The night air hit me like a slap.
Cool. Sharp. Annoyingly fresh.
Xavier didn't say a word as he dragged me out of the grand hall and into the shadowed courtyard, the sounds of music and laughter muffled behind us. His grip on my wrist wasn't tight, just firm. Controlled. Like him. But it still pissed me off.
"Let go of me!" I yanked free, taking a step back and glaring at him under the soft garden lights. "What the hell is your problem?"
He turned slowly, his jaw taut, his shoulders drawn tight beneath the smooth black fabric of his tux. "You."
I blinked, taken aback. "Excuse me?"
"You're my problem," he said, voice low and gravel-edged. "You're everywhere—your voice, your laugh, the way you talk to everyone like you haven't turned my entire world inside out."
My heart thudded once. Then again. Harder.
I crossed my arms, masking the way my skin prickled. "So what? You decided to drag me out of a party like some medieval caveman because you can't handle your emotions?"
"You were about to claw her face off," he snapped, stepping closer.
"i had it under control! "
"She crossed a line."
"I can handle myself."
"I know." A pause.
I stared at him.
"What?"
He shook his head, pacing a few steps away, hands buried in his pockets. "You don't need anyone."
"Not even me," he muttered.
Something tugged at my chest, unexpected. "You're right. I don't."
He turned sharply to face me again, expression unreadable. "But I do."
My breath caught.
The words hung in the air like a noose. Soft. Raw. Dangerous.
"I need you," he said, voice rough now, like it physically hurt to admit it. "And every time you laugh at someone else's joke or smile at Nate or let Evan touch you—"
"That's what this is about?" I cut in, stunned. "You're jealous?"
"I'm losing my damn mind, Coco."
I didn't know what to say. Not when the most emotionally constipated boy in school had just confessed something that cracked the foundation of everything he'd been pretending to be.
"I didn't ask for any of this," I whispered, suddenly unsure.
"Neither did I." His voice softened. "But here we are."
Silence stretched between us like a pulled thread.
I looked away, swallowing hard. "You can't keep doing this—pushing me away, pulling me back. Fighting for me one second and then acting like I disgust you the next."
"I know," he said. "I'm trying."
"Try harder," I whispered.
Another pause.
Then—
He took a step forward. "Coco."
I looked up.
And for a second, I thought he was going to kiss me. Right there, in the moonlight, with the music humming behind us and the whole world on pause.
But he didn't.
He reached up instead and gently brushed a loose strand of hair from my cheek. Then he stepped back, like it took every ounce of restraint not to touch me again.
"You look beautiful tonight," he said, his voice nearly a whisper.
And then he turned and walked back into the ballroom.
Leaving me with a wild heart, trembling fingers—
And the terrifying realization that he wasn't just getting under my skin.
He was in it.
-----
The second I stepped back into the ballroom, it was like something had shifted.
The lights still sparkled, the music still played, laughter and chatter still buzzed through the air—but to me, everything suddenly felt hollow. Distant. The colors had dulled, like someone had drained the party of its life.
Because he wasn't there.
I scanned the crowd instinctively, my eyes searching the sea of gowns and tuxedos for that familiar brooding silhouette. Nothing. Xavier was gone.
Just like that, the night had lost its glow.
I shook off the thought and glanced around. Sid was across the room, still dancing, her cheeks flushed pink, grinning up at Mike O'Brien like he'd just promised her the moon. I couldn't help but smile. She looked… happy. And maybe that was all that mattered.
I made my way over when the song ended, brushing past floating gowns and laughter I no longer felt part of.
"Hey," I said gently, placing a hand on her arm.
She turned, eyes bright. "Coco! Where've you been?"
"Needed some air," I said simply. "Listen, Sid… I think I'm gonna head out."
Her face fell. "Already?"
I nodded. "Yeah. Long day. Too many weird vibes. My head's pounding."
"Do you want me to come with you?" she offered quickly.
I shook my head. "No. You stay. Seriously, I want you to enjoy yourself. You deserve tonight."
She hesitated, glancing over at Mike, then back at me. "Are you sure?"
"Positive." I smiled, nudging her arm. "Just be safe, alright?"
She nodded, clearly torn, but I could tell she wanted to stay. And I wanted her to.
As I turned to leave, I nearly bumped into a tall figure coming up behind me.
"Leaving already, Cutie?"
Nate. Of course.
I looked up at him. His golden hair was tousled, his tux slightly undone like he'd been partying hard but still looked annoyingly perfect. His brow furrowed when he saw my expression.
"Everything okay?" he asked, voice gentler now.
"Yeah," I sighed. "Just tired."
He didn't look convinced. "Want me to walk you back?"
"No," I said quickly, forcing a soft smile. "Thanks, though. Really. But… would you do me a favor?"
"Anything."
"Keep an eye on Sid?"
His expression softened further. "Of course."
I squeezed his arm briefly. "Thanks, Blondie."
"Anytime, Cutie."
And with that, I turned and walked away, heels clicking softly against the marble as I slipped through the double doors, out of the noise, out of the magic, and into the quiet darkness of the school halls.
By the time I made it back to the dorms, I was a mess.
Not on the outside—I walked like I had it together. Chin up. Shoulders back. Just a girl returning from a glamorous night. But inside?
Inside my brain was a hurricane.
Xavier. The red-eyed students. James and his cryptic warning. Sid and Mike. Kiara. Xavier again. That dance.
That… moment.
I pushed open my door and stepped into the silence. The room was dim, bathed in soft amber from the tiny reading lamp by my bed. Sid hadn't returned yet, thank God. I needed space to think, to breathe.
To fall apart, maybe.
I reached up and unclipped my hair, the bobby pins tugging slightly as I pulled them free. The curls tumbled around my shoulders, frizzed slightly from all the dancing and tension. I didn't care. I peeled off the dress slowly—careful with the zipper, careful not to tear the green fabric Sid had worn like armor earlier—and swapped it for one of my cotton nightdresses. Thin straps. Soft and simple.
It was only when I turned to toss the dress onto the chair that I saw him.
Standing silently near the window, arms crossed, face half-shadowed by the moonlight bleeding in through the blinds. Eyes locked on me.
"Jesus!" I jumped back, clutching my chest. "Are you trying to give me a heart attack?"
He didn't answer.
Didn't move either.
Just stood there, watching me with that unreadable expression he wore like a second skin.