SAVANNAH
The lights are low, the music is high, and I've been dodging eye contact with Eden for forty-three minutes.
Yes. I counted.
Taylor hands me a plastic cup filled with suspicious pink liquid. "Drink this."
"I hate punch."
"You hate yourself more when you're sober around Eden Reyes."
I pause. "That's… not true."
Taylor gives me the look.
Okay. Maybe it's a little true.
Eden's across the living room, leaning against the fireplace like she's modeling for a moody record cover. Her hair's tied up. Her boots are scuffed. And she's smiling at something Milo just said.
She never smiles like that at me.
And that shouldn't bother me.
But it does.
---
EDEN
I shouldn't have come. I hate parties. The bass gives me anxiety and everyone smells like sugar and ego.
But I'm here. Because Milo dragged me. And because Savannah said she might come. Not that I care.
(Okay, I care a little.)
I see her across the room—laughing too loud at something some guy in a varsity jacket said. Her cheeks are flushed. She looks untouchably golden.
And then she sees me.
And the room goes quiet.
Not literally. But inside me? Silent.
I push off the wall and walk toward her without thinking.
---
SAVANNAH
She's coming over.
Why is she coming over.
I can't breathe.
"Hey," Eden says, cool and quiet.
I blink. "Hi."
We stand in the middle of a crowd like we're the only people not moving.
"You look…" she starts, then stops. "Different."
"Is that a compliment or a threat?"
She smiles. "Haven't decided yet."
My breath catches—and then some drunk sophomore trips between us, sloshing punch across my skirt.
I yelp. Eden catches me instinctively, her hands at my waist.
We're close. Again.
Her fingers tighten for a second—just long enough for me to feel the heat of her through the fabric.
I look up.
Her eyes aren't annoyed. They're… searching.
"Are you okay?" she asks softly.
No sarcasm. No walls.
I nod. "Yeah."
We don't move.
Not until Taylor swoops in, dragging me toward the bathroom, muttering something about stains and seltzer.
I glance back once.
Eden's still standing there.
Like she didn't want to let go.