups and I sure as hell wouldn't be drinking that. Not to sound like a prude but I have never taken alcohol before and I didn't intend to start now until maybe when I get into college.

“Guys, meet Hazel,” she threw herself on the couch dramatically, making her drink splashed from the movement.

“Hi, Hazel,” a blonde girl who had been clinging onto the boy since I walked in greeted me with a smile. “Did you just move into town or what? I've never seen you before.”

Hailey chimed in before I could reply. “Hazel, that is Jude, Betty and…” she looked at the one person I was actually curious about and rolled her eyes. “Never mind.”

He scoffed at her reaction, and at the same time Betty leaned in to whisper whatever into his ear.

“Why is this place looking so dry?” Brandon asked as he finally joined us. The tiny space left wasn't enough for us since he was mostly all muscles, leaving me no choice but to take the empty space beside the mysterious boy since no one would mention his name.

“How about we play a game? Truth or dare?” Betty smirked.

“Boring,” Jude rolled his eyes.

“Except we'll be playing truth or dare without the truth. No one is interested in your secret here,” Brandon added and Hailey nodded in agreement.

“Now that sounds like so much fun! Who's going first?” 

Betty sat up, finally giving the boy breathing space. My leg hit him as I tried to adjust and I cleared my throat. Why do I suddenly feel hot?

“I'll go first,” Betty grinned.

“The rule is simple,” Hailey uttered. “A dare or alcohol.”

“How about they strip?” Brandon added and Jude's eyes glinted, clearly interested in this now, while the boy beside me just drank from his cup.

“What is this? A strip club?” Hailey rolled her eyes and Brandon groaned in annoyance.

“Hailey, I dare you to walk to the dance floor and get a guy to take off his pants,” Betty said with a smug smile.

I gasped in horror, earning me a few glances. I expected Hailey to back down. That was the sane thing to do, but instead, she walked to the dance floor with a flirtatious smile on her face, whispered something to a boy who took his pants off in less than two minutes.

“Damn, she's crazy,” Jude shook his head as Brandon cheered.

“That's my girl right there!”

“Your turn,” Hailey said as she returned to the couch. Betty rolled her eyes as if she had expected that much, when Hailey spoke again.

“I dare you to make a five minute video of you touching yourself and post it to the school group.”

“What?!” Betty yelled at the same time I choked on my own spit. 

What the actual fuck?

I reached for the red cup I had placed on the table because it seemed like I might actually need one now. 

I had no idea what Hailey poured in there, but it smelled like shit. I brought it to my mouth for a sip and coughed immediately.

It tasted so bland, hot and… God, this is insane. Now I know I couldn't try taking this if I got a dare.

“What? Can't do that?” Hailey challenged Betty whose face had now turned red.

She filled her cup and gulped the drink in one shot as she glared at Hailey. Okay, they definitely couldn't be friends.

“Hazel, you're up,” Brandon grinned, and my heart skipped a beat.

I didn't know what he was about to say, but I have a terrible feeling it couldn't be good.

“Can… can I—”

“You're playing this round darling, even if you won't play the next,” Brandon interrupted, his eyes glinting with amusement.

I swallowed hard as I nodded, bracing myself for what was coming.

“I dare you to turn Jaxon on in thirty seconds,” Brandon announced.

Jaxon? That's his name?

For a second, it felt like someone had knocked the air out my lungs. My eyes darted to the boy beside me who casually swirled the drink in his hand before those damn golden ember eyes locked with mine.

Fuck.