Chapter 1
If there's one thing I can't stand, it's university parties.
But, I made a promise to my best friend Ella that I would attend one, yes, one, party this year so here I am, wondering how soon I can leave.
I just don't see the appeal. Honestly, it makes me wonder how people like these things.
It's so loud. It stinks of sweat and old beer, and it's so crowded I feel like I can't breathe. People keep crashing in to me and I know it's only a matter of time before I lose my shit with some drunk arsehole.
"Ella, how long do I have to stay here?" I try to keep my tone mild, but honestly, I'm so over this already. Someone is lining up shots and the liquid they're pouring in is bright red.
No thanks.
"Priya! You promised you wouldn't moan." Ella rolls her pretty blue eyes and pushes her chestnut hair back from her flawless face. "And anyway, the party hasn't even started yet."
I stare dully around us where girls are slut-dropping to music that barely qualifies as music, and the guys leer over them and take videos. Everyone is standing up despite the sofas strewn around, but I'm hardly surprised. I tried to sit on one earlier and it was sticky. I dread to think why.
"Ooh, there's Travis." Ella's tone hitches a few notches and I follow her gaze to see the man of my best friends dreams talking to a near identical version of him, both in polo shirts and jeans, clasping a beer. "Let's go and say hi."
I follow Ella through the mess of people and freeze when someone slams into me, throwing an ice cold glass of piss coloured beer all over my front. I gasp at the cold then raise my eyes to see a girl giggling, her hand over her mouth. She doesn't even apologise as she turns around, continuing to dance.
I tap her on the shoulder.
She doesn't turn around.
"Oi." I spin her around and point at my now ruined white shirt, which is now dripping onto my jeans. "You owe me an apology."
She looks me up and down before her lips tilt upward.
"Sorry."
She doesn't mean it, and before she can turn around, I throw my drink in her face, my own smile widening as she gasps in disbelief.
"What the fuck is wrong with you?"
I shrug and say, "sorry," in the same shitty tone she did.
Her eyes flash as she lunges for me, her nails digging into my chest as she shoves me hard enough to knock me over.
Well.
I'm not a fighter, but I won't take shit lying down. Not this kind of shit anyway. My arse slams onto the floor and I stare up at her.
"Watch yourself, bitch," she warns, before Ella hurries over to me, her mouth open.
"Pri, what the hell?! Are you—"
I rise to my feet and grab the back of the bitches hair, twisting her head so she's facing me. My other hand slaps her across the cheek, and she stumbles back in shock,
"I'm watching," I say, bracing myself for her to run at me.
I've lived in a rough area for most of my life, and unlike most of these uni students who have come courtesy of mummy and daddy's chequebook, I haven't. I had to smash my a-levels to get a place here, and I'm in mountains of debt for the privilege.
So no, I won't let some uppity bitch throw her drink on me, give me a lame apology and then throw me to the floor.
Fuck no.
"You really don't know who you're dealing with, do you?" The girl screeches, storming towards me.
A crowd has gathered around us and believe it or not, they're chanting 'fight fight fight!' Like schoolkids in the playground. Before she reaches me though, someone steps between us, someone broad and tall enough to block her from my sight.
I'm five ten, and he's way taller than me. My heart hammers in my chest, adrenaline soaring through my veins as I brace myself for a fight. But he says something to the girl and she narrows her eyes at me, fury radiating from every pore.
"You better hope I don't see you again," she sneers at me before he pushes her away, guiding her through the crowd.
Everyone turns to look at me, my chest heaving and my top wrecked with beer. I clear my throat and straighten my shoulders before looking at my best friend.
"Can we go now?"
"Hey, it's alright, stay for a little longer," Travis says, sliding his arm around Ella.
Where did he come from?
"Yeah," his friend says, staring at my tits. "Stay."
I cross my arms over my chest and count to ten, wondering if I'll ruin this my friendship if I just walk out.
But I decide to have a breather, and tell Ella as much.
"I'll be back soon."
I don't leave room for her protests as I shove through the crowd to the back door, suddenly desperate for air. My chest feels tight and my head is spinning, but finally, cold air slaps me in the face.
I suck it in like a junkie, steadying myself on the wall outside. The brick dust crumbles beneath my fingers and I close my eyes.
I already feel better being outside. And it's got to be zero degrees.
I hear arguing and turn to look up the side of the house where I see the bitch who didn't apologise for spilling her drink over me. She's arguing with that tall guy, jabbing her finger into his chest as he practically growls at her to go home. They're standing beside a taxi, and I wonder if I should sneak past them and get in it.
"Fuck, Vinnie! You're a nightmare! It wasn't my fault that bitch threw her drink over me! Why should I leave?"
Vinnie is probably her boyfriend. Poor bastard.
But then she stamps her foot, and calls him overbearing, amongst other things, before begrudgingly getting into the taxi beside them.
"I'm telling mum," she throws at him before she slams the door, and I realise it's her brother.
Only then does he turn to look at me, and the moon highlights his face, making me a little dizzy. His bone structure is incredible, and his eyes are so light they stand out from all the way over here. I can't make out their colour though, and then they narrow at me, bringing me back to reality.
"You."
I swallow, his deep tone making things tingle that shouldn't. That haven't in a while, actually.
"She threw her drink at me first," I say, pointing at my top. "Look."
"So you threw yours back at her?" He rumbles, crossing his arms over his chest. "What are you, five?"
I blink slowly.
"Excuse me?"
He moves closer, his long legs eating up the distance between us in seconds. His scent hits me first, something woody and fresh, but mixed with something that causes an eruption of butterflies in my stomach.
"That's my baby sister," he snaps. "And she told me it was an accident. She didn't throw her drink at you."
I flush at my choice of words. "Okay, maybe not, but she didn't apologise."
He arches a brow and I sigh heavily.
This isn't going at all well, is it?
"It was a shitty apology at best."
Vinnie, as I now think of him, shakes his head. "So it was an accident and Thea apologised. Yet you still threw your drink at her and slapped her."
I open my mouth to argue but then realise he's right. But he's a guy, and he's her brother. He's hardly going to see my side of things is he?
But still.
"She has a seriously bad attitude. All she had to do was apologise, but she gave a half arsed effort then shoved me so I fell on my arse. So she's not entirely innocent."
Vinnie's eyes roll, and he pinches the bridge of his nose.
"How much?"
I frown. "How much what?"
"How much do you want?" He reaches into his pocket and starts rifling through the notes in there.
"I'm confused, you want to pay me for slapping your sister?"
He stops and looks at me, his eyes burning into mine.
"To forget it ever happened and to walk away if you ever see her again."
I snort. So he's rich, and he thinks I can be bought?
No.
"No amount," I tell him before walking back to the shitty party. "If I see her I'd actively avoid her, I don't need to be paid."
Fucking men.
Fucking women.
