The music restarted.
Slow.
Elegant.
The instructor clapped once.
"Switch partners!"
Lucien stepped back.
I barely had time to breathe before someone else was already in front of me.
Adam.
He gave that familiar crooked grin.
"Well," he said, placing one hand on my waist, "looks like destiny wants me for five minutes."
I stared at his hand.
Then at his face.
Flat.
"Destiny has bad taste."
He laughed.
"Ouch. Already attacking?"
We started moving.
He was surprisingly good.
Too good.
He twirled me lightly and said, completely serious—
"You know, I'm kind of amazing at everything. Sports. Academics. Social life. Dancing. Existing."
I blinked.
Then replied calmly—
"Must be exhausting being a walking résumé."
He snorted.
"I'm serious."
"So am I," I said, straight-faced."Your confidence enters the room five minutes before you do."
He burst out laughing.
"You're brutal."
"You started it."
He spun me again.
"I mean, look at me," he continued. "Charming, funny, popular—"
I cut in.
"Emotionally unavailable, self-obsessed, and allergic to silence."
He nearly missed a step.
"Wow."
I added—
"You don't talk to people, Adam. You perform at them."
He placed a dramatic hand over his chest.
"That hurts."
I didn't change my expression.
"It's feedback."
He laughed harder.
"You always do this. Roast me with a straight face like you're reading grocery prices."
We kept dancing.
He leaned slightly closer.
"You know what I like about you, Nyx?"
I didn't answer.
"You never try to impress anyone. You just exist. Quietly. Like a storm waiting."
I looked away.
Then he smirked again.
"But admit it. You're impressed by me."
I replied instantly—
"I'm impressed by mirrors. They tolerate you daily."
He lost it.
Full laugh.
Head thrown back.
People nearby glanced.
"Okay, okay," he said between laughs. "You win."
Then suddenly—
his tone changed.
No joke.
No grin.
He leaned in, close enough that his breath brushed my ear.
And whispered—
"Happy birthday."
My entire body froze.
My heart dropped.
Shock.
Confusion.
Heat rushed to my face.
My eyes widened.
How—
My mouth opened.
I turned toward him.
"Adam—"
But the instructor clapped.
"Switch!"
Hands were already pulling me away.
Another partner stepped in.
I was dragged backward into a different hold.
I didn't hear anything else.
Didn't feel the music.
Didn't feel my feet.
I turned my head.
Adam stood across the floor.
Our eyes met.
I was searching his face for answers.
He wasn't searching mine.
He was watching.
Quietly.
Intently.
Like he was enjoying my confusion.
Like he had just dropped a secret into my soul and walked away.
His lips curved into the faintest smile.
Not playful.
Not teasing.
Something unreadable.