It was ridiculous. I had no idea what I was doing here. Honestly, it felt like the entire school had crammed itself into this house—well, maybe excluding the primaries, who avoided parties like this as if they were cursed.
Mike clearly had a screw loose, throwing a lavish party in his parents' place without a second thought for the destruction it would leave behind.
I pitied his parents already. By the time they returned after the weekend, they'd walk into a warzone.
I wouldn't have come at all if word of the party hadn't reached my best friend. She practically dragged me out of the house, dressing and painting me up like some kind of porcelain doll. I didn't even resist. I let her do what she wanted, too tired to argue. Now I regretted it deeply. If I'd had the strength to speak up, I never would have agreed to wear this cornflower-blue lace dress that barely brushed the middle of my thighs—or let her paint my lips in such a vivid, blood-red hue.
I looked too bold. Too mature. Too sexy for someone who had just turned sixteen.
I sat on the couch with a glass in hand, sipping a neon-colored mystery drink that Eve had concocted for me. I watched her from a distance, hoping she wouldn't do anything reckless. It was a relief that Sebastian—her latest obsession—hadn't shown up yet. The poor boy had become her personal target lately. Sometimes, the way she treated him tiptoed dangerously close to harassment.
And it was my fault. I was the one who had introduced them.
"Princess Selena, how generous of you to grace us with your presence!" Mike's voice cut through the music as he finally noticed me and plopped down at my side. I rolled my eyes.
"Your little prince should be here any minute now, along with the rest of the basketball team. I bet he'll be thrilled to see you."
"He's not mine," I muttered.
"But you're his. He's been hung up on you since the day he laid eyes on you." Mike gave my shoulder a playful pat. I shot him a warning glare. "Give it time—you'll be his, too."
"How much have you had to drink, Mike?" I asked, unimpressed.
"Drinks? Please. I'm just stating facts."
I turned back to my drink, sipping slowly through the straw and trying to ignore how he was inching closer, his body pressing mine into the edge of the couch.
"Would you mind giving me some space? I'm about to suffocate here."
"You'll really feel breathless in a second," he chuckled. "Felix just walked in. And he's headed this way."
He giggled like a child. Sometimes, I honestly couldn't believe he was eighteen.
"Being the host doesn't give you every privilege," Felix's voice cut through the room with quiet authority as he stepped in front of us, arms folded. "From the look on Selena's face, she doesn't want you near her. That borders on harassment."
"Can you please get him out of here?" I pleaded, especially as Mike had the nerve to sling his arm around my shoulders again.
"I'm going to count to three," Felix said, smiling sweetly. "If you're still sitting there by the time I finish, I'll kill the music and reveal your most embarrassing secret to everyone."
Mike hesitated, visibly nervous now. "What secret?"
"For his fifteenth birthday," Felix began, his tone light and mocking, "his grandma meant to gift him vitamins to help him grow tall and strong. But she grabbed the wrong bottle from the medicine cabinet and gave him his grandfather's Viagra instead. He's lucky he didn't overdose—or he might've needed a surgical intervention."
I burst into laughter, nearly spilling my drink. Mike glared at us, but didn't say a word. A second later, he was gone.
Felix slipped into the seat beside me, careful to keep a respectful distance.
"Have you been here long?" he asked, watching the rest of the party unfold.
"About half an hour."
He turned his gaze on me again, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly.
"You and your friend are complete opposites. Fire and water."
I followed his eyes to where Eve was now dancing on top of a table with a third-year student.
"Eve thrives at parties. She's like a fish in water. Me? I need time to feel comfortable."
"And that's what I like about you."
I met his gaze for a heartbeat too long. My face grew hot.
"I'm just not as wild as she is," I murmured, looking away.
My attention was suddenly caught by a group of three older girls standing in front of us. Their eyes sparkled as they looked at Felix like he was made of gold. One of them tucked a lock of hair behind her ear and gave him a practiced, flirtatious smile.
"Felix, can we talk for a second?"
"About what?" His tone turned sharp, guarded. I noticed how different his eyes looked now—flat, unreadable.
"Well… I've liked you since first grade…" Her voice wavered under the pressure of her friends watching.
"You're not the first. You should know I'm not interested in any girl at this school." Then, without warning, Felix draped his arm over my shoulders and pulled me closer. "She's the only one I care about. She's the one I've been waiting for."
I froze, stunned. My heart kicked up like a drum, and my skin prickled with heat. The older girls stared at me like I'd grown horns.
"Who is she?" one of them asked, her voice icy.
Felix smiled, turning his head just enough to look at me from the corner of his eye.
"She's the girl whose heart will soon belong to me."
Their stares burned. I could feel their envy wrap around me like a noose. If looks could kill, I'd be ashes on the floor.
"How did she of all people seduce him? No one's ever managed that," I heard one whisper as they walked away, voices thick with venom.
"I'm never going to hear the end of this," I mumbled.
"That's why I've decided to take full responsibility for your safety," Felix said, standing and taking my hand before I could even protest. He led me away, ignoring the way the others watched us.
Eve caught my eye from across the room and gave me a giant thumbs-up, clearly thrilled. Some protector she was. Then she turned right back to flirting with an older guy.
"Where are we going, Felix?" I asked, panic rising. I felt like every eye in the room was on me. Surely the rumors were already flying.
"To the kitchen."
Was he hungry? Thirsty? Or planning something else entirely?
I tensed as he lifted me onto the countertop. His two teammates were already there, drinking beers while two pretty girls clung to them.
"Finally, someone who meets Felix's standards," one of them called out. "You're aiming high, man."
Felix opened the fridge and flipped them off over his shoulder.
"Careful, sweetheart," the other one told me with a smirk. "He might act like a beast now that he's found the one he wants."
I forced a polite smile.
"Be careful you don't meet that beast on the court next week. I specialize in bullying teammates who cross the line."
The guy holding the beer looked uneasy, pausing mid-sip.
"Chill out, captain," he said with a nervous laugh.
"I'll think about it. After you leave."
They got the message. A moment later, both boys and their girls left in a hurry.
Felix clearly had a reputation. They didn't question him—they feared him.
He turned back to me and poured a glass of orange juice. No alcohol.
"One drink's enough for you. You're too young to be getting drunk."
"Beer's weaker," I teased.
"Do you have kidney problems?" he asked seriously.
"No…" I blinked, caught off guard.
"So you don't have to drink beer," Felix said with quiet finality.
The more I got to know him, the more I realized just how bossy he truly was. With Felix, things simply had to go his way.
I lifted the glass to my lips and drank the entire contents in one go. The juice was sharp, almost too sour—but refreshing and strangely satisfying. It grounded me.
Suddenly, one of my classmates staggered into the kitchen. He was drenched in sweat, his clothes stained, and he reeked of alcohol. He looked completely out of it, as if he didn't even know where he was.
"My pretty friend," he slurred, pointing a finger at me with exaggerated care. He stumbled closer, and I saw Felix narrow his eyes, tracking his every move like a predator watching a threat.
"Selena," the boy continued, swaying on his feet, "I didn't think you liked to party."
"I don't," I replied, frowning as he leaned in far too close. "I was forced."
"Oh, you like being forced?" he said with a crooked grin. "Then how about I kiss you?"
Panic rose in my chest like a wave. I instinctively began to push him away—but I didn't have to. Felix was already on his feet. In one swift movement, he seized the boy by the collar and yanked him backward with effortless strength.
"Keep your hands—and your stinking breath—away from her," he growled, his voice low and deadly calm. His eyes burned with a chilling intensity. "Selena is untouchable. If you lay a finger on her again, I'll break your arm."
That threat sobered the boy instantly. It took him a moment to register who he was dealing with, but when he did, his entire demeanor changed.
"Respect, man… Captain of the team, right? I'm rooting for your next match. Good luck," he stammered before awkwardly turning to leave. He tripped over his own feet on the way out and disappeared down the hallway.
"He usually doesn't act like that," I said quickly, trying to diffuse the tension. "It's the alcohol. It's messing with him."
I stood up from my seat, unsure what Felix might do next. He looked furious, his jaw clenched, his movements stiff with frustration. Then, without warning, he stepped toward me, wrapped his arms around my waist, and lifted me up with startling ease. He placed me back on the countertop, securing me there with his hands braced on either side of my hips. I blinked up at him, startled and wide-eyed.
"That's exactly why I don't want guys like him thinking you're free," he said, voice tight with restraint. "I want you to be mine—so that everyone knows to stay the hell away from you."
His boldness made me swallow hard. I wasn't sure what shocked me more—his words or the burning sincerity behind them.
"I'm going crazy just thinking about how I can't kiss you," he added in a low murmur, his eyes locked on mine, "even though I know you like me."
My heart pounded like thunder in my chest. My body buzzed with nervous energy, a strange mix of fear and longing. I didn't know what he was going to do next.
What if he kissed me without asking? How would I react? What should I do?
He was my crush—the one I had adored from afar, the boy who had haunted my thoughts and stories for so long. And now he was standing here, confessing that he wanted me.
"Wasn't there a scene like this in one of your stories?" he asked suddenly, lips curling into a mischievous smile. "Isn't this just like your version of our first kiss?"
Oh God. He was trying to recreate it. He had read the story I wrote and was now bringing it to life.
My face flushed a deep crimson. He was still watching me, his gaze intense, searching for a sign, a reaction—anything.
"I don't know if you realize this," I whispered, barely able to speak, "but you're really embarrassing me right now."
His expression softened. That same sweet smile returned, gentler this time, filled with warmth.
"I can tell, Selena," he said softly. "That's why you look so adorable with that blush. It makes me want to hold your face in my hands."
He didn't wait. One of his hands rose slowly, cradling my cheek with care. My breath caught in my throat. It felt inevitable now—like the next moment had already been written.
"Felix…" I began, unsure of myself. "I think we should go back to the living room. Everyone's probably—"
"But I only want to be with you," he interrupted.
"Why?"
He leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a whisper.
"Just because."
Then, without another word, he tilted my face toward his and kissed me.
His lips met mine with a tenderness that stunned me. Warmth spread through my body like wildfire, starting at my mouth and flowing outward, filling every limb, every cell. I let my eyes fall closed as the world around me disappeared. The butterflies in my stomach fluttered to life, more powerful than anything Eve had ever described—even with all her reckless seductions.
This was different. This was real.
My first kiss. With the only boy I had ever truly wanted.
My first dream had just come true.
And for the first time in my life… my imagination had become reality.