The second I got home, I dashed straight to my room. There was no way I was keeping this to myself, so I grabbed my phone and FaceTimed my girls. They had to hear this.

"Hey, guys, guess what?" I said, barely able to contain my excitement.

"Hmm, you got a new phone?" Xalia guessed, always missing the mark.

"Nope, you got a new boo," Karissa jumped in, ever the romantic.

"Well, I wouldn't say that," I replied, playing it cool.

"Oh, I know what's up! Adam asked you out, didn't he?" Jaelee nailed it, as usual.

"Well, yes, he did. Sort of," I admitted.

"Sort of? What does that even mean?" Karissa demanded, eyebrows raised.

"He just asked me to a party with him tomorrow night," I explained.

"Girl, that's basically a date. Are you excited?" Karissa pressed.

"Good question," Jaelee added, ever the voice of reason.

"I am, but I can't stop thinking about Anthony. My mind is all over the place," I confessed.

Jaelee rolled her eyes. "Girl, you need to move on from Anthony. He's with Carmen now. Do you really think he cares about you?"

"I don't know. This is way too much. But what the hell, I'm going out with Adam tomorrow night, and I want to see how things go," I decided, trying to sound confident.

"Okay, girl. Be careful. Even though I think you and Adam would be great together, I don't trust him one bit. But you need to let go of Anthony; he's no good, especially being the witch's cousin," Karissa warned.

"I agree," Xalia nodded.

"Same here," Jaelee added.

"Alright, alright! I'll try to forget about Anthony and just enjoy the night with Adam," I promised, a bit more convinced now.

"Good," Karissa said with a satisfied smirk.

After that, we dove into different topics, laughing and chatting like besties should. When the call ended, I felt a weight lift off my shoulders. Sharing my plans for tomorrow night with the girls was just what I needed. Excitement bubbled inside me, but a shadow of sadness still lingered over Anthony. Adam asking me out had my mind racing with memories of Anthony. Maybe I was moving on too fast, but if he had moved on, so could I.

I took a really cold shower, had dinner, and went to bed. When I woke up, it was the next day. I didn't feel like going to school, so I told my mom and decided I needed to go shopping. Sure, I'd been shopping a lot lately, but a girl's gotta make sure she looks good, especially when she's going out with a hot guy like Adam.

The afternoon rolled in, and it was time to hit the stores. I found everything I needed—perfection in every piece. I snapped some pictures of my new heels; they were just too cute. But as I was leaving the store, there she was --Deanesh, standing by my car with an egg in her hand. Oh, no. She was not going to mess with my ride.

"What the hell do you think you're doing, Dae?" I marched up to her, ready for battle.

"Couldn't you come later on?" she sneered, clutching the egg like a villain in a bad movie.

"All jokes aside, what's really your issue? What did I ever do to you?"

"You know what you did," she spat, her tone dripping with bitterness.

"Tell me what I did," I demanded, eyes locked on hers, daring her to spill her nonsense.

She fell silent, her bravado crumbling.

"Exactly. You can't say I did anything to you. I don't even know how we became friends in the first place, considering how you've been treating me lately. You're a pathetic human being and you need professional help. And you better not catch you near my car again."

"Whatever," she muttered, trying to keep her cool but clearly shaken.

She walked away, her expression betraying a mix of regret and self-disappointment for how she had let our friendship unravel in such a bitter way. I could still feel the sting of her words and actions, wondering where all the animosity had suddenly come from. There were no signs of this hostility when we were close, and I'm still shaken by it all, craving answers that may not come today.

I retreated to my car, seeking solace in the quiet drive home. A simple meal and a brief nap rejuvenated me before the night's event—a much-needed distraction. As twilight fell, I meticulously prepared myself: makeup applied flawlessly, hair styled with care, and an outfit chosen to make a statement. I couldn't resist snapping a quick selfie to capture my confidence in that moment.

The anticipation grew as I waited patiently. Finally, the doorbell rang, and there stood Adam, his gaze fixed on me in awe.

"Dena," he stammered, clearly impressed. "You look absolutely stunning."

"Thank you," I replied with a hint of a smile. "You clean up pretty well yourself."

Adam chuckled, seemingly caught off guard by my response. "Well, thanks. Ready to hit the road, my lady?"

"Absolutely," I said, feeling a rush of excitement as we embarked on what promised to be an unforgettable evening.

Did he just call me "my lady"? It's so cute, but let me not dive too deep into that. Adam opened the car door for me like a true gentleman, then climbed into the car himself and drove us to the party venue, which was packed as hell like any other lively gathering.

Exiting the car, we made our way into the house. Adam spotted his friends and assured me he'd be back shortly. I nodded in acknowledgment, scanning the room as I headed to the refreshments. There, I caught sight of Anthony, his charm on display with some other girl in a flirty conversation. When he noticed me, I swiftly averted my gaze, not wanting to dwell on what I saw.

Finding a secluded corner, I discreetly observed them. They moved from conversation to dancing, and a pang of jealousy surged through me. Determined to shift my focus, I sought out Adam and pulled him onto the dance floor. His hands found my waist, our bodies moving in sync. Amidst the music and the crowd, I couldn't help but notice Anthony's lingering glances, fixated on me for all the wrong reasons.

Wanting to make a statement, I pulled Adam closer, our chemistry palpable as we kissed. Anthony's reaction was immediate—he stormed out of the party in a fit of jealousy. Meanwhile, Adam and I broke away from our embrace, his voice barely a whisper in my ear, "Let's go upstairs." Without hesitation, we followed through on his suggestion.

We found ourselves in a quiet, dimly lit room upstairs. Adam gently instructed me to close my eyes, a soft, expectant smile playing on his lips. I complied, feeling a subtle thrill of anticipation. A delicate weight settled around my neck, and as I opened my eyes, I gasped. There, shimmering in the low light, was a stunning diamond necklace, its facets catching the glow like scattered stars.

"This is so beautiful," I murmured, fingers tracing the elegant curve of the pendant.

"I wanted to give you something special," Adam confessed, his voice tender. "You make me feel unlike anyone else ever has. I've never felt this way before."

His sincerity touched me deeply, and I couldn't help but smile. "You're sweet, Adam. I feel the same, but I don't want to rush things."

"Absolutely," he reassured me, his gaze steady. "Nothing will be rushed. I want to show you who I am and share the world with you, if you'll let me."

"I'd love that," I replied softly, my heart skipping a beat.

Adam's eyes locked with mine, and with a gentle intensity, he leaned closer. "I knew you kissed me earlier to make your ex jealous," he admitted, his voice low and intimate.

Caught off guard, I chuckled nervously. "How did you figure that out?"

"Anthony's reputation precedes him," Adam replied with a knowing smile.

Before I could respond, Adam closed the distance between us, his lips meeting mine in a kiss that sent a rush of warmth through me. It was a kiss that felt like a promise, tender yet filled with unspoken desires. Time seemed to stand still as we lost ourselves in each other, the world outside the room fading into insignificance.

Reluctantly, we broke apart when the sound of approaching footsteps interrupted us. With silent agreement, we returned downstairs, joining the vibrant energy of the party once more. The rest of the night unfolded in a blur of laughter, music, and stolen glances that spoke volumes.

As the hour grew late, Adam insisted on driving me home. The quiet journey was filled with shared smiles and lingering touches, an unspoken understanding growing between us. When we arrived at my doorstep, under the soft glow of the porch light, we kissed again—this time a farewell tinged with promise.

"I'll see you tomorrow at school," I whispered, my heart still racing.

"Yeah," Adam replied softly, his eyes warm with affection.

I watched him drive away before closing the door behind me, leaning against it with a giddy disbelief. Tonight had been more than I could have imagined.