The sun had dipped low by the time the van pulled up to the luxurious apartment complex. The evening sky bled soft hues of orange and purple, casting long shadows across the polished pavement. It was Evie's private apartment every year, his party was the talk of campus, an invite-only event that students scrambled to be a part of.
The van came to a halt with a gentle hiss. Frances stepped out first, her heels clicking confidently on the stone driveway. Rain followed, his eyes scanning the lavish surroundings, blinking up at the softly lit balconies above. The van rolled away as the driver went to park. Just then, another sleek car pulled up behind them.
"Your car followed?" Frances asked, her eyes narrowing slightly as she turned to Rain.
"Yes, he is bodyguard so he can't leave my side," Rain replied calmly, glancing back at the man behind the wheel.
Frances scoffed, her brows lifting with scorn. "He is not quite useful as a bodyguard. He should have beaten up tons of people in your house if he were."
Rain gave a tired smile. "He was hired by my dad. He possibly can't beat up my aunty, right?"
"Well true!" Frances smirked, then without warning, looped her arm around his. Rain froze for a moment, visibly surprised.
"You're my date. It's not unusual to hold hands," she said simply. They walked forward, the soft wind tugging lightly at her hair as they approached the wide glass doors.
Two suited guards flanked the entrance. They bowed respectfully at Frances, who gave a casual nod and strolled inside with Rain in tow.
"They didn't ask for invites?" Rain asked, glancing back with a slightly puzzled expression.
"Why would they? I come to this house every time. Evie is my best friend, so they know me well enough."
"Oh, true."
The lavish interior of the apartment bloomed into view, ambient lighting, soft music, and students in glittering attire scattered in lounges and by the poolside. The buzz of conversation was almost drowned out by a loud, excited scream.
"My big sis is here! Oh my God!"
Evie sprinted toward them, throwing his arms around Frances in an enthusiastic hug, planting kisses on both her cheeks. Everyone's eyes were suddenly on them. on her. Rain noticed several students taking discreet photos already.
"You look beautiful, Frances!"
"No, you look stunning, baby! I love your makeup!" Frances said, her voice playful and warm. Evie beamed and blushed hard.
"I'm glad you do! Who is your date?" His eyes darted to Rain, scanning him head to toe with a raised brow. Rain instinctively took a step behind Frances, uncomfortable under the scrutiny.
"My date is anonymous, boo," she said, with a flip of her hair.
"Anonymous? Why does he look like Rain? But Rain is not this handsome."
"How do you know that he is not?! Whatever! I'm going up. Just send me some champagne, please and steak too!" Frances grabbed Rain's hand and pulled him along through the marbled hallway to the open terrace above.
The breeze was stronger up there, and the view was beautiful, the pool glittered below with lights as music floated up to them. Most of the guests were in the pool or on lounge chairs, but the moment Frances stepped out with Rain, heads turned again. Whispers ignited. Pictures were snapped quickly, phones lowered just as fast.
Rain sat down as she guided him to a cushioned couch, then plopped beside him. Evie reappeared moments later with a maid trailing behind him carrying a tray of food and champagne. He slumped next to Frances and curled an arm around her neck.
"Who is the boy?" Evie asked again.
Frances shot him a withering glare. "Idiot! It's Rain, of course!"
"Rain?!" Evie leapt to his feet with a dramatic gasp, shouting so loud the music practically paused.
"How come it's Rain?"
"Why can't it be Rain?"
"Rain looks this good? Are you kidding me?" Evie leaned in, inspecting Rain's outfit, the stylish boots, tailored clothes, dark sunglasses. He peered closer… then gasped. "I knew it! Everything about Rain just changed overnight. He pierced his ear? Big sis, did you fall in love with him because he pierced his ear and changed his look?"
Frances hurled a spoon at him, it bounced off his chest, and he caught it midair with a laugh.
"What's going through that shallow brain of yours? We just ended up here together. It's nothing serious."
"How is it not serious? You just brought a man to a date!"
"Get out and leave me alone! Are you happy now after announcing to everyone that I brought Rain?" Frances snapped. Evie turned sheepishly toward the staring crowd, slapped a palm to his face.
"I'm sorry! I'll go attend to my guests. We'll talk about this after the party!" He fled, and Frances rolled her eyes.
"So noisy! What are you all staring at? Go away!" she yelled. Instantly, guests turned their heads, pretended to resume conversation.
She glanced sideways at Rain. He was sitting stiffly, hands folded in his lap, clearly not at ease.
"Eat your food," she said, picking a piece of steak and holding it up to his mouth. He quickly took the fork from her hand and ate quietly. She smiled and switched plates with him, giving him the one she'd already chopped up.
"Is it good?" she asked.
Rain gave her a thumbs up.
After eating, Frances passed him a glass of champagne. He shook his head.
"I don't drink."
"You don't drink or you have never drank before? Which one is it?"
"Both."
"You can start today!" She grinned mischievously and poured the drink into his mouth, holding it closed playfully. Rain sputtered slightly at the sweet-sour taste burning his throat.
"How is it?"
"Tastes awful!" he replied with a grimace.
"The more you take, the more you like it!" she winked and handed him the glass again.
Rain obediently sipped slowly. Frances downed the whole bottle in one go. Her face flushed, eyes a little glazed. She was drunk and radiant.
"You can really handle your alcohol well, don't you? The first time I took alcohol, just one glass took me out!" she slurred slightly, leaning back and gazing up.
"The stars look beautiful, do they not?"
Rain glanced at the night sky but only for a moment. His eyes returned to her. The flush on her cheeks. Her smile.
He wasn't looking at the stars. His star was sitting beside him.
"You look beautiful, Frances," he whispered to himself. She didn't hear, but her content smile made his heart race.
After a few minutes, Rain stood up quietly, heading toward the restroom. He avoided the crowd, eyes low, careful with each step. But even then, he didn't go unnoticed some students watched curiously.
Just as he stepped out of the restroom, two older students blocked his path. He could see They weren't from his class. They didn't look friendly either.
"What are you doing?" Rain said nervously.
"What were you doing with Frances?" one of them demanded. Rain's shoulders stiffened. He looked down, guilty.
"She just brought me to the party."
"She just brought you to the party? As who? We all know that Frances doesn't follow boys except the ones in her close circles. Now you came here as her date, hands locked together like some couple?"
"She did that just to make me feel safe," Rain murmured.
They burst into mocking laughter.
"This Rain Piper is really slow, right?"
"He is never beating the allegations!" the other added with a sneer.
"Don't even think of getting close to Frances or else I will chop you up! I don't care about the damn rules the school board gave, I will deal with you severely!" The taller one grabbed Rain's chin, tilting his face up.
"Really?" a voice echoed from the restroom entrance.
A heavy boot flew through the air. thwack! hitting the boy square on the head. He yelped in pain.
"Who the fuck is that!?"
"It's me, your grandmother!" Frances stormed forward, rage blazing in her eyes. Without hesitation, she punched the other guy across the face. He stumbled back with a groan.
She blew on her knuckles with flair. "If I see you threaten Rain again, I will chop off your leg too!"
"Frances?"
"Scram!" she yelled. They bolted, clutching their wounds.
She turned to Rain, grabbing him. "Are you okay? Did they hurt you?"
"They did not," he said softly.
"I was looking for you everywhere. Why didn't you tell me that you were coming to the restroom? I would have come with you."
"I didn't want to disturb your star watching."
"It's fine," she said, kicking off her second boot and tossing it aside. She staggered slightly, and Rain caught her by the waist.
She looked up at Rain and smiled, drunk, dazed, and utterly bewitched. Her fingers gripped the lapels of his jacket, tugging him forward with surprising strength. Rain stumbled slightly, his back hitting the wall with a muted thud. The low light from the hallway cast soft golden hues across their faces, flickering against the glass panels behind them.
Without a word, Frances yanked off his glasses. Her eyes widened the moment they were gone.
For the first time, Rain didn't flinch or turn away. He let her stare.
Frances took in his full face, her breath catching. His eyes, deep, blue, oceanic, held something quietly piercing, a depth she had never noticed. His jawline was sharp and clean, nose sculpted, and the two dimples that crept onto his cheeks when he smiled gave him an air of devilish charm. It didn't make sense. He was too flawless.
Her fingers trembled as they hovered over his cheekbones, finally making contact like she was touching something fragile, rare. Rain smiled, genuine, soft, a little shy and that only made it worse.
"You look so handsome Rain… No! This is definitely not handsome, this is an insane amount of beauty for a man to have. Why do you look so beautiful, Rain?" she whispered, completely stunned, her eyes scanning his every feature as if committing them to memory.
"You think I look handsome?" he asked, almost shyly, his voice barely a murmur.
"You are beautiful, just like a girl but not girlish! Oh my goodness!" she screeched, the sound bubbling up like a teenage crush being realized. Her voice echoed softly down the corridor.
She reached out again and touched his face with both hands now, gently tracing the outline of his jaw, brushing her fingers against the faint stubble on his chin. Her thumb caressed his cheekbone, and she giggled like a girl seeing her favorite idol up close.
"This kind of beauty should be brought to my house for me to see every day!" she whispered, her voice thick with wonder.
Rain's heart was pounding so loudly he could barely think. Her presence overwhelmed his senses, the scent of champagne on her breath, the heat radiating off her flushed skin, the dreamy gleam in her slightly glassy eyes. His throat tightened, his breath grew shallow. He wasn't just in awe, he was drowning in her.
And yet, he let himself float in the moment.
Her face moved closer, tilting slightly. thumbs softly brushing his skin. Her lips parted as she leaned in, so close he could feel the warmth of her breath mingling with his. Their noses almost touched. Their lips, just a heartbeat apart.
His lips parted slightly, his eyes half-lidded, mesmerized by her closeness.
Frances was short of self-restraint as she made a mouth to kiss him, so close, His face cupped by her hands and their lips almost touching…
"Frances, what the hell are you doing?!" Lawrence's voice exploded behind them.
The kiss landed on Rain's cheek. The group stormed in, yanking Frances away. Rain quickly slipped his glasses back on.
"Let me go! Don't snatch my beauty away!" Frances wailed.
"Oh my God, Frances is drunk!" Cora gasped, checking her forehead.
"Rain, you bastard! Are you trying to take advantage of her?" Lawrence shouted, stepping forward.
"I'm not!… I wouldn't do that at all!" Rain stammered, looking helpless.
"Why are you kissing here?"
"We didn't… we just… it's not what you think! I didn't try to kiss her, she moved close to me herself."
"She was clearly drunk. Why can't you push her away? Are you trying to steal her first kiss? Are you worthy of Frances?"
Rain's face crumpled. "I did not take advantage of her… I didn't." His voice was almost a whisper.
"Lawrence, stop accusing Rain. You know the kind of person he is," Abby said, pulling him back.
"They were breath to breath just now, I saw it."
"Rain cannot take advantage of Frances unless she wanted it. Even while drunk, Frances is still Frances, you know?" Cora added. The group nodded solemnly.
"Let's take her into a room upstairs so that she can rest," Evie said.
Lawrence scooped her up in his arms. She threw her arms around his neck.
"Oh, my beauty! My Rain! Let's go home together!"
Everyone froze. Stared.
"My Rain??!!!" they all echoed in unison, eyes darting to Rain.
"I will be going home first!" Rain blurted, cheeks burning, and ran off quickly.
"When did Frances and Rain hook up?" Morgan asked no one in particular.
They all looked at each other, hands lifted, speechless.