Chapter 7- Bad Intensions
1484 Words
The tension shattered instantly.
A football came flying between Scarlett and Dean so fast it nearly hit her shoulder before slamming hard into the cabin wall behind them.
“YO—MY BAD!” someone shouted drunkenly from across the porch.
Laughter erupted nearby.
The sound snapped Scarlett back to reality so fast it felt like a bucket of ice water had been dumped over her head.
Her pulse stumbled violently as Dean instinctively stepped back slightly, the charged moment between them breaking apart all at once.
The lake.
The party.
Will.
Guilt crashed into Scarlett hard enough to make her stomach twist.
What the hell was she doing out here alone with Dean while her boyfriend was inside?
Scarlett swallowed quickly before taking a step backward herself.
“I—I should go find Will.”
Dean’s expression darkened instantly, frustration flickering across his face before he shoved it away behind that usual cold mask.
“He was just inside,” he muttered.
The irritation in his voice made something uneasy tug at Scarlett’s chest.
Because part of her knew Dean didn’t want her going in there.
And another reckless part of her wanted to stay.
Scarlett forced herself not to look at him again.
Because every second alone with Dean Steele felt like standing too close to a fire she already knew would burn her eventually.
Without another word, she turned and disappeared inside the cabin to find Will.
The second she stepped through the crowded kitchen doorway, music and shouting swallowed her whole.
Bodies packed every corner of the room.
Liquor bottles covered counters.
Football players yelled over each other around the flip cup table.
And right in the middle—
Will.
Scarlett’s stomach dropped the second she saw them.
The blonde cheerleader was practically draped across Will like she belonged there.
One perfectly manicured hand spread against his chest while she threw her head back laughing at something he said, tiny red cheer skirt riding dangerously high as she pressed herself closer into his side.
And Will—
Will wasn’t moving away.
Wasn’t creating distance.
If anything, he looked completely comfortable with her hanging all over him.
The sight hit Scarlett like a punch straight to the ribs.
Because the smile on Will’s face standing next to that girl looked more genuine than anything he’d given Scarlett all week.
Will noticed Scarlett this time.
But instead of looking guilty—
He looked irritated she interrupted whatever this was.
That hurt worse than she wanted to admit.
Scarlett walked toward them anyway.
Slow.
Calm.
Controlled.
Even though jealousy and humiliation burned hot beneath her skin.
The blonde finally looked over, blue eyes dragging slowly over Scarlett like she was sizing up competition before a sickly sweet smile spread across glossy lips.
“Oh my god,” she cooed, voice dripping with fake friendliness. “You must be Scarlett.”
The tone alone instantly grated on Scarlett’s nerves.
Scarlett folded her arms tightly.
“And you are?”
The blonde held out a perfectly manicured hand.
“Priscilla.”
Of course it was.
Everything about her screamed expensive, spoiled, and painfully aware she was attractive.
Perfect blonde curls.
Tiny red cheer uniform that barely covered anything.
Glossy lips.
Long tan legs practically wrapped around Scarlett’s boyfriend.
She looked like the kind of girl who called other women “sweetie” right before insulting them.
Priscilla tilted her head innocently.
“You’re Will’s girlfriend, right?”
Scarlett smiled tightly.
“Last time I checked.”
One of the football players nearby choked on his drink.
Priscilla laughed softly like Scarlett had just told a cute joke.
“Oh my god, she’s funny.”
“Thanks,” Scarlett replied sweetly. “You seem flexible.”
The room went suspiciously quiet for half a second.
Will sighed immediately. “Okay, nobody’s fighting tonight.”
“I’m not fighting,” Scarlett said calmly while looking directly at Priscilla.
“I’m just trying to figure out why your teammate is wearing you like an accessory.”
Priscilla’s fake smile tightened slightly.
Will rubbed a frustrated hand down his face. “Scarlett.”
“What?” she asked innocently. “I’m just socializing.”
Priscilla finally stepped back a little from Will, crossing her arms.
“We’re literally just friends.”
Scarlett raised one eyebrow.
“That’s comforting considering you’ve touched him more in five minutes than I have all week.”
That one landed.
Will’s expression tightened briefly before he stepped closer, slipping an arm around Scarlett’s waist.
“Baby,” he murmured softly, his voice dropping into that sweet tone he used whenever he wanted her to stop being upset with him.
And annoyingly—
It worked a little.
Scarlett hated that it still did.
Will brushed his thumb against her hip gently before leaning closer.
“Relax for me, alright?” he said quietly. “You’re getting jealous over nothing.”
The warmth of his body mixed with the attention she’d been missing all week made Scarlett’s irritation falter.
Maybe she really was overreacting.
Maybe college was just stressful.
Will kissed the side of her head lightly before grinning toward the loud table nearby.
“Come play flip cup with us.”
Scarlett blinked. “I don’t drink.”
“I’ll drink for you,” Will said smoothly, squeezing her waist. “C’mon, have fun with me tonight.”
And stupidly—
Despite the knot still twisting in her stomach—
Scarlett finally nodded. “Fine.”
At first, she tried having fun.
Really.
But within twenty minutes, Will had become obnoxiously drunk.
Yelling loudly.
Shoving teammates.
Showing off constantly.
And every time Scarlett tried talking to him, his attention drifted somewhere else.
Mostly toward his teammates.
Or Priscilla.
Scarlett finally stepped away quietly while everyone screamed around the table after another round.
“I’m gonna use the bathroom,” Scarlett muttered with irritation.
Will barely glanced at her, still laughing with teammates around the table.
“Yeah, cool,” he said dismissively before giving her a quick absent-minded peck on the cheek and immediately turning back toward the game.
“LET’S GO!” he shouted loudly as someone slammed cups across the table.
Scarlett stood there for a second longer than she should have.
Then quietly walked away alone.
Inside the small downstairs bathroom, Scarlett braced both hands against the sink and stared at herself in the mirror.
This wasn’t supposed to feel like this.
This weekend was supposed to fix things. Bring Will and her closer.
Instead she felt lonelier standing beside her own boyfriend than she had standing alone outside with Dean.
The realization unsettled her deeply.
After splashing cold water across her face, Scarlett took a slow breath before heading back downstairs.
Only this time—
Will was gone.
Scarlett frowned immediately while glancing around the crowded kitchen.
The flip cup game still continued.
Music still blasted.
People still screamed drunkenly.
But no Will.
Scarlett walked through the cabin slowly.
Living room.
Porch.
Back hallway.
Nothing.
“Have you seen Will?” she finally asked one of Wills teammates.
He shook his head distractedly.
Another guy shrugged.
“No clue.”
Unease curled tighter in Scarlett’s stomach.
Trying not to panic, she headed back toward the kitchen hoping maybe she just missed him.
Instead she found herself suddenly exhausted.
Emotionally drained.
She opened the fridge searching for literally anything to settle the awful feeling twisting inside her chest.
Water.
Soda.
Anything.
A hand suddenly appeared beside her holding out a cold Dr Pepper in a red solo cup.
Scarlett looked up.
A tall guy with messy brown hair and broad shoulders smiled down at her casually.
“You looked like you needed this.”
Scarlett laughed softly despite herself before accepting the drink.
“Honestly? Yeah. Thank you.”
He leaned casually against the counter beside her.
“Blaine.”
“Scarlett.”
Recognition crossed his face instantly.
“Oh—you’re Will’s girl, right?”
Something about the wording made her stomach tighten.
Not girlfriend.
Will’s girl.
Still, Scarlett nodded politely.
“Yeah.”
Blaine studied her quietly for a second longer than necessary before smirking slightly.
“He talks about you.”
Scarlett blinked. “He does?”
“Sometimes.”
The answer felt strangely vague.
Scarlett took another sip of Dr Pepper slowly.
Blaine played football too apparently.
Blackthorne offense.
Same social circle as Will.
The conversation stayed light for another minute until Scarlett finally straightened slightly.
“I should probably go find him.”
Blaine nodded easily.
But before Scarlett could fully walk away, he called after her casually:
“If you get lonely tonight…”
Scarlett turned back slightly.
Blaine winked.
“You can always come find me instead.”
Something cold settled uncomfortably in Scarlett’s stomach.
Not because of the flirting.
Because of the way he said it.
Like he already knew something she didn’t.
- Writer
