The kitchen door closed again, muffling the chaos outside. Noah stood there, hands buried in his curls, breathing sharp like he'd just sprinted a mile. He couldn't look at Julian. Not after almost—almost what?
Kissing him? Losing control?
Julian adjusted his glasses calmly, though his chest was thundering. He'd seen it. The hunger in Noah's eyes. The fury when Chad touched him. The way Noah's whole body had leaned in like gravity itself was conspiring to pull them together.
Julian's lips curved. Dangerous. Soft.
"You should be more careful, Blake," he murmured. "People might start thinking you care."
Noah's head snapped up, glare scorching. "Shut up."
Julian tilted his head, enjoying the crack in his composure. "Make me."
For one terrifying second, Noah looked like he might. His fists clenched. His steps faltered forward. The air between them tightened like stretched wire ready to snap.
But then Ethan's voice echoed faintly from the hallway, calling Julian's name, and the moment shattered.
Noah cursed under his breath, storming past Julian and out into the crowd before he did something irreversible.
Julian stood there, pulse racing, a slow grin spreading across his face. He'd gotten under Noah's skin. Deep.
And now, he wasn't letting go.
The music had shifted to something heavier, bass shaking the floor. Sweat, perfume, beer, and cologne mixed thick in the air. Bodies pressed close, laughter sharp.
Julian slipped back into the crowd, eyes scanning instinctively. He didn't have to look long.
Noah was impossible to miss.
He was at the center of it again, dancing with the same girl from earlier, but this time rougher, sharper. His hands gripped her waist too tightly, his movements too aggressive. It wasn't about her. It never was.
It was about him.
Julian's jaw tightened. His obsession wasn't creeping anymore—it was blazing. His chest hurt with it, sharp and hot. He couldn't stand the sight of Noah's hands on her, his lips close to her ear, his eyes daring Julian across the room.
Julian turned deliberately, letting another guy slide in beside him with a drink and an easy smile.
"Need a refill?" the guy asked, holding out a red cup.
Julian took it without hesitation, brushing his fingers just slightly against the guy's hand. He didn't even care what was in it.
He cared about the way Noah's head snapped up instantly.
It went on like that for minutes, maybe longer.
Noah grinding too close, laughing too loudly, every move sharper than the last. Julian leaning closer to the guy with the drink, smiling sweetly, letting him talk nonsense just to keep his attention.
Neither of them was truly there.
They were locked in a silent, merciless war, every stolen glance and sharp movement a blade thrown across the room.
Ethan, watching from the side, muttered to Tyler, "They're literally gonna kill each other."
Tyler squinted. "Nah, man. That's not murder energy. That's…" He trailed off, eyes wide. "Oh my god. That's sexually repressed energy."
Ethan groaned. "I hate that you're right."
It happened fast.
The guy Julian had been entertaining reached out, hand bold on his waist, tugging him in like he owned him.
And Noah snapped.
Before Julian could react, Noah shoved through the crowd, shoving the guy back with one hard push.
"Hands off," Noah growled, voice low and dangerous.
The music was too loud for most people to notice, but Julian heard it crystal clear. His heart slammed against his ribs, heat flooding through him.
The guy stumbled, ready to argue, but one look at Noah's eyes—furious, burning—and he backed off, hands raised. "Chill, man. I was just talking."
"Don't," Noah bit out, every syllable sharp.
The guy muttered something under his breath and melted back into the crowd.
Julian stared at Noah, pulse racing, every nerve alight. "You're insane," he whispered.
Noah's chest heaved, his glare still molten. "Maybe."
Julian barely had time to process before Noah grabbed his wrist again, dragging him toward the stairs this time.
"Noah," Julian hissed, glancing around, but Noah didn't slow down.
They shoved past bodies, ignored startled looks, and finally burst into the upstairs hallway, quieter, dimmer. The thump of music was a dull heartbeat through the walls.
Noah didn't stop until they reached the end of the hall, shoving Julian gently but firmly against the wall.
Julian's breath caught.
Noah's hands slammed the wall on either side of his head, boxing him in. His green eyes blazed, silver flecks catching the dim light.
"What the hell are you doing to me?" Noah demanded.
Julian's lips curved, though his chest was a wildfire. "Doing to you? I'm not doing anything."
"Bullshit," Noah spat. "You know exactly what you're doing."
Julian leaned in slightly, voice low, taunting. "And what if I do?"
Noah's breath hitched. His gaze dropped to Julian's mouth for one reckless second before snapping back up.
Julian saw it. Felt it. The obsession tangled tighter around his ribs, suffocating and sweet.
"You can't stand it," Julian murmured. "The thought of anyone else touching me. Looking at me."
Noah's jaw clenched, muscles tight. "Shut up."
Julian tilted his head, soft smile sharp as glass. "Make me."
The silence between them was suffocating. Every breath heavy, every inch electric. The world outside didn't exist anymore.
Noah leaned in without thinking, heat radiating off him. Their lips were inches apart, breaths mingling, hearts slamming.
Julian's lashes lowered, the air between them charged, unbearable.
And then—
The upstairs bathroom door swung open. A drunk couple stumbled out, laughing too loudly.
The spell shattered.
Noah cursed, tearing himself back, running a hand through his curls with a frustrated growl. "Fuck."
Julian stayed against the wall, chest heaving, lips parted, eyes still locked on Noah.
The drunk couple didn't even notice, disappearing down the hall.
But the damage was done.
Noah couldn't stay. Not with the way his body betrayed him, not with his grandparents' voices screaming in his skull.
Without another word, he spun on his heel and stormed down the hall, leaving Julian staring after him.
Julian didn't chase. He didn't need to.
Because now he knew.
Noah Blake wanted him. Hated him for it. Burned for it.
And Julian couldn't get enough.
Downstairs, the party was winding into chaos—beer spilled, voices slurred, someone shouting about pizza. But Noah didn't see any of it.
He grabbed his jacket, muttered something to Tyler, and left into the cold night air, lungs burning.
Julian followed a little later, not to chase, but because the walls were suffocating without Noah there. He walked home with Ethan, quiet, lost in thought.
For the first time in years, his mind wasn't on grades, or plans, or control.
It was on Noah. Only Noah.
And the more he thought about it, the more it scared him.
And thrilled him.