A distant slam of the door startled me, and before my eyes could fully recover from the bright impact of sudden daylight, my head began to throb. Like annoying pokes that I couldn't brush away, I needed Tylenol fast before it got worse. My teeth felt grimy and my mouth dry. Fully awaken I turned to see the time as I began to stretch. A little past ten in the morning, all my senses were uploading as I now heard the shower in Izzy's bathroom running.

Gravity was taking its toll as my headache got worse, as predicted. I dragged myself to the bathroom, to look in her cabinet but saw no useful medication. Deciding to wash my face and shake this lag off, I had a sudden craving for orange juice; anything to get my blood flowing.

"Izzy, I need some Tylenol. Where is it?" I moaned.

"It's downstairs in the kitchen. The medicine cabinet right by the fridge..." she peeped her head out of the shower curtain and I swear her eyes grew 5 times their size. "Woah, good morning there hickey!" She laughed.

What?! Hickey?! I practically clung to the cabinet mirror, a quarter-sized hickey planted on my lower neck had miraculously gone unnoticed…till now. How in the world did this happen? And more importantly, who the heck decided to mark me as their territory? This was impossible, how could I not remember anything? I was stunned and on my way down to the kitchen I kept searching for answers; trying my hardest to remember.

Barely able to blink, I served my juice and swallowed the pills in complete daze. My next worry was hiding this from my mother, especially since we were scheduled for a mother-daughter date this evening. It seemed absurd to wear a scarf in the beginning of summer, so how would I pull this off? Okay, calm down Brynn. I took care of the headache and now I needed a shower and to finally get out of this canary looking dress.

I walked in to find Izzy all dressed and texting on her phone. She seemed ready to leave; observing the car keys in her hand and a purse over her shoulder.

"Where are you going?"

"Oh hey, I need to go out a quick sec. Do you mind? I swear I'll be right back and then give you a ride home," she excused herself.

"But…" I was left with words in my mouth as she bolted out the room.

Why couldn't she drop me off on the way out? Oh wait, maybe not. I still hadn't figured out the hickey situation yet. Where was I …ah yes, a shower.

Rejuvenated and returning to my normal self, headache gone and so were my memories of yesterday. There was a gap I couldn't recall. Retracing my steps, I remembered pushing Niall away after he kissed me; I still couldn't get over the fact that that happened. I was shocked and went to rinse my mouth with a beer someone handed me…and then I had another one…and possibly another? I was just guessing at this point, but I hoped the truth would come to me soon.

"Are you serious?!" I had pushed back the curtain to find no towel.

I hated putting clothes on while being wet, they always stuck to you and had a wedgie-like effect. I tip-toed out of the shower to see if by chance there was one under her sink cabinet; no such luck. I thought I heard footsteps outside the room and was relieved that Izzy had come back so quickly. Since the bathroom door was open I figured she'd hear me from here.

"Hey, can you get me a towel?" I shouted uncomfortably. I heard the door swing open and knew she had heard me after all.

"Here ya go…WOAH!" I was greeted with a man's raspy voice instead of Izzy's.

I shrieked in a panic, not having anything but my hands to cover my privates. I was dripping wet and needed the towel in Niall's hand, but didn't know which hand to use without something being revealed.

"Damn you Niall! What the hell?" I shouted.

"You said you needed a towel, so I brought you one. Only I thought you were my sister!" he explained.

"You can look away now!" I darted my eyes at him.

"Oh, right!" He finally realized how rude he was being. Turning his head he handed me the towel and turned completely around.

I grabbed it and slammed the door. The nerve of him seeing me naked now; that is all I needed for my suitcase of insecurities. I still had to grab some of Izzy's clothes, so I carefully peered through the door to see if he was gone. I double checked the lock on the door and quickly got dressed. Oh Izzy please return home soon!

I walked timidly downstairs to the living room to wait impatiently for her. I felt paranoid, like at any moment I would be spotted. I saw Niall's surfboard leaning against the wall in the kitchen and knew that he was close by. I was terrified to see his face again, but I didn't know what to do in the meantime. I began to check my phone messages and was tempted more than ever for someone's company.

Niall walked in the kitchen shirtless with blue, orange and white colored board shorts. I tried to keep my eyes focused on my phone but they desperately wanted another glimpse. I suppose he was making himself something to eat, I kept hearing dishes being thrown in the sink. I hadn't noticed that the house looked spotless; they must've hired cleaners too.

I couldn't decide whether I wanted Niall to ignore me or come talk to me, but the silence in this big house was slowly starting to make me feel claustrophobic. I chose to walk on over to the kitchen and say something to start some sort of entertaining conversation to kill time and boredom. I stood at the counter but remained quiet.

"Want some?" Niall asked as he showed me his plate of scrambled eggs and toast.

"No thanks. Did you go surfing already?" My nerves began to settle down.

"Yeah. I'm going back out in a bit…Nice hickey by the way, didn't know you had it in you."

"Apparently neither did I. I'm so embarrassed," I admitted.

"Don't be,it's your first one. Wear it proudly," he smiled.

I wondered if we would ever mention the kiss from last night or this morning's peep show. I hoped neither because this pretending like nothing happened was working for me.

"So if you're here? Where is my sister?"

"Good question, she ran off before I could ask her."

"Do you need a ride?"

"As much as I hate to bother you, would you mind?" I bit my lips as I hated the thought of asking him for help.

"Sure, no problem. I'll drop you off before I head back to the beach…Or would you like to come? Knowing my sister, I don't know what time she'll be back."

This was true. Izzy wasn't always one to pay attention to the clock. I figured a little fun in the sun wouldn't hurt, so I text her about my plans and my mother. Before leaving I switched into one of her two pieces and covered myself in a blue towel-dress. Izzy then text back apologizing that she was taking longer than expected and hoped to meet us at the beach.

I never thought I'd be alone in Niall's car and much less going to hang out with him…sort of. He was everything that my 'type' wasn't. Blonde, light eyes, arrogant, rich and a player; all qualities I weren't attracted to. Returning to the beach where I had initially met Harry, I could see a group of surfers out in the ocean. And while I was alone sitting on the sand with Niall returning to the water, I didn't mind the sight of each guy riding a wave.

I was texting back and forth with my mom and Izzy, loosing track of the time and reapplying sunblock every time I turned a pinker shade. Niall came running out of the water and dug his board right beside me in the sand. He took off the top part of his wetsuit, letting it dangle by his sides and watched as I struggled to get the sunblock on my back.

"Need a hand?" he smirked.

I shrugged unwilling to admit that I could use his help, yet again. To which he gladly snatched the bottle out of my hands and plunged his knees to the ground, sitting behind me. This couldn't be more uncomfortable. I was instantly reminded of last night when I felt his hand touch my back. Niall could easily take advantage of me and I really couldn't object if I wanted that sunblock to cover every inch of my back.

"You know, you really have no reason to be insecure… from what I've seen anyway." I could sense his cocky smile from the back of my head.

"Shut up, Niall," I clenched my teeth. Was he done applying the lotion yet?

"I'm just saying. You should take it as a compliment." I didn't care for his flattery; I wish he'd go drown in the water now.

"Ok, thanks for your help," I jumped up to my feet to stretch my legs.

I heard him chuckle as he put the rest of his wetsuit back on. Standing a few feet away under the sunlight, with the surfboard under his arm and the blinding reflection coming from the water right behind him, that smile could lure anyone in.

"This H guy might have been your first kiss but at least I was your first hickey," he flashed a devious grin and ran into the water.

My mouth dropped and I felt like I was hit by a metal wave. HE did THIS to ME? I plopped down and now felt more anxious than ever to recall last night's events. I was marked by Niall Horan. If I couldn't remember, I knew that he would. But how to trust whatever he was to say? He could lie about the whole story and tell me we even slept together…Oh please God I hope not.

My hand remained over the dreadful bruise, I had given up scrambling through my brain and I simply waited for him to return to commence the investigation. Finally, after what seemed like an hour, a small group of guys came out of the water. I stood up with all my belongings at hand, ready to leave. Mister tight pants slowly strolled over with a grin that I just wanted to smack off his face. He proceeded to drop his board on the sand and undress right before me.

"Are you finally done? Can we go now?" I frowned, looking away as he left his shorts on.

"Are back to you hating me again?" He walked closer to me. "You were pretty friendly with me last night…or do you not remember?"

"As a matter of fact, I don't. So either you drugged me or I really can't say, but would you mind telling me what happened?" I demanded.

He tilted his head, and almost wore a sympathetic expression but that didn't last for long. He crossed his arms, inches away from me. Enjoying the control over the situation and saying nothing still. I raised an eyebrow while I too remained with my eyes fixed upon him. He stood a good couple of inches taller than me, so either I had to look up at his face or stare at his remarkable chest and flexed biceps. I chose to look around him, straight towards the shore.

"What's your deal?"

"I find you repulsive right now," I shot out.

"Why? You're like the only girl who has ever said that to me. It's always the other way around."

"Exactly, I'm repulsed by your behavior and the way you treat and see women. I don't know how anything ever happened between us last night."

"You really don't remember? Well let me inform you. You were drunk and somehow you wound up in my room instead of Izzy's. When I came in, having no clue how long you were there, I decided to stay and help you because you said you wanted to throw up." I sulked in humiliation as these facts sounded about right. "You started rambling off about some guy and honestly I felt sorry for you…You asked me if I thought you were attractive and if I would ever date you, and then..."

I quickly interrupted, "What did you say?"

"Excuse me?"

"How did you respond? What did you say?" I asked softly.

"I said..."You know I would"," Niall's tone went from irritable to sincere.

"What happened after? How did I get this?" I pointed towards my neck.

"Ugh, you kissed me right after I said that. And I'll spare you the rest of the details."

"We didn't…you know?" I asked terrified.

"Brynn no, of course not. I'm not the prick you think I am."

Niall placed his hand on my cheek and caressed it with his thumb. Seconds later he went to grab his board so we could leave. I was about to walk after him when I felt that paranoid 'someone-watching-me' feeling again. I looked around, and down by where the other surfer boys were I saw one of them staring at me. They began to move in unison to the parking lot, my same direction. I couldn't make out his face though.

After placing the surfboard in the back of his Jeep, Niall began beating his wetsuit against the bumper to get rid of the sand. I watched the group of guys get closer and disperse to their separate cars; one in particular walking to a very familiar black car, one that I believed to have ridden in. My heart sunk when I saw him look back with an indifferent gaze.

I sat in the passenger's seat as Niall happily got in and started the car. Driving slowly by his fellow surfer, he waved goodbye to Harry while beeping the horn. Harry flashed a fake smile and gave me a dead stare, like I meant nothing. Was I supposed to feel guilty that I was in the car with Niall? Did Harry assume that we were together? Oh no. I sulked even more.

"Who was that?" I asked intrigued.

"A mutual friend, I've seen him surf here a couple of times but didn't meet him officially till today. He said he was leaving tomorrow to Hawaii. Lucky son of a bitch!"

Niall had no clue that Harry was my H guy. I felt no need to clarify. I didn't even feel angry at Harry anymore. I didn't know what to feel really. I wasn't expecting to see him here in the first place. Then again I hadn't expected any of the things that had happened in these past few months. Who knew that my sophomore year would turn out so…interesting. Who knew what the summer would bring.

Niall drove up to my house and turned off the engine.

"Sorry I left that mark on you," he said with a slight hint of guilt.

"It's ok. I guess I can't put all the blame on you."

"I heard if you rub a pen cap over it that helps, or ice."

"Thanks," I managed to crack a smile. "Can we please not mention this to anybody? Not even Izzy. Please?"

"You have my word…Pretty crazy, huh?"

"Yeah. See you around."

Walking to my house and not looking back, I had to promise myself that that would never happen again. I hadto stay true to myself and clearly stay away from all form of alcohol. The thing that bugged me the most was I wished I would have remembered what it felt like to have kissed Niall soberly. All I remember are the mixed feelings of confusion and shock. I'm sure he's a great kisser and no I don't have any intentions of finding out again; still I can't help my curiosity. All I had as proof was this ridiculous hickey.

I managed to slip right by my mom who was on the phone, after I waved hello I ran to my room and landed on my bed. Just then I heard a beep from my phone. I thought it had to be Izzy apologizing for being fashionably late, but it wasn't her.

"I see you moved on quickly" I read Harry's text aloud. The nerve!

"I could say the same for you!" I spoke sternly at my phone as I typed.

I waited for his response, glaring at my phone. I was willing to give him the chance to explain now. But I wasn't about to have him get away with being angry at me when he had done worse.

An hour passed and I still waited…

He never replied back.

Notes