WHAT A MEET
1061 Words
Olivia couldn't believe she had actually smiled back.
The moment Noah's lips curved into that warm, effortless smile from across the pool, something inside her reacted before her brain had a chance to stop it. Almost instinctively, she smiled.
A small smile.
A nervous smile.
The kind of smile that disappeared just as quickly as it had appeared.
The second she realized what she had done, her eyes widened in horror.
"What am I doing?" she whispered under her breath, pressing a hand against her forehead. "Why would I do that?"
She could still feel the warmth rising in her cheeks.
This was exactly why she never came to parties.
She wasn't like Ella, who could walk into a room full of strangers and somehow leave with twenty new friends. She wasn't like Tina either, who always seemed confident, even when she was nervous.
Olivia preferred staying unnoticed.
Being invisible had always been easier.
She glanced across the backyard one last time.
Noah had already turned back to his friends, laughing at something one of the football players had said.
Good.
Maybe he hadn't thought anything of it.
Maybe he would forget the awkward exchange by tomorrow.
Or maybe...
No.
She refused to let herself think about it.
Olivia took a slow breath and adjusted the sleeves of her light cardigan, suddenly feeling out of place.
The music pulsed through the enormous backyard, making the wooden deck vibrate beneath her feet. Strings of warm fairy lights hung from the trees, reflecting beautifully across the crystal-blue swimming pool.
The house itself looked like something from a movie.
Teenagers filled every corner.
Some danced without caring who was watching.
Others sat around fire pits laughing so hard they could barely breathe.
Someone had turned the speakers up even louder, and the bass echoed through the night air.
It was everything Olivia disliked.
Too loud.
Too crowded.
Too unpredictable.
She wrapped her arms around herself.
"I've had enough," she murmured.
She needed to find Tina and Ella.
Maybe they could leave early.
No...
Ella would never want to leave.
Olivia smiled to herself despite everything.
She could already hear Ella protesting.
"Liv, we just got here!"
Still, Olivia wanted to try.
She turned away from the balcony and carefully walked back into the house.
The staircase was packed with people talking, laughing, and taking selfies.
Someone bumped into her shoulder.
"Oh—sorry," the girl muttered before disappearing into the crowd.
Olivia forced a polite smile and continued downstairs.
Every room seemed fuller than before.
The music was almost deafening inside.
Colorful lights flashed across the walls while groups of teenagers danced in the living room, completely lost in the moment.
Olivia carefully squeezed past them.
"Excuse me."
"Sorry."
"Can I just..."
Nobody really heard her.
She felt like a tiny boat trying to survive giant waves.
Her eyes searched desperately for Tina's blonde hair or Ella's bright red jacket.
Nothing.
Just more people.
She sighed.
"Where are you guys?"
She checked near the kitchen.
Nothing.
Near the dining room.
Still nothing.
Finally, she decided to walk back outside toward the pool.
Maybe Tina was still with George.
As soon as Olivia stepped onto the patio, the cool night breeze brushed against her face.
It felt refreshing after the stuffy house.
She spotted Tina in the distance.
There she is...
Relief flooded through her.
Olivia started making her way toward her best friend.
But getting there wasn't easy.
The crowd around the pool had doubled.
Teenagers stood shoulder to shoulder, talking over one another.
Some danced right beside the water.
Others balanced drinks while laughing loudly.
Olivia lowered her head slightly as she tried to slip through the gaps between people.
"Excuse me..."
"Sorry..."
She was only a few metres away from Tina.
Almost there.
Then it happened.
A hard shove struck her from behind.
It happened so quickly she barely had time to react.
Her balance disappeared instantly.
Her arms flew out in front of her.
She gasped.
"No!"
For one terrifying second, time seemed to freeze.
She could see the shimmering water rushing toward her.
Then—
Splash!
The icy water swallowed her whole.
The music disappeared beneath the surface.
Everything became silent.
Cold.
Dark.
The shock stole the air from her lungs.
Her body instinctively kicked upward.
Seconds later, Olivia burst through the surface, gasping desperately for air.
She coughed violently as water dripped down her face.
Her ears rang.
She pushed the soaked strands of black hair away from her eyes.
Her perfectly neat high ponytail had completely come undone.
Long strands clung to her cheeks and neck.
Her clothes felt heavy, dragging her down.
She blinked.
And then she heard it.
Laughter.
Not one person.
Dozens.
She slowly looked around.
Teenagers lined the edge of the pool.
Some pointed.
Others covered their mouths while laughing.
Several already had their phones out.
Someone whispered loud enough for her to hear.
"What an idiot."
Another voice laughed.
"Did you see that?"
"I think she jumped."
"No, someone pushed her."
"Either way..."
More laughter.
Olivia's heart shattered.
She hadn't even done anything.
Hot tears mixed with the cold pool water running down her face.
Please...
Please stop looking at me.
She wished the water would simply swallow her again.
Anything would be better than this.
Her chest tightened.
She could already picture Monday morning.
The whispers.
The stares.
The jokes.
The videos.
The rumours.
This wasn't just tonight anymore.
This would follow her through the school corridors for months.
Maybe longer.
She swallowed the lump in her throat.
"I just want to go home," she whispered, though no one could hear her over the music.
Trying to ignore the laughter, Olivia slowly swam toward the nearest edge of the pool.
Every stroke felt heavier than the last.
Her soaked clothes dragged against her body.
Her shoes felt like bricks.
When she finally reached the side, she grabbed the edge tightly, trying to pull herself up.
Her hands slipped.
She tried again.
Nothing.
She was exhausted.
Humiliated.
And completely alone.
Then...
A shadow appeared above her.
A hand reached down toward her.
Strong.
Steady.
Patient.
Olivia slowly looked up.
Standing above her, blocking out the lights behind him, was Noah.
He wasn't laughing.
Not even a little.
Instead, there was genuine concern in his bright blue eyes.
He held out his hand.
Waiting.
- Writer
