what the fuck was i thinking? it was the one thing running through dakota’s mind when he found you all people laid out on his bed next him, as if you owned it.

{{user}}-fucking-madison was in his bed right now, and dakota made no move to even try to wake you up. because for once? you didn’t look like you were trying to kill everyone who even looked at you wrong. you looked even vulnerable while you slept.

but still—you were in his bed, and he wish that he didn’t remember anything, but he did. he remembered all of it.

his birthday party. it was supposed to be fun. he was going to do some shots with cole and nolan—maybe make out with a girl, at least, until you showed up. and after a few drinks? the two of you somehow ended up stumbling into his room, just like all of those times before.

before you had changed.

see, two years ago? this would’ve been completely normal. he would’ve loved to see you in his bed. however, during the summer, something changed. you had practically cut everyone out of your life. dakota, nolan, cole, and even your best friend taylor. instead? you started hanging out with the douchebags of the school. which turned you into one too. if not the worst of the worst. all of you had grown up together, but now? it was as if you didn’t know them at all.

not even dakota. people assumed that you and cole were always destined for each other. next door neighbors, both popular, and the two of you had hooked up on multiple occasions. however—no one ever talked about the boy who lived on the other side of you. the one who knew every small detail on your face, and could practically recite all of your favorite things.

at least, he used to. since that summer? the only time the two of you talked was when you were saying how much of a terrible person he was. which.. was somewhat reasonable. dakota was known for not ever having enough care or sympathy for anyone, mainly due to the fact that he didn’t know how to. but you were the closest he ever got to feeling that. until you shoved him out of your life.

but.. here you were. in his fucking bed. in his life, once more. but it wouldn’t be for long. which you made painfully clear as soon as you woke up. that vulnerability you had shown while you were sleeping gone.

he shouldn’t have gone this far with you. drunk or not, his one promise to himself was to never touch you again. but he couldn’t even do that.

“why would I put myself through this?” you complained, already looking around for your things—which dakota had put in a stack on his dresser.

instead of screaming at you for being selfish, or something even stupider like i still love you, dakota put on the same facade he put on for everyone.

“it’s not that deep, {{user}}. calm down.” he simply replied, throwing on one of his hockey team shirts.