"So you're telling me you were the getaway driver for the 'Reid Carter'?" Maddy exclaims, her eyes wide with excitement as she leans forward, practically bouncing in her seat.

Lila doesn't even look up from her phone, still scrolling through my Instagram like it's her new favorite hobby. "Girl drives a Range Rover Sport that her dad gave her just for getting into college. Want to know what I got? A pat on the back," she grumbles, her voice dripping with mock envy.

"Lila, focus!" Maddy snaps her fingers in front of Lila's face, scrunching up her nose in frustration. Her petite frame makes the action even cuter; she's about 160 cm, only a few centimeters shorter than me.

But Lila's having none of it. Ignoring Maddy, she shoves her phone in my face, a video from my last birthday playing. "Whoa, your dad gave you this condo for your birthday?" she gasps, her voice full of awe.

"Yeah, we designed it together," I answer, hoping to downplay it. That plan backfires.

"Does your family need a dog? Because I'm available," Lila jokes, feigning seriousness.

"Lila!" Maddy growls, hurling a pillow that smacks Lila right in the face. The three of us dissolve into laughter, the kind that makes your stomach hurt.

Lila finally sets her phone down and faces Maddy. "Alright, you've got my attention. What's up?"

Maddy crosses her arms with a mischievous smile. "Our girl Isla here was the getaway driver for none other than Mr. Runaway Heartthrob himself."

"Oh yeah." Lila's eyes light up as she leans in, her curiosity piqued. "How did that go? And why's he following you on Instagram?" She adds with a playful smirk.

They're both looking at me like I'm sitting on the juiciest gossip ever, but I'm not sure what to say. "Nothing happened, really. He was on his phone the whole time. The only thing he said to me was inviting me to this party," I admit, feeling a weird twinge in my stomach. I can't help but think about him sitting beside me in my car, his cap hiding his eyes, making me want to reach out and push it back.

"Why your car, though?" Lila asks, stretching out on my bed and picking up a stuffed lion plushie, spinning it absently.

I shrug. "I don't know...maybe because we went to the same high school and I was right there?"

Lila's jaw drops. "You went to high school with Reid Carter? No way! What was he like?"

Maddy slides onto my lap, catching me off guard as I clutch the edge of my chair to steady us. She's practically sitting on top of me, her head resting on my shoulder. "Tell us everything," she whispers dramatically.

"I don't know much. We weren't close." I mutter, glancing down to avoid their eager gazes. There was no way I'd tell them about the few stolen moments we had, especially that one unforgettable night when our lips almost touched.

Maddy wraps my arm around her waist, settling more comfortably as she plays with her hair, twisting it around her fingers. Lila watches with narrowed eyes. "Hey, stop that. You're making her uncomfortable."

I smile, hoping to ease any tension. "It's fine, really. I'm not uncomfortable."

"See?" Maddy smirks. "She says she's not uncomfortable."

"That's because she's polite," Lila says, rolling her eyes as she pulls Maddy off me, seating her firmly in her lap on the other bed. From what I've gathered, they've been best friends since they could walk. Their moms met at an expectant mothers' workshop, bonded instantly, and became each other's rock, both raising their daughters as single moms. They were like sisters - until Maddy's mom remarried, and they had to move. But here they are now, having reunited in college.

"Sorry about her. She's touchy-feely," Lila says apologetically, holding Maddy as if she's some misbehaving puppy.

"I don't mind, really," I say with a chuckle.

Maddy flashes me a triumphant grin. "See, Lila, you worry too much. We're practically best friends now. Which means..." Her eyes twinkle as she jumps off Lila's lap, hands on her hips. "Isla's coming to the party tonight!"

"No, she's not." I groan, turning my chair to face my desk, but Maddy spins it back around to her with determination.

"Give me three reasons why not."

"Give me three reasons why I should," I counter, trying to buy time.

"One—because I'll be there. Two—there'll be free alcohol. And three—a hottie invited you, so you obviously have to go," Maddy declares, her logic as questionable as ever.

I look at Lila for backup, but she just holds up her hands in surrender. I get the sense that she's the reasonable one who's long since given up on reining in Maddy's antics. I laugh to myself. Maddy reminds me a lot of my best friend Aaliyah, who's equally impulsive. Seeing these two makes me miss Aaliyah, and I make a mental note to call and check on her at Yale.

"None of that makes any sense," I say, raising an eyebrow at Maddy.

"Come on! It's got to be criminal to stay locked in on your first night at college!" she protests, waving her arms dramatically.

"It's not," Lila adds dryly as she rifles through Maddy's closet.

"Please, please, please!" Maddy's eyes go wide, her lip jutting out in an exaggerated pout that's hard to resist. "Think of it as an initiation!"

With a sigh, I give in. Maddy squeals, bounding to my closet to pick out an outfit for me. Alone for a moment, I glance down at my phone. I still haven't responded to Reid's Instagram follow. My finger hovers over the follow-back button, hesitating, but curiosity wins out, and I scroll through his profile instead.

As I scroll, his feed gives a glimpse into his life: selfies, snapshots from swim practice, plates of food, and the occasional thirst-trap photos. One photo makes my breath catch - a view of a hilltop I know all too well. A place that holds a memory I've spent years trying to forget. Seeing it brings everything rushing back, the emotion hitting harder than I'd expected.

Without thinking, I zoom in, but my finger slips, and I accidentally double-tap the photo. My heart lurches, and I immediately drop my phone, muttering, "Stupid, stupid, stupid." I smack my forehead, the panic real.

Trying to shake off the embarrassment, I grab a scrunchie and tie my hair up, taking a steadying breath. Gathering my nerve, I pick up my phone and, in one impulsive motion, press the follow-back button. What's the harm, right?

Maddy pops out of my closet holding up two dresses - a fitted red one and a sleek black one with a plunging neckline. "This, or this?" She flashes a playful grin.

"You choose." I smile back, letting her take control. After holding each one up to me, she finally picks the red dress, claiming it brings out my complexion.

"Now, for makeup," she announces, guiding me over to her vanity with a determined look. She sets to work, applying foundation, blush, and a hint of highlighter that accentuates my cheekbones. My lips are painted a soft pink, while my eyes are lined just enough to give them a smoldering edge.

Once she's satisfied, she steps back, beaming at me. I catch my reflection, almost doing a double-take. The girl staring back looks...confident, maybe even daring. The red dress clings perfectly, the color vibrant against my skin, and the makeup adds a touch of mystery.

With a flourish, Maddy brings out a bottle of what she calls her "pre-game mix." She pours three shots, and we raise our glasses, toasting to friendship before downing them. The burn hits instantly, and I choke, laughing as Maddy claps me on the back.

By the time we're in the Lyft, the three of us are belting out cheesy pop songs, the music blaring through the aux. The city lights blur as we drive, and I feel a mix of excitement and nervousness bubbling up.

Once we arrived, the atmosphere was like something out of a college movie, only more chaotic. The bass from the speakers practically rattled my bones, and people were spilling out of every doorway and hallway. The house was packed - students everywhere, talking loudly, laughing, and dancing. Someone had set up neon lights in every corner, giving the place an almost dreamlike haze, while another group was trying to organize a beer pong game over in the living room, using every available flat surface.

Maddy seemed to come alive in the setting, her energy instantly blending with the pulse of the party. She grabbed our hands and whisked us straight into the crowd, getting us drinks from someone's homemade "punch." Before I knew it, she was on the dance floor, fully absorbed in the music, waving her arms, and laughing with everyone she met. I couldn't help but smile as I watched her. She had a magnetic kind of energy that made it hard to look away.

Lila and I stood on the sidelines, nursing our drinks and observing the scene. Every now and then, Maddy would run over and drag us both onto the dance floor. I'd dance for a few songs, getting caught up in the fun, before retreating back to the edge where Lila would join me, offering a steady presence in contrast to Maddy's whirlwind.

Lila barely touched her drink, and I noticed the way her eyes followed Maddy, as if she were always on the lookout.

"Not drinking much?" I asked, hoping to strike up a conversation.

"Someone's gotta keep an eye on her," she replied without looking away from Maddy, who was now grinding with some guy who'd been hovering around her all night. There was something almost protective in Lila's gaze, like she knew this dance too well.

I turned to look at Maddy, just in time to see the guy's hands get a little too friendly. Lila didn't hesitate. She strode over and pulled Maddy away from him, leading her outside, presumably for some fresh air.

I took a deep breath and checked the time on my phone. The heat and the relentless noise were starting to get to me. I glanced around at all the unfamiliar faces, everyone blurred together, laughing and shouting, and I could feel my anxiety creeping in. It was as if the faces around me started losing detail, becoming pale, featureless masks. My stomach churned, my breathing got shallow, and everything around me went muffled, almost like I was sinking underwater.

The vibration of my phone snapped me back, pulling me out of the haze. I glanced down at the screen - Mom.

"Shit," I whispered under my breath. Quickly, I maneuvered my way out of the house, searching for somewhere quieter. I found a path that led around to the backyard, where a big garden stretched out, filled with bushes and benches scattered between flowerbeds and trees. The music was muffled enough back here that I could think straight again.

I answered, my voice barely hiding the relief. "Hey, Mom."

"Hey, baby." Just hearing her voice brought a sense of calm that I hadn't realized I needed. For a moment, I wished I could be back home, wrapped up in her embrace.

"Are you okay? Is everything alright?" Mom's voice had that slight edge of panic she always got when she could sense something was off.

"Yeah," I said, though I knew she could tell I wasn't completely fine.

"Not very convincing," she teased, and I let out a small laugh. She always had a way of easing my nerves, even from miles away.

"No, really, I am. My roommate is really great, and we're actually at a party together right now." I hoped that would ease her concerns, and I could almost feel her relax on the other end.

"Oh, that's good," she replied, and I heard the familiar clacking of keys in the background. She was probably in her study, typing away at her latest project.

"How's Dad?" I asked, craving a bit more of that grounding connection.

"He's working late tonight. Big project deadline," she explained, and I laughed, picturing Dad's usual grumbling about any night he couldn't be home with her.

"I bet he'll make up for it with another grand gesture tomorrow morning," I teased, and Mom laughed with me.

"Probably," she said, amusement evident in her voice.

My phone buzzed again, and I saw a message from Lila.

"Maddy's drunk, so we have to head back. Where are you?"

I felt a pang of disappointment. I'd been hoping - expecting even - to catch a glimpse of him here. I'd imagined he'd be here, despite the whole school seeing that humiliating video.

As I was about to type a response, hushed voices broke my focus. My heart stilled when I caught sight of them: Reid and the girl from earlier, her hand clasped tightly around his arm, practically pulling him behind her. I instinctively ducked behind one of the stone pillars, my heart hammering in my chest. Why was I hiding? And what on earth was I expecting to see?

The girl pushed him against the wall, his dark hair falling over his eyes, and he smiled - a dimpled, devil-may-care grin that sent a twist through my stomach. Lila was right - he was almost painfully attractive.

"I like you," the girl blurted, her voice a mix of hope and desperation, and I felt my stomach clench.

"I like you too," he replied casually, leaning down to kiss her. But before he could, she pressed a hand against his chest, stopping him.

"No, I mean, I really like you," she insisted, her words hanging heavily in the air. Reid's smile faltered, and he took a small step back.

"Stella..." he started, a warning laced in his tone.

"Can't we just date? I mean, you just said you liked me, right?" She sounded almost pleading, and I could feel her hope battling against his indifference.

"Stella," he repeated, softer this time.

"You say you have fun with me, and we're always together anyway. Why can't we just make it official?"

He sighed, the charm in his face dimming, replaced by something sharper, colder. "What we have right now is fun. Why ruin that?"

"Ruin it? I don't want to ruin it." She looked at him in disbelief.

"Then what's this nonsense?"

"You think my feelings are nonsense?"

"That's not what I mean." His voice was dismissive, cutting, and I cringed. Did he really care this little, for someone he had shared intimate moments with?

He shook his head, his jaw tense. "I told you exactly what this was. I'm not looking for any kind of commitment right now. I told you, the worst thing you could do was fall for me."

She stared at him, anger mingling with the hurt in her eyes. "Asshole." Her hand flew up, slapping him hard across the face before she stormed off, leaving him alone.

Reid leaned back against the pillar, rubbing his cheek with a smirk. "I guess I deserved that."

Just then, my phone decided to ring, shattering the quiet. I scrambled to silence it, noticing Lila's name on the screen, but it was too late. Reid's gaze shifted toward me, his eyes catching mine as he straightened up, a grin spreading slowly across his face.

"Well, well," he said in that maddeningly smooth accent. "If it isn't pampered princess 101." His smirk widened, and despite myself, my knees felt a little weak.

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Hey guys, I'm back after slaving myself away writing this chapter. Hope you like it, your author, J.E. ASH