“Hey, Riley Bear. Everything okay?” he asked, with a big grin. I nodded and wrapped my arms around him, hugging him tightly. He didn’t respond at first, he just stood there, then slowly he wrapped his arms around me and buried his face in my hair. “Riley, what’s up?” he asked breathlessly, pulling back to look at me. “If someone’s upset you I swear to God I’ll,” he started, but I put my finger on his lips to stop him.

“No one’s upset me. I’ve just missed you this last couple of days, that’s all,” I explained, kissing his cheek and pulling away.

He smiled a weak smile; he obviously knew what I was talking about. “I missed you too.”

“Come on, Riley, we’ll be late for class!” Rachel shouted, making me jump.

Clay smiled. “Get going then. I’ll see you after school,” he instructed, stepping to the side to let me past. I stuck my tongue out at him as I started to walk off. Just as I got past him, he slapped my ass playfully. I sighed happily and walked off without saying a word. Hopefully that would be the end of that.

That night was his game night. He was driving us tonight, and afterwards he was taking me to my first party since starting the school. I was a little nervous about it, but Clay said that he would look after me. Rachel had told me that apparently these parties could get a little wild.

“So, you still gonna wear my number?” Clay asked, grabbing my hand to help me out of his car once we got to school. He didn’t let go as we walked to the school towards the boys locker room. I smiled. Everything seemed to be back to normal between us since this afternoon so I sighed happily.

“I sure am, if you want me to,” I replied, biting my lip.

He grinned. “Of course I do. You’re my best friend, Riley Bear.”

My heart dropped a little but I didn’t know why. I was his best friend, nothing more. So, why did I want to be all of a sudden? Why couldn’t I stop thinking about that kiss and how his lips fitted so perfectly against mine?

He pulled me into the boys locker room with him. “Hey, she can’t come in here!” someone shouted as I was dragged inside.

My eyes went wide; there were half na**d boys everywhere. “Hmm, nice view,” I mumbled, smirking. I glanced around the room, raking my eyes slowly over each of the boys in turn.

Clay laughed and put his hand over my eyes. “Come on, little girl, let’s get that shirt for you and then you can go!” he said, laughing, leading me forwards. I could hear whistles and comments that made me smile. Clay muttered something like ‘shut the f**k up’ and then he put something in my hands. Still covering my eyes, he pushed me forwards again.

Once we were outside the door, I giggled. “Mmm, thanks for that!” I chirped, waggling my eyebrows.

He rolled his eyes with an easy smile. “Want me to walk you to the field?” he offered, slinging an arm around my shoulder.

I shook my head and laughed at his sweetness. He had always been like this to me, ever since we were kids he’d walk me to places because he was worried about me getting hurt. “I think I can make it.”

He chuckled too. “Okay. I’ll see you after.” He smiled and headed back into the locker room. As soon as the door opened, I could hear his team mates ribbing him about me. I just smiled and looked down at what I was holding. It was a huge maroon football shirt. I turned it round to look at the writing on the back. ‘PRESTON 12’. I smiled and slipped it on over my tight black top and light blue skinny jeans. I walked out to the field with a big grin and sat with Rachel, watching the game and fooling around.

“Hi,” a male voice said next to me after a little while.

“Er, hi yourself,” I replied, turning to look at him. He was tall, really tall, probably about 6 foot 3, he was well built but not overly muscled. He had shaggy black hair that swept over his forehead and bright blue eyes. There was a little scar running through his left eyebrow which had a little silver piercing next to it, he also had a lip ring at the corner of his bottom lip. He had on a black T-shirt that clung to his body and low slung jeans, with biker boots that he wore undone. He was so handsome that he looked like he had just walked out of a modelling shoot. I suddenly realised I was staring and looked away quickly, turning my attention back to the field where the game was still going on.

“So, you’re dating Clay Preston?” the guy asked, smiling.

Why on earth did everyone think that? I turned back to him. “What makes you say that?” I asked, confused. I didn’t recognise this guy from school. If I had seen him before, I definitely would have remembered him!

“Well, you’re wearing his number. Kinda a girlfriend’s job, right?” he countered, with a smirk. I looked down at myself, spotting Clay’s away shirt that I was wearing, I had completely forgotten about that.

“Er, no actually. We’re friends that’s all. We’re not dating,” I corrected, looking back to the field.

“Well, that’s great. I’m Blake,” he said with an easy smile. I bit my lip as I discreetly checked him out again. He really was hot.

“Riley,” I stated, trying to ignore the butterflies I had in my stomach as I pretended to be interested in the game again. I could feel him staring at me.

“So, you go to South Shore?” he asked, nodding his head towards the field.

I nodded. “Yeah, but you don’t do you?” I already knew the answer to that question though; he had definitely not been here this week. I noticed that all the girls - and even some of the moms - were staring at him with lustful expressions on their faces.

“Nope,” he answered, popping the p. When he didn’t elaborate I turned away from him and smiled to myself. Okay, well if he wanted to play, then we’d play.

“Come on, Clay!” I shouted, standing up and clapping.

I saw Clay turn to smile at me, so I gave him a wink and sat back down. Blake turned back to me again. “Not dating, huh?” he asked, smirking again,

“Nope,” I answered, popping the p like he had done to me.

He laughed. “So, Riley, you doing anything after the game?” he asked with a flirty smile that made my butterflies take off again.

“Yep,” I answered. I fought back a smile at his annoyed expression.

“What are you doing?” he asked, moving closer to me so that the sides of our bodies were touching.

“Going to a party with Clay.” I shrugged.

He drew in a deep breath. “Okay well, I guess I’ll have to just take someone else out for dinner then.” He pouted and sighed as he slid further away up the bench.

I winked teasingly. “Yeah, you will.”

He laughed and shook his head, looking slightly bemused; he obviously wasn’t used to having to work for a date by the look of him. That was when Rachel came running back with our fries and coke. She looked at Blake sitting next to me, and her mouth dropped open.

“Holy freaking shit! You’re Blake Chambers!” she practically shouted, squeezing herself in-between us, almost sitting on his lap.

“Yes I am,” he replied with a smirk. This was obviously the reaction he wanted from me; she was almost drooling on him. I took my fries and started eating, trying to get into the football game but failing miserably. I didn’t have a clue what was going on. The scoreboard said we were winning, but that’s all I knew. Suddenly, everyone jumped up booing and shouting. I looked round at everyone, confused, wondering what I’d missed. Blake was looking at me, smiling.

“What happened?” I asked, confused.

He shook his head, a grin on his face. “Foul ball,” he explained. “Don’t you know anything about football?” he asked, smirking again.

I laughed, raising my eyebrows. “I know we’re playing in blue!” He just laughed his head off; he had a really nice laugh.

The game ended and we’d won. Clay and Ben were carried off the field by the rest of the team for setting up and scoring the final touchdown that had won the game. “I’ll see you at the party,” Rachel said, getting up.

“Okay,” I replied absentmindedly, playing with my cell phone, reading a text from my mom about her and Brian not being home tonight because they were staying at a hotel. Apparently, Brian was surprising her for their half year anniversary but I already knew that anyway, he’d told me last week. I didn’t notice that Blake had moved up next to me again. The bleachers were almost empty now but I still had to wait for Clay.

“What party are you going to?” he purred in my ear, making me shiver.

“Um, I really don’t know who’s it is. I only started here this week; I have no idea who anyone is.” I shrugged.

“So, I can’t persuade you to go out to dinner with me tonight?” he asked, giving me an adorable puppy dog face. I looked into his light blue eyes and drew in a shaky breath because he was making me slightly nervous. I never usually got nervous around guys, but this one made my palms get a little sweaty.

“Nope, sorry,” I replied, trying to sound like he wasn’t having an effect on me. He reached out and snatched my cell phone out of my hands, punching something in. “Hey!” I cried, as I tried to get it back from him.

He just laughed as he held it out of reach. “How about tomorrow night?” he asked.

I smiled; tomorrow was movie night. “Can’t. Busy,” I stated matter-of-factly,

“Day after?” he offered, raising his pierced eyebrow.

“Busy,” I replied, laughing now.

He just sighed, shaking his head. “I won’t give up you know. I always get what I want,” he stated, looking me straight in the eyes. My stomach twisted in knots at his confidence. I’m betting that that statement was true too. While he looked like that, I bet he had girls falling at his feet everyday.

“That’s your choice,” I replied with a sly smile, looking at him through my eyelashes, trying to be seductive. He drew in a deep breath through his nose and let it out as a sigh.

Just then Clay walked up the stairs towards me, he was glaring at Blake. I had no idea why he would be shooting him that look at all, Clay usually liked everyone. I jumped up and ran to him, throwing my arms and legs around him, kissing him on the cheek. “That was great! Well done,” I chirped enthusiastically.

He laughed. “Yeah right, Riley Bear. Tell me one play that I did, and then I’ll believe that you understood what was going on!” he teased, tickling me.

I chewed on my lip, desperately trying to come up with something. He really did know me too well. “Well, there was a foul ball. And your touchdown at the end was great,” I replied, shooting a glance at Blake who laughed and shook his head at my pathetic attempts at a cover-up.

“She was watching. Don’t worry, she didn’t miss your skills there, Preston,” Blake mused as he started to walk past us. “Oh, I almost forgot. Here’s your phone, Riley. Give me a call if you change your mind,” he purred, winking at me. I smiled as he purposefully rubbed his finger across mine when I took the phone.

“I won’t change my mind, Stud, so don’t hold your breath,” I replied, smirking. Blake just laughed and walked off. I couldn’t help myself; I watched his ass as he walked away. I turned back to see Clay looking at me angrily. “What?” I asked innocently, blushing because he’d caught me staring at a guy’s behind.

“He’s too old for you,” he said simply, putting his arm around me, leading me in the opposite direction to where Blake went.

“Too old for me? Do you know him then?” I asked, a little surprised.

“Yeah I know him. He used to go here but he left two years ago. I was on the football team with him for a while. His name’s Blake Chambers,” he stated. I frowned at the slight anger that I heard in his voice.

“Okay and you don’t like him, right?” I asked, squeezing myself closer to him.

“Not really. He’s a total player. I think he’d slept with all the girls at school before he left.” He shook his head in disapproval.

“Hmm, sounds like someone else I know,” I joked, tapping my chin.

He laughed. “I am nothing like him; I think he literally slept with all of the girls in the school. There were rumours that he even slept with one of the teachers. And I say again; he’s too old for you,” he said sternly, looking at me warningly. I nodded and smiled as if I understood, just to end the conversation.

The party was as wild just as Rachel said it would be. There were all sorts of alcohol, body shots, drinking games, loud thumping music. I even spotted a couple of guys from school selling drugs, but I stayed well clear of them.

I was on my fifth shot when Rachel dragged me to dance. “So, you met Blake Chambers,” she said with a wink.

“Oh hell yeah I met him, and I would definitely like to meet more of him.” I sloshed back my vodka, shuddering at the slight burn of my throat.

She sighed dreamily. “He is so hot.”

I nodded in agreement. “Definitely hot. But he’s a total player, right?” I replied, dancing to the beat of the music. Someone started to grind me from behind, I turned around to see a blond boy trying to dry hump me from behind.

“Do you mind?” I growled, putting a hand on his chest and pushing him away.

“No, baby, I don’t mind at all.” He laughed, moving back to me again.

I grabbed hold of his balls, hard. “If you want to keep these, I suggest you get them the hell away from me,” I spat venomously, squeezing a little harder, making him let out a little squeak and squirm under my grasp.

“Okay, okay, jeez. Sorry!” He held up his hands in defeat, so I let go. He winced before cupping his crotch and walking away with a slight limp.