OVER THE NEXT couple days, Chase and I couldn't keep our hands off each other. Every bit of alone time we had in our dorm room was spent with our clothes off. Sometimes we would skip class because Elwood hall would be quiet and we could truly be alone. I had never been happier with Chase and I feel like we had grown a lot closer together. I was so hopelessly head over heels for him. 

"Do you really have to go?" I question as I wrap my arms around his bare torso and rest my chin on his shoulder. The hot water from the shower head rained down on us as we stood together in a shower cubicle. After numerous rants and strongly-worded emails, they finally put a lock on the level 2 bathroom door for me. Times had to be scheduled though because only so many boys fit in the first floor bathroom; that being the only other bathroom in Elwood Hall. 

The lock, thankfully, meant Chase and I could spend more time together before he leaves for Seattle. His grandfather had asked for Chase to attend some charity gala tonight. And I would've gone with him if I hadn't promised Noah I'd go out to a club for his birthday. He got us fake ID's and everything so how could I say no? Chase was totally fine with me not going.

"When my grandfather asks something I kinda have to do it. I mean, I'm here because of him." Chase explains as he turns around to face me. The water bounces off his skin and hits me in the face. Chase gently takes a hold of my face in two wet hands, "I met you because of him." 

"And because I'm a fucking clumsy idiot." I beam a smile at him, extremely proud of my stupidity and mistake. 

"Yes. And that." Chase chuckles at me before he frowns at my lips and wipes the pad of his thumb against it, "You have chocolate on your face." 

"I'm saving it for later." I wriggle my eye brows at him cheekily as Chase shakes his head and turns and passes me my pale blue loofa and body wash.  I take it off him and begin applying it to my skin, "You're going to smell like me." 

He screws his nose up, "It's a sacrifice I'm willing to make." 

"You're funny." I retort sarcastically as Chase steps to the side and allows room for me under the flow of the running water. 

We take turns washing ourselves and each other and enjoy the warmth of the water. It was getting warmer outside but only slightly. When we were finished, I wrap myself up in a towel and grab my toiletry bag. I leave first and rush down the hallway into our dorm. We have to stagger our leaving times to not make it suspicious to anyone watching. 

It's a little sad that we have to act like we hate each other's guts outside of our dorm but I think we both get a kick out of making fun of each other. It's kind of like a little competition between us. And when we get back to the dorm it brings a little spice to our alone time because we're both so pissed off...so in simpley words, angry sex. 

♤♤♤♤

Before I left for Noah's party, I decided to study for an upcoming English Lit test like the good little studious girl I am...not. I was so behind and honestly at this point I'm just hoping to pass senior year. If I don't, it's off to juvie for me as per stated in my court order. Loving life right now. Chase had left a few hours ago and I've been studying ever since. However, everytime I moved in these pants I'd get distracted. Vera really wanted me to wear her new leather pants because they were too long for her legs but perfect for mine. They were also fucking noisey as hell. 

I run a frustrated hand through my hair as I try to remember the difference between affect and effect when a sturdy knock echoes from the door. I drop my pencil instantly, eager for anything that would take me away from studying, and walk over the carpet in bare feet towards the door. I yank it open to reveal Lap-Dance Dylan standing outside of my door. His ginger buzz cut had grown out since the fateful night.  

"You've got mail!" He grins at me as I roll my eyes at his enthusiasm. He chuckles to himself seeming very satisfied as he turns down to the basket held against his hip. He flips through the envelopes with his fingers and mumbles under his breath, "301, 302, 303—oh shit! 304 has a Pornhub subscription?" Dylan exclaims in surprise as my eyes widen. He then laughs and scoops through the hair, "Ah, I'm just yanking your chain. 305, 306—oh, here we go 307." 

He pulls out the small pile of envelopes and hands them to me. 

I retrieve them and begin sorting through them, "Thanks Dylan." 

"Hey, you're looking very sexy tonight, Hayden." Dylan smirks as he leans against the door frame with his shoulder, "Are you going to Noah's birthday party because I was thinking of going as we—" 

"Bye Dylan." I say as I close the door in his face and turn around. I continue to read the stamps on the front of the envelopes and was about to place them down on my desk when my eyes catch sight of the very last one. It peaked my interest due to the very fancy crest printed onto the card. I read over the sender address. Pandora Rehabilitation Centre. 

My fingers urged to rip it open, to read what was inside. But I was going to respect Chase's boundaries. So instead, I place his two envelopes onto his desk and I open mine; all of which were postcards from my mother. I sit down at my desk chair and begin to read about my mother's extravagant adventures around Europe but i couldn't concentrate. My gaze kept drifting over to the envelope across the room. Everytime I looked at it, it's like my focus super zoomed on it. 

I was half way through the last post card when I subconsciously glanced at the envelope. Chase wouldn't arrive back until late tomorrow afternoon. One peak wouldn't matter...right. 

I inhale sharply, "Fuck it." 

Slapping the postcards down onto the desk beside me, I push to my feet and storm across the small dorm room. I swipe the envelope from the desk and hold it in front of me and stare at it were a determined gaze. I grab the end, ready to rip it open when the door opens. 

"Are you ready to fucking party!" Noah exclaims loudly into my quiet dorm and I get such a fright I end up throwing the envelope across the room. 

"I wasn't doing anything!" I shout as I spin around and stumble back into Chase's desk chair. Noah and Penn stood at the door, both staring at me with confused frowns. I smile sheepishly, "Happy birthday Noah." 

"You already said that—well screamed it—when the two of you and Vera broke into my dorm room at five o'clock this morning." Noah explains our early adventures as he walks into the room. He pats my head and smiles at me, "But thank you." 

"You're looking great, Hayden." Penn winks at me from the doorway. She looked great herself in a black denim mini skirt and a  blue cowl-neck tank top that did wonders for her long red hair. Noah was a very lucky man. "It's a shame Chase couldn't' come." 

"Sucks to be him." Noah chuckles as he pokes his tongue out. Penn and I glance at each other before laughing at him. Noah suddenly takes up a fencing stance and points out the door dramatically, "Our chariot awaits!" 

When the three of us walked out into front parking lot for visitors, I realised that by chariot Noah meant a vibrant pink jeep limousine. The dude really loved his jeeps. Some people were already waiting including Vera and Sam who was visiting for the weekend. Noah's parents had paid—cough cough bribed—the Caldwell Board and Headmaster Sullivan to let a handful of students out for Noah's birthday without supervision. It wasn't an easy task but Noah's parents are basically gazillionaires and could afford it. So basically, money does solve everything. 

We all had to get clearance though and by clearance I mean a meeting with the Education Board, a two hour session with Miss Oakley who is honestly more high than some of the students in the school as well as with the court, parole officers and it had to be signed off by a professional Psychiatrist. Some kids didn't make it due to be psychotic or having fucked up in the previous week. 

All I know is that a group of troubled youth set free for a night could not end well. I'm fucking pumped. 

♤♤♤♤

"I'm fucking drunk!" Noah cheers as he stands on top of the bar. The surrounding crowd cheers loudly over the thumping music as I laugh at my best friend. He nods to himself proudly before climbing down and taking a seat on the stool next to me. I never knew Madison could actually party. The club was hidden between a couple buildings in the heart of the town square and it was already packed when we entered. 

People from Caldwell had slowly flitted away, all catching ubers and taxis back to the campus. Penn had a Geography Club field trip early in the morning, so Levi and her went back. Levi was getting annoyed but the amount of girls hitting on him which is why he instantly gapped it when we gave him the offer to leave. I gave Penn a key to my dorm room so it would be easier for Noah to get to her. And right now, the only ones left were Noah, Vera, Sam and me. And we were having a fucking great time. 

"Baby, what's the time?" Vera questions as she rests her had on Sam's shoulder. He pulls back the sleeve of his navy button down and exposes an very expensive looking watch. Vera gasps, "Woah! It's only two in the afternoon?" 

"It's almost one in the morning but close enough." Sam chuckles as he kisses the top of her head before smiling at us, "And I think that's our cue to leave." 

"We should probably go too before this thing starts another fight." I chuckle as I point to an almost passed out Noah who was lying onto the expanse of the bar. Earlier in the evening, Noah picked a fight with a girl because he thought she was making fun of Penn. Turns out she was just asking for a napkin. We love a protective boyfriend though. 

"Hey, that guys wearing the same shirt as me!" Noah exclaims as he points across the bar to some guy who was completely minding his own business. Noah stumbles to his feet, "I need to fight him." 

"Proves my point." I chuckle at Sam as I stand up and grab Noah by the arm, "You can fight him tomorrow,  Birthday Boy. We need to get back to Caldwell." 

"Okay!" Noah cheers as he throws both arms up in the air. I shake my head before grabbing one arm, throwing it over my shoulder and basically heave his body from the club. 

When the four of us stumbled out of nightclub, Sam ordered an uber and we all climb inside when it arrived. Noah was so drunk that he kept falling over so it was a mission to get him inside.

 Sam had to hold up Noah in his seat and I buckled him in with two seatbelts while Vera was asking the driver if the vehicle could fit through a McDonald's drive-through. The entire ride back to Caldwell I kept videoing Noah. I kept some for blackmail and sent the hilarious ones to Penn because I know she'd love them. 

I was expecting their to be cop cars and officers and teachers waiting for us at the school gates when we arrived back but it was quiet. We were way over curfew so I was fearing the worse.  The uber dropped us off outside the school so we had to walk down the fucking long driveway to get to the school. Noah had eventually sobered up by then but I still had to hold his hand and drag him towards the school. Vera had fallen asleep on Sam's back as he carried her and it looked so adorable. 

When we finally reached the cross roads between Arlington and Elwood, we said our goodbyes.

"Have fun with this one." I wink at Sam as Vera groans against his shoulder and her eyes flicker open. She notices me and extends her hands towards me, her fingers groaping the air. 

"Hayden!" She groans as I walk around Sam towards her. Vera's eyes were half-shut but she still manages to smile lazily at me, "I love you." 

"I love you too." I chuckle at her cuteness as I move her curly bangs from her forehead and places a quick goodnight kiss against her forehead. I then turn my attention back to Sam, "She has a jar of her miracle juice in her retro pink mini fridge—it's brown and looks like vomit, it's hard to miss. Make sure you give it to her when she wakes up." 

Sam shifts Vera's weight on his back and gives me a two finger salute, "Yes ma'am." 

"See you tomorrow." I wave at him as they start walking off towards Arlington. 

"Bye Sam!" Noah waves both hands over his head before Sam and I shh him. Noah slaps both hands over his mouth and whispers, "Oh shit, bye Sam." 

Sam chuckles as he waves at the two of us and continues to carry Vera on his back. He was such a good guy and Vera was really lucky to have him. But to be honest, he hit the jack pot when he met that girl. 

My eyes slowly revolve to Noah and he shrugs at me, "What?" 

"Let's go, birthday boy." I laugh at him as I slip my hand into his and guide him to Elwood. 

As we were walking down the path and towards the door, my phone buzzes in my jacket pocket and I pull it out. My eyes frown when I read over the message from Penn. 

Favourite Redhead: Your dorm supervisor is waiting at the door-I think Noah calls him the sergeant??? He's waiting for people who come in after curfew. 

"Oh shit." I suddenly stop and hold Noah by his arm. He turns and frowns at me, "The Sergeant is waiting at the door."

Noah's eyes widen as we slowly make our way up to the entrance of Elwood hall and crouch when we near the door. We keep our heads below the small windows in the door and slowly raise our eyes. We both glance through the seperate windows to see the Sergeant making two guys do push ups as a punishment for being late. There was no fucking way I was doing that when I'm half buzzed and sleep deprived. 

When the Sergeant turns to the door, Noah and i both quickly duck our heads and end up falling on our butts. 

"We need to find another way in." I whisper to him as Noah nods and I shoo him to the left with my hand. We both crouch low as we run around the side of the building.  We walk along the damp grass and I end up taking off my shoes off because the heels kept digging into the soil. The night-sky was clear which we were thankful for because the full moon delivered us the perfect amount of light to see. 

We were on the last side of the huge brick building and I was getting really tired. Noah suddenly stops and gasps, causing me to stumble into his back. He glances down at me from his stupidly tall height. 

"It's open." He says with a childish grin as my gaze follows his finger to see that a first floor window was indeed pushed open by at least two inches. We both run over the wet grass towards it and Noah quietly pulls it open. He easily lifts himself into the window and turns around to face me. I pass him my heels before placing my palms against the window sill. 

"I'm too fucking short." I whisper to him as I continue and to jump in through the open window. 

"Come on, use those twig arms, Hayden." Noah cheers under his breath as I give him a dead look. He smiles sheepishly at me before grabbing my said twig arms and attempts to pull me up. 

After a few minutes of struggling I finally land my butt on the window sill and swing my legs inside. Except as I do so, I end up kicking something hard and cold that falls heavily to the ground with a loud crash. 

Noah and I both freeze as we hear sounds of rustling before a lamp is turned on. Two guys were tucked in their beds and one of them reaches out for their glasses. I knew they were juniors and looked incredibly scrawny, one was in a pair on Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles pyjamas. 

We were all staring at each other with wide eyes in complete dead silence. All four pairs of eyes slowly move to the microwave that was now sitting broken on the floor and then slowly our shocked gazes move back up and we make eye contact with each other once more.

Then, almost simultaneously, the two guys open their mouths wide and begin screaming in fear. Noah and I furiously attempt to quiet them but it didn't work because seconds later the Sergeant, the two guys we had seen doing push ups in the foyer and a few neighbour guys crash come crashing through the door and into the room. 

Happy birthday, Noah...I guess? 

noah's birthday is the February 20th so our sunshine boy is a pisces. 

i'll probably update again on sunday or maybe tomorrow because i'm just feeling so motivated right now!