Classes flew by in a blur, and I was buzzing with excitement for Travis to come over. Saying goodbye to Karissa, I kept the news about Travis under wraps I figured she'd find out soon enough. I made a quick stop at the store to grab some refreshments, just in case he got hungry while we were "studying." Plus, I knew my grandma would whip up something delicious, so I had to get home in time for her to work her magic and for me to get everything sorted.

Rushing home, I told my grandparents about having a guest over. Grandpa was hesitant because, well, you know how dads and grandpas are with their girls extra protective. But he eventually got on board when I assured him it was just for homework help, even though I didn't need the help. Grandma and I set up my room, arranging snacks and food, and now I'm just waiting for Travis to show up. I sent him the address on Instagram, so he should have no trouble finding the place.

My anticipation was through the roof, and I couldn't wait for this evening to unfold.

Hours crawled by as I waited for Travis. Finally, the doorbell rang. I practically flew to the door, and there he was. I wanted to be mad for making me wait, but let's be real-he looked too good to stay mad at.

"Wow, this place is gorgeous," Travis said, eyes wide.

"Yeah, thanks," I replied, trying not to sound too pleased.

"You're welcome. So, is anyone else home or...?"

"My grandparents and little brother are here, but don't worry they promised to stay out of our way. We'll have all the privacy we need," I said with a wink.

"Alright then, that's great."

"Uh huh. Come on, I'll show you to my room. Follow me."

I led him through the house with a smirk, knowing tonight was going to be way more interesting than any homework session.

I showed Travis the way to my room, my heart pounding so hard I was sure he could hear it. I couldn't believe we were finally having a one-on-one conversation. It was thrilling and a bit shocking, but hey, Deanesh better watch out. We reached my room, and I pulled out all the books I needed for our "study session," placing them on the bed before we sat down.

"Okay, so where do we start?" Travis asked, looking at the pile of books.

"The operating system," I replied, pointing to the chapter. "It's so confusing to me."

"Aww, I see. It's not that hard, though. I'll teach you the basics, and you'll get better from there."

"Alright, teacher," I said with a playful smirk.

He chuckled and began explaining the intricacies of the operating system. His voice was like music to my ears, even though I already knew everything he was saying. I started asking him some really intelligent questions some he could answer, and some he couldn't. I noticed a curious look on his face, followed by a smirk that made me a bit worried. Was he picking up on my act?

Travis suddenly yawned and began fanning himself. "Man, it feels hot in here," he said, tugging at his shirt collar. Without warning, he pulled off his shirt, revealing a toned torso. My breath caught in my throat. The fan was on, and the room felt cold to me, but he clearly didn't think so. I tried to play it cool, even though internally, I was a hot mess.

Travis looked at me, concern evident in his eyes. "You good?" he asked.

"Yeah, I'm good," I replied, trying to sound casual.

"Alright," he said, clearly not buying it. "I'm gonna ask you a question, and please be honest."

"Okay, ask away."

"You really don't need help with computer science, do you?"

"What? Of course, I need the help," I said, trying to keep my voice steady.

"Dena..."

"Alright, fine," I admitted, sighing. "Everything you told me, I already know."

"I knew it," he said with a chuckle. "You're a genius. So when you asked me to help you with homework, it felt kinda sus. Why don't you really tell me why you asked?"

"You're right, it was a dumb plan," I said, feeling a bit embarrassed. "I did it because I wanted to get back at Deanesh."

"Really? And why?"

"Come on, Travis. You know I've been crushing on you for so long. She was my best friend, and she stabbed me in the back. I'm not even mad that she's with you anymore. It's just that, as friends, I expected loyalty from her."

"I knew, and I am so sorry that I am the root of all the drama you guys have been having. I wish I could take it all back."

"Apology accepted," I said, giving him a small smile. "But I don't think it's all your fault. For someone to just backstab a friend like that means they were plotting from the get-go. I still haven't figured out why she did it."

"Wow, I'm such an idiot for even getting with her and causing trouble," Travis said, shaking his head. "Dena, you are a nice person. You don't deserve to be treated rudely. I want to make it up to you."

"It's all good, to be honest," I replied. "And how would you be able to do that?"

"Well," he said with a mischievous smile, "there's a party tonight at my friend's house. Wanna come?"

I couldn't help but grin. "Sounds like fun. Count me in."

The invitation from Travis to the party was unexpected, but I was all in. After a momentary shock, I accepted , ready to shake things up. Maybe tonight I'd reveal my true intentions to Travis, or maybe I'd keep Deanesh's game plan under wraps for now after all, a little mystery never hurt anyone.

As I prepped for the party, a message from Xalia popped up, urging me to check Deanesh's profile. My curiosity piqued, I switched to my spy account and saw the post a doctored image of me with pimples plastered all over my face. I let out a primal scream of frustration. Was Deanesh trying to play dirty? Well, two can play at that game, and I had something spicy up my sleeve for tonight.

After gathering myself, I got dolled up and hit the road with Travis, speeding to the party location. The anticipation built with each passing minute until we arrived at the epicenter of the night's festivities. The place was buzzing with energy, and I was ready to unleash some fire.

When the music started thumping, I wasted no time dragging Travis to the dance floor. We moved to the rhythm, and I could feel the heat rising. But amidst the pulsating beats and flashing lights, I had a mission to let Deanesh know she couldn't mess with me and get away with it.

Between dance breaks, I stealthily captured moments with Travis, making sure to document our undeniable chemistry. And when the time was right, I unleashed the ultimate clapback-uploading our electrifying moments to my Instagram stories. Let Deanesh see what she was missing out on.

As the night wore on, I realized something surprising I was having a damn good time with Travis. His energy was contagious, and I couldn't help but revel in the thrill of the party. But Deanesh's antics were never far from my mind, fueling me to keep the flames of revenge burning bright.

The party surged with electric energy, a cacophony of laughter and music drowning out the chaos of the world. In the midst of it all, Travis and I found ourselves swept up in the rhythm, moving in sync with the pulsating beat.

But then, like a sudden storm on a clear day, Anthony materialized in the corner, his presence casting a shadow over the festivities. His brooding demeanor and the company of another girl stirred a maelstrom of emotions within me, dredging up memories I'd long tried to bury.

Our eyes locked for a fleeting moment, a silent exchange laden with history and unspoken words, before Anthony vanished into the throng of partygoers, leaving me to grapple with the tumult of conflicting emotions.

As Travis and I made our way home, the weight of the encounter hung heavy in the air, a palpable tension between us. Despite my initial reluctance, I confided in him about the unexpected reunion with Anthony, his presence a steadying force amidst the turmoil.

Travis listened with a mixture of concern and empathy, his unwavering support a beacon of light in the darkness. Yet beneath the surface, doubts lingered, reminding me of the intricate web of loyalties and desires that defined our world.

As we reached my doorstep, Travis broached the topic of future hangouts, his words tinged with both hope and uncertainty. I hesitated, torn between the allure of his company and the looming specter of Deanesh's influence.

With a bittersweet farewell, I bid Travis goodnight, the promise of tomorrow hanging in the air a reminder that despite the chaos and uncertainty, life continued its relentless march forward.

As I settled into my room, the events of the night swirled in my mind like a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. Hanging out with Travis had been unexpected, yet strangely cathartic, despite the circumstances that had brought us together.

But as I reflected on the evening's events, a pang of regret gnawed at me. This wasn't how things were supposed to unfold I'd always envisioned our connection developing organically, without the weight of unresolved tensions and hidden agendas.

Still, I took solace in the fact that I'd been honest with Travis about my feelings, laying bare the complexities of my situation with Deanesh. And as I drifted off to sleep, a sense of closure washed over me, a silent acknowledgment that sometimes, the path to resolution was paved with unexpected detours.

The glow of my phone illuminated the darkness, drawing me back to the present moment. With a sigh, I navigated to my alternate Instagram account, bracing myself for whatever vitriol Deanesh had unleashed in her stories.

Sure enough, her posts were filled with thinly veiled jabs and bitter rants, a stark contrast to the carefree atmosphere of the party. But instead of feeling angry or vindictive, I found myself chuckling at her futile attempts to save face in the wake of her defeat.

With a sense of satisfaction, I logged out of the account, the weight of the night's events lifting from my shoulders. Exhausted yet strangely exhilarated, I surrendered to the embrace of sleep, knowing that tomorrow would bring new challenges and opportunities for redemption.