Val’s P.O.V

"Heyyy, Reynolds…" I tried to fake a nervous smile avoiding his eye contact, my voice trembling as I fought to sound casual.

"Don't 'Hey Reynolds' me," he snapped, his tone sharp enough to cut through the party noise. "You told me you were at Brielle's. Why are you here? And what in the world are you wearing, for crying out loud?!"

I looked at myself pettily like it wasn’t me that wore the dress out.

He breathed in deeply, hesitating. "Do you know how shocked I was when my friends told me that you were here? And you didn't even have the courtesy to let me know that you would be coming to this party!" He said it all in one breath, his irritation very shown.

"Well, you didn't ask…" I grumbled under my breath, staring at the floor instead of his eyes.

He sat down next to me, his temper a bit calmer as he took a deep breath. "Listen, Val," he began, his voice softer now. "I just don't want to see you get hurt again."

"I know," I said, finally meeting his gaze. "It's just…It's just that I hadn't been to a party in like, forever, and I wanted to remember how it was. And don't worry, I'm not going to drink. I'm the one driving." I waved Brielle's car keys around his face in an attempt to earn his trust.

He shook his head, scrubbing a hand through his hair. "Fine. Just…be careful, okay? I'll see you tomorrow."

"Okay, Reynolds," I said grinning. "Love you, Old Guard."

"Don't call me that," he frowned, standing and vanishing into the crowd.

I watched him walk away, feeling relieved and guilty by turns. Before I could think about it for too long, there was a touch on my shoulder. Turning, I was face-to-face with Mason, his dimples piercing deep into his cheek as he smiled at me. Mason was admittedly handsome.

"Hi, Val," he said, his voice friendly and inviting.

"Hi," I replied, smiling up at him.

"Having fun at the party?" he asked, hunching forward to be able to be heard over the music.

"It's…okay," I shrugged. "Not my kind of place, but it's something."

"We're doing truth or dare over there," he said, gesturing toward a group of people sitting in a circle at the end where there was a lounge. "You want to join us?"

Can I just sit back and observe?" I asked, already nervous.

"Yes," he said, walking me over to the group.

As we arrived, I noticed a couple of faces that I knew from school. Mason announced my arrival with flair, "Look who thought to come join us!" Everyone looked around at me, except for the two who were too involved in romancing each other in the middle of the circle.

"Hey," I said with a blush, waving at the group. It was a pleasure, but the pressure consumed me. I couldn’t override it.

Responses were mixed. Some of them looked stunned, some confused, and some grumbled under their breath.

"Is that Val?"

"No way, she looks different."

Ugh, what's she doing here?

Damn, she's hot.

I blushed at a couple of guys whistling at me. This was embarrassing. But, the compliment was nice though, not gonna lie!

"Sit down," Mason told me, gesturing to the arm of the couch next to him.

I sat down carefully, aware of how short my dress was. The last thing I desired was for the dress to slip too far up from my thighs.

“It’s just a little price to pay for being hot,” a strange thought ridiculed.

Finally, the two people who'd been kissing separated, and I tensed up. It was Jax. His eyes landed on me, his eyes wide with shock. He looked like someone who had just seen a ghost.

The game went on, and I tried to focus on the dares, which were for the most part stupid and nearly offensive. And then, of course, the bottle landed on Jax.

"Okay, Jax," Mason said, a sneaky grin spreading across his face. "Truth or dare?"

"Dare," Jax said firmly, never once losing his pace.

"Okay," Hesitating as he scanned the circle, his eyes landed on me, and my guts dropped. "Kiss…Val", Mason says with a grin.

"Wait, what?!" For real? Oh no. Oh no. Oh no. This is so perfect.

Jax starts to approach me, pushing away the girl he was making out with, looking at my lips with a starving expression. Oh no. Jax is completely drunk.

In a flash, his soft lips are on mine, and it is wonderful. He draws me in tight, his broad arm across my waist.

He kind of stumbled over his own feet, looking at me with a stunned expression and confusion.

"Sorry," I muttered, trying to make him stable, but he grasped my wrist.

He leaned forward and his warm breath against my ear as he whispered, "You look beautiful." His voice sent shivers down my spine and I felt my cheeks heat up. Then he sat back and left me speechless as he sat down.

I apologized and bolted towards the bathroom, my heart pounding within my chest. When I walked up the stairs, a stranger caught me and shoved me against a corner.

I tried to scream, but his hand covered my mouth, shutting me up.

"Get off me!" I screamed, my voice muffled as I tried to struggle free.

He wiggled my arm, and a searing agony ran through my body. "Stop struggling, or I'll hurt you," he growled, his voice cold.

Yeah, sure. I kicked him as hard as I could in his balls. He pursued me, and I ran as quickly as my legs would go, not looking back until I was sure that he was well behind.

My heart was racing, and I had no idea where the bathroom was. I was somewhere on the second floor, spinning around and unable to catch my breath. Then suddenly the memories all flooded back.

"Don't you just love it when I touch you?" he said, his voice filled with false sweetness. I was crying tears as he ran his hand up my arm.

"Ronan, no. You promised me," I pleaded, my voice trembling.

"I did? Even if I did, it was nothing," he said, his voice cold and detached. My breath was trapped in my throat.

This was not Ronan. I thought I knew him.

"Oh, baby, I'm not capable of holding back anymore when I know you're mine," he growled, his grip tightening.

"No! Get off me!" I shouted, pushing him away, and I was rewarded with a hard slap to the face.

"You little shit!" he snarled, pushing me back.

"Val, it's alright. I'm here," a deep voice whispered snapping me back into reality.

My mind took me back to something I did not want to remember.

I looked up to see Jax looming over me, his face filled with concern. "Please, just breathe," he whispered.

"I'm sorry," I cried, my voice breaking. "I…I can't forget it."

They were all heavy thoughts messing with my mind.

I wrapped my arms around him in a reflex move, burying my face in his shoulder. He was very close to putting his hands around me, his hand gently rubbing my back.

"You don't need to apologize," he whispered. "I've got you."

"Thank you," I whispered, my voice barely audible.

I could feel him grin into my hair. "Do you wish to return home?" he said, after a moment.

"Yeah," I pulled back slightly. "I think I should."

"I will drive you. I will inform Reynolds."

"Please don't tell him what went on," I told him, looking up at him with pleading eyes.

"But…" he started, but I growled at him with a hard stare.

"Fine," he accepted, exhaling.

I turned around to go, and I caught his hand. "Will you deliver these to Brielle?" I asked, holding out the car keys.

He grinned, pulling them from me. "I'll be right back."

I stood there, seeing him walk away, my mind still reeling from what just happened. He'd seen me at my weakest point, and for some reason, that freaked the crap out of me.

We'd arrived home later that evening.

"The door's locked," Jax muttered, under his breath. "Where's your mom?"

"Out of town," I leaned against the doorframe, sighing.

"My parents are out too," he said, raking his hand through his hair. "You can come over to my house for the night if you want."

"Okay," I nodded. "Thanks, Jax."

He wanted to reply but a smile that curved his lips had took him away.

He was lost.

Jax kept smiling licking and biting one side of his lips.