Luna Wren's POV

I walked to the balcony door, my bare feet skimming the cool hardwood floors. My heartbeat in my chest like a ticking clock-steady, insistent, impossible to ignore. I knew I shouldn't. Knew my mother would have a fit if she found out. But I reached into the drawer of my vanity and grabbed the pack of cigarettes I kept hidden beneath a stack of old papers.

Sliding open the balcony door, I stepped outside, the winter air sharp and cool against my skin. My school uniform, still hanging from earlier in the day, felt oddly stifling even though I'd loosened the tie. Leaning against the railing, I lit the cigarette, the flame catching with a quick flick of my wrist.

The first drag burned my throat, familiar and oddly comforting. It wasn't about the taste or even the nicotine. It was the ritual of it-the stillness, the illusion of control. Smoking was a rebellion my mother would never suspect, one of the few things I could claim as my own.

I exhaled slowly, the smoke curling into the night sky.

"You know that'll kill you, right?"

Startled, the cigarette slipped through my fingers landing on the concrete below. I spun around to see my mother standing in the doorway, her arms crossed and an unimpressed look plastered across her face.

"I wasn't—" I stared, but my mother waved a hand to cut me off.

"Save it. We'll deal with this later," my mother said briskly. "Right now, you need to get ready. The Wellington's will be here soon."

My stomach twisted at the mention of their name. "Already?"

My mother gave me a pointed look. "Yes, already. And for God's sake, don't embarrass us tonight. Julian is going out of his way to help you with Columbia. The least you can do is make a good impression."

I bit back a retort and nodded instead. "Fine."

My mother stepped back into the room, muttering something about the time, and I took one last glance at the sky before returning back inside.

******

Back in my room, I sifted through the collection of dresses hanging neatly in my closet. My fingers brushed over the emerald-green dress my mother had bought for tonight, and I sighed. It was beautiful, no doubt, but it felt like armor—designed to make me someone I wasn't.

I slipped into the dress, the fabric cool against my skin, and turned toward the mirror. For a moment, I just stared, trying to see myself through someone else's eyes. Would Julian even notice me? Did I want him to?

I thought about him as I worked a pair of pearl studs into my ears. Julian Wellington—the golden boy. We'd grown up in the same circle of wealth and privilege, attending the same events, smiling for the same photos. But while Julian had always seemed so at ease, I had felt like an outsider in my own life.

Still, I'd had a crush on him for as long as I could remember. He was charming, handsome, and entirely out of reach.

My lips curved into a wry smile as I applied a coat of lipstick. Out of reach. That was the story of my life.

*****

Dinner was as formal and as stifling as I had expected.

The Wellington's arrived right on time, sweeping into the grand dining room with an air of effortless confidence. Julian looked exactly how I remembered him—sharp suit, easy smile, and eyes that were a gentle shade of blue, like the quiet stretch of the ocean meeting the horizon.

We sat at the long, polished table, where my mother played the perfect hostess, laughing at Mr. Wellingtons stories and complimenting Mrs. Wellington's Jewelry. My father chimed in occasionally, but he mostly left the conversation to my mother.

I sat across from Julian, trying not to stare but failing miserably.

"So, Luna," Julian said, his voice smooth as he leaned forward slightly. "Your mom tells me you're thinking about Columbia?"

I nodded, my throat suddenly dry. "I—I am. It's one of my top choices."

"It's a good school," he said, his gaze holding mine. "If you need any advice about the application process, let me know. I'd be happy to help."

"Thanks," I managed, my cheeks flushing.

For a moment, the chatter around the table faded into the background, leaving just the two of us. Julian's smile was warm, familiar, and made me feel fourteen again—naive, hopeful, and a little stupid.

But there was something else, too. Something in the way his eyes lingered, in the casual way he spoke to me. It was almost too smooth, too practiced.

The rest of the evening passed in a blur of small talk and forced smiles. By the time dessert was served, my nerves were frayed. I excused myself as soon as I could, retreating to the solace of my room.

*****

The air was crisp as I slid into my car, the leather seats cold against my back. I needed to clear my head, to breathe. Dinner had been too much—Julian's attention, my mothers expectations, the constant tension.

I drove aimlessly, the streets quiet and empty. The city lights blurred past me as I turned corner after corner, the dullness of it soothing.

But then I noticed it—a sleek black Porsche in my rearview mirror.

It had been Behind me for several blocks now, keeping its distance but never turning away. My grip on the steering wheel tightened.

It's nothing, I told myself. Just a coincidence.

Still, the unease settled in my chest like a stone.

When I finally turned onto my street and the Porsche disappeared, I let out a shaky breath. But as I pulled into the underground garage and I glanced back down the road, I couldn't shake the feeling that someone had been watching.

I lingered in my car for a moment longer, the hum of the engine fading into silence as I turned it off. My fingers traced the edge of the steering wheel, my thoughts tumbling over themselves.

The Porsche was probably nothing. I'd been overthinking everything lately—Julian, Kai, the whole ridiculous suffocating world my family insisted on dragging me through. But even as I told myself to let it go, the image of those darkened windows refused to leave my mind.

I stepped out of the car and walked to the elevator. The house was quiet now, the laughter and clinking of classes from dinner replaced by an eerie stillness. My mother and father had likely gone to bed, satisfied with the evening's "success."

Success. I almost laughed as I kicked off my heel in the foyer, The cool hardwood floor a relief to my sore feet.

In my room, I tossed the pearl necklace onto the vanity and fell back into my bed, the silk of my dress crumpling beneath me. I stared up at the ceiling, my mind racing.

Julian had been exactly how I remembered— charming, perfect, and just distant enough to keep me hooked. But something about him tonight had felt...off. The way he'd smiled at me, the way his compliments had been so carefully placed.

Stop it, I told myself. You've been dreaming about this moment for years, and now you're finding reasons to ruin it?

I sighed and sat up, my gaze drifting to the balcony. The cigarette pack was still there, a quiet temptation.

Instead, I grabbed my phone from the nightstand and scrolled through my messages. Nothing from Claire—my only friend, nothing from my class group chat. Nothing from Kai

Kai

I'd almost forgotten about him in the whirlwind of the evening. But now alone in my room, his eyes came into my vision.

Those piercing, cold eyes.

The memory sent a chill down my spine. I shook my head, tossing my phone onto the bed. Maybe a shower would help, something to wash the weight of the evening away.

****

The water was scalding as I stepped into the shower, steam filled the glass enclosure. I leaned against the cool tile, letting the heat soak into my skin.

My mind flicked back to the Porsche again. Had it really been following me? Or was I just being paranoid?

I thought about Kai again, his intense gaze, the way he always seemed to be watching me. All day he'd been everywhere— always just close enough to make his presence known but never enough to explain why.

And then there was Julian

I groaned, running my hands through my wet hair. I was trapped between two impossible puzzles. Julian was everything I ever wanted, but why did it feel like he was hiding something? And Kai...Kai was a question I didn't even know how to begin answering.

When I finally stepped out of the shower, my skin was pink from the heat. I wrapped myself in a towel and wiped the fog from the mirror, staring at my reflection.

I looked tired. Worn out. But there was something else there, too— a flicker of defiance in my eyes, a tiny ember refusing to die out.

******

I sat by the window later that night, wrapped in a blanket, the cigarette pack unopened on the sill. The street below was quiet, The kind of silence that only came in the early hours of the morning.

I thought about the black Porsche again. And the fact that no one had gotten out of it.

My phone buzzed, the sudden noise startling me. I grabbed it quickly, my heart racing, but the screen only showed a single notification.

A text from an unknown number.

"Go to sleep, Luna."

My breath caught in my throat, my hands trembling as I stared at the message.

Who sent this?

My mind raced, flicking through possibilities. It could've been a prank, some random classmate trying to be funny. Or...

My gaze darted to the balcony door, its curtains drawn tightly shut. Slowly, I stood, every step toward the door feeling heavier than the last. I pulled back the curtain and looked out.

Nothing. Just an empty street, dimly lit by the streetlamps.

My fingers tightened around my phone.

It could be nothing. It could be everything.

For the second time tonight, I reminded myself to breathe.

But when I finally climbed into bed, sleep didn't come. The text, the Porsche, the dinner— all of it churned in my mind, a storm I couldn't escape.

And in the shadows of my room, I couldn't help but feel like someone was still watching.

—————————-
Helloooo. I hope you all enjoyed the new chapter. I worked hard to get this chapter done and out today.

Also so there is no confusion she has Kai's number through the class group chat

Anyways let me know if you like it, have a great day lovely's 🫶💋- Willow

(Sorry the chapters kinds short)

Her dress