T his party is supposed to be the party of all parties, and the only way to get into it is to be asked by one of the guys throwing the party. I’ve had my eye on one guy in particular who I’m hoping will ask me .

Travis Marilellie is the star quarterback of the football team at the university I attend in Fairs Hollow and the most desirable bachelor on campus, along with being the university golden boy. He’s admired by most; even the professors seem to love him. Plus, his family is well-respected in town, just like my family. We’d be perfect for each other .

I’ve been wanting to go on a date with him since I ran into him at a party a few months ago. But even though I put out the vibes that I’m interested in him, he seems to only want to be friends .

Or so I thought .

Today, however, as I’m leaving psychology class, he’s waiting for me outside with that dazzling smile that made my heart flutter the first time I saw it .

“Hey, Wynter.” He approaches me, brushing strands of his hair out of his eyes. Almost all the girls around us glance in his direction, and I secretly smile when he remains focused on me. “I’m glad I ran into you .”

“Ran into you?” I tease, tucking a strand of my long blonde hair behind my ear. “It kind of looked like you were waiting for me .”

His grin broadens. “All right, you caught me. I was waiting for you .”

I crook a brow. “Sounds sort of stalker-ish to me .”

He presses his hand to his chest, feigning offense. “I come here to woo you off your feet and you call me a stalker ?”

“Woo?” I continue to tease while batting my eyelashes. “I think you might be confused about what era we live in .”

“Hey, don’t mock me for wanting to go old-school and sweep a pretty girl off her feet.” He winks at me .

My heart nearly melts right there. “All right then, woo away. But you’ll have to do it while you walk me to my next class, or else I’m going to be late .”

With a grin and a bow, he gestures for me to go ahead .

Chuckling, I start down the hallway with my books hugged to my chest. He walks beside me with his hands stuffed in the pockets of his tan pants, occasionally checking me out from the corner of his eye .

I smile to myself, grateful I wore my pink skirt by my favorite designer, along with a white top and my lucky heels. My long blonde hair is curled at the ends, and I just applied a coat of lip gloss before I exited class, so my lips are all shiny and delicious, and hopefully, looking kissable .

I’m not completely clueless when it comes to guys. I know how to flirt. I’ve gone out on more than my fair share of dates. My mom calls me guy crazy, which is fine. I like guys. So what? There’s nothing wrong with that. Although, I’m probably not as experienced as I come off .

While I’ve occasionally fooled around, I’m still a virgin. Not a big deal. I’m only eighteen and just started my second semester of my freshman year. I’m sure there are other girls who haven’t gone all the way yet. Not that I’m saving myself for marriage or anything. I’d just like to be in love before it happens. Is that too much to ask? But, no matter how much I put my heart out there, I’ve never fallen head-over-heels in love with someone. And I want to. Badly .

“So, have you heard about the party my frat’s throwing?” Travis asks me as we walk through the corridors .

“Yeah, I think almost everyone I’ve crossed paths with has mentioned it,” I say in a light tone. “From what I understand, it’s by invite only .”

“It is.” He comes to a stop in the communal area where several students are eating their lunches, studying, or just chatting. Some people pause to gawk at the football star who is also the son of the mayor. His family has a sort of celebrity status in our town. “I know it makes us seem like snobs, but there’re a lot of guys in my frat who come from important families, and they don’t want everyone blabbing about their business. Or worse, reporting it to the media .”

“That makes sense.” Having grown up in a home where appearances are everything, I understand more than I wish I did. I can’t even count how many times my parents have given me lectures on how to behave and look .

Sometimes I wonder if any part of me is actually me, or if I’m just a sculpture they molded. I never think too deeply into it; otherwise, I might open Pandora’s Box .

“That does make me curious about what you guys do at all the infamous parties you throw,” I tease with a smile .

His smile mirrors mine. “Well, maybe you should come find out for yourself .”

“Why, Travis Marilellie, is that your way of wooing me to go to your party?” I fake a southern accent, which elicits a laugh from him .

I secretly smile that I made Travis Marilellie smile .

“Yeah, I guess it is.” He nibbles on his bottom lip. “So, what do you say, Wynter Porterrsen? Would you like to accompany me to a party where I promise to spend all night wooing your heart ?”

Wow, I’m pretty sure he just did. “I’d be honored .”

“Good.” He leans forward and places a soft kiss on my cheek .

My heart dances in my chest, the smell of his cologne and aftershave intoxicating and —

My eyes pop open as my alarm screeches from my nightstand. I reach to hit the snooze button, but then the urge to vomit is more consuming, so I instead dive out of bed and rush into the bathroom where I spend the next couple minutes dry heaving .

Once I’ve pulled my shit together, I splash some water on my face and lift my head to look in the mirror. Those damn dark circles residing underneath my eyes won’t seem to go away. Maybe if I could get a decent night’s rest they would, but for the last couple months, my mind spends most of the night fighting from succumbing to exhaustion. Fighting from succumbing to the nightmares .

My thoughts briefly flicker with images of the nightmare I was having only minutes ago; a nightmare that’s been on auto-repeat. Just thinking about it makes the scent of Travis flood my senses, which then makes my stomach clench .

If only I knew back then that by the time the party was over, I’d vomit whenever I thought of his scent. Maybe I wouldn’t have been so giddy and easy to woo .

I was naïve back then. I thought falling in love with a wealthy, popular guy who could sweep me off my feet was what life was about. I was so stupid .

Not anymore. Now I keep my guard up and make no room for love or relationships. Only school, work, and one final thing .

Revenge .