If you told me in high school that I would be coming in and out of a frat house like it was the most normal thing for me to do, I would've laughed in your face.

But that was exactly what I was doing as I entered the Aces Estate with Scout. I lost count how many times I've done this – most times because there was a party, half the time because we were going to hang out, and sometimes just because.

I practically knew the names of Scout's whole pledge class.

"Hey, freshman." Pike nodded to me as he walked by when Scout and I stepped foot in the foyer, using his personal nickname for me referencing the first night we met. Wiggling his eyebrows, he added suggestively, "Netflix and chill with Red, eh?"

"In the literal sense," I cleared up, despite knowing there was no use convincing them otherwise. They already made up their minds that Scout and I were doing the deed up there. We still corrected them anytime we could, though.

"Whatever you say," said Pike skeptically, shrugging as his laughter boomed in the hallway even after he left for another room.

"Don't mind him," Scout told me, lightly putting a hand on my back as we continued walking.

I snorted. "When did I ever?"

Scout chuckled at that, before leading me up the winding staircase. When we were at the second landing, we ran into Gaige and Brody. The latter's eyes lit up when he saw me.

"Connie!"

I gave him a bored look. "Are we close?"

Gaige laughed and nodded to me. "Hey, Quicksilver."

I flinched. "You don't have to give everyone nicknames, you know."

"But it's fun."

I rolled my eyes, and unintentionally met Brody's. He looked like he wanted to tell me something, but didn't have the balls to say it. I would've urged him to spill it out, but I couldn't care less what he wanted to say.

It didn't matter, anyway, because he gathered up his balls and finally said, "If I asked you for Jamaica's number, would you give it to me?"

"You already know the answer to that," I replied, tilting my head.

His shoulders slumped and a sigh escaped his lips.

"In the weeks we've been hanging out, she never once gave you her number," I pointed out. "Why do you think I will?"

I didn't wait for him to answer that. I walked around him and continued ahead. I heard him let out a heavy breath.

"Worth a shot."

I glanced over my shoulder. Brody's head was cocked to the side, as he rubbed the back of his neck. Gaige was patting him on the back in encouragement while Scout slapped his arm, as if to cheer him up.

I had to admit, he looked really into Jamaica. I knew she felt the same way, even if she was being a tough nut about it. One day soon, she was going to tire him out and he'd just give up. And it would only be because she was playing too hard-to-get.

Then, she would regret it.

Before I could change my mind, I called out, "Try Madeline or Lilian. Actually, no – Better ask Lilian. Bring her some strawberries and she'll cave."

I might not have given him Jamaica's number per se, but I totally pointed him to someone who will. If he really wanted to get close to her, he'd make the effort and find a way. But honestly, I also didn't want to get blamed in case Jamaica asks the squad who gave her number away.

Hell hath no fury like a pissed off queen bee.

A charming smile appeared on Brody's face. "Thanks, Connie."

I turned around to face my front again, hearing Gaige laugh as he and Brody walked away behind me. Scout stepped up beside me after exchanging see-you-laters with his brothers.

"That's nice of you," he remarked.

"You're right." I nodded, contemplating. "I should've made him work for it."

He chuckled, tilting his head in an adorable way. "Would you make me work for it?"

I gave him a confused look. "You already have my number, dumbass," I said, laughing a little as I shook my head.

A moment passed and Scout still hadn't said anything. When I turned to look at him, all humor was gone on his face. He seemed to be deep in thought.

"Did you order Chinese food?" I asked.

He blinked, as if coming out of a trance. Then, he nodded and said, "Uh, yeah. I asked one of the guys to bring it up when it's delivered."

"Aw, you have minions doing your bidding now?" Pouting, I patted his shoulder. "Aren't you still a pledge?"

An arm snaked around my shoulders so he could pull me closer to him, and I got a whiff of his cologne. Damn, he smelled good. But then, he pinched my cheeks. I burst out laughing as I tried to get out of his grasp.

"Pledge Class President," he corrected.

I fought the urge snort, but I wasn't able to stop myself from rolling my eyes. He caught it when he let me go, causing him to laugh as he ruffled my hair.

"Stop!" I half-whined and half-laughed, slapping his hands away.

Thankfully, he stopped and continued walking. His shoulders were still shaking from silent laughter, though. For a second, I couldn't help but stare.

His freckles were wrinkled around his nose as he laughed. His ginger hair was cut short and clean, it complemented well with his pale features. My eyes wandered to his, those green eyes twinkling in delight and how I liked it when they were on me.

Ah, fuck. What was I thinking?

Looking away, I ran my fingers through my hair to tame it from the aggressive ruffling of this annoying Golden Boy. "Why am I not surprised you're voted Pledge Class President?" It wasn't really a question.

"Who's yours?"

"Jamaica," I said, grabbing the handle of the staircase as we passed the third floor and continued climbing up. "She practically breathes the sorority life."

"You could be a good leader, too."

"Me?" I scoffed, raising an eyebrow at him. "Yeah, right."

"Yeah, Jamaica may have the social charm to be on the ranks." He paused to look at me. "But you have the lure to make people follow you without you asking them to."

I let his words sink in as we reached the fourth landing, where the executives' rooms where. He walked ahead and opened the door to Devo's room.

While bossing people around had its perks, I was more of the passive type when it came to responsibilities like organizing Greek events. Not that I didn't have the ideas for them. I just didn't care as much.

"I don't have your spell, though," I told him, following him inside the VP's room. "People are just fucking drawn to you for some reason – and you don't even have to do anything but breathe."

I flopped down on the carpeted floor by the end of the bed, grabbing a throw pillow and facing the flat screen tv. I watched Scout grab the remote from the desk before sitting down next to me.

"You make me sound like Prince Charming," he said in a low chuckle, pressing the power button and opening Netflix.

"Sometimes, I think you are," I said quietly, watching the Netflix logo appear on the screen.

"Is that a bad thing?"

"No." I paused as something dawned on me, causing me to let out a small laugh. "I'm just used to shit surrounding me that looking at you is like looking at a faraway twinkling star. Pretty to look at but hard to reach."

Without waiting for his reply, I took the remote from him and looked for Black Mirror. I could feel him staring at me from my left but he didn't say anything. I was getting antsy from his gaze that I couldn't concentrate.

Facing him, I snapped, "What?"

He averted his eyes and shook his head, but I caught a tiny smile there. "I just realized something."

"What, you realized you look like the non-goofy version of Archie Andrews?" I teased, turning to the screen again and going back to what I was doing.

"Nah, I've known that since high school."

I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, okay." When Scout stayed quiet, I faced him once again and our eyes locked. "So what did you realize?"

He gave me a soft smile. "That I like you – a lot."

I blinked, taken aback.

Leaning forward, he whispered, "For real."

I didn't know what the fuck to say.

"You get under my skin like nobody else, Anderson." He reached out a hand and tucked a stray hair behind my ear. "I don't know what it is, but something about you always keeps me on my toes."

My breath hitched when he came even closer with only a couple of inches away from me. My eyes went straight to his soft-looking lips – those two blushing pilgrims.

Great, I was quoting fucking Romeo and Juliet now.

"And I know you feel the same."

I looked up to meet his green eyes. They were the warmest green right now, like leaves just before the summer. I could only gaze up at him, not knowing what to say.

He grinned. "I love making you speechless."

That statement snapped me awake. I opened my mouth to say something but he already closed the gap between us and kissed me. Without realizing, I had my eyes shut as I fell more into the kiss.

Scout's hands made their way up and cradled my face, his thumbs caressing my cheeks in tender strokes as his lips molded with mine. I grabbed onto his shirt, loving how secured I felt being in his arms like this.

When he angled his head to take the kiss further, I meant to let out a satisfied sigh but it came out as a moan. I could feel him smile against my lips for a moment at hearing that. Fuck, kissing him felt so damn good.

I was melting into him bit by bit... slowly giving in to my feelings that I refused to acknowledge before. I was falling and in this moment, I was letting myself go.

One of his thumbs traveled to my chin, pulling it down to open my mouth for him. I didn't have time to gasp as his tongue delved in, deepening our kiss.

And then, I was lost.

I was lost in his arms.

I was lost in his kisses.

I was lost in Scout Crimson.

"Yo, Red! Food's here!"

The door burst open without any fucking warning and in came Gaige. I quickly pushed Scout off of me, but it was too late. Gaige already saw, halting in his steps with his eyes wide and round.

"Oh, shit. Sorry!" he cried in panic, covering his eyes with a free hand as he was still holding the paper bag full of Chinese food with the other.

"Gaige," deadpanned Scout, his voice hoarse but firm.

He only said Gaige's name but his friend immediately got the message. The big guy mumbled another apology and left.

Shit, what the hell was I doing kissing Scout?

I squeezed my eyes shut and covered my face, but not in embarrassment. I just couldn't believe I let that happen. I gave in, and I fucking liked it.

No. Just... no.

"I need to go," I said, getting to my feet as fast as I could.

I couldn't take any more of... this.

"No, wait!"

This was beyond my control.

"Connie –"

I was out the door before he could finish his sentence. I ran down the stairs, and I could hear him following me from afar. Good thing I managed to get ahead and was able to leave the Aces Estate in record time.

Scout Crimson was sweet, attentive, and honest. He had no idea that he took me by surprise, too. But he could also be so unpredictable at times that I couldn't...

We just couldn't.

I was too jaded and broken for someone like him who was all clean and good. He couldn't save me from drowning.

If he tried... he'd only drown, too.

_____________

Next update: Thursday (May 9th)

Coming up next... Chapter 17: River
It's gonna be THE ONE you've all been waiting for. Any guesses?