SING FOR ME -P.S JAMES

CHAPTER 2 : BOY AT THE BALCONY...

The sunlight spilled through the blinds, dust mites floating lazily in the warm beams. The dorm was quieter than usual, the hum of the heating system and occasional footsteps the only sounds. I stayed cocooned in my blanket, savoring the rare luxury of doing nothing. Sarah had left for her part time jobs and Isa went to get some groceries for us. It was just I and Naomi left in the room. I decided to keep myself busy with a novel, losing myself in the world of someone else.

By the time evening rolled around, my phone buzzed.

“Girl, what are you up to?” I saw Susan’s text.

Nothing, just chilling, I replied.

Suddenly, the dorm became noisy. Isabelle stormed in, a couple of grocery bags swinging from her hands.

“U guys, there’s a party!”

she exclaimed, grinning wildly.“Oh, that’s what all the noise was about,”

I muttered, stepping out of my quiet bubble.Another buzz.

Susan’s message again:Tyler’s hosting a party, Hills! You’ve got to come — I’ve got no one to go with.

I sighed, the corner of my lips twitching.

I’m on my way… my phone buzzed again.

I was still staring at my phone when another knock came — this one more insistent.

“Hills! Open up, it’s me!” Susan’s voice called.

I groaned and got up, opening the door to see her standing there, hair already perfectly styled, dressed in a shimmering emerald green dress that made her look effortlessly stunning. She didn’t even notice my plain t-shirt and leggings.

“What's this? I asked knowing already what it is. She was all dressed up already.

“To drag you out of this boring cocoon and into society, of course,” she said, stepping inside and closing the door behind her.

“There’s a party tonight — Tyler’s hosting.

It’s going to be fun, I promise.

You have to come.”I scoffed. "that bully who's always feeling on top of the world, I don’t know, Susy… parties aren’t really my thing,” I muttered, hugging the blanket around me.“Oh, come on!” She dropped into the chair beside my bed, eyes sparkling.

“I can’t go alone, and I need my best friend with me".

"Besides, you’re going to have fun once you’re out of these four walls. I know it.”

Before I could respond, Isabelle burst in through the open door, balancing three shopping bags like she was about to juggle them.

“Party, party, party! just the right thing to start the semester” she declared dramatically.

“And you cannot say no, Hills. You just cannot.”I groaned.

“Isa…”“Don’t even start,” she said, dumping the bags on the floor.

“I got snacks, emergency soda, and, of course, my fabulous charm. We’re going to make tonight legendary.” She spun around, bumping into Susan, who barely flinched in her elegant red dress.Susan rolled her eyes but smiled.

“Thank you, Isa. Now, back to my task — dressing Hills. Come on, let’s pick something.”She rifled through my closet, holding up a few options.

“What about this?” she held up a soft, pastel blue dress.

“Or maybe something bold like this red one?”I shook my head.

“I don’t… I don’t know if I even have the energy to dress up.”I said.

“Hilary!,” Susan said, pointing a perfectly manicured finger at me.

“You will wear one of these, and you will look amazing doing it. Non-negotiable.” Isabelle leaned over my shoulder, plucking the flowy navy dress from Susan’s hands. “This one! Yes! Look mysterious, but also… like you might just steal the show.

That’s my Hills energy.”I eyed the dress hesitantly.

“I guess… maybe that one.”

“Good choice!” Susan clapped her hands.

“Now sit, and we’ll fix you up.

Hair, makeup — Isa, help me with the hair!”

“Finally!” Isabelle cheered, digging through her bag for brushes and pins.

“You’re about to be my canvas, Hills.”

I took a picture and sent to mom captioned "partyyy!"

"Don't be out too late" she replied almost immediately.

I looked at the phone and smiled keeping it in my purse. As they fussed over me, I felt a little of my anxiety melt away. Susan’s calm guidance, paired with Isabelle’s playful chaos, made it hard not to smile. My reflection slowly transformed — the navy dress soft against my skin, my hair brushed and pinned just so.“All done!” Susan finally declared, stepping back to admire her work. “Now look at yourself. Come on, Hills, don’t be shy.”I stood and looked in the mirror. I didn’t look like someone ready to face a crowded party — but maybe, just maybe, I could survive it. Susan, already in her red dress and heels, gave me a triumphant smile. “See? You’re going to turn heads tonight. And who knows… maybe someone interesting might notice you.”Isabelle struck a dramatic pose beside me. “And I’ll make sure the night is unforgettable, one snack or chaos at a time!”From the corner of the room, Naomi peeked up from where she’d been quietly in her notebook. “Looks good, Hills,” she said softly, offering her small, approving smile. sketching“You’ll survive… probably.”I felt a small flutter in my chest but pushed the thought aside. “Let’s just survive the party first,” I muttered, trying to keep my calm.

The evening air was crisp as we stepped out of the dorm, the city lights beginning to twinkle. Isabelle practically skipped ahead, humming a song loudly, while Susan held my arm with reassuring confidence. Naomi followed quietly, clutching her sketchbook as if it were armor.The party was at Tyler’s off-campus apartment — a sprawling place with string lights glowing softly across the balcony. Tyler’s parents were known for their wealth, and the apartment reflected it: sleek modern furniture, a stocked bar, and rooms that seemed bigger than some dorm floors. Tyler himself was popular on campus, known for throwing parties everyone wanted to be at. I had also heard whispers about one of his friends — someone respected, part of a popular team, though I’d never really spoken to him.“Wow,” Isabelle whispered — more to herself than anyone else — as we approached. “This is going to be epic.”Susan squeezed my hand. “See? Nothing to worry about. Just let yourself be part of it tonight. I promise, you’ll have fun.”I nodded, still hesitant, my nerves buzzing under the surface.Once inside, the apartment was packed with people dancing, chatting, and playing games. The smell of snacks, soda, and perfume mixed in a dizzying yet exciting swirl. Couples were scattered throughout, some laughing, some smooching in quiet corners, others just holding hands while swaying to the music. Isabelle immediately darted off to scout the scene, waving at anyone and everyone.Susan leaned closer, smiling. “Let’s get you a drink — something to settle the nerves.”Naomi found a quiet corner and began sketching the scene, eyes bright behind her glasses. She glanced at me and gave a small nod, as if to say, you’re not alone in feeling overwhelmed.I wandered near the balcony, letting the music wash over me. That’s when I noticed him — a guy leaning casually against the railing, quiet, observing the room rather than jumping into it. I didn’t know his name, but something about him felt familiar. Yes! The guy from the show. I watched from a distance with a flicker of curiosity.Then a girl approached him, and they seemed like a couple, laughing softly together. I was about to turn away when I felt a gentle pat on my back.I turned to see Isabelle grinning, a boy by her side. “Hills, this is Cole. Cole, this is Hilary,” she said, extending her hand in that breezy, confident way she always did.Before I could react, she winked and darted off into the crowd.

How could she just leave me? Seriously! I thought, watching her disappear.

“Hi,” I muttered, giving a small, hesitant wave to Cole.Cole gave a small, polite smile, his hand lingering in mine just a moment too long before letting go. “Hi,” he replied, his voice easy, friendly. “Isa says you’re new around here?”“Yeah… kind of,” I said, shrugging slightly. “Just trying to survive the chaos of dorm life and parties.”He laughed softly, the kind of quiet laugh that felt warm without being loud. “Yeah, I get that. Isa can be… a lot.”“Really? You think?” I teased, earning another small laugh from him.We chatted a little more — about classes, campus life, and the party itself — all casual things. I found myself relaxing, letting the tension from earlier melt away. Cole was easy to talk to, friendly without being overbearing. But even as I smiled and laughed, my eyes kept drifting back toward the balcony. James was still there, leaning against the railing, quietly watching everything. A girl approached him — laughing, brushing her hair back — and they seemed like a couple. She rested her hand lightly on his arm, whispering something that made him smile faintly. I didn’t know them personally, but something about their quiet connection caught my attention.I shook my head slightly, chiding myself. Focus on Cole. He’s talking to you. Be present.But my gaze inevitably returned. Every now and then, James glanced toward the crowd, his calm, reserved presence standing out against the chaos. There was something about the way he observed rather than performed, a subtle strength in his quietness that made it impossible not to notice him.Cole continued chatting, unaware of my distraction, and I forced myself to answer with interest andathe back of my mind, I realized something important: tonight wasn’t just about the party. It was about noticing things I hadn’t before. About people I hadn’t noticed before. And somehow, James was already standing out.

I was on my way to the snack bar when I felt someone step up behind me. I glanced sideways and froze.“You must be Hilary,” the voice said, calm but with an unmistakable spark of recognition.I looked up to see James — the quiet guy from the balcony — standing there, his expression unreadable at first, then softening into something almost like curiosity mixed with amusement.

“Uh… yeah. That’s me,” I replied, my voice a little higher than usual, cheeks warming.

“I’m James,” he said, holding out his hand briefly.

“I’ve… seen you around. At the show, right?”

I nodded, unsure if I should feel embarrassed or flattered.

“Yeah… that was me,” I said quietly. “I didn’t… expect you to remember.”

He shrugged, a small smile tugging at his lips.

“I do. You stood out.”I blinked, caught off guard by the casual compliment.

“Oh… thanks,” I murmured, glancing down at the snacks in my hands.There was a brief pause, just long enough to feel a strange tension in the quiet space between us — not uncomfortable, exactly, just… noticeable.

“So… enjoy the party?” he asked, tilting his head slightly.

“I… yeah,” I said honestly, relaxing a fraction.

“It’s… fun.”He nodded once, looking around the room, then back at me.

“Good. Just don’t get lost in the crowd.”

I laughed softly, shaking my head. “Noted.”

And just like that, it felt like something had shifted — small, subtle, but enough to make me notice him in a way I hadn’t before. As the conversation lulled, James glanced at his phone.

“Hey… if you want, maybe I could text you later? Just in case you get lost in the crowd or… I don’t know, need help navigating these parties?”

I blinked, caught off guard, but nodded. “Uh… sure. That’s… fine.”

He pulled out his phone, swiping to open a new message.

“Here, just… give me your number?”he said stretching out his phone. I hesitated for a moment, then typed it in, feeling a strange flutter in my chest.

“Got it,” he said, slipping his phone away. “I’ll try not to bother you too much.”

“Good,” I said, smiling faintly, feeling oddly pleased.

He gave a small nod, that quiet, observant smile returning.

“See you around, Hilary.”

I turned to go back to the crowd, but my mind kept drifting to the quiet boy on the balcony who had just asked for my number. Somehow, I knew this wasn’t the last time I’d notice him.I slipped back into the crowd, still holding my plate of snacks. Cole was there, leaning casually against the counter, a grin on his face.

“So… that was smooth,” he teased, nodding toward the balcony where James had been.

“Making new friends already?”

I rolled my eyes, half-laughing.

“Nothing like that. He just… asked for my number. Not exactly a friendship bracelet exchange or anything.”

Cole laughed, shaking his head. “Right… sure. Numbers, parties, drama — all part of campus life, I guess.”

He offered me a soda from the cooler, and we started talking about light things — classes, assignments, random campus gossip. It was easy, comfortable, and familiar in a way that made me forget the earlier tension.Meanwhile, from across the room, I caught a glimpse of James leaning casually against the balcony railing again, his eyes scanning the crowd. I didn’t know why, but I felt a flutter of curiosity. Cole was fun and easygoing, but James… there was something different about him. Quiet. Observant. Somehow magnetic, even from a distance.I shook my head slightly, smiling to myself. Focus on having fun tonight, Hilary.And yet, I couldn’t help sneaking one more time.The music pulsed louder as the night went on, lights flickering across the walls in time with the beat. Isabelle had vanished somewhere into the crowd, no doubt introducing herself to half the room, while Susan grabbed my hand and dragged me to the makeshift dance floor.“Come on, Hills! Don’t just stand there!” Susan laughed, spinning me around so I had no choice but to move with the rhythm.I stumbled at first, but soon found myself laughing, letting the music take over. Naomi joined in from the sidelines, bouncing lightly to the beat, her sketchbook temporarily forgotten. Even Sarah, exhausted from her two jobs, appeared at the edge of the crowd, nodding her head to the music with a rare smile.Somewhere across the room, Cole had started a playful conversation with Isabelle, both of them laughing like they were the only two people at the party. I stole a glance at him, smiling quietly — he was fun and easy, but my attention drifted elsewhere.And then I saw him. James, leaning casually against the balcony railing, arms crossed, quietly observing. Not mingling, not trying to be noticed — just watching. Our eyes met for a brief moment, and I felt a flutter in my chest that made me turn away too quickly, pretending to focus on Susan.But it wasn’t easy. Every so often, my gaze wandered back to him. He didn’t smile or wave; he didn’t need to. The way he simply existed there, calm and quiet amidst the chaos, drew my attention like a magnet.Susan noticed my distraction.

“Hills? You’re spacing out again,” she teased.

“I’m fine,” I said quickly, forcing a laugh. “Just… enjoying the party.”

“Uh-huh,” she said, raising an eyebrow knowingly, then spun back into the crowd, dragging me along with her.Even as I danced I still felt his gaze on me. It was then I knew... I was attracted to this guy.