Your's, eventually

good stuff

Gabriella woke up to the sound of her alarm.

She opened one eye, stared at the ceiling, and immediately regretted being conscious.

Monday.

School.

People.

Xander.

She pulled the blanket over her head.

“No,” she mumbled. “Absolutely not.”

She reached for her phone and checked the time. There were several messages in the class group chat, most of them about homework, school gossip, and something involving Ryan's football team.

She ignored all of them.

For once, Gabriella wanted a peaceful day. No chasing Xander around school. No wondering whether he liked Marielle more than he liked her. No ridiculous plans to make him notice her.

Just peace.

She sat up slowly, rubbing her eyes.

“Today,” she announced to her empty bedroom, “I am going to rest, relax, finish my homework, and totally forget about Xander.”

She paused.

“Completely.”

Another pause.

“Unless he talks to me first.”

She frowned at herself.

“Oh, for heaven's sake, Gabriella!”

She threw her pillow across the room.

This was precisely why she needed a break.

By the time she arrived at school, she had convinced herself that the day would be uneventful.

That conviction lasted approximately twenty minutes.

The announcement came during lunch.ryan was having a party

“It's Friday night,” Ryan announced, standing beside their table with a grin. “My house. Music, food, games, everything. And before anyone asks, yes, you're invited.”

Xander immediately looked interested.

“Sounds good.”

Marielle smiled and slipped her arm through his.

“Of course you're going.”

“Obviously,” Xander replied.

Gabriella looked down at her lunch.

Wonderful.

Another opportunity to watch Xander behave like the most romantic boy on earth with someone who wasn't her.

She picked up her drink.

Forget him, Gabriella. Remember the plan.

“Gabriella!”

She looked up.

Ryan was staring at her.

“Are you coming?”

“No.”

His smile faltered.

“No?”

“I have homework.”

Ryan blinked.

“It's Monday.”

“I'm aware.”

“And the party is on Friday.”

“I'm also aware of that.”

Xander laughed.

“She's probably got an entire library to read.”

Gabriella turned towards him.

“And you've probably got an entire mirror to stare into, but we all have our hobbies.”

Ethan, who had been drinking from his bottle nearby, suddenly coughed.

It sounded suspiciously like a laugh.

Xander gave Gabriella an amused look.

“Someone's in a mood.”

“Someone's talking too much.”

“Are you two going to flirt all afternoon, or can we discuss the party?” Ethan asked dryly.

Gabriella shot him a look.

“We're not flirting.”

“Excellent. I'd hate to witness something so tragic.”

Ryan laughed.

“Anyway, Gabriella, you should come. You hardly ever go anywhere with us.”

“I have things to do.”

“There's always a first time for everything,” Ryan insisted. “Come on. It's one evening. You can finish your homework before then.”

“I don't know.”

“Please?”

“No.”

“Gabriella.”

She sighed.

“Ryan.”

“Come on!”

She looked around the table.

Marielle was already discussing what she planned to wear. Xander seemed perfectly happy with the idea of attending. Ethan was looking at her with an expression that suggested he was waiting to see how long she could resist.

She hated that expression.

“What?” she asked him.

“Nothing.”

“You're looking at me.”

“Remarkable observation. Your academic achievements continue to impress.”

“Ethan!”

“I'm simply curious whether you'll survive one evening without a textbook.”

Gabriella folded her arms.

“I can survive perfectly well without a textbook.”

“Then demonstrate it.”

She opened her mouth, closed it, and looked back at Ryan.

“Fine. I'll come.”

Ryan threw both hands into the air.

“Yes! Finally!”

“However,” Gabriella added, raising one finger, “if this party is boring, I'm leaving.”

“Deal.”

“And I'm not playing any ridiculous games.”

“Fine.”

“And I'm not—”

“Gabriella,” Ethan interrupted, “you're attending a party, not negotiating a peace treaty.”

She glared at him.

He smiled.

She finally got into her most attractive cloth, it was a little shorter than when she had her date with Ethan, she fixed her head in a bun and headed out , Ryan's birthday party was already in full swing when Gabriella arrived.

Music blasted through the speakers, colourful lights illuminated the living room, and students crowded around tables filled with snacks and drinks. Some were dancing, others were chatting, and a few had gathered outside.

Gabriella stood near the entrance, wondering why she had agreed to come.

I could have been at home right now.

She could have been watching a film, finishing her homework, or doing literally anything that didn't involve standing in a crowded room while Xander flirted with Marielle.

Speaking of Xander…

She spotted him across the room, laughing at something Marielle had whispered to him.

Gabriella immediately looked away.

No. Not tonight. I refuse to ruin my evening over a boy who probably doesn't even remember what I wore yesterday.

“Gabriella!”

She turned to see Ryan approaching with a huge smile.

“You actually came!”

“I'm beginning to question my decision.”

Ryan laughed.

“Relax! Have fun. There's food in the kitchen, music everywhere, and plenty of people to talk to. Make yourself comfortable.”

“I'll try.”

“Good! And don't disappear without saying happy birthday properly!”

“I wouldn't dream of it.”

Ryan grinned before someone called his name from the other side of the room.

“Duty calls!” he announced dramatically. “Enjoy yourself!”

And with that, he disappeared into the crowd to attend to his other guests.

Gabriella watched him go.

At least the birthday boy is having a good time.

She wandered towards the kitchen, hoping to find something to drink.

She had barely picked up a glass when Ethan appeared beside her.

“Still alive?”

She looked at him.

“Unfortunately, yes.”

“Splendid. I'd hate to explain to your teachers that you perished from excessive social interaction.”

Gabriella rolled her eyes.

“Do you ever say anything normal?”

“Occasionally. It tends to frighten people.”

She laughed before she could stop herself.

Ethan smiled.

“There. That wasn't so difficult, was it?”

“What?”

“Enjoying yourself.”

“I've been here for ten minutes.”

“And you've only threatened to leave twice. Remarkable progress.”

“I haven't threatened to leave!”

“Not aloud.”

She gave him a warning look.

He raised his hands innocently.

“Fine. I'll leave you to your exciting glass of water.”

“Thank you.”

“Try not to fall in love with it. I hear the relationship is terribly one-sided.”

He walked away before she could throw a napkin at him.

Gabriella shook her head, smiling despite herself.

For a few minutes, she actually enjoyed the party.

She talked to some classmates, listened to the music, and even danced a little when one of the girls pulled her onto the dance floor.

She wasn't thinking about Xander.

Not constantly, anyway.

That had to count for something,with that, she left for the washroom to bad water couldn't do all the cleaning because she had just spilled juice on her gown, The music was getting louder, and she wanted a moment of quiet.

She found a quieter area near the side of the house, where a few people were talking. She stood alone for a moment, enjoying the cool evening air.

Then three boys approached her.

She recognised them from school, although she had never really spoken to them before.

“Hey, beautiful.”

Gabriella glanced at the boy who had spoken.

“Hi.”

“You're Gabriella, right?”

“Yes.”

“I've seen you around school.”

She offered a polite smile.

“Okay.”

Another boy laughed.

“She's shy.”

“I'm not shy,” Gabriella replied. “I just don't know you.”

“Then let us introduce ourselves.”

They told her their names, and she nodded politely.

For a moment, the conversation seemed harmless.

One of them complimented her outfit. Another asked whether she was enjoying the party.

“It's nice,” she answered.

“Come on, then. Hang out with us.”

“Thanks, but I'm fine here.”

“Don't be like that.”

“I'm not being anything. I'm just fine here.”

They laughed as though she had made a joke.

One of them moved closer.

“You don't have to be so serious. We're just trying to have fun with you.”

Gabriella took a small step backwards.

“I understand. But I'd like to go back inside now.”

“Already?”

“Yes.”

“Stay a little longer.”

“I'd rather not.”

She tried to walk past them, but one of the boys stepped into her path.

“Why are you in such a hurry?”

Gabriella's smile disappeared.

“Please move.”

He didn't.

Another boy reached for her hand.

“Come on. Give us a chance.”

She pulled her hand away.

“Don't touch me.”

The words came out more sharply this time.

For a moment, they stared at her.

Then one of them laughed.

“Relax. We're only playing.”

“Well, I'm not interested in playing. Let me pass.”

She tried to move around them again.

One caught her by the arm.

Gabriella froze.

“Let go of me.”

Instead of releasing her, he pulled her closer.

Her heart began to pound.

“Stop it!”

The other boys crowded around her, ignoring her attempts to move away.

One leaned towards her face, apparently intending to kiss her.

Gabriella turned her head sharply.

“No! I said no!”

She tried to push away, but they wouldn't let her go.

Suddenly, the party no longer sounded fun.

The music seemed distant. Her hands were trembling, and she couldn't understand why they weren't listening to her.

She had said no.

She had asked them to stop.

Why wouldn't they just leave her alone?

“Please,” she whispered, her voice shaking. “Let me go.”

One of them tried to pull her closer again.

Gabriella's eyes filled with tears.

“STOP!”

Ethan

“WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?”

The voice came from behind them.

All three boys turned.

Ethan stood a few steps away, staring at them with an expression Gabriella had never seen on his face before.

He wasn't smirking.

He wasn't making a sarcastic remark.

He looked furious.

“Ethan,” Gabriella whispered.

He looked at her.

The fear in her face changed everything.

“Let her go,” he ordered.

One of the boys scoffed.

“Mind your business.”

Ethan took a step forward.

“She told you to stop.”

“We're only having fun.”

“Does she look like she's having fun?”

Nobody answered.

Ethan's eyes moved to the boy holding Gabriella's arm.

“I won't repeat myself.”

The boy finally released her.

Gabriella immediately stepped away from them, stumbling slightly as she tried to put some distance between herself and the group.

Ethan moved between her and the boys.

“Go inside, Gabriella.”

She couldn't move.

Her legs felt weak.

“Gabriella,” he repeated, his voice gentler now. “Look at me.”

She lifted her eyes towards him.

“Come here.”

She moved towards him, and he positioned himself in front of her.

One of the boys muttered something insulting.

Ethan turned.

“What's that?”

“Nothing.”

“Good. Keep it that way.”

The boy shoved him.

Ethan stumbled backwards, then regained his balance.

“Wrong decision,” he muttered.

The next few moments descended into chaos.

Ethan fought back when the boys came at him. They tried to surround him, but he refused to let them get near Gabriella.

Shouting drew the attention of other guests, and several students rushed over to separate them.

“That's enough!”

“Break it up!”

Someone pulled one of the boys away while another person stepped between Ethan and the remaining two.

Ethan was breathing heavily, his expression still hard with anger.

Then he heard Gabriella crying.

He turned immediately.

She was standing a short distance away, trembling, with tears running down her cheeks.

His anger seemed to disappear beneath something else.

Concern.

“Gabriella?”

She looked at him and hurried towards him.

“Ethan…”

Her voice broke.

He didn't hesitate.

“Hey. I've got you. You're okay.”

She clutched his arm, trying to steady herself.

“I want to go home.”

“Then we're going home.”

He glanced at the people who had gathered.

Ryan, who had finally been alerted to the commotion, arrived looking shocked.

“What happened?”

Ethan gave him a brief explanation, making it clear that the boys had ignored Gabriella's refusals and tried to force themselves on her.

Ryan's expression changed.

“Are you serious?”

“Does she look like we're joking?”Ethan turned back to Gabriella.

“Do you want me to call someone you trust?”

She shook her head, tears still falling.

“Please, Ethan. Just take me home.”

“All right.”

He stayed beside her as they left the party.

He didn't ask her to explain everything again.The journey home was quiet.

Gabriella sat beside Ethan, staring out of the window. Her hands were clasped tightly in her lap, and every few moments she wiped away her tears.

Ethan glanced at her but didn't force her to speak.

When they arrived, he made sure she was safely inside before sitting with her in the sitting room.

For a while, neither spoke.

Then Gabriella covered her face.

“I shouldn't have gone.”

Ethan turned towards her.

“Don't.”

She lowered her hands.

“Don't what?”

“Blame yourself for what those idiots did.”

“But if I hadn't gone to the party—”

“Gabriella.”

His voice was quiet, but she stopped talking.

“You went to a birthday party. You spoke to people. You were allowed to enjoy yourself. None of that gave them permission to frighten you or try to kiss you when you didn't want them to.”

She looked down at her hands.

“I told them to stop.”

“I know.”

“They wouldn't listen.”

“I know.”

Her voice trembled.

“I was scared, Ethan.”

His expression softened.

“I know.”

She swallowed hard.

“I didn't know what to do.”

“You tried to get away. You told them no. You did nothing wrong.”

A tear rolled down her cheek.

Ethan reached for a box of tissues on the table and offered it to her.

She took one.

“Thank you.”

“You don't have to thank me.”

“I do.”

He sighed.

“Fine. You're welcome. Happy now?”

She let out a tiny, shaky laugh.

“That's the most annoying way anyone has ever accepted a thank-you.”

“I'm trying to maintain my reputation.”

She shook her head, but a faint smile appeared on her face.

It disappeared quickly.

“Can you stay for a little while?”

Ethan's expression softened again.

“Of course.”

She moved closer and rested her head against his shoulder.

He remained still, giving her time to settle.

After a while, she whispered, “I don't want to think about it anymore.”

“Then you don't have to talk about it right now.”

“What if I can't forget?”

“You don't have to figure that out tonight.”

She closed her eyes.

He continued speaking quietly, reminding her that she was safe at home and that she didn't have to pretend she was fine.

Eventually, she began to calm down.

Ethan stayed beside her.

For once, there were no jokes about her homework, no arguments about Xander, and no ridiculous comments about their tutoring sessions.

There was just Ethan, sitting quietly with her because she had asked him to stay.

And for Gabriella, that was enough.

That night, she had gone to Ryan's birthday party expecting nothing more than an ordinary evening. She came home frightened, shaken, and with a memory she wished she didn't have.

But she also came home knowing that when she had needed help, Ethan had listened—and he had come.