The bass thrummed through the floorboards, vibrating up through my feet and into my chest. Even from the sidewalk, I could see bodies moving past the windows, silhouettes dancing against the warm golden light spilling from every opening of the two-story house.
"You sure you're feeling up for this?" Diana asked, adjusting her crop top for the second time
I smoothed down my black dress, "I'm fine. Better than fine, actually."
And I was. Whatever had happened yesterday was gone. Tonight, I wanted to feel alive.
The front door was propped open, music and laughter pouring. Inside, the house was packed wall-to-wall with students I recognized from campus. Red solo cups littered every surface, and someone had strung up fairy lights that cast everything in a warm, dreamy glow.
"Selene!" Drey's voice cut through the noise, and I turned to see him pushing through the crowd toward us. He looked good, really good, in dark jeans and a fitted black t-shirt that showed off his athletic build. His smile was brilliant as he reached us.
"You made it." He pulled me into a long hug, his cologne wrapping around me. That was so sweet, Felt like I needed that.
"Wouldn't miss it," I said, pulling back to meet his eyes.
"Diana, right?" He turned to include my roommate, ever the gentleman.
"Yeahhh. Thanks for the invite." Diana responded with a broad smile at him, then shot me a wink like saying he is damn hot. She was already scanning the room, probably looking for someone to dance with.
"Drinks are in the kitchen, dance floor's wherever you can find space." Drey gestured around the chaos with a grin. "But first…" He caught my hand. "Come with me. I want to show you something."
Diana shot me a knowing look and melted into the crowd, leaving me alone with Drey. He led me through the living room where couples were grinding to the heavy beat, past a group doing shots in the dining room, and up the stairs.
"Where are we going?" I asked, though I didn't really care. His hand was warm around mine, and I felt completely present.
"Somewhere calm, and can actually hear each other talk" He pushed open a door at the end of the hallway, revealing a small balcony overlooking the backyard. The noise from below faded to a manageable hum as he closed the door behind us.
The night air was cool against my skin, a relief after the stuffiness inside. Below us, more students clustered around a bonfire, their laughter could be heard.
"Better?" Drey moved to stand beside me at the railing, close enough that I could feel the warmth radiating from his body.
"Much." I turned to face him, suddenly very aware of how alone we were. "So what did you want to show me?"
"This." He gestured to the view, but his eyes never left my face. "But mostly, I just wanted to get you alone for a minute."
My pulse quickened. "Oh?"
"I've been thinking about you a lot lately." His voice dropped slightly as he looked out over the bonfire, his profile soft in the glow.
I raised an eyebrow, smirking. "Thinking about me? What, like academically?"
He laughed, low and warm. "Definitely not academically."
I leaned on the railing, stealing a glance at him. "What kind of thoughts are we talking about here?"
He smirked, still watching the flames. "The kind that get louder when I don't see you for a while."
I let that sit between us for a second, then nudged him lightly with my shoulder. "Smooth, Drey."
"I'm serious," he said, finally turning to face me fully. His expression was soft but certain. "You walk into a room and it's like… you bring your own spotlight. I notice."
I blinked, caught off guard. "You're just saying that."
He stepped a little closer. "I'm really not. I used to think you were just the pretty girl who didn't give a damn. But then you asked a damn lecturer for private lessons in front of the whole class."
I laughed. "Bold of me, right?"
"Bold is putting it mildly," he chuckled. "It was wild. But also? Kinda hot."
I looked away, flustered. "I wasn't trying to be hot."
"Well, you were."
The silence that followed wasn't awkward but charged. He reached up, tucking a loose strand of hair behind my ear. His fingers lingered, warm against my skin.
"You okay with this?" he asked, voice softer now. "Being alone with me?"
I nodded. "Yeah." it came almost as a whisper
And then he kissed me.
Gentle at first, like he was asking the question again without words. His lips moved against mine with slow confidence, and I kissed him back, letting myself melt into him. My fingers curled into his shirt as he stepped closer, one hand sliding to my waist like he couldn't help himself. I could feel his breath, warm and sweet with whatever he'd been drinking. I was kissing Drey Noir. My crush from year one. Wake me up please.
"Selene?" A voice called from inside, and we quickly pulled apart. And someone did decide to wake me up
"Selene, are you up here?"
Maya's voice drifted up from inside the house, getting closer. Drey's jaw tightened with frustration, and I felt like screaming.
"I should—" I started to say, but Maya was already pushing through the balcony door.
"Oh!" She stopped short, taking in our positions, Drey standing close enough that I could still feel his body heat.
"Sorryyyy! I didn't mean to interrupt anything," she said, her eyes wide and lips stretched into an exaggerated, childlike pout, like a kid trying hard to look innocent.
"Maya." I stepped back from Drey, trying to ignore the way my body protested the distance. "What are you doing here?"
"Same as everyone else, partying." She grinned, now completely unbothered by the tension she'd just created. "I thought I'd find you up here after searching everywhere. I wanted to check on you after yesterday."
How did she know I'd be here? Had I mentioned something yesterday that I couldn't remember?
"Yesterday?" Drey looked between us, confused.
"I fainted," I explained quickly. "Maya found me. It was nothing."
"You fainted?" Concern replaced the frustration in Drey's expression. "Are you okay? Should you even be here?"
"I'm fine," I said, though I wanted to strangle Maya for bringing it up. "Really."
"You do look much better tonight," Maya said, tilting her head like she was studying me, pursing her lips thoughtfully. "Actually, if you don't mind, maybe we could grab drinks together? I'm getting bored, and you're the only familiar face I know here." She held my gaze for a few seconds before adding, "I'll be downstairs. Sorry again for interrupting."
And then she was gone, leaving us alone again. Drey looked at me with warmth in his eyes
"Sorry about that," I said.
"Not your fault." He moved back to the railing, putting deliberate space between us. "She seems… interesting."
"That's one word for it." I joined him at the railing, hyperaware of the few inches separating us.
"You sure you're okay Selene"
"I might just need a checkup," I said with a smile
I wanted to reach out, to touch his chest, to pick up where we'd left off, but then music exploded from inside the house, someone had cranked the volume even higher.
"We should probably get back to the party," he said, though he didn't sound happy about it.
"Yeah. Probably."
Heaven knows I'll strangle Maya when I see her for ruining this moment. We didn't get another chance to be alone. The moment we returned downstairs, his friends swarmed him with loud greetings and inside jokes. I found myself sitting with Maya, nursing a drink and trying not to look as frustrated as I felt, until Diana finally found us and collapsed into the seat beside me with tales of her own adventures on the dance floor.