Better. [e.d]

f o u r

After a few minutes, someone sat in front of me in the booth. I look up to see the guy that was touching me last night.

My heart started to pump and my hands got sweaty.

His eye was black and he had a bruise along his jaw just like Ethan.

"So we meet again," he says. "Uh-" I stutter. "Are you alone? Is your boyfriend not here to start a fight?" He asked. "Can you just leave me alone?" "You don't seem as confident as you were when we were dancing," he says. Just from those words, a boost of confidence filled within me.

"You still seem like the same asshole when we were dancing so I suggest you leave," I say. "Ohhh, feisty," he says and turns back to look a group of guys that we're smiling at us. "Well, maybe you can give me another chance and I can take you out on a nice date?" He asks turning back and looking at me. "Yeah, I don't think so," I respond and turn my attention back to my homework." "Oh, c'mon why not? I'm not the same asshole as I was on the dancefloor," He said closing my laptop. "Dude, no," I said as I stood up. "You know what? Fine, that's cool. Eventually, I'll have you." "I really, doubt that," I say and put my mac into my bag.

I put on my bag then went to go order a drink before I left.

Before I walked out the door, I heard him yell from behind me.

"The names, Anthony, don't forget it!"

-

I walked into the house and it was now almost 11:00.

"Are they done?" I ask as I walk into the kitchen to see Savannah and Ava sitting by the counter eating some fruit. "Yes, we're done. I just dropped her off," Ethan says from behind me as he walks into the kitchen. "So, are you in that, 'fuck bitches get money' phase now?" Savannah asked Ethan causing me to let out a quiet giggle. "What do you mean?" he questioned as he grabbed a strawberry off of Savannah's plate. "Like are you at the stage where all you want is to go to parties and clubs all the time and just hook up with girls every night?" She explains as he puts the strawberry in his mouth wrapping his pink lips around it as he takes a bite. He shrugged before turning around and walking out of the kitchen. I couldn't help but think about his lips... Why, though?

*

11:45 P.M.

Once I had gotten out of the shower and was dressed, I walked downstairs and joined everyone in the living room.

"So Ethan, now that you're in the stage where all you want to do is get laid, are you done being a dick?" Maya asked. "That stage never really completely leaves you," he replied looking at the TV. "Oh come on Ethan, you've been acting like a dick for four months now. Then when you were getting out of that phase, you came back with it when Elena and Ava came." "Like I said, it never completely leaves you." "Really, Ethan? You-" Maya starts but gets cut off by Ethan. "Maya," he says sternly trying to get her take the hint. She let's out a grunt and rolls eyes.

"Anyways," Ava says after a few seconds of silence. "Aren't we suppose to be figuring out the cooking schedule?" She asks. "Right, right," Savannah says and pulls out her phone. "Okay, who's home before or by 3:30 on Monday's?" Savannah asks. "I am," I say. "Who else?" "Me," Ethan says. Shit. "Okay... so, can I put you down with Elena for Monday's?" Savannah questions. "Yeah, sure, whatever," he says still not taking his eyes off the TV screen in front of him. "Are you okay with that?" Ava whispers to me. "Yeah, if he's fine with it then I guess I am too. I can use this as a way to get closer to him." We continued to discuss the schedule and everyone ended up with two