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My first time. The words settled around me. I remembered one of the very first texts my kiss thief had sent me. He told me he was going to steal all my firsts. This would be the first one he didn’t take.

I’d been so concerned with my first kiss for years that I hadn’t thought much past that. But I always thought my first kiss would be with Axel. So I guess my first time would have been with him too.

As if the universe knew I was thinking about him, I walked into the kitchen and immediately locked eyes with Axel. He was standing by the keg getting a refill.

My feet froze.

He lifted his cup and stared at me over the rim. And then he took a puff of a joint.

Gigi’s arm was wrapped around his waist, but he ignored her. He kept staring at me.

“Thirsty?” Sophie asked.

“No, I’m good.”

“One drink might be a good idea, I think.” She pulled me toward the keg.

Gigi rolled her eyes when she saw us. “Shnookums.” She put her hand on Axel’s chest like she was clawing his heart out. “There’s an empty room down the hall. Let’s go.”

“I’ll meet you there,” he said, while still staring at me.

She sighed. “Fine.” She uncurled herself from him, gave me a death stare, and walked off.

“You two make an adorable couple,” Sophie said and grabbed two empty cups to fill up.

“Thanks,” Axel said.

“I was being sarcastic.”

Axel took another pull of his joint. “How’s the Mr. Halifax thing going anyway? Have you gotten him arrested yet?” He laughed.

“Axel, don’t be mean,” I said. I know I’d joked around about it too a bit. But it was pretty clear that Sophie was hurting. And he didn’t need to rub it in. But maybe it wasn’t clear to him. The last couple weeks, I barely recognized him. He’d been skipping school practically every other day. And he was always either high or drunk. Tonight he was both, a mix that didn’t look good on him.

“It’s a work in progress,” Sophie said. “Laugh all you want, but I’m going to marry him. And we’re going to live happily ever after.”

Axel did laugh at that. “Happily ever afters don’t exist, Soph.” He downed the cup he’d just refilled and filled up another. “I think it’s about time we all grew up.”

“I think you’ve had too much to drink,” Sophie said.

“The party is only just getting started.” Axel tapped his cup against Sophie, spilling some beer down the side.

Seriously, how much had he had to drink? The party really had only just started.

Sophie leaned close to him and sniffed him. She scrunched up her nose.

“Are you sniffing me?” Axel laughed. “Please, I don’t need anyone else to be obsessed with me.” He stared right at me when he said it.

I’d been getting a lot better at not letting Axel hurt my feelings. But the way he stared at me when he said those words made my cheeks feel hot. I’d told him I’d saved my first kiss for him, but he’d never truly spoken of it again. I’d thought he’d forgotten. I’d hoped he’d forgotten. But I guess he remembered.

“No one is obsessed with you, asshat,” Sophie said. “I thought I smelled vodka on you. Were you drinking before you got here?”

“I had a few drinks in the locker room.”

Sophie sighed. “Are you trying to get expelled?”

“Who cares if I am?”

“The whole school would care.” Sophie slapped him in the back of the head. “We’re this close to the championship game. Get your act together.”