I pressed the doorbell, hoping the sound would pierce through the music blasting from the inside. The door clicked open, revealing Elijah with a radiant smile.

"I'm glad you guys made it," He said warmly.

"Who could say no to a charming man?" I replied, making him chuckle.

I glanced at Daphne, who seemed mesmerized by Elijah, and I nudged her gently to bring her back to the moment.

"Uh-huh. Thanks for inviting us," Daphne managed, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

"My pleasure." Elijah beamed as he swung the door wide. "Come in."

As we stepped inside his house, the pulsating beat of "Blinding Lights" by The Weeknd enveloped us. The living room was alive with energy. People were swaying and dancing, their movements synchronized with the rhythm of the music. Laughter and chatter blended into a vibrant symphony of youthful exuberance.

Even though it was an only-invite party, still the house was almost packed. The atmosphere was electric, with every corner of the space buzzing with excitement. Partygoers mingled, creating a dynamic tapestry of conversation and movement. The flicker of lights, the rhythm of the music, and the hum of animated voices created an intoxicating blend of celebration.

"Enjoy the night, girls," Elijah called out, flashing us one last smile before walking off into the crowd.

I was so stunned by the vibrant environment that I momentarily lost my bearings. In the blink of an eye, Elijah was out of sight.

"Shit," I muttered, catching Daphne's gaze.

"Wow..." Daphne whispered, her eyes wide as she took in the scene. "It's so cool."

"I know," I said, hopping on my feet and scanning the room for Elijah, but my eyes landed on him.

Blake, standing out effortlessly with his tall frame, exuded a relaxed charm as he laughed with friends, a drink casually held in one hand. As if he could feel my gaze, his eyes locked with mine across the room, and in that moment, time seemed to slow.

It was as though the chaotic party dissolved into the background, leaving just the two of us, but I was the only one with that thought.

With a subtle blink, he shifted his attention, and his gaze moved to Daphne. He said something to his friends before he began walking toward us and panic flared within me.

Oh no, you won't.

"Let's go." I abruptly grabbed Daphne's hand and tugged her away.

"Where?" She asked, her voice tinged with confusion as she followed me.

Anywhere away from him.

For the next thirty minutes, I maneuvered us through the throng of people, weaving and dodging until we lost him. My heart raced, both from the escape and the lingering sense of his gaze.

After managing to evade Blake, Daphne and I found ourselves in a quieter corner of the house. The music was still a background hum, but the area was less crowded, offering a brief respite from the chaotic energy of the main party.

As we stood near the wall, I couldn't help but feel a growing sense of frustration. "Where is Elijah?" I muttered, trying to catch a glimpse of him through the crowd.

Daphne sighed. "We've been searching for him for the past half an hour. How about we just enjoy the party for a while?"

I could see that Daphne was eager to have a good time, but my niggling worry about Blake kept me on edge.

"At least can we get some drinks?" Daphne persisted when I didn't respond. "I'm thirsty."

"Alright," I nodded, hoping we might encounter Elijah there.

We made our way to the kitchen. As I scanned the room for Blake, I let out a breath of relief when I didn't spot him. The kitchen was filled with students grabbing snacks and drinks from the island, which was overflowing with a variety of treats.

Daphne picked up two drinks and handed one to me, taking a sip from her own. I thanked her and looked around, hoping to see Elijah but finding only a crowd of unfamiliar faces. Daphne began inspecting the snacks with enthusiasm.

Where is he?

Just then, I felt a sudden, warm breath against my ear. "Hello, ladies."

I jumped, nearly choking on my drink. "Oh, my god!" Daphne freaked out and patted my back as I coughed and spluttered.

I turned to see Samuel grinning mischievously. "What the heck?!" I shrieked, my voice edged with irritation. "Are you trying to kill me?"

"Maybe," Samuel chuckled, clearly enjoying my reaction.

"Jerk," I muttered, grabbing a paper towel to clean my face.

"Hello, Daph," Samuel said, giving Daphne a quick once-over. "You look beautiful. As always."

Daphne blushed deeply. "T-thank you."

"What are you doing here?" I asked Samuel, narrowing my eyes at him.

Before Samuel could answer, Elijah appeared out of the blue, his face lighting up as he saw Samuel.

"Samuel, my man!" They exchanged a friendly bro hug. "Thanks for coming."

"Thanks for inviting me, as always," Samuel replied with a grin, casting a side-eye at me.

"You two know each other?" I watched them, dumbfounded.

"We're neighbors," Elijah laughed, and I mentally slapped myself for not connecting the dots earlier.

Of course, they know each other!

"Right..." I muttered, feeling embarrassed. From Samuel's smirk, I could tell he was relishing my confusion.

"Have you guys tried any of the snacks?" Elijah asked, referring to the spread on the island.

"Daph is actually confused about where to start," I said, deliberately ignoring Daphne's wide eyes. "Can you help her?"

"Sure," Elijah said with a smile, stepping forward to guide Daphne through the snacks while I discreetly clenched Samuel's arm and dragged him out of the kitchen.

"Ouch." Samuel winced as I tightened my grip on his arm. "Dude, you've got sharp nails."

"I'll use them to pluck your eyes out if you try anything funny," I growled, stopping us just outside the kitchen and facing him squarely.

"What have I ever done to you?" He tried to hide his grin, but it was stretching his entire face.

"You know our plan." I stepped closer and narrowed my eyes. "And if you spill anything to Elijah-"

"What plan?"

"Samuel!" I snapped.

"Relax, Cara." He chuckled, though his amusement didn't fully reassure me. "I haven't told him anything."

"In the future-"

"I won't tell him either." His tone was more serious now, but there was still doubt in my heart.

"I don't trust you."

"If I wanted to tell him, I'd have already done it." Samuel pointed out, which made sense, but didn't entirely dispel my concerns.

"What's the catch?" I arched an eyebrow, and he shook his head with an amused smile.

"Nothing."

"You're messing around with me-"

"Cara." He cut me off, placing his hands on my shoulders. "Sophia has made sure of it already."

That assurance made me relax slightly.

"What does she have on you?" I asked in curiosity, but Samuel just rolled his eyes.

"Like I'm stupid enough to tell you."

"I'll ask Sophia-"

"We made a trade-off," Samuel smirked. "She won't tell mine, and I won't tell yours."

"Fair enough," I said, holding my head high.

"Now you won't bite me, right?" Samuel asked, giving me a playful look. I gave him a blank stare, and he burst out laughing.

"Excuse me?" A familiar voice interrupted Samuel's laughter, and we both turned to see Blake standing there with an expressionless face. "Can you move? You're in the way."

I blinked, frozen on my spot, as Blake's icy gaze swept over me. Samuel, still with his hand on my shoulder, pulled me closer to him, making way for Blake to pass. "Here you go."

Blake shot me one last sharp look before walking into the kitchen.

"What's his problem?" Samuel asked, snapping me out of my trance and my brain clicked.

Daphne.

I shrugged off Samuel's hand and rushed back into the kitchen. Blake was already picking up a drink, and I scanned the kitchen for any sign of Daphne, but neither Daphne nor Elijah was in sight.

Where did they go?

I watched Blake's face light up with a grin as he pulled out his phone and saw something on it. He slipped it back into his pocket and turned to his left, walking out of the glass door. Curiosity got the best of me, and I peered through the glass door to see him heading toward the pool area.

There, a group was gathered, and I spotted Daphne and Elijah among them. Daphne, sitting awkwardly between them, looked like she was about to be sacrificed to a poolside deity.

Should I join them?

But what if they blow me off by saying it's VIP or something?

I was lost in thought when Samuel's voice broke through my inner turmoil. "Let's go."

Before I could protest, he swung open the door and grabbed my hand, pulling me along. I was still trying to process as he reached the group, slipping in just behind Blake.

"Hey, Samuel!" A guy who looked about Samuel's age greeted him with a wide grin. "Long time no see."

"Been busy." Samuel shrugged. His eyes went to our joined hands, and they sparkled with a mischievous glint.

"Your girl?" He inquired with a sly smirk on his face.

"Ew..." I wrinkled my nose, yanking my hand free. "In his dreams."

"More like a nightmare." Samuel snorted, causing the entire group to burst into laughter.

"You know a lot of people," I whispered, taking in the unfamiliar faces. There were five new people-two girls and three guys who looked slightly older than us.

"They're from my college."

My brow furrowed. "How does Elijah know them?"

"Mutual friends, parties." He shrugged nonchalantly.

I rolled my eyes at his vague answer and noticed Blake standing still with an expression of intense boredom.

"Why don't you two join us?" The guy motioned to the seats with a grin. "It's going to be fun."

"Sure." Samuel plopped down in a seat, but my eyes darted between the vacant seat next to Daphne and Elijah.

I saw Blake taking a step, but I hurried over and dropped beside Daphne.

"Miss me?" I beamed, and out of the corner of my eye, I saw Blake shooting daggers at me as he settled next to Samuel.

"I'm glad you're here," Daphne whispered.

"Why are you here?" I asked, glancing at Elijah behind her, engrossed in conversation with another guy.

"When you left, a guy came looking for Elijah to join a game, and he asked me if I wanted in, so I said yes," Daphne explained, pointing to a guy shuffling cards.

"I'm done." The card dealer announced, halting his shuffle. "Who's playing?"

The boys leaned forward eagerly while the girls lounged on the couch. I noticed one of them sneaking glances at Blake and wondered if she was the rumored "college girl."

The guy began dealing the cards, but I cut in. "I'm playing too."

Everyone turned to me, surprise etched on their faces. "You know how to play poker?" Elijah asked.

"I know the rules," I shrugged. My father used to play it a lot with my uncles and I asked him to teach me.

"This is a betting game," Samuel pointed out, making me roll my eyes.

"I'm aware." I retorted.

I wasn't about to sit here as a passive spectator. With Elijah present here, leaving wasn't an option, so I might as well dive in.

"Are you sure?" Daphne asked, concern in her voice, and I nodded.

The card dealer shuffled the deck with practiced ease before dealing two cards to each player. The table was buzzing with anticipation as everyone glanced at their hands.

"Alright, folks." He announced, pushing a small pile of chips into the center. "The ante is two chips."

Blake slid his chips forward with a casual flick of his wrist. His eyes met mine across the table, and we somehow exchanged a silent challenge.

Samuel and I matched the bets, though I did so with a slightly shaky hand. Elijah and the older guys followed suit, each sliding in their chips with varying degrees of nonchalance.

"Call." I said firmly, trying to keep my nerves steady.

Blake's lips curled into a faint smirk. "Call."

"Call." Samuel said.

"Call." Elijah added, his expression unreadable.

The dealer dealt the flop: the three community cards were revealed. A Queen of Hearts, a Ten of Diamonds, and a Four of Clubs. The air crackled with unspoken tension as the betting began.

Blake was the first to act. "Raise to five chips." He said, leaning back in his chair and studying everyone's reactions.

My heart raced, but I didn't want to back down. "Call." I pushed in my chips with deliberate force. I could feel the heat of the moment and was determined to make an impression.

Samuel raised an eyebrow. "I'll call."

The older guy, sitting relaxed but with a keen eye, decided to up the ante. "Raise to ten."

Blake's eyes flicked to mine, his smirk widening. "Call."

I matched the ten chips without a word.

The dealer revealed the turn card. A King of Spades and the bets continued to escalate.

Blake raised to fifteen chips, his gaze fixed on me, challenging me to fold.

I bit my lip, fighting the urge to fold. "Call."

Elijah's eyes narrowed. "Call."

The other older guy leaned back and threw in a dramatic fold.

The tension was palpable as the dealer dealt the river card. A Jack of Clubs.

Blake raised to twenty chips, never breaking eye contact with me, as if daring me to make the next move.

The older guy shook his head. "I'm out."

Samuel threw his hands up. "I'm all in." He declared, shoving his entire stack forward.

My eyes shot to Samuel, then back to Blake. "I'll call." My voice was steady, though my heart was racing.

Elijah sighed. "Fold."

Samuel revealed his cards. A straight flush.

Blake's face tightened as he revealed his hand. A full house. Kings over Jacks.

My heart sank as I looked at my hand. A pair of Queens and the realization hit hard.

I lost.

The dealer collected the chips and pushed them toward Samuel, who gave me a sympathetic look. "Better luck next time, Cara."

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