The Party
The music was already shaking the walls when Emma and Alena arrived.
Alena stopped at the entrance, looking uncomfortable.
"Emma, I really don't think I should be here."
Emma linked her arm through hers.
"Relax. You're with me."
Alena glanced around the crowded room.
There were students everywhere—laughing, dancing, talking loudly beneath the flashing lights.
"I don't even know half these people."
"You don't have to."
Emma smiled.
"Just stay with me."
They moved farther inside.
For a while, Emma stayed beside her, laughing and talking as though she were genuinely enjoying Alena's company.
But beneath the smile, something else was happening.
Emma's eyes kept drifting toward the other side of the room.
She was looking for someone.
Then she saw him.
Alexo.
He stood near the far side of the room, surrounded by several guys.
Emma's expression brightened.
"There he is."
Alena looked at her.
"Who?"
Emma immediately looked away.
"No one."
But then something caught her attention.
Alexo wasn't looking at Emma.
His green eyes were fixed on Alena.
Again.
The exact same way he'd looked at her in class.
Emma's smile slowly disappeared.
She remembered that first day.
She had noticed it.
The moment Alena stood in front of the class, Alexo had looked up.
He had stared.
And even after Alena sat down, his attention had returned to her several times.
Emma had noticed everything.
She had simply pretended she hadn't.
Now she watched as Alexo's gaze followed Alena across the room.
Jealousy burned quietly inside her.
So that's what this is.
She looked at Alena.
The innocent girl who had no idea what was happening.
Emma's fingers tightened around her glass.
"Alena?"
"Hmm?"
"Do you know him?"
Alena followed her gaze.
Her eyes landed on Alexo.
"Oh."
She recognized those green eyes immediately.
"The boy from my class."
Emma's heart sank.
"You know him?"
"No. Not really."
Alena smiled faintly.
"But I recognize him."
Emma forced a casual laugh.
"That's Alexo."
"Alexo?"
"Yeah."
Emma paused.
Then asked casually,
"Do you like him?"
Alena's eyes widened.
"What? No!"
She laughed nervously.
"I don't even know him."
Emma smiled.
"Good."
Alena frowned.
"Why?"
"Nothing."
Emma turned away.
Her face was calm.
But inside, her jealousy had already made the decision.
If I can't have his attention, neither will you.
A little later, Emma disappeared into the crowd.
When she returned, she carried two glasses.
She handed one to Alena.
"Here."
Alena looked at it.
"What is it?"
"Orange juice."
Emma smiled.
"I know you're not the type to drink alcohol."
She tilted her head innocently.
"So I thought a girl like you would prefer juice."
Alena smiled.
"You remembered."
"Of course."
Emma held up her own glass.
"See? I'm drinking too."
Alena relaxed.
"Thank you."
She took a sip.
Emma watched.
"Drink it. You barely ate anything today."
Alena laughed.
"Okay, mother."
Emma laughed along with her.
But her eyes remained fixed on the glass.
At first, nothing happened.
Alena continued talking normally.
Then, gradually, she became quieter.
She blinked several times.
"Emma?"
"Hmm?"
"Is it hot in here?"
Emma looked at her.
"A little."
Alena laughed softly.
Then she stopped.
A strange sensation had begun spreading through her body.
Her head felt light.
Her thoughts seemed slower.
The music became strangely distorted.
She looked around.
"Why does everything feel weird?"
Emma touched her arm.
"Maybe you're tired."
Alena nodded.
"Maybe."
She took another sip.
A few minutes later, her cheeks were warm and her movements had become less coordinated.
She laughed at something that wasn't particularly funny.
Then she suddenly became quiet.
Her eyes wandered across the room.
And stopped.
Alexo.
Those green eyes.
Again.
Alena stared.
Emma noticed.
"Who are you looking at?"
Alena pointed vaguely.
"Him."
"Who?"
"Him."
Emma followed her finger.
Alexo.
Emma's jaw tightened.
"You mean Alexo?"
Alena nodded.
"Yeah."
Then she smiled.
A strange, dreamy smile that wasn't like her usual shy expression.
"He's handsome."
Emma's expression hardened.
"You think so?"
Alena giggled.
"Very."
Emma looked away.
She had gotten exactly the reaction she wanted.
But suddenly, something unexpected happened.
Alena started walking toward him.
"Alena!"
She turned.
"Hmm?"
"Where are you going?"
"To him."
Emma stared.
"Why?"
Alena laughed.
"I don't know."
And she continued walking.
Alena barely made it across the room.
Her balance was becoming worse.
She stumbled.
Then laughed again.
"Why can't I walk properly?"
She reached for a nearby table.
Her vision blurred.
She blinked.
Then someone appeared in front of her.
Green eyes.
Alexo.
"You."
Alena smiled.
"You have green eyes."
Alexo frowned.
"Yes."
She moved closer.
"Very green."
He studied her face.
Something was wrong.
The girl standing in front of him was nothing like the girl he'd seen in class.
She was usually reserved.
Careful.
Almost painfully shy.
Now she was standing too close, smiling at him without the slightest embarrassment.
"Alena?"
Her eyes widened.
"You know my name."
"Yes."
"You remember me?"
"Of course."
She laughed.
"I thought you didn't notice me."
"I noticed you."
Her smile became wider.
"I knew it."
She reached toward his face.
Alexo gently caught her wrist.
"Alena."
She frowned.
"Why did you stop me?"
"Because you're not yourself."
She laughed.
"I am."
"No."
His voice became serious.
"You're impaired."
She stared at him blankly.
The word seemed too complicated for her fogged mind.
"What does that mean?"
Alexo looked at the glass in her hand.
"What did you drink?"
"Juice."
"Who gave it to you?"
Alena thought for several seconds.
"Emma."
His expression changed.
"Emma?"
She nodded.
"She said..."
Alena struggled to remember.
"She said a girl like me would prefer juice."
Alexo looked at her again.
His suspicion deepened.
"Can you walk?"
Alena tried.
She took one step.
Her knees nearly buckled.
Alexo caught her.
She immediately wrapped her arms around him.
"You smell nice."
Alexo froze.
"Alena."
She looked up at him.
"I like you."
Her voice was almost childlike in its honesty.
"You're handsome."
Alexo carefully removed her arms from around him.
"You don't know what you're saying right now."
"But I do."
"No, you don't."
She frowned.
"Why are you being mean?"
"I'm not being mean."
He looked directly into her eyes.
"Something was put in your drink."
Her expression changed.
For a second, confusion crossed her face.
Then she smiled again.
"I don't care."
Alexo's jaw tightened.
"You should."
He glanced around the room.
"We're leaving."
"Where?"
"Somewhere safe."
Alena laughed softly.
"Anywhere with you."
Alexo's expression remained serious.
He wasn't flattered.
He was worried.
Because this wasn't the Alena he'd met.
And he knew it.
Back in the Crowd
Emma watched from a distance.
At first, satisfaction filled her.
She had wanted Alena embarrassed.
She had wanted her to lose control.
She had wanted Alexo to see what she was really like.
But then Alexo put his arm around Alena to steady her.
His expression wasn't disgust.
It wasn't amusement.
It was concern.
Emma's smile disappeared.
"No."
She watched as he led Alena away.
"No, no, no..."
This wasn't how it was supposed to happen.
Alexo wasn't supposed to protect her.
He was supposed to see Alena as another foolish girl.
Instead, he was looking at her like she mattered.
Emma's hands curled into fists.
She had done all of this because she'd seen the way Alexo looked at Alena in class.
She'd wanted to destroy whatever attraction she thought was growing between them.
But she had made one mistake.
She had underestimated Alexo.
And she had no idea what he was about to discover.