WHITNEY'S HOUSE

The lights have been turned down entirely throughout the lower level of the house, a pleasant three-bedroom home that bears the decorative stamp of the four young women who reside there. Black lights have been set up to fill the darkness, and beneath them every white article of clothing and every glowstick are beaming with an intensity to match that of the party that is threatening to burst the house at its very seams.

Near the center of the living room, Jason and Courtney are rocking to the beat of the hip-hop music, their legs entwined and their bodies practically connected. Each is holding a plastic cup with the latest concoction from the bar, trying to keep it far enough away from their bodies so that if the dancing causes it to spill, it won't land on either of them.

Courtney sings along to the Jennifer Lopez song that has overtaken the room. She stares into Jason's eyes and his gaze is just as locked upon her. Their bodies move together, Courtney rocking over the top of his left leg.

The song's laid-back beat continues, fading out until it can no longer be heard. There is a momentary pause before the next song comes on, but it is enough time for the couple to stop dancing. They each take a sip from their cups.

"Man, it is hot in here," Courtney says as she fans herself with her hand.

"Yeah." Jason wipes his brow, which is covered in sweat. "Some party, huh?"

"It's bigger than I thought it was gonna be." Courtney glances around the room, surveying the throng of guests. "Have you even seen Whitney?"

Jason shakes his head. "Nope. She's probably headed upstairs already."

Courtney hits him in the chest but it is clear that she sees the humor in the comment, too. "Be nice," she scolds.

"Fine, fine. I'm just being honest."

She acknowledges that he is correct with a raise of the eyebrows but doesn't contribute anything else. She continues washing her eyes over the room and a moment later hits him again -- this time, in the arm, much less aggressively. "Hey, look!"

"What?"

"Lauren. She's still talking to Nate!"

It takes Jason a moment to find Lauren's blond head across the room, but he manages to do it. And there she is, in a tight white tank top that reads "Abercrombie" across the front, talking to the same guy she has been talking to since Jason and Courtney starting dancing half an hour ago.

"Wow," Jay says. "You think somethin's going on over there?"

Courtney doesn't answer for a second as she evaluates the situation. "I dunno. Looks like they're having fun."

Over on the other side of the room, Lauren is indeed having fun. She smiles broadly as she listens to Nate tell her about his ill-fated camping trip last weekend.

Damn, she thinks as she watches him, barely listening to what he is saying. Maybe I'm finally having some good luck. A navy blue ringer T-shirt, with lighter blue trim, is hugging every curve of what she estimates to be one nice body. A pair of khaki cargo pants are hanging at just the right point on his hips, and when he makes an upward motion, she can catch a glimpse of his Tommy Hilfiger boxers.

Yes. Damn, definitely, she says mentally, resisting the urge to lick her lips. She raises the plastic cup to them instead and drains the last of the fruity concoction.

"That's nuts, huh?" Nate says, wrapping up his story.

"Yeah, sounds like it," Lauren agrees. "Sounds fun, though."

"It was. It was frickin' awesome." Nate downs the remains of his beer and places the can on the table next to them. Lauren notices that it falls over in an instant, having barely been placed down straight at all. She looks up at Nate and sees a flicker of wooziness pass over his eyes.

"You're real cute, you know that?" he says finally. He reaches out a hand to brush her dark blonde hair back behind her ear.

"Thanks," she manages after what feels like a horribly awkward silence to her. Did I just blow it? "You, uh, you're really cute too." Cute? Is that the right word?

His head nods up a little. "Thanks. Why don't I ever see you around?"

"I don't know," she shrugs, smiling again even though it feels a little forced. "I haven't been around Whitney much lately. I hang out with Courtney and Jason more, and you're always with Whit--"

"I have been missing out, dude."

"Huh?"

"You're hot, Laur," Nate says. "Seriously hot."

Lauren can feel her cheeks flushing and hopes that the darkness of the room will hide it. "Thanks."

She sees him moving in closer and his lips are on hers before she realizes it. She almost pushes him away, a little stunned, but gathers herself enough to enjoy it. To kiss back a little, even. And then to kiss back a lot.

"Hey," he says in a half-whisper as they part many moments later. "You, uh--" He tips his head towards the staircase. "You wanna take this in private?"

The question catches Lauren completely off-guard, but something is telling her to do it. And as she drinks him in again -- that oh-so-promising body, the killer eyes, everything -- she can't seem to find the contradictory voice that should be there.

One . Two . Three . Four . Five . Six

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