Chapter Eight – The Party and the Confession
The dorm hallway buzzed with music before Eliana even left her room. Maddie leaned against the doorframe in a glittering silver dress, her hair perfectly curled, eyes sparkling with mischief.
"You can't hide from me tonight, Ellie," she teased, grabbing her wrist. "Come on. It's Friday, you've been locked in with textbooks all week. Time to live."
Eliana hesitated, glancing at her reflection in the mirror. She wasn't wearing anything special—just a soft blue dress Maddie had insisted she buy last month. "I don't know if this is my scene."
Maddie rolled her eyes. "Trust me, Stephen will be there."
The name was enough to make Eliana's pulse quicken. Before she could protest, Maddie was already pulling her down the hallway.
---
The party was chaos. The off-campus house pulsed with music loud enough to shake the floorboards. Laughter, shouts, and the clink of glasses filled the air. Eliana hugged herself as she stepped inside, nerves coiling tight in her stomach.
And then she saw him.
Stephen, leaning against the wall with a red cup in hand, surrounded by a cluster of friends. His smile was easy, his laugh louder than the music. But when his eyes found her across the crowded room, the whole world seemed to pause.
He excused himself without hesitation, weaving through the crowd until he was standing in front of her.
"You came," he said, grinning. "Guess I owe Maddie for dragging you here."
Eliana's cheeks warmed. "I don't usually…"
"Party?" He leaned closer, his voice soft enough for only her to hear. "Good. That makes you different."
Different. Special. The word wrapped around her heart like silk.
For the next hour, he hardly left her side. He teased her, asked her questions, offered to refill her drink even when she hadn't touched the first. Every brush of his hand against hers sent sparks racing up her arm. When he leaned down and whispered, "You make this whole night worth it," she swore her knees nearly buckled.
It felt like a dream.
Until she slipped out to the back porch to breathe.
The night air was cool against her flushed skin, a welcome relief from the stifling house. She leaned against the railing, closing her eyes. But when she opened them, she froze.
William was there.
He stood alone at the far end of the porch, a cup in his hand, staring out into the dark yard. His posture was calm, almost detached, but when he noticed her, something in his expression shifted.
"Hey," he said quietly.
"Hey." Her voice caught. She hadn't expected to see him here—he didn't strike her as the party type.
He walked over, the soft creak of the wood under his steps filling the silence. When he stopped in front of her, his gaze searched her face like he was memorizing it.
"You look… different tonight," he said finally. "Like the world noticed you, and it's about time."
Her breath hitched. It wasn't a flirt, not a line. It was raw, genuine, and it cut deeper than Stephen's dazzling words ever had.
For a long moment, they just stood there. The music thumped faintly behind them, laughter spilling out from the open door, but out here it was only them.
"Eliana," William murmured, his voice so low she had to lean in to hear. "I don't want to scare you off, but… sometimes I think the world's too loud, too fast. And then I see you, and it's like I can breathe again."
Her heart stuttered violently. She wanted to say something, anything, but her throat closed up. Before she could find words, Maddie appeared in the doorway, calling her name, urging her back inside.
The moment shattered.
---
Inside, Stephen found her again, sweeping her into the middle of the room as if she belonged only to him. His hand slid around her waist, his voice rich with charm.
"You're mine tonight, Ellie," he whispered against her ear.
Her body thrilled at the words. But as he spun her under the glow of the lights, her eyes flicked to the porch window.
William was still there, watching.
Not with jealousy. Not with anger. But with something far more dangerous.
With love.