Reflections Of Us

Crossed Paths - Chapter 2

🎶 - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5894qfnuj5mrjY2KmPnwHr?si=JQpwgltmSvOJd6lqSGtMHQ

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Zeva's POV:

The party pulsed around me—bass thumping through the floorboards, voices overlapping in waves of laughter and shouts. Jazmine had disappeared into the kitchen to grab us drinks, leaving me to hover near the edge of the living room, pretending I wasn't completely out of place.

That's when I saw him.

Keith.

He leaned casually against the wall, one arm slung around the back of a chair, his head tipped toward a girl who was laughing too loudly at something he'd said. She was gorgeous—long braids, glitter catching the light, that kind of glow people don't even need a filter for. My stomach tightened when his hand brushed her shoulder, easy and familiar, like they'd done this a hundred times before.

I didn't plan to move, but my legs carried me forward anyway.

"Hey," I said, stopping in front of her. My voice came out cooler than I felt. "Sorry if this is random, but... are you and Keith... together?"

Her brows lifted, amusement flickering before she smiled like she knew something I didn't. "Yeah. He's my boyfriend. Why?"

The words cut sharper than they should have. I forced a shrug, pretending it didn't matter. "Just wondering."

Before she could ask me anything else, I slipped back through the crowd, heat crawling up my neck. My chest felt tight, my pulse racing, and I hated that it mattered—hated that the answer had left me reeling.

By the time Jazmine reappeared with two red cups in her hands, I had my mask back in place.

"Girl, you look like you saw a ghost," she teased, pressing a cup into my hand.

"Something like that," I muttered, then plastered on a smile. "Come on, let's dance before the whole floor caves in."

She laughed and tugged me toward the crowd. For a while, I let myself sink into it—the music pounding, Jazmine's energy wrapping around me like armor, my drink sloshing in my hand as we spun. Eventually, when the sweat and laughter had worn us out, we flopped back onto the couch, our cups balanced on our knees.

I leaned back, exhaling, trying not to think about Keith. Trying not to think about the way that girl—Leya—had looked so smug when she'd said boyfriend.

But even as I sipped my drink, the words echoed in my head.

₊˚ ✧ ‿︵‿୨୧‿︵‿ ✧ ₊˚₊˚ ✧ ‿︵‿୨୧‿︵‿ ✧ ₊˚

Keith's POV:

The night blurred with familiar noise—guys talking smack over beer pong, somebody spilling chips all over the floor, music vibrating in my ribs. I wasn't even paying much attention until Leya tugged me toward the hallway, her expression sharper than usual.

"What's up?" I asked, half-laughing.

She crossed her arms. "Some girl just came up to me asking about you. Said her name was Zeva."

That name froze in my chest. I covered it with a smirk. "And?"

"And why's some random girl checking if I'm your girlfriend?" she pressed, brows arched. "She looked like she wanted a fight."

I shrugged, playing it off. "People talk. Don't stress it."

But inside, my head was already spinning. Zeva. Of course, it would be her. Only she would have the nerve to walk straight up and question Leya like that.

When we stepped back into the living room, my eyes found her instantly. She was on the couch with Jazmine, cup in hand, legs curled underneath her like she owned the spot. She wasn't even looking my way, but it didn't matter—I felt the pull.

Leya was still talking beside me, but my focus was locked on Zeva. Always on Zeva.