As i return to find Candice and the group, i walk by the benches where he was sitting before he saved me. Again. I find myself absently searching the faces of the guys sitting there, amongst a flock of girls, who are doting all over them. Bayne isn't there.

The assortment of muscle bound guys are obviously his team mates, or at the very least, a mixture of other sports team members. They all have the same swagger, the outward cocky confidence that oozes from them and spills all over the girls hovering around. My guess is, these girls are all hoping to be the lucky lady on someone's arm, or in someone's bed, at least for tonight.

To be frank, they all look thirsty AF.

I have never been one of those girls, not that I lacked the opportunity or the basic necessities for that matter. I am fit, my lean limbs and slim frame suit the dancing world and i have never had to diet in my life. I prefer running and outdoor sports to the gym, but dance is my real work out passion. I'm not one for make up or over doing my look, but I have still been asked out more times than I have said yes.

My only real relationship was in high school and it was fleeting. He was more a friend than anything and though we fooled around, we never actually had sex. So, while that probably makes me the only virgin college cheerleader on the planet, definitely in this square for sure, it doesn't actually concern me that much. I just haven't been that interested.

As I awkwardly and a little green-eyed watch the carefree girls, shamelessly flirting with the jocks, my phone buzzes in my pocket.

Crap. I really need to change over to a local phone plan soon I think to myself.

I look at the message and I'm thrilled to see it's my dance bestie, Dee. 

Dee:

Bitch... are you alive? Are you there? Are there any hot prospects?

Of course those are her priorities. I have an odd feeling that Dee and Candice would get on like a house on fire. Maybe that's why I felt an automatic liking for Candice; she reminds me of Dee.

I reply and keep it simple.

Ellis:

Im alive. I'm here, at a party actually. Hot yes, prospects, no.

It's the truth. Eventually I'll have to tell her about todays strange events but not now. I need to get back to Candice and try to get to know some of our team mates.

Dee:

Keep me posted. Love you!

I smile to myself and try to squash the little painful pang that I feel thinking about her. She is off dancing on a cruise ship for a year, living her dance dream like me. I'm immensely happy for her but I miss her already.

"Ellis! Ellis!" I hear from across the quad and I search for the little minx that owns that voice. Finally, amongst all the bobbing heads and sweaty, swaying bodies, I see Candice wriggling and grooving through the crowd towards me, dragging someone along behind her.

It's only when she is almost right in front of me that she swings the person around in front of her and he stands before me again, a slight smirk on his lips and a drink in his hand.

"Look who I found girl?" She says and winks at me out of his sight.

"More like look who abducted me and dragged me over here against my will." He says with a laugh.

I'm not sure why, but that last part stings a little.

I laugh along as they both share a chuckle and ignore the strange feeling in the pit of my stomach.

"Oh shut up, you should be thanking me, I saved you from that witch of a girl who abused us on the bus this morning. She was giving you a mouth full."

She slurs a little on the last word and wobbles slightly up the step towards me. Bayne catches her by the arm and steadies her as she sits herself down between us, shaking his hand away. She has obviously found herself some drinks while I have been gone. It hasn't even been that long!

"What are you waiting for? A formal invitation? Sit with me you two." She interrupts my inner thoughts and pats the step beside her.

She giggles away at her own expense and I roll my eyes and do as instructed. Bayne eyes her, clearly weighing up his options but Candice shoots him a look that changes his mind very quickly and he shakes his head with a low chortle as he takes a seat on the step, next to me.

I feel my heart rate increase ever so slightly as his hand accidentally brushes my thigh briefly. He makes me nervous just by sitting next to me. What the hell is this?

"Having fun?" He says, leaning into my shoulder but keeping his eyes facing forward. Candice hums to the music on my other side, oblivious to anyone else around.

"Sort of." I reply, as I watch a very tipsy young girl in the shortest of shorts stumble past us, her eyes going wide as she spots Bayne.

"Oh hey there B", she purrs at him, stopping to slide onto his lap.

Bayne shifts her awkwardly to sit next to him on the step and she pouts, very clearly not happy with the rejection.

"Oh, it's going to be like that?" She turns to face him, placing her hands either side of his face.

"Not now Kasey." He shifts his head from side to side, effectively shaking her hands free from their hold on his cheeks.

It earns him anothet pout. I squirm nervously where I sit, feeling slightly odd to be witnessing this exchange. Bayne shoots me a look that says sorry and closes his eyes a little, sighing softly. He goes to open his mouth to say something but the girl, Kasey, beats him to it.

"You weren't so resistive last semester. If I remember correctly, which is a little hard right now, you were pulling me into your lap, not pushing me off of it."

A small cough leaves his lips and I see him look at me from the corner of my eye. I'm trying so hard not to be any part of this display and pretend to flick through my phone.

"Ok that's enough of this discussion." He says to her, holding her hand and helping her to stand up.

"Like I said last time I saw you, that was a one time thing, and you know we were both loaded. Nothing has changed Kasey. I'm sorry."

Her face turns quickly into a sad, dejected mess and I think she may burst in tears any second, until she suddenly turns the colour of a beetroot and huffs out loud, stomping her foot at him.

"Whatever Bayne. You are such an ass, you know that?" She turns to me and I don't miss her giving me the up and down with her eyes.

"Watch yourself around this one sweety, he is nothing but a player." She pops the p on the last word and stumbles off towards the crowd, sending him a parting gift by flipping him off over her shoulder.

He shakes his head and puts his face in his hands.

"Fuck. I'm sorry about that. I swear I am not as bad as she makes out." He lifts his eyes to meet mine and I feel a small gasp leave my mouth.

His eyes are ridiculous. Tiny specks of green surround his irises and it's hard to stop staring straight at them; I'm getting a little lost in the warm, pool of blue- green.

I manage to shift my gaze, looking down at my feet instead. Clearing my throat, I just nod towards him, not sure what to say really.

Candice takes care if it for me;

"Who the hell was that psycho?! She was a picnic short of a sandwhich wasn't she?." She hiccups after she finishes and bursts out laughing at her own joke.

Bayne and I share a wide eyed glance at her and with each other and our bodies shake with laughter, mostly at her expense. We watch the crowd together some more, sitting in silence and people watching. It's not completely uncomfortable but I find myself suddenly stuck for something to say.

"Anyway, since I have been made to look like a total jackass, I might head off for the night. You two ok to get back? He asks, tipping his head in the direction of Candice who is trying to get comfortable to take a disco nap on the step.

"Oh, crap. I think she has had enough for tonight. Me too actually. If you are heading back, would you mind helping me haul her butt home?".

He nods and assists me to lift her up. We try to get her to wake up a little but she is wasted and keeps laughing and swatting our hands away as we try to steer her towards the dorms.

"Candice will you quit it, we are trying to take your drunk ass home." I laugh and she finally stops and lets us help her a little.

"You should stay and talk to him, he is cute and so are you. You are two cutes.... cute cute cute." Again, she laughs at herself and I can't help but feel like she may be putting it on a little. Surely she can't be this out of it?

"What did you drink tonight? I think I need to keep a closer eye on you the next time we go out." I say in her ear and she nods and leans her head on my shoulder.

We finally make it to the dorm entrance and as we go through the main doors I feel like she has doubled in weight. I look down at her face and she looks as though she has fallen asleep!

"What the hell? Wake up Candice, we are almost there." I exclaim out loud.

Bayne just chuckles and shakes his head.

"Cheerleaders huh, can't hold their liquor".

"Who knew she was such a light weight hey?" I say, helping him to drag her ass into the lift.

As we press the button to go up to our level, I catch Baynes eyes and he quickly averts his gaze to look closely at something random behind my head.

As we exit the lift I catch sight of Lexie and call out for her to help us.

"Geez kids, has a big one did you?" She shifts her attention to the boy next to me. Her smile disappears and is replaced by a small scowl.

I do not miss the quick change, or that way he squirms under her gaze.

"Nice of you to help Bayne, not unlike you to make yourself immediately known to the newbies huh?" I catch a small amount of sarcasm in her tone and don't miss his subtle sigh in response.

"Ok well, you are alright from here I assume Ellis? I'll leave you in Lexie's capable hands." He doesn't wait for my response, but rather offers me a small smirk as he heads back to the lift and is gone before I can even thank him.

As Lexie and I get Candice back to her dorm and into bed and then get back to our room she stops me before we enter, placing her hand on my shoulder;

"Stay away from that one hun, if you know what is good for you. You are too nice for someone like him."

She pats me on the cheek and disappears into the bathroom.

As I sit on my bed pondering the events for this evening, all I can think of is the very obvious signs warning me to stay clear of Bayne.

The thing is, I don't know if I want to anymore.