"I love you."
౨ৎ ౨ৎ ౨ৎ ౨ৎ
Carson

The band was on stage, pouring their hearts into a song I didn't recognize but had to admit sounded good. The crowd was a mess of swaying bodies, shouting voices, and clinking glasses. If it wasn't for Kade and TK dragging me out of the weight room one hour ago, I'd be anywhere else.

Leaning against the back wall, I sipped my beer and scanned the room.

Okay, maybe not anywhere else.

I spotted her before I was even looking.

Eve Beckett.

She was near the stage, half-illuminated by the pulsing lights, talking to the guy I saw her with after class a couple days ago. Her dark waves bounced every time she laughed at something he said. She looked relaxed, confident, like she belonged here. Meanwhile, I felt like a lumbering giant in a room too small to contain me.

TK elbowed me. "You've been staring at her for five minutes. Gonna make a move or keep lurking like a serial killer?"

I shot him a glare. "I'm not lurking."

"Sure. Totally normal to burn holes in the back of someone's head."

I rolled my eyes and took a swig of my drink, finishing it off. TK just grinned, clearly enjoying himself. "Relax. Go talk to her. Worst-case scenario, she blows you off."

I pushed off the wall, weaving through the crowd toward the bar to grab another drink, when I felt someone crash into me, hard enough to make me stumble back a step.

"Jesus, watch where you're—" Her voice cut off mid-sentence, and I looked down to see Eve glaring up at me, her water cup teetering precariously in her hand.

For a second, neither of us said anything.

"Carson," she said finally, her tone flat but her eyes sharp.

"Eve." I smirked, glancing at the now-soggy sleeve of her leather jacket. "Spilling drinks on people. Bold move."

She rolled her eyes, brushing past me. "Maybe don't stand in the middle of the walkway like a brick wall."

"Careful," I called after her. "You keep running into people like that, someone might think you're doing it on purpose."

She stopped, turning back just enough to glare at me. "You really think you're funny, don't you?"

"I don't think it," I said, grinning. "I know it."

Her lips pressed into a thin line, but I caught the way her fingers fidgeted with the edge of her cup. Was she annoyed? Flustered? Both? God, I hoped it was both.

"Do you want something, Carson?" she asked finally, her tone clipped.

"I was just trying to help. You know, make sure you didn't get trampled."

"How thoughtful," she said dryly.

"Always am."

She stared at me for a long moment, like she was trying to figure me out. Her brown eyes narrowed slightly, and I wondered what conclusions she was jumping to.

"Didn't think this was your kind of music," she said, her tone casual but her posture stiff.

"Didn't think this was your kind of place" I shot back, smirking.

Her eyes narrowed, but before she could respond, the guy she was talking with before spoke up. Bill was it, maybe Will, "Can I get you another drink, Eve?"

She hesitated, glancing between us. "I'm good, thanks."

Will lingered for a moment, clearly trying to size me up, before walking off toward the bar. I waited until he was out of earshot before speaking again.
"Nice guy," I said, keeping my tone light but laced with something I couldn't quite mask.

"Yeah, he is," she said, her voice clipped. "Not that it's any of your business."

I laughed softly, shaking my head. "Relax, Angel. I'm just making conversation."

"Don't call me that."

"Why not? It suits you."

"It doesn't," she snapped, crossing her arms.

"Sure it does," I said, stepping closer. "You act all tough, but deep down, you're probably the sweetest person in the room."

She scoffed, rolling her eyes. "You don't know me."

"Not yet."

Her lips parted slightly, like she was about to say something, but no words came. The tension between us crackled like static, and for a moment, it felt like the rest of the bar faded away.

"I've got better things to do than babysit your ego," she said, snapping the tension.

"Better things, huh? Like Will?" I knew it was petty. I also knew I couldn't stop myself.

She froze mid-step, her shoulders stiffening. Slowly, she turned back to face me, her expression carefully neutral.

"What's your deal, Carson?" she asked, her voice quieter but sharper, like a knife wrapped in velvet.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, why are you always—" She gestured vaguely at me, her frustration bleeding through. "This."

I choked on a laugh, not wanting to get murdered by the stubborn girl I was towering over.

Before I could come up with another thing to say, someone called her name. Will. Of course.

"Looks like your knight in shining armour is here to rescue you," I said, nodding toward him.

She glanced at Will, then back at me. "See you around, Carson. Enjoy your night." She said giving me a small smile.

"See you around, Eve," I said, keeping my tone light, even though something in my chest tightened at her departure.

TK's voice rang out behind me, dripping with amusement. "You're a mess, man."

I ignored him, taking a long swig of my beer.

Because the truth was, he wasn't wrong.

And that? That was going to be a problem.

My gaze drifting back toward the stage. Eve was still there, now standing next to Will again, but her body language was different. Stiffer. She laughed at something he said, but it didn't reach her eyes.

And damn it, why did I care?

TK follows my line of sight and lets out a low whistle. "You're screwed, man. I can see it already."

I sigh, running a hand through my hair. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Right. You've only been staring at her like she's the only thing on this earth." He steps in front of me, blocking my view. "Look, I get it. She's hot. Extremely hot, She's got that whole mysterious, 'don't mess with me' vibe. But you know this isn't gonna be easy, right? Eve's not like the other girls you've—"

"She's not like anyone else," I cut him off, my tone sharper than I intended.

TK's eyebrows shoot up, but he doesn't say anything for a moment. Then, he smirks. "Damn, Captain. Didn't know you had it that bad."

I shoved past him, needing some air. The room suddenly felt too small, too loud. Weaving through the crowd, I stepped outside into the crisp night air, the sound of the band muffled behind the walls.

The parking lot was mostly empty, save for a few people smoking by the curb. I leaned against the cold brick wall, tilting my head back to stare at the sky.
What the hell was I doing? I had enough on my plate as it was—balancing practice, classes, and the constant pressure to live up to my mums impossible expectations.

The last thing I needed was to get caught up in someone like Eve Beckett.

But that didn't stop me from wanting to.

The door swung open, and I turned to see her step outside, her arms crossed against the chill. Her eyes flicked to me, then away just as quickly, like she hadn't expected me to be here.

"Carson," she said, her voice softer this time.

"Eve," I replied, pushing off the wall.

She hesitated, then walked toward me, stopping a few feet away. "You always this persistent?"

"Only when it's worth it."

She scoffed, but there was a faint smile tugging at her lips. "You don't even know me."

"Not yet," I said, echoing my words from earlier.

She looked down, fiddling with the hem of her jacket. For a moment, the guarded expression she always wore slipped, and I saw the reserved look she was carrying—the one she didn't want anyone else to see.

"Why are you out here?" she asked finally, her tone careful, like she wasn't sure she wanted to know the answer.

"Needed some air," I said. "And maybe I was hoping I'd run into you."

Her gaze snapped up to mine, her eyes searching my face for... something. I wasn't sure what.

"You don't give up, do you?" she said, but there was no bite to her words this time.

"Not when it matters."

She shook her head, a soft laugh escaping her lips, but it sounded almost sad. "You shouldn't waste your time on me, Carson."

"Let me decide what's a waste of my time," I said, stepping closer.

She looked at me for a long moment, her expression unreadable. Then, before I could say anything else, she turned and walked back inside, leaving me alone in the parking lot.

I stayed there for a while, the cold biting at my skin, her words replaying in my head.

You shouldn't waste your time on me.

Too late for that, I thought. Way too late.

౨ৎ ౨ৎ ౨ৎ ౨ৎ

AHHHHHHHHHH I HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS CHAPTER FOR THREE HOURS IT IS LITERALLY THE DEATH OF ME

Guys if u don't like it pls don't tell I am about to crash tf out