Music pounded from the gigantic speakers that were set up in the front of the main living room. The whole room was filled with teenagers dancing, holding their red, plastic cups up in the air. One girl wearing unnecessarily tall high heels staggered toward the drink table, obviously a little tipsy. I shook my head. It’d only been an hour. Did people really feel the need to get drunk so early?

            On the far side of the room was Rian, dancing with a large group of girls surrounding him. Next to them, was Luke, who also had a gaggle of girls surrounding him. Except these girls weren’t as close, because Luke was dancing like a madman. If one of the girls got too close, they were sure to be punched or kicked in the face.

            Suddenly a hand enclosed around my ankle. A squawk of surprise escaped my lips and I looked down, seeing a hand coming out from under the concession stand. After a moment the hand let go and retreated back under the tablecloth. Holding my breath, I squatted down, picking up the end of the cloth, and peering under it. I nearly had a heart attack when Noah’s face appeared.

            “Noah,” I breathed, staring at him incredulously. “What the hell are you doing under here?”

            Noah put a finger under his lips, gesturing for me to come closer. “Come under here!”

            “I’m not going under the table!”

            Noah sent me a warning look. “You’re going to give my hiding place away! Get under here!”

            “No!”

            “Do it!”

            After a short scowling match, I quickly ducked under the table, dropping to my knees so I could fit. Noah adjusted the tablecloth behind me so we were hidden. I turned to face him, shaking my head. “This is ridiculous.”

            “Those girls are trying to kill me!” Noah whispered. “I almost suffocated!”

            I raised an eyebrow. “Luke and Rian seem to be doing okay.”

            “They don’t have drunk girls trying to make out with them every second!”

            I laughed. “What did you expect to happen? Them just to watch you from afar?”

            “No,” Noah responded, turning his nose up. “But I also didn’t expect to be practically raped.”

            “So you’re hiding under the concession table?”

            “It’s the safest place,” Noah told me. “But I’m hungry…”

            I pointed up. “There’s food right on the table.”

            “I’m not going out there.”

            “Don’t be a baby.”

            “I’m not!”

            I raised an eyebrow. “You’re famous. Aren’t you used to this?”

            “Well, yes,” Noah admitted, “but it’s different when it’s drunk, obsessive high school girls and you have no body guards.”

            “You have body guards?” I gasped.

            Noah gave me a flat look. “Duh.”

            “Why haven’t I seen them before?” I asked, furrowing my eyebrows. Surely I would have noticed burly men following Gold around.

            “Well they don’t follow us around at school,” Noah told me, “nor when we’re out with friends. But they’re around. They are probably outside this estate’s gates right now just in case something happens.”

            “Something happens?” I repeated slowly.

            Noah nodded solemnly, running a finger across his neck. My eyes bulged and I stared at him in horror. “People want to kill you?”

            He laughed. “No, I was just being over-dramatic.”

            “Ha ha.”

            “Seriously though, that could happen,” Noah told me thoughtfully. “Maybe some people who are jealous of our fame might try to kill us. I hope it never happens, but I guess it could. The body guards are mostly there for those over-zealous fans and people who try to start fights with us.”

            I blinked in surprise. “People start fights with you?”

            “A few weeks before school started Luke got in a pretty serious fight,” Noah apprised me. “He didn’t start it,” he added when he saw my expression. “Some people are just assholes.”

            “Have you ever been in a fight?”

            Noah shrugged. “Five or six.”

            “Five or six?” I parroted in disbelief.

            “You really like repeating me, don’t you?” Noah responded with a grin.

            I flushed, shooting him a small glare. “No.”

            “Sure,” he grinned.

            I rolled my eyes. “Okay. I’m going to leave now. Have fun under the table by yourself.”

            “Wait!” Noah cried quietly, grabbing my wrist. “Will you hand me down food?”

            “Nope.”

            Noah held my arm tighter. “I won’t let you go until you promise.”

            “Come on, Noah. Man up.”

            “I see two men down,” a low voice commented from behind me.

            I jumped violently, knocking my head on the bottom of the table. When I managed to turn all the way around I noticed Rian climbing under the table with us. He grinned at me. “Well, I guess a man and a woman.”

            “How’d you know we were under here?” Noah asked in surprise. “Is it that obvious?”

            Rian smirked. “It is that obvious when you’re getting some punch. I heard you guys talking.”

            Noah opened his mouth in surprise. Then he glared at me. “Iris!”

            “What?”

            “Why do you talk so loud?”

            “What’s going no down here?”

            For the second time I started, slamming my head on the table again. Rian snickered, sending me an amused look. I rubbed my head, looking behind Noah to see Luke squatting down, holding up the table curtain.

            “Get in here!” Noah hissed, yanking on Luke’s leg, and making him tumble half on Noah, half on me.

            I shoved Luke off my lap, making him fall to the ground. He pursed his lips at me. “Thanks, Iris.”

            “You guys, shh!” Noah ordered in a quiet, urgent voice.

            Luke and Rian gave him quizzical looks. “Why?”

            “He’s hiding from the girls,” I informed them. “He’s a wimp.”

            “So what were you doing under here with him?” Rian asked, raising an eyebrow. “As far as I know, you’re a girl too.”

            I gave him a flat look. “We were making out.”

            Shock passed Rian’s face. He turned to Noah, gesturing between the two of us wildly. Noah grinned while I kept my face straight, pushing the tablecloth away so I could crawl out from under the table. People standing by the concession stand gave me funny looks as I emerged. I grinned up at them sheepishly.

            “What were you doing under there, Class Prez?” Nick asked, holding out a hand.

            I took it and he quickly pulled me to my feet. “I dropped my phone,” I lied, brushing off my knees.

            Suddenly Rian crawled out from under the table, quickly pushing himself to his feet. Nick smirked at me, glancing between Rian and myself. I glared at Rian, who gave me a surprised look.

            “Searching for your phone, huh?” Nick commented.

            “He was helping me,” I told him quickly.

            His smirk grew wider. “Okay.”

            Before I could protest, I heard my name being called from behind me. Kevin came running up to me, almost out of breath. “Can you bring Chloe home?” he requested. “Her mom’s getting suspicious, and she’s way too drunk to drive.”

            I made a face. “She got drunk? Why can’t you bring her?”

            Kevin held up a red plastic cup. “I’ve been drinking too. Please, Iris!”

            “Where is she?” I responded with a sigh.

            “In your car,” Kevin told me.”

            I stared at him in surprise. My car?

            Five minutes later I was at my car, yanking open the door. Chloe was sitting in the back, passed out. Relief washed through me when I took a deep whiff and my car didn’t smell like throw up. That was the last thing I needed. I walked around to the other side and slipped in the driver’s seat, sticking my key in the engine.

            “So where does Chloe live?”

            My heart jumped into my chest as my eyes shot to the passenger seat, where Rian was sitting. “What the heck? How did you…?”

            Rian raised an eyebrow. “I told you I was coming with you… I was behind you the whole time.”

            “You were?”

            Rian laughed. “What? Were you too preoccupied with a drunk person in your car?”

            “Hey,” I responded, starting the engine, “it’s not so awesome when someone pukes in your car. The smell stays for weeks.”

            “Chloe’s puked in your car before?”

            “No,” I started, pulling out of Kevin’s estate. “I have.”

            Rian laughed. “Way to go.”

            “Alcohol doesn’t mix well with me,” I told him. “That’s why I don’t like drinking.”

            “I thought you said you drank a little.”

            “Once in a blue moon. And not a lot.”

            “That’s not fun.”

            I quickly shot him a flat look. “I don’t need to be drunk to have fun.”

            “But it helps,” Rian responded cheekily.

            I ignored him, focusing on the dark road. To my annoyance he started humming. When I noticed he was humming Ashley, I couldn’t help but smile. Was he humming it just because, or was he humming it because he knew I liked that song? I shook my head. Now I was getting ahead of myself. He was probably just humming it by coincidence.

            Suddenly there was a groan from the back of the car. Chloe sat up, looking around wildly. “Where am I?”

            “Going home,” I told her, glancing at the rear-view mirror. “Are you feeling okay?”

            “I feel like I’m going to be sick…”

            I slammed on the breaks, sending both Chloe and Rian forward in their seats. Chloe smashed against the back of my seat, and Rian let out a surprised croak as his seatbelt dug into his chest. Before either one could complain, I hopped out of the car, and went to my trunk. Moments later I returned, shoving a bucket into Rian’s hands.

            “Get in the back,” I ordered him. “Bring the bucket.”

            Rian gave me a disgusted look. “No way.”

            “Rian.”

            “Iris.”

            “Please?” I requested, giving him my best puppy-dog look.

            He smirked. “Only if you give me a kiss.”

            I blinked at him. He continued to smile smugly, looking proud of his deal. An idea popped into my head and I nodded. “Fine.”

            Rian looked surprised. “Seriously?”

            “Seriously. Come closer.”

            Rian started leaning towards me, amusement flickering in his eyes. I paused, raising an eyebrow.

            “What?” he demanded.

            “You’re supposed to close your eyes.”

            Rian shrugged. “I don’t want to.”

            “Whatever,” I responded, leaning closer to him.

            Rian reached a hand to the back of my head, pulling my head closer to his. For a second I was surprised by the mint smell of his breath— I thought it was going to smell like beer. His smirk grew wider as our lips came closer. But before our lips touched, I quickly stuck my hand into my glove compartment and brought the item I grabbed to his lips.

            Rian pulled away in surprise, yanking the candy away from his lips. “What’s this?”

            “A kiss,” I told him, moving away. “That’s what you asked for.”

            Rian stared at the little Hershey kiss in his hand with a frown. “Where’d you get this from?”

            I pointed to the glove compartment. “In there. I eat them all the time.”

            Rian sighed and opened the candy, popping it into his mouth with a glum expression. “I knew that was too good to be true.”

            Too good to be true…? Before my face could heat up, I quickly looked away from Rian. “A deal is a deal. Get in the back.”

            Rian sent me a grumpy look before climbing into the back seat, nearly kicking me in the face. Chloe watched in amusement, brushing some stray hair out of her face. Before Rian was fully settled I slammed on the gas pedal, causing him to fall face first into the seat. A snicker escaped my lips, but I quickly pressed them together to stop it.

            “You’re a jerk,” he muttered, rectifying his body.

            I smiled through the rear-view window. “Hey. Don’t try to get a kiss from me. I don’t kiss anyone I don’t like.”

            “You kissed Noah,” Rian said accusingly.

            “I didn’t kiss him.”

            “You told me you did.”

            I shook my head. “I was joking.”

            “Noah didn’t deny it.”

            “He was going along with my joke, Rian. Why does it even matter?”

            Rian crossed his arms. “Because you’re my target.”

            “Target?” I repeated incredulously. “What is that supposed to mean?”

            “It means I’m going to make you my girlfriend.”

            My heart skipped a beat. “Really now?” I commented, trying to be casual. Surely he was joking.

            Rian nodded, looking smug. “Soon enough.”

            “Rian, there are just about two-hundred girls that go to our school who would kill to date you. Why not date them?”

            “Where’s the fun in that?”

            I turned to give him an annoyed look. “What is that supposed to mean?”

            “It won’t be fun if they already like me,” Rian explained. “I’m going to make you like me.”

            “Sorry. I don’t date guys like you,” I told him. Even if he was handsome, he was obviously a womanizer. “Dating isn’t exactly a game.”

            “Oh, you will.”

            My teeth grinded together in annoyance. What was with his cocky attitude? “Maybe I want to date Noah.”

            Rian snorted. “You’ve known him for five days.”

            “You’ve known me for five days,” I countered. “There’s no way you like me.”

            “But I’m interested.”

            “And I’m interested in Noah,” I lied.

            Rian looked like he didn’t believe me. “Sure.”

            “I’m interested in Noah,” Chloe chirped from behind me.

            “You are?” I asked in surprise. I thought for sure she was a Luke fan…

            “And Luke,” Chloe added thoughtfully. “And Kevin… And Nick… And you, Iris. Oh, and the lunch lady…”

            Rian snorted while I smiled in amusement. “You’re drunk, Chloe. Just stop talking.”

            “I’m not drunk,” Chloe protested. “I’m trying to tell you my feelings and you’re rejecting them!”

            “What about Rian?”

            “He’s annoying.”

            “Hey,” Rian protested while I laughed. “I’m not annoying!”

            “Are we almost home?” Chloe complained, ignoring Rian. “I want to go to bed.”

            Just as Chloe asked that, I pulled onto her street. Her house was only two down, so I was in her driveway in seconds. She looked pleased as I stopped the car. “Are you going to bring me in?” Chloe asked.

            “And deal with your mom? I think not,” I responded, turning around to give her a pitying look. “Good luck.”

            She rolled her eyes. “She won’t know I’m drunk.”

            “Whatever you say, Chloe.”

            “Bye Iris,” she responded in an annoyed tone. “Bye, Rian.”

            “Bye Chl—” Rian started but was caught off when Chloe suddenly leaned forward and planted her lips on his in a sloppy kiss.

            For a moment I was too shocked to say anything. An odd feeling spread through my stomach, but I forced it away. Chloe was drunk— she didn’t know what she was doing. Why was I feeling jealous?

            Rian shared the same surprised expression as me. He looked into my eyes wildly, still frozen. Chloe pulled away, wiping her lips. She made a face. “You sir, taste like beer.”

            Now I started laughing. Rian still had the same shocked expression on, his hand going to his lips. Chloe stumbled out of the car, muttering another adieu. Rian hung his head, groaning.

            “Hey, you got your kiss!” I told him cheerily.

            Rian scowled, wiping off his lips again. “That was gross!”

            I continued to laugh as Rian climbed back into the front. He stayed silent and moody all the way back to Kevin’s house. When we arrived he hopped out of the car, heading toward the house without a spare glance. A smile of amusement crossed my face as I quickly followed behind him. “Aw, Rian are you upset you got an unwanted kiss?”

            “No.”

            “Upset because she was drunk and won’t remember what she did?”

            He shot me a glare. “No.”

            “Upset because I’m not jealous,” I taunted.

            He glared me again for a second. “No.” He pulled open the front door and entered, running smack into Noah.

            “Rian!” he cried, giving Rian a huge bear hug. “I thought you died!” he slurred.

            It didn’t take a genius to realize he was drunk. Rian shoved him off, straightening his shirt. “I’m not dead, Noah.”

            Noah looked relieved, and his attention turned to me. “There’s my girlfriend!”

            “Girlfriend?” I responded in surprise.

            He grinned. “You’re so cute. The way you always repeat what I say.”

            “I don’t—”

            Before I knew what was happening, Noah was about two inches away from me. He sent me a goofy smile before taking my head in his hands and planting a wet kiss on my lips. My eyes widened in surprise as he pulled back to smile at me. He brought in his head again and I quickly turned my face to the side, making Noah kiss me on the cheek.

            “Hey,” he protested, dropping his hands.

            With my head turned, I was staring straight at Rian. His face was blank and his mouth was slightly open. When he finally got over his shock, he narrowed his eyes at Noah. Noah grabbed my shoulders, shaking them lightly. “Iris, what’s wrong?”

            My heart thudded in my chest as I turned to Noah, pulling his hands off me. “Don’t kiss me again,” I warned, sending him a stern look.

            Noah looked hurt. “What? Why?”

            Suddenly Luke appeared, grinning sheepishly. He put a hand on Noah’s shoulder, sending me a pitying look. “Sorry, Iris. I thought it’d be funny to get Noah really drunk… I should have thought he’d do something when he started muttering about his girlfriend named Iris. He’s always been a kisser when he’s drunk.”

            I wiped my lips, making a face. Well, at least the kissing was normal. “Luke…”

            “Sorry,” he repeated, ducking his head. “I’ll keep him away.”

            Noah clung to Luke. “Luke! Luke, I love you.”

            “Okay, Noah,” Luke responded with a sigh. “Let’s go get you some cold water…”

            I turned back to Rian who was frowning at me. When he noticed I was looking he gave me a smirk. “Thought you didn’t just give out kisses?” he inquired.

            I scowled at him. “He kissed me.”

            “You still kissed him.”

            “What? Are you jealous?”

            “Nope,” Rian responded, popping the p. “Now we’re equal.”

            I sighed. “Rian, I don’t care that Chloe kissed you.”

            “And I don’t care Noah kissed you. That’s why we are equal.”

            Rian simpered at me while I glared at him. Suddenly a flock of girls converged him, cutting our little staring contest off. Rolling my eyes, I turned and walked straight into someone. “Sorry,” I apologized, taking a step back.

            Kevin grinned down at me. “Iris! I was just looking for you!”

            I frowned slightly. “Why…?”

            He gave me a begging look. “Can you bring Jamie home?”

            I dropped my head. “Sure.”

______

Boom, chapter six. Hope you enjoyed it! :D