...
Saturday started like any other day in the dorm—cleaning, laundry, and arranging things. Diana and Gabrielle were busy picking out outfits, excited for the party tonight. Cassie, as usual, was sluggish and made it clear she wasn't going. I didn't tell anyone that I planned to meet Sami, wanting to avoid unnecessary issues.
By evening, the girls had started dressing up. The room buzzed with energy—Diana fussing over her makeup, Gabrielle smiling at her reflection, Mia laughing at her own outfit. I stayed calm, quietly getting ready, my thoughts drifting to Sami.
When everyone was done, Diana suggested, "We should go together to the party!"
My heart sank. That wasn't how I wanted it. I wanted to go alone, avoid Marvel's attention, and spend some time with Sami. I tried to come up with an excuse, but they insisted on waiting for me. I sighed, finally telling them not to worry.
The party had just started when I arrived. To avoid Marvel, I slipped into a quiet corner of the cafeteria. Marvel went to get a drink—she couldn't attend a party without getting drunk, she said—and returned with one of her male friends. Mia, Diana, Gabrielle, and I stayed behind. I was scrolling through some videos on my phone, trying to distract myself.
I texted Sami. He said he and his friends had gone outside the school to get something and would be back soon. I waited.
Mia's boyfriend, Alex, came to pick her up. Diana, still unaware that Kevin, the guy who liked her, would come, asked me to hook her up with Sami's friends. Gabrielle preferred staying alone and quietly slipped away to the dorm.
Marvel came back, clearly drunk, complaining that her alcohol had spilled. She said she needed to change before she could join anyone again.
Hours passed. I waited. My stomach sank as everyone else laughed and danced, enjoying the party, while I sat alone. I felt awkward, invisible, and frustrated. One hour, then an hour and a half—still no sign of Sami.
Finally, I decided to leave. I returned to the dorm, removed my clothes, and climbed into bed, feeling a mix of sadness and disappointment. This was supposed to be a fun night for us.
Just then, my phone buzzed. Sami.
He asked where I was. I explained and told him I had changed back. My chest tightened, thinking he had ditched me. "Why did you waste time?" I typed, my fingers trembling.
He replied: "Come outside."
I stepped out and froze. Sami was there—but not how I expected. He was unsteady, slightly high, and his eyes were a little glassy. He had taken brownies. My blood boiled. I hadn't dressed for this, hadn't prepared for this chaos.
"Go sleep," I said firmly. "You need it."
He tried to argue, reaching for my hand, but I pulled back. I was too frustrated, too tired. My heart wanted to scream and cry at the same time.
The rain outside had stopped, but the air was cold, and droplets clung to the leaves. Sami laughed softly, almost apologetically, and it should have been romantic—the cold rain, his warm smile—but I couldn't. Not tonight. Not after feeling abandoned.
I turned back to the dorm and climbed into bed, covering myself in blankets. The silence was deafening. Outside, the party continued—the music, the laughter—but inside me, chaos churned. I felt anger, disappointment, and longing all at once.
Then, a knock on the door.
I froze. My heartbeat jumped. Was it Marvel? Or someone else?
"Nuella?" Mia's voice whispered from the corridor. "Are you awake?"
I opened the door slowly, feeling the awkward weight of the night still pressing down.
"Yeah," I said quietly.
Mia peeked in. "Are you fine?"
I just nodded slightly and smiled
Her concern made me soften a little. Maybe not everything was chaos. Maybe… She still cares about me maybe she is just being herself that likes to make friends with lots of people. Maybe... I don't need to be scared or bothered I still trust her and don't think she would betray me for someone she just met.
She tried to engage me in a conversation but I just kept it light cause, I was still thinking about Sami, the party, and everything I had hoped for but didn't get.