Days slipped by, and Nick and I continued our silent treatment, while I found myself growing closer to Jaimes. It felt effortless, almost routine, to spend time with him. Last weekend, we all hung out at the racetrack—Leroy, Josh, and Jaimes included. Almost every day at university, he joined us for lunch, bringing laughter and lightness that made me genuinely happy.

This evening, I received a message from Josh, suggesting I drag Jaimes to a party. I was about to call him when I spotted Nick in the corridor. Should I say hi? It felt like there was a wall between us, pulling us apart.

Standing at the door to our room, our eyes met. He smiled and approached slowly, pulling a bouquet of yellow roses from behind his back.

"Hey, Arwen..." he said, extending the flowers toward me. I couldn't help but smile, wrapping my arms around him.

"I miss you... and I'm so sorry," I whispered, tears welling up.

This was the longest we'd gone without talking, and not reaching out felt wrong. He pulled back gently, handing me the bouquet.

"I should be the one saying sorry. I'm glad you showed me you're not the little girl I need to protect anymore." He wiped my tears away, his touch soft and comforting.

"Please, let's not fight like this again," I said, hugging him tightly.

He chuckled, wrapping his arms around me again. "Promise."

As I pulled away, I felt a weight lift.

"Soo? You two kids are okay now?" Joshua asked, sipping his milkshake.

I nodded, a smile breaking across my face.

"I'm happy for you both!" Leroy added, beaming at us.

"Thanks," I said, feeling warmth spread through me.

"Anyway, did you message Jaimes about the party later?" Joshua inquired.

"Oh, about that... I think I'll pass," I replied, looking down.

"Huh? Why?" Josh's brows furrowed.

"I want to spend time with my brother. I hope you understand," I said, my voice soft.

"Yeah, you should have some bonding time with Nick," Leroy agreed, and I appreciated his understanding.

Just as we were about to leave, my phone rang. I didn't check the caller ID before answering.

"Hello."

"Hey, angel—" Jaimes's voice came through, smooth and casual.

"Hey! What's up?" I asked, trying to sound nonchalant, but I could feel Josh's curious gaze on me.

"Just checking on you," he said, sounding laid-back.

"Really?" I smirked, earning a chuckle from him.

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"There's a party tonight. Thought you might want to hang out since it's Friday," he suggested.

I bit my lip, hesitating. "I have plans tonight, maybe next time," I replied, glancing at Josh and Leroy.

"Oh, okay. Where are you going?" Jaimes asked, and I couldn't help but smile at his tone—it sounded a bit possessive.

"Just home," I said.

"Alright then, see you when I see you. Take care, angel," he said.

"You too, take care," I replied before hanging up.

After saying goodbye to my friends, I walked to the parking lot to meet Nick.

"Hey hey hey! So, how was your day?" he asked, handing me my helmet.

"Same old, same old, brother," I replied, slipping it on.

We had dinner at our favorite Italian restaurant—lasagna and delicious garlic bread. Just as we were about to leave, Nick's phone rang.

"Hey, dude... What's up?" he said, his tone casual.

I nibbled on my garlic bread, watching him as he chatted. After a few minutes, he turned to me, a grin spreading across his face. "Wanna go to a party?"

"Party? Where?" I asked, intrigued.

"At Drixs. What do you say?" he replied, looking excited.

I thought for a moment. "I think that's where Josh and Leroy will go. Sure, let's go!" I grinned.

"Aren't you going to change?" Nick asked, looking me up and down.

I checked my outfit—a simple top and jeans. "I'm good, right?"

He shrugged, chuckling. "You'll fit right in, then. Let's go!"

As we headed out, my heart raced with anticipation. Maybe tonight would be the fresh start I was hoping for, not just with Nick but with everyone around me.

"Uhmm... I think it's perfect. What do you think?" I asked, adjusting my top in the mirror.

Crossing his arms and leaning against the wall. "Uhmm, you can wear my jacket," he suggested.

"Jacket? Your jacket? Why?" I raised an eyebrow, curious.

"There are a lot of boys there, and—"

"Nick, I can handle myself! I think no one in their right mind would be rude to me, especially since I'm with you."

He paused for a moment, his expression thoughtful. Then he broke into a smile. "Yeah, I trust you. You look great in that outfit. Come on, let's go."

I beamed at him, feeling a surge of warmth from his approval. As we left the restaurant, I quickly typed a message to Joshua and Leroy:

I'll be joining you at Drixs!

Nick and I walked side by side, and I could feel the excitement buzzing in the air. It felt good to be back in sync with him after days of silence.

"So, ready to show off your dance moves?" he teased as we approached the venue.

I laughed, nudging him playfully. "Only if you're ready to keep up!"

The party was in full swing when we arrived, a typical university house party turned up a notch—more like a mansion party! According to Nick, Drixs was one of his brothers (or maybe just a bro; I couldn't quite tell). I could hear Billie Eilish playing in the background, and my heart did a little dance; I loved this song!

I turned to Nick and smiled. "So, before we go inside, we need to find Josh or Leroy. Please don't leave without me."

He chuckled, scanning the crowd. "You sound like a parent, Nick," I teased, leaning against the doorframe.

"Just looking out for you," he replied, feigning seriousness. "But I promise I won't leave without you either."

He shot me a playful glare. "And don't drink too much, okay?"

"Uhmm... Aye Aye, Captain! Let's go!" I saluted him, and we both laughed as we stepped into the lively atmosphere.

Inside, the house was packed with people dancing, chatting, and laughing. Bright lights flashed around, illuminating the smiles on everyone's faces. The energy was electric, and I couldn't help but feel my excitement grow. We pushed our way through the throng, and I spotted Josh by the drink table, animatedly talking to a group of people. "There's Josh!" I pointed him out.

"Let's go!" Nick led the way, weaving through the crowd. As we approached, Josh turned and beamed at us.

"You made it!" he shouted over the music, his eyes sparkling with excitement. "I was beginning to think you'd bail!"

"Not a chance!" I grinned back, feeling the warmth of the moment.

"Let's grab some drinks!" he suggested, and we joined the line at the bar.

Nick leaned closer to me as we waited, his voice barely audible above the music.

"This is going to be fun, right?"

"Definitely! Just what I needed," I replied, feeling a sense of freedom wash over me.

With drinks in hand, we joined Leroy, who was dancing with abandon, completely lost in the moment. I laughed and joined in, swaying to the beat as Nick and Josh cheered us on.

"See? This is what it's all about!" Josh shouted, raising his cup in a toast.

I clinked my drink against his, feeling a rush of happiness. I was exactly where I wanted to be—surrounded by friends, laughter, and good music.

As the night progressed, I felt my worries fade, and I knew this was going to be a night to remember.