Emily's PoV:

The party's atmosphere swallowed me whole as we reentered, the noise, lights, and laughter all blurring together. For a brief moment, I let myself forget about the strange encounter with Kyle, but the distraction didn't last long. My focus snapped back when I noticed Aiden's hand still firmly gripping mine. The way he held it wasn't casual—it was deliberate, possessive, like we were truly something more. Like I was his girlfriend.

I couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt. This was supposed to be over. I had already tried to set the stage for Aiden and Regina to confess their feelings for each other and ride off into a sunset of bliss. That was the plan. That was the deal. Yet here we were.

"Aiden, let me go," I said, my voice polite but firm.

"Calm down," he replied, his tone steady as he led me up the stairs.

"Aiden—"

Before I could finish, he pulled me through a door. A bathroom door. He shut it behind us with a quiet click, sealing us inside the small, sterile space.

"Why are you closing the door?" I asked, trying to keep my irritation in check.

"Because people will want to get in," he said matter-of-factly.

"But I want to get out," I countered, folding my arms across my chest.

"Can you just talk to me for a second?" His voice softened, and his expression shifted from annoyed to earnest.

I sighed, leaning back against the counter. "Fine. Talk."

His eyes locked onto mine, intense and searching. "First, how do you know him?"

"Who?"

"Kyle."

I rolled my eyes. "I met him like three minutes ago. We were talking about mythological stories, constellations, my favourite Orion and having fun, and then you showed up and ruined everything." My smile faded as I recalled how he'd interrupted what had been a genuinely enjoyable conversation.

"Oh, I'm so sorry for ruining your bonding moment with a total stranger you were flirting with," he said, his sarcasm cutting. "While having a boyfriend."

"Fake boyfriend," I corrected sharply. "Let's get those titles straight."

"Whatever." He shook his head dismissively, his frustration growing. "What the hell was that during the truth-or-dare game?"

"What?" I asked, feigning innocence as I leaned casually against the sink.

"I made your life easier!" I shot back. "I pushed Regina to confess to you. Sooner or later, she'll spill her heart out, and you two can live happily ever after. You're welcome, by the way."

"I didn't ask for your help," he said, narrowing his eyes at me.

"And I didn't ask to be here fake-dating a douchebag, but here we are," I snapped.

"You've had too much to drink," he stated, his tone neutral but his eyes scrutinizing me.

"No way," I replied sarcastically, pressing my fingers to my temples. My head was pounding, a sharp reminder of how much alcohol I'd consumed.

His expression shifted, concern flickering across his face. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," I muttered, waving him off.

"You don't look fine," he said, stepping closer.

Some knockcing on the door was heard "Occupied" Aiden shouted looking at me again

"I am fine," I insisted, pouting slightly as I tried to straighten myself. "Now let me go. I need to find a new crush by dawn."

"A new crush?"

"Yes, a new crush. Haven't you ever had one?" I asked, meeting his gaze.

"I think," he said hesitantly.

"You think?" I raised an eyebrow. "You don't just forget your crush. It's someone who makes your heart tremble, your knees wobble, and your stomach do that weird butterfly thing that makes you feel like you could throw up at any second."

"Is that so?" he asked, his lips twitching into a smirk.

"Yes," I replied firmly, though my stomach churned uncomfortably—not from nerves, but from the alcohol.

"Are you okay?" he asked again, noticing the shift in my expression.

"I'm fine," I said unconvincingly, placing a hand on my stomach.

"Do you usually drink this much?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

"No," I admitted.

"Thought so." Without waiting for a response, he turned toward the toilet and lifted the lid. "Are you going to throw up?"

The mere mention of it made something rise in my throat. I quickly clapped a hand over my mouth, shaking my head furiously.

"Emily. Just let it out," he urged, gesturing to the toilet.

The knocking got louder "Hurry up!"

"There are other bathrooms in the freaking house" Aiden shouted

"Just do it, Emily" he insisted

"No—" I tried to protest, but the inevitable happened. I dropped to my knees, clutching the toilet as I retched.

Warm hands gathered my hair into a ponytail and steadied my forehead. "Just let it out," he said softly, squatting beside me. "You'll feel better."

Through watery eyes, I glanced at him. His face was calm, his presence steady. I didn't know whether to feel grateful or utterly mortified.

When the nausea finally subsided, I sat back weakly, breathing heavily. A cool, damp towel pressed against my lips, wiping them clean. I opened my eyes to see Aiden kneeling beside me, holding the towel. He flushed the toilet before helping me to my feet.

I leaned heavily on the counter, washing my face with cold water in an attempt to erase both the embarrassment and the lingering haze of alcohol.

"So," Aiden began, his tone light, "you were saying? About your heart trembling?"

I shot him a glare through the mirror. "Don't."

"And your knees wobbling?" he continued, smirking.

"Aiden."

"And butterflies? Weird ones that make you want to throw up?" He grinned, clearly enjoying himself. "Do you have a crush on me, Emily?"

"No," I said flatly, though my flushed face betrayed me. "But I do have a very strong urge to kill you."

He chuckled, still squatting as I stood. "You can't fool me. I'm your crush. You just admitted it."

"Do you think this is the best time to be joking?" I snapped.

"I think it's the perfect time," he said, rising to his feet. "And maybe on the way home, I can tell you more jokes."

"Great," I muttered sarcastically.

"Let's go then," he said,

Some knockcing on the door was heard again "The bathroom is not to fuck!Hurry up!"

Before I could protest, Aiden slipped his blazer off and draped it over my shoulders. The warmth of the fabric contrasted sharply with the chill of the party's air, and for a moment, I was stunned into silence. His movements were so smooth, so casual, as if this was something he did all the time.

He didn't give me time to object. With that infuriatingly smug grin of his, he opened the bathroom door. The noise of the party spilled in immediately, accompanied by the not-so-subtle murmurs and giggles from the line of people outside.

"Finally!" someone groaned dramatically.

I heard a chorus of wolf-whistles and a few obnoxious comments like, "Bathroom rendezvous? Nice."

Seriously?

Poor souls. They thought we'd been doing... that. As if. I wanted to roll my eyes so hard they'd stick in the back of my head, but instead, I kept my gaze down and shuffled after Aiden.

He didn't seem fazed by the comments. Instead, he took hold of my wrist—not tightly, but firmly enough that I had no choice but to follow as he led me through the crowded corridors. "C'mon," he said briskly.

My legs were still shaky from earlier, but his pace was determined. I barely had time to process the whirlwind of people, the blaring music, and the clinking of glasses before Aiden came to an abrupt halt.

There was a commotion ahead. A guy was banging loudly on a locked door while a girl stood behind him, looking both amused and impatient.

"Hey, that room's locked," Aiden called out, his voice sharp and authoritative.

The guy turned, his expression annoyed. "Why?"

"It's private," Aiden said flatly, stepping closer.

"Private?" the guy sneered, clearly drunk. "Then where the hell am I supposed to fuck her?"

My jaw dropped at his bluntness, but the girl behind him seemed unfazed. In fact, by the way she was biting her lip, I'd say she liked it.

Aiden's expression didn't waver. "There are other rooms around," he said coolly.

"Yeah?" the guy challenged, crossing his arms. "But I want this one."

"Well, you can't have it," Aiden replied, his tone firm. "So if you're that desperate to screw, go home."

The guy glared at him, swaying slightly from the alcohol, but Aiden didn't back down. His stance was steady, his eyes unflinching. Finally, the guy grumbled something under his breath and stalked off, dragging the girl with him.

As soon as they rounded the corner, the locked door creaked open.

"What's going on?" a familiar voice asked groggily.

I blinked, startled to see Mason standing there. He was shirtless, wearing only a pair of sweatpants, his messy hair and flushed cheeks a dead giveaway for what he'd been up to.

"You're here?" Aiden asked, his tone laced with amusement.

Mason scratched the back of his head awkwardly, clearly caught off guard. My gaze drifted to the room behind him, where a dark pink dress lay crumpled on the floor. Realization hit me like a slap, and I couldn't stop the words from tumbling out.

"Ohhh," I said slowly, pointing at the dress. "You finally... got it, huh?"

Aiden grinned like a proud older brother. "Mason, my man! I'm happy for you." He clapped Mason on the shoulder, still holding my wrist with his free hand. "For a second there, I thought you were taking a vow of celibacy."

"Yeah..." Mason muttered, his cheeks turning a deeper shade of red.

"I mean it, bro. I'm proud."

"Thanks," Mason replied, his voice barely above a mumble.

"Now get back to it," Aiden teased, winking as Mason groaned in embarrassment and retreated into the room.

"That dress reminds me of something," I said, my alcohol-fueled brain grasping at a memory.

"Really? What?" Aiden asked, clearly amused.

Mason peeked his head back out, his expression cautious. "Uh, is she drunk?"

"Yeah, a bit," Aiden admitted. "I'm taking her home."

"No, no, it reminds me of... Nate's bow!" I exclaimed triumphantly, as if I'd just solved a riddle.

Aiden chuckled, but Mason let out an awkward snort, quickly covering it up with a cough.

"Okay, time to go," Aiden said, steering me toward the stairs.

"Do you need to come back later?" Mason asked.

"Yeah, I'll pick up my sister after I drop Emily off."

"I can take her," Mason offered.

"Really ? I Appreciate it, thanks" Aiden replied "Oh and good continuation" giving him a thumbs-up.

The walk to the garage was a blur of corridors and bright lights. By the time we reached Aiden's car, I was leaning heavily on him, the exhaustion and alcohol taking their toll. He opened the passenger door and helped me in.

"I should let them know I'm leaving," I mumbled, pulling out my phone.

"Sure," he said "But first your belt—"

Before I could react, he leaned over me, reaching for the seatbelt. His face was right there, mere inches from mine. I froze, my breath catching as his scent—a mix of cologne and something distinctly him—enveloped me.

He paused, his hand on the belt, and for a moment, time seemed to stop. His eyes met mine, and I found myself caught in their depth—a deep, endless blue that reminded me of the sky just before sunset. His sharp jawline and full lips were unfairly perfect, like a greek god, this was really like a greek god of my dreams.

Wait a minute - What am I doing?

"I can do it," I said quickly, grabbing the belt and snapping it into place.

"Right. Sorry," he said, blinking as if snapping out of a daze. He leaned back into his seat, running a hand through his hair.

I busied myself with my phone, typing out a message to my friends while trying to ignore the heat in my cheeks. The silence between us was thick, charged with something unspoken.

Aiden started the car, his movements brisk and purposeful, as if trying to shake off whatever had just happened. I stole a glance at him, wondering if he felt it too—that strange, electric tension that made my stomach flutter.

I turned back to my phone, determined to push the feeling away. But deep down, I knew it wouldn't be that easy, I keep trying to push him away but then he does this things that make my heart thump, although my mind is decided and forgot him my heart seems to be having a hard time to do it.