The day felt normal.
Too normal.
Which is why it caught me off guard when Ethan leaned closer during class and said—
"Are you free tonight?"
I paused mid-sentence in my notes.
"…Why?"
"There's a party,"he said casually, like it didn't matter.
A party.
I almost laughed.
"You really think I go to parties?"
He smirked slightly.
"I think you could."
"I don't want to."
"That's not what I asked."
I looked at him.
"You're annoying."
"And you're thinking about it."
I looked away.
Because—
He wasn't wrong.
"I'll be there,"he added. "You should come."
That wasn't a suggestion.
It felt like an expectation.
"I'll think about it,"I said.
"Good," he replied, leaning back like he'd already won.
That evening, I stood in front of my wardrobe longer than I should have.
I didn't even know why I was considering this.
I didn't go out.
I didn't do this.
But—
I still changed.
Not too much.
Not too noticeable.
Just enough.
When I reached, the music hit first.
Loud.
Heavy.
Nothing like my world.
For a second—
I almost turned back.
Then—
"Ivy?"
I turned.
Ethan.
Standing there.
Looking like he belonged here.
And then—
His eyes softened slightly when he saw me.
"You came."
"I said I'd think about it."
"And you thought right," he said.
I rolled my eyes.
But something in me—
felt… seen.
He stepped closer.
"You look good."
I blinked.
"Thanks."
There was a small pause.
Then—
"Stay with me," he said.
That again.
That tone.
Not a question.
I nodded anyway.
The party blurred into moments.
People I didn't know.
Faces I wouldn't remember.
Ethan moved easily through it all.
Talking.
Laughing.
And somehow—
I stayed close.
Like I didn't belong there—
But I belonged next to him.
At one point, he disappeared.
"I'll be back," he had said.
I didn't ask where. He just left me alone.
I stood near a corner, holding a drink I wasn't really drinking.
That's when someone approached me.
"You're Ivy, right?"
I turned.
A girl.
Not the ex.
Someone else.
"…Yeah."
She smiled.
"I've heard about you."
Something about that—
didn't feel right.
"Oh. What's your name?"
"Stella," she said, smiling at me.
Before I could ask more—
She walked away.
Like she'd said enough.
My chest felt tight.
I looked around.
And then—
I saw him.
Ethan.
Across the room.
With a drink in his hand.
Laughing louder than usual.
Something felt off.
He wasn't just relaxed.
He was—
different.
Looser.
Careless.
And then his eyes found me.
And everything else seemed to disappear for him.
He walked toward me.
Slow.
Unsteady.
"You came,"he said again.
"I'm literally here,"I replied.
He smiled.
But it wasn't the same smile.
It was softer.
Slower.
"You don't belong here,"he said, stepping closer.
"I know."
"You still came."
I swallowed.
"You told me to."
"That's not why."
His voice dropped slightly.
"You came for me."
My breath caught.
"That's not—"
"Don't lie,"he said softly.
And suddenly—
He was too close.
"Ivy," he murmured, his voice quieter now, almost dangerous, "you look so out of place here."
"Then why did you bring me?" I asked.
"Because I wanted to see you here."
"Why?"
He tilted his head slightly.
"Because you look like you don't belong to anyone."
My heart skipped.
"And I like that," he added.
Silence.
Then—
His hand brushed against mine.
Not fully holding it.
Just enough.
"You're not leaving yet," he said.
Again—
not a question.
And for some reason—
I didn't argue.