LYSSA

3

Olivia Powell's POV

Caroline is giddy, clapping her hands together while Hailey and I down our second shots of cheap vodka. "Our first college party!" she exclaims.

"The first of many," I declare, raising my shot glass and ignoring my burning esophagus that begs me to take a break.

"Bottoms up!" Hailey shrieks.

We wince while we swallow.

My head buzzes in tune with the pulsating music Hailey and Caroline have blaring through their room's speakers. I don't know the song, but I'm too tipsy to care. Too tipsy and happy. I have friends, college friends, and they want to spend time with me and bring me to a party with them. An exclusive party. Invite only. Off campus.

"Guys." I think I'm slurring, but I'm not sure. I haven't had a sip of alcohol in years, and three shots is enough to do me in. "I love this."

Caroline envelops us in a group hug and tells us we aren't allowed to leave without another shot and without bringing a "mixie," which is a mixed drink, also known as vodka in a bottle of Sprite. "No jungle juice," she warns.

I barely taste shot number four.

We stumble into the rideshare. The driver chuckles and asks if we're freshmen.

"How can you tell?" Caroline asks. Hailey and I are too deep into giggles to respond.

"Just had a feeling," he says, and we all crack up.

The ride could have been two minutes or two hours. Drunk time definitely isn't linear. Hailey pulls me out and whispers that we have to compose ourselves before we walk in. "Hello," she says politely to the guy at the door. "Sean invited us. I'm Hailey Long."

The guy is wearing a black tee and jeans, and he's incredibly attractive. I love college. "Sean!" he hollers. "Do you know Hailey?"

I can't hear anything over the pounding music, but door guy seems to and ushers us inside. The lights are dim, and there's an actual disco ball on a folding table where someone is pouring shots and taking song requests. A surfer dude-looking guy bounds over and wraps his arm around Hailey. "Sean," she laughs, "you're pulling my hair."

He sloppily tucks a curl behind her ear and whispers something into it. She playfully hits him on the arm and tells him he should introduce himself.

"Sean," he says, grinning widely. He pushes his blonde hair off his tanned face and adds, "Charmed."

Caroline and I introduce ourselves, and he kisses our hands like a prince asking for a dance, except he's definitely not in prince attire. Sean is rocking salmon shorts, a white tank, and an actual shark tooth necklace.

"Oi, Andy!" he yells.

A tall guy with buzzed brown hair and massive arms turns his head. "What do you want, Sinclair?"

A swarm of butterflies attacks when he catches my eye and actually winks. Caroline nudges me, and we dissolve into giggles. "He's so hot," I whisper in a voice that I don't think is particularly quiet.

"Get. On. That," she squeals, not even bothering to try to whisper.

Sean roars with laughter, and Hailey buries her head in his shoulder, peeking out only to shoot me a wink.

Hot Andy and two other guys walk over. Andy takes the spot next to me. "Andy," he says. "In case you didn't hear this idiot scream it across the house."

"Olivia," I say, laughing. "Yeah, I think I caught it."

"Good. You better not forget it," he says wryly.