The smell of smoke, sweat and alcohol filled my nose as Royce led me through the packed bar, his hand tightly holding mine. Sometimes I curse myself for accepting invitationas to these stupid bar get-togethers, I wasn't bar person at all. I clenched my jaw as we neared a table of students from our University, most of which were female. That didn't make the situation any better, I would have to keep an eye on them so they don't try anything with Royce. He was pretty popular with the ladies, and I mean popular enough to get whoever he wanted, but somehow he ended up with me; a boring, owl obsessed loser who has one too many secrets. Royce greeted everyone with a smile as he pulled out a chair for me, I smiled at him and turned my attention to the people at the table. I knew some of them, but there were some new faces.

"Hey Pepper, Royce," Gideon greeted with a smirk, watching royce jog over to another table to grab an empty chair.

"Hey Gideon, wheres Marina?" I asked him, leaning back into my chair.

"She's in the bathroom with Kaitlyn." He made a sour face when he said Kaitlyns name.

I groaned, glancing over at Royce who just chuckled and called one of the waitresses over to order some beers. Kaitlyn was the biggest bitch in the history of everything, she tried one to many times to get together with Royce when he and I were dating, and she was the cause of so much drama in Law school. It was safe to say, we didn't get along at all. I wondered how she even found out about this get-together, I didn't think anyone told her about it.

"Here's your drink love." Royce said, passing me a cup of what I assumed was rum and Coke, my favorite drink.

"Thanks, where's your drink?" I asked curiously, glancing at the table.

"I have to drive, so I'm not going to drink." He intertwined out fingers together and kissed my cheek as I bit my lip and pouted.

"I don't want to drink if your not." I muttered, placing my drink on the table.

"C'mon Pepps! You gotta!" Gideon exclaimed, "We can be drinking buds tonight, eh?" He laughed.

I glared at him, "Don't call me Pepps, one. Two, I don't want to be your drinking bud."

"Stop being a sour puss. Just do itt!"

"Do what?" Kaitlyn asked, plopping in a chair beside me.

I jumped slightly and looked at her, shook my head and turned away to look at Royce.

"Drink with me." Gideon responded slowly as Marina sat in his lap.

She laughed and pecked his lips, "Stop harrassing Pepper you." She grinned.

After that, Gideon shut up about drinking. Royce had convinced me to have a couple of drinks, telling me that I should at least have a bit of fun tonight- it was going to be one of our last get togethers as students at Junipers University of Law. A couple hours into the night, I ventured off on my own to go have a smoke outside- a nasty habit I inherited from my older brother. As I stumbled out the backdoor, I rummaged through my purse for my pack of smokes and a lighter. I walked as best as I could towards the dumpsters and lit a smoke, leaning on the large blue bin.

I let my body relax as the feeling of the smoke filling my lungs hit, blowing it out with a soft 'huhhh'. Everything was quiet, despite the soft music playing in the bacground from the bar. Moments later, I heard the door open, and I glanced over to see who exited the club.

My eyes went wide, and in a panic, I dropped my smoke on my foot- stupid open toed shoes. I squeaked and jumped back into the dumpster.

"Mother fucker..." I mumbled, shaking my foot in hopes that it would shake the pain off.

"Pepper?" His familiar voice flooded through my ears and I shook my head.

"I don't know who you're talking about..." I coughed out, moving to get back into the club.

"What do you mean? Pepper, stop playing around. I need to talk to you." Brian said, crossing his arms over his chest, blocking the door into the bar.

"I don't know who you are or who you're talking about... Leave me alone." I bit my lip, looking for a way out.

I couldn't believe he was here, with everyone. "Pepper, this is serious, why are you acting like this?"

I stepped back, looking down the alleyway. Brian had this hurt look on his face when I didn't answer him, I just stood there with my arms wrapped around myself, trying my best not to cry. I wanted to jump at him, to smother him in friendly kisses, but I fought against those feelings, remembering the betrayel.

Notes

Hey... Just a little test run of my avenged story.

Constructive critism please?

-Anchor ;