The music didn't stop.
But something shifted.
Right in front of her.
"Tessa."
His voice was lower this time.
Closer.
She turned slowly.
Adrian stood there.
Eyes on her.
Focused in a way that made everything else feel… distant.
"I need to talk to you."
For a second
She almost forgot everything.
Almost.
Then
"Adrian?"
Another voice cut in.
Smooth.
Confident.
Tessa didn't need to turn to know who it was.
But she did anyway.
Vanessa.
She walked up like she belonged there.
Like she always had.
Her eyes moved from Adrian
To Tessa.
Paused.
Then a small smile formed.
"Oh," she said softly.
"So this is her."
The words weren't loud.
But they didn't need to be.
People nearby were already paying attention.
Tessa felt it.
The shift.
The focus.
Vanessa stepped closer, her gaze dragging slowly over Tessa's outfit.
Taking her in.
Measuring.
"I didn't expect you to look like this," she said.
A pause.
"Now I get why everyone's confused."
A few quiet laughs from somewhere behind.
Tessa didn't move.
Didn't react.
Vanessa tilted her head slightly.
"I mean… yesterday no one even noticed you."
A light shrug.
"And now suddenly....."
Her hand gestured vaguely.
".....you're everywhere."
The words settled.
Sharp.
Intentional.
Still
Tessa didn't break.
She met her gaze.
Calm.
Steady.
"You're noticing me now."
Silence.
It hit.
Vanessa's smile tightened...just slightly.
"Trust me," she said, voice just as smooth, "it's not for the reasons you think."
The tension around them thickened.
That's when Adrian moved.
"Vanessa."
His voice cut through.
Low.
Firm.
"Enough."
It wasn't loud.
But it was clear.
Vanessa glanced at him.
Then back at Tessa.
A soft laugh escaped her.
"Relax," she said lightly.
"I'm just saying what everyone already knows."
She stepped back.
But not before adding
"Try not to take it too seriously."
Then she walked away.
Just like that.
Leaving everything she said hanging in the air.
For a moment
No one spoke.
Tessa could feel it.
The eyes.
The curiosity.
The judgment.
But she didn't look at them.
She looked at him.
Adrian.
And for a second
Something flickered between them.
Something unfinished.
Unsaid.
Then it was gone.
"I think I'm done here," she said quietly.
No anger.
No emotion.
Just final.
She turned.
And walked away.
Lily hesitated for half a second
Then followed.
And just like that
She was gone.
—
Adrian didn't move.
Didn't call after her.
Didn't stop her.
He just stood there.
Watching.
His jaw tightened slightly as she disappeared into the crowd.
"Damn," one of his friends muttered. "That was...."
"Shut up."
The words came out sharper than expected.
Silence.
They didn't push it.
Didn't joke.
Because something about him had changed.
Subtly.
But noticeably.
Adrian exhaled slowly, running a hand through his hair.
His gaze shifted across the room
And landed on her again.
Tessa.
Near the edge now.
Talking to Lily.
Not looking back.
Not searching for him.
Not waiting.
Something in his chest tightened.
Unfamiliar.
Uncomfortable.
He didn't like it.
Didn't like the way she walked away like it didn't matter.
Like he didn't matter.
That wasn't how this was supposed to go.
That wasn't how it ever went.
His eyes lingered on her longer than they should have.
Long enough to notice
Someone else approaching her.
The same guy from earlier.
Leaning in.
Talking.
Tessa didn't move away.
Didn't shut it down.
She stayed.
And that
That did something.
Something sharper this time.
His jaw clenched.
Not anger.
Not exactly.
But close enough.
Because suddenly
The room felt different.
Too loud.
Too crowded.
Too much.
And for the first time that night
Adrian wasn't in control of it.
He looked away.
Then back again.
Still there.
Still watching.
Because no matter how much he tried to shake it off
He couldn't.
And that was the problem.