Chapter Four
1009 Words
Dinner Night at North Hill Academy
The bass throbbed through the glass walls of the Radcliffe estate, pulsing like a heartbeat desperate to break free. Lights flickered in purples and golds across the mansion’s vast lawn where students from North Hill Academy spilled into carefully curated chaos. The party had only just begun, but it already felt like something was about to explode.
Zane leaned against the marble balustrade on the upper balcony, drink in hand, gaze trained on the glittering crowd below. He wasn’t here for the music or the alcohol or even the thrill of being among the elite. He was here for one reason which is Amara.
He’d spotted her the moment she stepped out of that sleek black SUV in a satin crimson dress that clung to her curves like sin. Her hair was pulled back in a braided crown, elegant and effortless, but her eyes those dangerous, storm-gray eyes were sharp,watching,calculating, guarded.
Zane drained the rest of his drink and set it on the railing.
“Someone’s brooding,” a voice drawled beside him.
Nova. "Not Again"He groaned.
She slipped into the space beside him wearing a silky silver dress that shimmered like moonlight. Her dark curls framed her delicate face, and she tilted her head toward the crowd below.
“Looking for your sworn enemy?” she asked with a teasing smirk.
Zane didn’t answer.
Nova’s eyes sparkled. “You’re not nearly as mysterious as you think, Zane Carter.”
“You don’t know me.”
“I know enough,” she said, brushing her fingers lightly against his forearm. “You can’t stop looking at her not even when you pretend not to.”He stiffened. “Careful, Nova.”
She tilted her chin. “Or what?”
Zane met her gaze, cold steel against soft velvet. Nova faltered but held her ground.
“Enjoy the party,” he said, stepping away and descending the staircase toward the pool where students clustered with drinks and laughter.
He pushed through the crowd, ignoring the whispers, the side glances, the envy. His father always said "Command the room before it consumes you." Zane had learned that lesson early. And tonight, he needed to control something,anything because the moment Amara’s eyes met his across the glowing pool, he forgot everything else.
She was standing with her trio of friends.Leah in emerald green, Raya in a chic two-piece black set, and Nova… who had somehow reappeared at Amara’s side like smoke.
Zane didn’t hesitate.
He strode over.
Amara turned as he approached, folding her arms with an exasperated sigh.
“What do you want now?” she said, voice low but sharp.
“You missed a good opportunity,” Zane said smoothly, nodding toward the media crew inside. “Your brand could’ve gotten some free PR.”
Amara raised a brow. “Not everything’s about press, Carter.”
“Says the girl whose family fights tooth and nail for shelf space at every major retailer.”He said
Her smile didn’t reach her eyes. “How’s your little science fair company doing?”
Zane smirked. “You’d know. Daniels Organics hasn’t won a sustainable innovation award in two years.”
Leah rolled her eyes. “Do you two ever stop?”
Raya nudged her drink. “This party is not about business, okay? No press, no parents, no brand wars.”
Zane opened his mouth to respond but then a loud voice cut through the music.
“Yo, Carter!”
Zane turned. And immediately wished he hadn’t.
Mason.
The football star sauntered forward in his varsity jacket, drink in hand, cocky grin plastered across his face. His presence was like a firecracker loud, chaotic, and always one spark away from disaster.
“Didn’t know you were into parties,” Mason said. “Thought you were too busy measuring chemical reactions and being a buzzkill.”
Zane ignored him.
Mason’s gaze flicked to Amara and then to Zane and something dangerous ignited behind his eyes.
“I mean, unless you're here to get with someone specific…” he said, voice loud enough to draw attention.
Nova tensed beside Amara. Zane’s jaw tightened.
“Mason,” Amara warned.
“What? I’m just saying Zane doesn’t even know how to have fun unless he’s sabotaging someone’s project or flirting with his rivals.”
A few students snickered. Someone turned up the music.
Zane stepped forward. “You’ve got five seconds to back off.”
“Or what?” Mason said, stepping closer. “You’ll write me a strongly worded email?”
Zane moved fast,faster than he meant to.
His fist connected with Mason’s jaw before the words had even left his mouth. The crowd gasped. Mason staggered back and then launched forward, crashing into Zane with full force.
They hit the ground hard.
Fists. Shouts. Screams. A glass shattered.
Amara lunged forward, trying to pull Mason off. Nova screamed for someone to get help. Raya was shouting. Leah had already called security.
It was chaos.
And then sirens.
Blue and red lights flashed at the edge of the estate as private security stormed the grounds.
Hands grabbed Zane, hauling him back.
“Enough!” someone shouted.
Zane wiped blood from his lip, eyes still locked on Mason.
“You’re insane!” Amara shouted, fury in her voice but also something else. Something raw.
Zane turned to look at her. Her face was flushed, eyes wide, hands shaking. But she wasn’t looking at Mason.
She was looking at him.
And for a moment just a breath he saw something in her that wasn’t hate.
---
### Later That Night
Zane sat in the back of the black town car, his knuckles raw and split. His father had called. Twice. He hadn’t answered either time.
His phone vibrated again.
**1 Message: Unknown Number**
**“That punch was hot. But next time, try not to get arrested. – A”**
He stared at the screen.
A.
Amara.
Zane leaned back in his seat, a slow, stunned laugh escaping his lips.
- Writer
