Not him, But you.

Chapter 3

A party. An actual party. I stand frozen, staring at my phone like it’s going to give me instructions. Ten full minutes have passed since Noah ended the call. I haven’t moved.

I might be exaggerating a little bit.

I drag myself to my wardrobe, eyes darting through my clothes. Nothing screams “party.” Everything feels too casual, too quiet -just like me. Then, I spot a dress. A gift from Celline on my last birthday. A sleek, wine -colored satin piece that clings in places I’m still growing into. I remember how she handed it to me with that smirk -mocking, daring. A dress that comes with a personality I don’t have.

I sit in front of my mirror, attempting to tame my hair into something remotely stylish. It resists. Of course. I don’t own makeup, so there’s nothing to hide the nervous flush spreading across my face. I sigh and head to my dad’s room, holding my breath. He’s asleep. I slip quietly into the drawer I’ve always been warned not to touch -mom’s drawer. It's like a museum of her. Perfume bottles, dusty lipstick tubes, untouched jewelry. I find a simple charm bracelet and a delicate gold necklace that matches my skin tone perfectly.

Next stop: Caden’s room. Celine tends to leave some of her more clothes there after each visit. I sift through the pile and land on a black leather miniskirt and a cropped tank top. Paired with my favorite boots, the look is… not terrible. But it’s not me. The outfit carries confidence I don’t have. I turn to the mirror and sigh. I look like someone who knows how to flirt, dance, and lie convincingly. I don’t.

Just as I’m about to give up, my phone rings.

Noah.

“Hey,” I answer.

“Look out your window,” he replies.

I walk over—and there he is. On a motorcycle. A *black* motorcycle. I can barely breathe.

Grabbing my phone, I rush downstairs. The second he sees me, he frowns.

Oh gawd ,what have I done.

“You’re not wearing that,” he says flatly. “Go change. When I said ‘dress to impress,’ I meant you. Not whatever this is.”

Ouch. But honestly? I’m relieved.

I run back upstairs and throw on a pair of high-waisted jeans and a fitted white top. Simple. Me. When I return, Noah smiles. A real one. And that tiny expression gives me the courage I didn’t know I had. I hop on the bike behind him, grabbing the helmet he hands me. Just before we drive off, I glance up.

Caden is watching me from the window.

Oh no.

I'll be in so much trouble when I get back.

**

The party is loud, warm, and glowing with soft lights and louder bodies. Exactly what I expected. Music pounds through my chest. I scan the room for Theodore, hoping, praying he’s not draped over Rosalie. I don’t see him. But I do see her. Wearing a version of the outfit I abandoned earlier. And suddenly, I regret not keeping it on.

I head into the house and if this is what I have been missing for the past 17 years of my life, I rather not bother fitting in.

Then I spot him. Not with Rosalie, or any other girl… but with Lily.

My breath catches. My sister. My mom won custody of her after the split, and we haven’t seen each other in what feels like years. Dad forbade it. I'm not too caught up on the idea of pissing him off. And now she’s here—looking beautiful, confident, and perfectly at home in this wild scene. She's the golden girl . The beautiful one, it's not hard to tell why my mom fought for her custody.

She looks up and see's me staring then waves me over.

I walk up, unsure whether to smile or run.

“Hey,” she beams. “Hi baby sis.”

I sit on the couch opposite hers.

“Hey” I smile back.

”This is Theodore.” She looks over at him. “But I call him Teddy.”

She's introducing me to someone I always sit with ???? How bad can my life get. Theodore doesn’t seem to recognize me. Is that a good thing?

He doesn't even look up from his phone, his hand on my sister's thigh.

“I’m Mirabel,” I offer softly.

He barely glances at me, still interested in his phone.

”So...." Lily continues “Are you alone ??”

She must be surprised at what I'm doing here. Just as I'm about to answer someone slides in beside me.

Noah.

“She’s not,”He says placing an arm around my neck.

He kisses my cheek, casually like it’s nothing, but my heart threatens to leap out of my chest out of embarrassment.

That finally caught Theodore's attention.

Noah then leans in and whispers something I can’t even hear.

I look over at Theodore and he's staring.

Noah doesn't seem to be done as his hand finds mine. My breath hitches. He gives me a look -his eyes begging me to play along. Or so i think.

What are we doing?

Just as my thoughts begin to spiral, Theodore finally speaks.

“It’s Mirabel, right?”

My name. From his lips.

I nod, barely breathing. He smiles, barely, but it’s there. Real. Gentle. Familiar, even. I've seen it a lot.

” See you around ” He says and gets up to leave.

Lily still on the couch hurries after him ; Her Teddy.

I laugh at how pathetic my sister looks running after him.

I look over at Noah and he's smiling. It's really hard to understand him sometimes.

"That went well" He smirks at me. " I have to leave now , I won't go far just enough for him to return. "

"He'll return??" I ask shocked. I'm already content with this development and there's more...??

"Yeah." He shrugs and with that got up and left. I looked around and people obviously stared at me weirdly perhaps wondering why a hottie was not only speaking but hanging out with me as well.

I look around and I can't find Lily nor Theodore , I get out my phone and begin to watch Tik Toks.

Ten minutes has passed and now I'm getting pissed off at Noah. How dare he abandon me here alone.

Someone comes up behind me and I already prepared a whole speech about how wrong he was but as he comes round and sits beside me. That's when I see who it is.

Theodore.

Well...........Noah's probably a God coz what sort of prediction is this??

“Mirabel, you are still here??" He says and stretches to grab an apple from the fruit bowl.

"Yeah." I shrug. The less I say ,the better .

"What about Noah..?" He ask taking a bite out of the apple. "He didn't leave you now, did he?"

"No" I get out my phone to text Noah. "He'll be around somewhere"

“You know you look a bit familiar ” He smiles peering down at me.

I mini freeze not long enough for him to notice I hope. Because how am I supposed to tell him who I am.

Who am I again?? Yh one of the creeps who stare at him like he's a God . I don't think this might work out well if he knows that.

I hurriedly type a text to Noah before I screw things up.

To Noah: He's here , it's not going well. Come back .Please.

Then he leans forward, about to say something else, when Rosalie appears out of nowhere. With two other girls: Jade and Sarah. Queens of Stoneville High.Seniors. They pretty much rule the school. I think one of them is a model. They are the kind of people you would want to be friends with or at least acknowledged by them. As for Rosalie ......She just transferred for Christ sake how does she already know them. What is she doing with them? I doubt she barely knows anyone in our grade, but they all would probably know her.

They don’t even glance at Theodore. Their attention is laser-focused on me. Either expecting me to get up and leave or wondering who I am. Maybe even both.

Theodore doesn't even spare them a glance and I want to laugh. Being ignored is something I don't expect of hot people.

“You have company,” I say quickly, trying to keep my voice from shaking. I rise, hoping I look effortless, graceful even. But the second I’m out of Theodore’s line of sight, I run, as fast as I can.

Outside, I spot Noah beside his bike. Talking to a girl. Of course. I don't expect the hottie to keep to himself now. And now I think that's why he wanted to leave. We've barely met yet I have made a whole lot of progress on Theodore although if I think about it ,he barely acknowledged my existence and didn't flirt with me like he does with other girls or place his hand on my thigh like he did with Lily. I don't even see any good thing coming from this especially with Theodore finding out I'm a nerdy creep and not in his league when we sit in class next Monday. I glance at Noah and I'm not feeling this plan anymore.

He looks over at me and waves for me to come. He tells the girl something and she glares at me as she walks away. I try not to think about it. I can’t

I tell Noah what happened. Everything. Theodore spoke to me. Actually *spoke* to me. And then Rosalie appeared like some cursed punctuation mark.

Noah listens, smirks. “This will be fun for me… hard for you.”

I frown, confused.

Suddenly, he grabs my waist and pulls me close. Too close. Our bodies meet, and my breath leaves me. He leans into my neck, inhales, and whispers, “Push me away.”

My knees nearly buckle. What kind of acting is *this*?

“Do it,” he murmurs louder, “he’s watching.”

I'm still frozen as his breathe sends chills down my spine. I shudder and he sighs.

“Oh gawd Mirabel” He groans lowly. ” Theodore is watching. PUSH ME AWAY”

More breathe but I recollect myself. I push him - gently.

He catches my wrists and kisses them. Kisses them ??. Is this still part of the plan?

He lets go, smirking. “Helmet,” he says, tossing it my way.

I catch it with shaky hands.

We ride off. but not before I look back.

And yeah… Theodore was watching.

***

We pull up outside my house. My legs are jelly.

“For today,” I say awkwardly. “Thank you.”

“Be specific.” He tilts his head, that same teasing grin tugging at his lips.

I stab him. Metaphorically. countless times.

“Thank you for helping me with Theodore,” I mutter.

“What about for making you feel good?” His voice lowers, teasing. “You don’t think that deserves a thank you?”

My eyes widen. “That… that was my hormones,” I lie, burning.

“Yeah, yeah,” he chuckles. “Blame the hormones.”

He gets on his bike and laughs. “See you tomorrow, Miss Brown "

And he drives off.

I sneak back inside, praying Dad is still asleep. I tiptoe to my room, change quickly, and just as I slip under my covers—

Click.

The lights come on.

Caden.

He's your typical over protective brother except worse.

Before I can open my mouth, Lily appears too. Great. I’m toast. And what is she even doing here.

And now with Lily here I can't even lie about where I have been.

There's so much to explain. A party. A guy. A motorcycle. Theodore. Kisses. Hormones.

Then it gets worse.

My phone buzzes on the nightstand.

Caden picks it up before I can.

He reads the message out loud.

“I know I made you feel good. Don’t blame your hormones.”

Noah.

I want the ground to open and swallow me whole.

Lily’s mouth drops. Caden turns to me, stunned silent.

I… I might actually be dead.