The Party
1266 Words
If there was one thing I learned during my first week at Blackwater Sports Academy, it was this:
Athletes were incapable of acting normally.
Especially when a party was involved.
“Absolutely not.”
Kiara stood in the middle of my dorm room holding up a black dress I had no intention of wearing.
“Absolutely yes.”
“No.”
“Yes.”
“It looks expensive.”
“It was expensive.”
“Then why do you own it?”
“Because one day I knew I’d need it for a fashion emergency.”
I stared.
“A fashion emergency?”
“You’re the emergency.”
I threw a pillow at her and she dodged it effortlessly.
Twenty minutes later, I was somehow dressed in the stupid black dress.
The universe hated me.
“You look hot,” Kiara announced proudly.
“I look uncomfortable.”
“Same thing.”
Before I could argue, she grabbed my wrist and dragged me toward the dorm exit. No
The party was being held at a large off-campus house rented by some seniors.
By the time we arrived, music was already blasting through the walls.
Students crowded the front yard, and cars lined the street.
The entire place looked like a terrible decision waiting to happen.
“I already want to go home,” I muttered.
Kiara ignored me completely. She pulled me inside, the house was packed.
People danced in the living room, and others crowded around the kitchen island.
Someone had climbed onto a table for reasons I didn’t want explained.
“See?” Kiara shouted over the music.
“No.”
“You’re having fun.”
“I just got here.”
“You’re welcome.”
Then she disappeared into the crowd such a traitor.
I grabbed a soda from the kitchen and leaned against the counter, trying not to attract attention.
Unfortunately, that was impossible.
People still recognized me.
Whispers followed me through the room.
The scandal girl, the transfer student, the girl from the relay team.
I pretended not to notice just like always.
“Naomi.”
I looked up and Mason appeared beside me carrying two drinks.
“Please tell me that’s water.”
He looked offended.
“Do I look responsible?”
“Not remotely.”
“Good.”
I laughed despite myself, and Mason grinned.
“There she is.”
“What?”
“The girl who actually smiles.”
“I smile.”
“No, you threaten people.”
“Fair.”
His grin widened.
“Come hang out with us.”
I immediately became suspicious.
“Who are we?”
“The team.”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because every time I’m near your team, my blood pressure rises.”
Mason looked delighted by that answer.
Before he could continue arguing, the front door opened.
And suddenly the room got louder not because of music.
Because of HIM.
Jace Donovan walked inside.
Of course, he was physically incapable of staying away from any situation that might ruin my peace.
He wore dark jeans and a black T-shirt. It was simple.
Annoyed that my eyes found him instantly.
The worst part he found was me too.
The second he stepped into the house, his gaze swept across the room.
Then landed directly on me.
My stomach immediately betrayed me.
Wonderful.
“Uh-oh,” Mason said.
“What?”
“You did the thing.”
“I don’t know what that means.”
“You looked at him.”
“I looked at a person.”
“Sure.”
I considered throwing my soda at him. Then another figure appeared beside Jace it was Elena.
The knot in my stomach tightened unexpectedly.
She slipped her hand into his naturally and comfortably.
Like she belonged there, which she did because she was his girlfriend.
A fact my brain apparently needed constant reminders about.
Elena smiled at something Jace said.
He smiled back and that sight annoyed me more than it should have.
“Wow,” Mason said quietly.
I looked at him sharply.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“You’re lying.”
“Definitely.”
I narrowed my eyes.
But before I could interrogate him further, somebody called his name from across the room.
“Duty calls.”
“Your life is weird.”
“Accurate.”
Then he disappeared.
Leaving me alone with my increasingly annoying thoughts.
The party continued around me. There was music, laughter, and chaos.
Yet somehow my attention kept drifting across the room.
Toward Jace every single time and I hated it.
He was talking with teammates now.
Laughing occasionally and looking relaxed for once.
Then his gaze lifted and met mine again.
My heartbeat stumbled for about three seconds.
Neither of us looked away.
Then Elena leaned against his shoulder.
Reality snapped back immediately.
I looked away first and I felt like a coward.
“Having fun?”
I turned.
Kiara appeared beside me carrying enough snacks to feed a small village.
“No.”
“Liar.”
“I’m serious.”
“You’ve looked at Jace approximately fifty times.”
My jaw dropped.
“Fifty?”
“Maybe sixty.”
“I hate you.”
“I know.”
Kiara shoved chips into her mouth happily.
Then her expression changed.
“Oh.”
“What?”
“Trouble.”
I followed her gaze.
Tyler Greene.
Great. Exactly what this evening needed.
The arrogant sprinter strolled into the kitchen with two of his friends.
The second he saw me, his smile sharpened. Wonderful.
“Look who it is.”
I sighed.
“Not tonight, Tyler.”
“Just saying hi.”
“You’ve never said hi in your life.”
His friends laughed and Tyler stepped closer.
“You know, I still don’t understand how Blackwater accepted you.”
Kiara immediately straightened.
Bad sign.
“Keep talking,” she said sweetly.
“I’m just curious.”
“No,” I said flatly. “You’re just annoying.”
Tyler smirked.
“At least I’m not famous for sleeping my way to opportunities.”
The room seemed to freeze and every muscle in my body went tight.
Not because the insult hurt but because I was tired.
So incredibly tired of hearing the same lie again and again.
Kiara looked ready to commit a felony.
Then another voice cut through the room.
“Say it again.”
Silence.
Tyler’s smile vanished instantly.
I turned Jace stood in the doorway. Expression hard, eyes dangerous.
The entire kitchen went quiet.
Tyler laughed nervously.
“What?”
“You heard me.”
The temperature in the room dropped ten degrees.
Tyler crossed his arms.
“You really defending her now?”
Jace stepped forward.
“Say it again.”
Nobody moved or breathed.
Tyler looked away first. That was a smart choice.
“Whatever.”
He grabbed a drink from the counter and then left.
His friends followed immediately.
The second they disappeared, the noise slowly returned to the room.
Conversations resumed, music continued but my pulse refused to settle.
Because Jace was still standing there looking at me.
“Are you okay?” he asked quietly.
The question caught me off guard.
Again.
Always that question.
I swallowed once.
“Why do you keep asking me that?”
Something softened briefly in his expression.
“Because nobody else does.”
The answer hit harder than it should have.
For one dangerous second, the space between us felt smaller than ever.
And judging by the look in Jace Donovan’s eyes—
He felt it too.
- Writer
