Aria’s POV.
The party invitation sat in the back of my mind all evening as I got ready. I wasn’t even sure why I was going-part of me wanted to prove something to Daniel, to myself. Maybe it was petty, but I didn’t care.
I made my way down to the parking lot, my heels clicking against the pavement in the quiet night air. The campus was almost deserted, the streetlights casting long shadows across the ground.
And then I saw him.
Daniel was leaning against the hood of his car, his arms crossed over his chest, his expression unreadable. My heart skipped a beat, but I kept walking, pretending not to notice him.
“Aria.”
His voice was low, rough, and it sent a shiver down my spine. I stopped, turning to face him.
“What are you doing here?” I asked, my tone sharper than I intended.
He pushed off the car, stepping closer. His eyes were dark, intense, and they pinned me in place. “You’re not going to that party.”
I laughed, forcing myself to sound calm, unaffected. “And why not? Are you going to stop me?”
“Yes,” he said simply, his voice hard.
I blinked, caught off guard by the certainty in his tone.
“You don’t know these people,” he continued, his voice low and dangerous. “You don’t know what kind of trouble you’re walking into.”
“Jason’s a friend,” I said defensively. “He’s nice.”
Daniel’s jaw tightened, his hands curling into fists at his sides. “Nice doesn’t mean safe, Aria.”
“Why do you care?” I demanded, stepping closer. “You’ve been ignoring me all day, letting your students throw themselves at you, letting Jackie-”
“Stop,” he growled, his voice sharp.
I froze, my breath catching in my throat.
“You’re not going,” he said again, his voice softer this time but no less firm. “I mean it, Aria. Don’t do this.”
For a moment, I wanted to listen to him. To let him pull me away, to let him protect me. But then I thought about everything-about Jackie, about the way he’d ignored me, about how I always seemed to come second.
“You don’t get to decide what I do,” I said finally, my voice shaking.
He stared at me for a long moment, his eyes burning with something I couldn’t quite name. Then he stepped back, his expression hardening.
“Fine,” he said coldly. “Do whatever you want, Aria. But don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
And with that, he turned and walked away, leaving me standing there, my heart pounding in my chest.
The house by the lake was alive with music, laughter, and the faint hum of voices spilling out into the night. Lights glimmered through the windows, and the bass from the speakers vibrated through the soles of my shoes as I stepped onto the porch. It was late, but the party was just getting started, the kind of gathering that felt like it could stretch on until the first rays of dawn.
Jason was waiting by the door, a red plastic cup in hand and a grin plastered across his face when he spotted me.
“Aria! You made it!” he called out over the noise, his voice bright with excitement.
“Of course,” I replied, smiling as I stepped inside. The warmth of the house hit me immediately, a stark contrast to the cool night air.
The room was packed with students-some I recognized, others I didn’t. People were dancing, laughing, leaning against walls in whispered conversations. The smell of beer and cheap cologne filled the air, mingling with the faint scent of the lake wafting through the open windows.
Jason handed me a drink before I could say anything, his eyes scanning my face. “You look amazing,” he said, his tone suddenly softer.
“Thanks,” I replied, taking a sip to avoid responding directly. The liquid burned slightly as it went down, and I winced.
Jason leaned closer, his voice dropping as he said, “I’m glad you came. I was starting to think you’d bail on me.”
I shrugged, keeping my smile casual. “I could use a little fun tonight.”
He grinned, his confidence growing. “Well, you’re in the right place. Come on, I’ll introduce you to everyone.”
Jason led me through the crowd, his hand lightly brushing my arm as he guided me. People greeted him like he was the unofficial host, their eyes flicking to me with curiosity. I could feel the weight of their attention, the way some of the girls whispered behind their hands as I passed.
I didn’t care.
I wasn’t here for them. I wasn’t even here for Jason, not really. I was here to prove something-to myself, to Daniel, to anyone who thought they could dictate my life.
We ended up in the kitchen, where a group of students were playing some kind of drinking game. The counters were covered with bottles of liquor, mixers, and discarded cups, the air thick with the smell of alcohol.
“Aria, this is Liz, Mark, and Evan,” Jason said, gesturing to the group. They all smiled, their faces flushed from the drinks.
“Nice to meet you,” I said, my voice light.
“Jason’s been talking about you,” Liz said with a grin, her eyes darting between us.
Jason laughed, scratching the back of his neck. “Don’t listen to her,” he said quickly.
I raised an eyebrow but didn’t press further. Instead, I let myself relax, leaning against the counter as I sipped my drink. The alcohol was starting to warm me from the inside, loosening the tension that had been coiled in my chest all day.
It wasn’t long before Jason was at my side again, his hand resting lightly on my lower back as he leaned in to talk. The music was loud, forcing him to get closer, his breath brushing against my ear as he spoke.
“You okay?” he asked, his voice low.
“I’m fine,” I replied, giving him a small smile.
“You sure? You seemed a little… distracted earlier.”
I hesitated, my mind flashing to Daniel. To the way he’d looked at me in the parking lot, his voice low and dangerous as he told me not to come.
“I’m fine,” I repeated, more firmly this time.
Jason studied me for a moment, then nodded. “Good. Because tonight’s about having fun-and you deserve that.”
I didn’t reply, but I let him guide me back into the living room, where people were dancing. The music was louder here, the bass thumping in time with my heartbeat. Jason pulled me onto the makeshift dance floor, his hands settling on my hips as he grinned down at me.
I let myself go, moving to the rhythm of the music, the alcohol buzzing in my veins. For a moment, it was easy to forget everything else-to forget Daniel, to forget the way he’d warned me, the way he always seemed to have a hold on me no matter how hard I tried to escape.
But then I felt it-that familiar pull.
I turned my head instinctively, my eyes scanning the crowd. And there he was.
Daniel.
He was standing just inside the doorway, his dark eyes locked on me, his expression unreadable. He didn’t move, didn’t speak, but the intensity of his gaze was enough to make my breath catch.
Jason noticed my distraction and followed my line of sight. His hands tightened on my waist slightly as he leaned down to whisper, “Do you know him?”
I didn’t answer.
Because in that moment, Daniel started walking toward us.