ATTRACTION

Chapter one

SIERRA

The pillow is soft and cold, abandoned after I get from the bed and walk down the hallway. Sunlight slips through the half-closed blinds, and my disorientation is on a much higher level today. It feels like I'm spinning.

Fuck. I definitely had too much to drink last night.

I splash my face with cold water in the bathroom, attempting to get myself together. Then I start brushing my teeth, nearly dozing off by the sink.

Flashes from last night's party come back to me. Before college, I didn't even know partying on a random Tuesday was a thing.

Even caffeine wouldn't save me now. I still feel buzzed.

A bored look crosses my face as I pull my hair out from under the freshly worn sweater. My eyes instinctively flick to the clock on the wall, and a breath escapes me, which is a half sigh, half groan, as my nerves suddenly kick into overdrive.

"Shit."

Whatever calm I had in me just disappears, replaced by mental chaos. "Uh... charger, jacket..." I mutter to myself, my mind not cooperating fast enough.

I jog down the stairs with the shoes untied, which almost causes me to trip over my own feet.

I snatch my phone off the counter and swipe the jacket from the hanger, trying to remember if I forgot anything.

With a last glance around, I make my way outside and my brows knit at the sight of a familiar car parked in the driveway.

A wave of relief calms me down as soon as I realize who it is.

"Took you long enough," Kyle mutters, keeping the windows on both sides rolled all the way down when I reach the passenger's side.

"I didn't know you were coming," I exhale in a rush.

"Typical. Didn't you see my texts?" He drives us away, glancing over at me before looking forward again. His brown hair sways from the breeze, and I lean back, glad for the open windows because the fresh air is making me feel less nauseous.

"No," I say, throwing my jacket on the back seat.

"I told you I'm coming to get you, but anyway..."

he stops at a red light and glances towards my appearance.

I'm paying more attention to stuffing things into my bag over him, and my lips are pressed together, showing my irritation with the zipper not wanting to close immediately.

"You certainly look put together," he says sarcastically, and I narrow my eyes his way.

"How sweet. You don't seem to be much better." I roll my eyes. He looks tired, body clad in a black hoodie and some sweatpants. There's none of the usual enthusiasm on his sullen face.

"Your fault entirely," he says. "I keep telling myself that I shouldn't let you convince me into things, but I end up going with you anyway."

"You would've been stuck alone in your dorm otherwise."

"You make that sound bad."

"It is bad," I say. "You need to get laid."

"Definitely not." He sighs and I lean my head back on the headrest. As his best friend, I already know that hookups were never his thing. He's either celibate, or in a real relationship. Too bad that he's not even remotely close to being interested in anybody.

I drift my eyes away from him, then reach up to cover my mouth as I let out a yawn. My body is slumped back in the seat comfortably, and if the time would allow, I would fall asleep.

Minutes later, we're entering the college building and the hallways are bustling with people.

"Here he is. The talk of this year—Sebastian Anthony, the one and only," I mutter to no one in particular, seeing the tall man swarmed by women in years below us.

"Fucking idiot," Kyle chuckles and pulls out some textbooks from his locker. "He's never gonna learn."

"Tell me about it." Our eyes lock with a knowing look before we make our way over.

"Alright, Seb, time to go." Kyle pulls him away, and Sebastian keeps chatting to some girl, keeping a the smile on his face.

When he gets pulled away from her side, he waves flirtatiously then drapes his arms over our shoulders.

His smile is immediately gone, replaced by a sigh of relief when we're turned away. "You two are my safety grams."

"And that means what?" I extend my arm to push through the cafeteria doors, then shake him off to stop him from weighing me down. I find us an empty table.

"You always know where the problem areas are and you come get me away," Sebastian drops his things and sits on the chair. "It's always nice and all until they want a relationship."

Kyle and I share a look. Sebastian's always been untameable when it came to women. I doubt that he's ever spent a night on his own. With his striking dark features and a dimpled smile, he could wrap anyone around his finger.

"Learn to reject instead of playing with their feelings," Kyle shrugs.

"That's what I say every time. But it somehow just happens differently."

I only shake my head at the firm nod he offers, seeming to think about it for a moment longer until happily clapping his hands and leaning back. "Ah, what a day."

"It's still morning."

"I woke up at four-thirty, man." Sebastian points a slender finger at him. "Four-thirty."

"To escape a girl's house?" Kyle's lips pull into a smirk.

"I spared myself an awkward chat, thank you very much." Sebastian rolls his eyes and stretches his arms above his head. "I like my days stress-free."

"Good morning." A smiling Jenny walks over, all eyes snapping to her as she places a roulette of coffees on the table, then slips on a chair next to mine. "I've got you covered for the first few hours." She winks, and we all grab for the cups.

"Lifesaver," Sebastian smirks, and right after, another brunette enters the cafeteria, smiling our way and coming closer. I'm gradually becoming surrounded by the only people I actually like around here.

To my right, Jenny, 'the diva',as the guys used to tease her in freshman year because she's always polished and proper, and my greatest companion since day one, besides Kyle.

She's one of the few people who always smell unbelievably good.

I have a nose for perfumes, quickly recognizing her usual Versace Versus that lingers on her skin.

"Have you guys heard? That red headed freshman hooked up with Matt and told everyone they're in a relationship, but he said he doesn't even know who she is," Mia says, taking her coffee as well.

"Matt? You mean the Kincaid twin?" My brows raise.

"Yeah, I don't think that's a surprise to anyone." To my left, Sebastian, the womanizer in the group. He remains effortlessly slouched back on his chair to get a good look of his surroundings.

"I mean, I'd get it if he was hot. But think about it—she gets to brag for a little more, her innocence flying out the window. She's gotta keep score on the status." Jenny winks at Sebastian.

"How did they even end up in that situation?" Then there's Mia. She's half Colombian, half Japanese, and the girl everyone secretly loves most for her big eyes and friendly personality. Also, she's absolutely whipped for Sebastian.

"Who knows, but they clearly didn't think it through. I heard that the security camera got them." Here's Kyle, the classic heartthrob with zero interest in dating. He excels in dancing since he used to take ballet lessons as a kid, and now dreams of becoming a lawyer.

"I didn't miss anything, did I?" And of course, Elias, the always-charming and sharp-witted. He grabs the last coffee from the holder and joins us. His confidence could pull anyone towards him with ease, especially when he's playing football, keeping the benches full with swooning girls.

"We're talking about Matt and Julie."

Elias lets out a laugh. "Everyone's saying how there's still evidence of it on the football field."

"Ew." Jenny scrunches her eyebrows, making the whole table laugh.

Elias's lips curve into a smile, giving me a subtle glance.

So, there I sit, catching up on the last nights' details, and I already feel how the day is starting to get brighter.

I rest my chin on my folded arms, completely drawn in my thoughts as I blankly stare at the back of the chair of the person in the front.

The unusual exhaustion takes hold on me, making my eyes heavy with the lack of sleep.

Professor's voice is the only noise coming from the big podium, and her low tone barely combines with my thoughts, being nearly a disturbing background I can't seem to care much about.

We're all still a little messed up. Most of the class is barely awake, or even listening.

I glance to my side, seeing Elias with his hood on. His arms are crossed and his head tipped forward, eyes closed. I nudge him in the knee.

"Hm?" His sleepy eyes find mine.

"How did I get home yesterday?"

"Fuck, if I know," he says. "I passed out in the car."

"In the car?" My brows knit, wondering how that happened since we were all hammered. "Who was driving?"

"Cameron, I think," he says and I hum. His older brother.

"You don't remember the drive, but you remember that?" I tease, and see how his tongue pokes his inner cheek as he glances my way and leans forward.

"You're really begging for it, huh?" he asks lowly. "Shut that pretty mouth of yours before I do it for you."

"I'd rather skip that part," I say, and Elias lets a wicked smirk pull on his lips.

"Yeah?" he smirks. "I don't think you'd say that if we were alone."

"Don't even start," I murmur and drop my head on my folded arms. I can hear his soft chuckle beside me.

"Come over tonight," he whispers, glancing towards Kyle who's sitting on my other side, focused entirely on the lecture and scribbling notes from the slides. Clearly, he hasn't caught on to anything. I hope.

For months now, we've been always careful to keep our business quiet.

That's the problem in hooking up with someone from a friend group.

It has the power to tear us all apart, so we decided to keep it on the low for everyone's sake.

One wrong move and the whole dynamic could shatter, and that's not something I'd like to happen.

"Not tonight."

"Why not?"

"The girls are coming over."

"Tell them not to." He shrugs, unfazed.

"I can't," I say and shoot him a look. "Tomorrow?"

A beat of silence follows. Then, with a half-smirk tugging at his lips, he says, "I don't know if I'll still be interested tomorrow."

My eyes flick to him, unimpressed by his teasing. "Then I guess you'll miss me."

"Doubt that. You can never really keep your hands off me for too long."

"Keep that mouth running and we'll see how far it goes."

Another smirk shows on his lips and he trails his gaze downward, slowly, until it lands between my thighs. "Not too far," he says, almost to himself.

My pulse flickers with heat and I shift, more aware of him now than I want to be, especially with Kyle still sitting obliviously on my other side.

Not wanting to show too much of a reaction, I lift a brow and send him a glare, but Elias seems more pleased with himself than ever, simply grinning back.

Fucker.

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