The Party
Aria's POV
The music hit us before we even stepped through the doors.
Laughter, cheers, and the steady pulse of bass vibrated through the marble floors as if the whole building was alive. By the time we reached the main hall, the place was already packed. Students dancing under golden lights, others talking in clusters, glasses of punch glinting like rubies in their hands.
Aubrey's face lit up the moment we walked in. "Finally! Now this is Ravenwood Academy."
The chandeliers glittered like a thousand stars caught in motion, and the air carried that unmistakable scent of money expensive perfume, polished shoes, and something sweet, like champagne and roses.
I stayed close to Aubrey as we moved through the crowd. The hem of my black dress brushed my legs with every step. It was elegant but simple one daring slit along the thigh and thin straps that framed my shoulders. My earrings sparkled faintly beneath the lights.
"Do you see how everyone's dressed?"Aubrey said with a laugh, tugging me closer to the dance floor. "No one comes here to be invisible."
Before I could reply, the music faded, and the lights dimmed slightly. The chatter quieted, replaced by the sound of heels tapping across the stage.
The Headmistress appeared tall, graceful, her dark hair pulled into a sleek bun. She smiled, lifting a crystal glass toward the crowd.
"Welcome back to Ravenwood Academy,"she began, her voice clear and commanding. "A new year means new memories and, of course, a reminder that every moment here shapes the legacy you'll leave behind."
A soft murmur of applause followed. She said a few more words about pride, excellence, and reputation then lifted her glass once more.
"To another unforgettable year!"
The music surged again, louder this time, and the lights burst back into color. Students cheered, laughter spilling everywhere. The party was officially in motion.
Aubrey dragged me toward the buffet table, already waving to a few familiar faces. I was halfway through pretending to sip my drink when the atmosphere shifted slightly subtle, but noticeable.
It wasn't the music this time. It was the way people's eyes turned, one after another, toward the entrance.
That was when he walked in.
Liam Knight.
He didn't need an introduction; the room reacted before he even said a word. The noise dulled for a moment, as if the crowd itself recognized who he was. His jacket was undone, tie loose, posture relaxed but there was something in his presence that drew attention naturally, effortlessly.
A few people moved toward him immediately, laughter and admiration following. He smiled easily, talking to a group near the entrance.
Beside me, Aubrey leaned in. "That's Liam. Liam Knight. He's kind of… impossible not to know around here."
I pretended not to care, though my gaze lingered a second longer than I meant it to. He caught it just for a fleeting moment and the faintest smile tugged at his lips before he looked away.
The music changed again, faster this time. Aubrey was already pulling me toward the dance floor, shouting over the sound.
"Come on! Don't just stand there!"
I hesitated for half a second, then let her drag me along. Maybe just for tonight, I could forget who I was supposed to be and just be part of the crowd.
The lights blurred into gold and violet.
Laughter. Movement. Music.
And somewhere across the room, that same unreadable gaze followed me once more.
After a few songs, I excused myself from the dance floor. The air felt thick with perfume and sweat, laughter spilling louder with each new track. I needed a moment to breathe.
I found the drink table tucked near the edge of the room, half-hidden behind a curtain of fairy lights. I poured myself a glass of punch, the cool liquid fizzing softly as I lifted it.
"Hey there, little lady," a voice drawled from beside me. "Did your dance partner bail, or are you just too good for the rest of us?"
I turned my head slowly. The boy wasn't familiar older, maybe a senior, with a smirk that thought it was charming.
I met his gaze for only a second before replying, my voice even.
"Neither. I just prefer intelligent conversation to loud music."
His grin faltered, unsure if that was an insult. "Well, maybe I could offer both—"
"Doubtful," I cut in, turning back to my drink.
There was a brief silence before he muttered something under his breath and walked away. I didn't bother watching him go.
"Harsh," came another voice, smoother this time amused. "He'll probably think about that one for the rest of the night."
I didn't need to look to know who it was.
Liam Knight stood a few feet away, hands in his pockets, that lazy confidence about him that made everyone else seem to fade into the background.
"I wasn't aware I had an audience," I said, taking a small sip.
He smiled faintly. "Hard not to notice when someone puts a guy in his place so effortlessly."
I set my glass down. "Maybe you should find better entertainment."
"Maybe I already have," he said easily.
I glanced at him then just long enough to catch the glint of amusement in his eyes, the faint curve of a smile that wasn't arrogant, just… curious.
"You don't seem like someone who enjoys parties," he added after a moment.
"I don't."
"Yet here you are."
"Unfortunately."
That earned a quiet laugh from him. "Fair enough."
For a heartbeat, silence lingered between us comfortable, almost but I wasn't about to let him think he'd gotten through my defenses.
"If you're done analyzing me," I said, picking up my drink again, "you should probably get back to your admirers. They look restless without you."
His lips twitched into a small, knowing smile. "You know my name, then."
"Everyone seems to."
"And you?"
I met his gaze steadily. "I prefer to stay unknown."
With that, I walked away leaving the glass half-full and his faint laughter trailing behind me.
Author's Note 🤍
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