The silence of the night was quickly swallowed by the rhythmic thumping of bass and the distant sound of raised voices and laughter. As they pulled up to a sprawling two-story house, the yard was already swarming with people. Golden light spilled out from the open front door, illuminating groups of teenagers hovering around truck beds and red plastic cups.
Annie felt a sudden knot of anxiety tighten in her chest. She recognized a few faces immediately- people who hadn't spoken a word to her since she left, and others she remembered all too well for the wrong reasons.
Ethan killed the engine, but he didn't move to get out immediately. He noticed her knuckles turning white as she gripped the hem of her dress. He reached over, his hand hovering near hers in a silent offer of groundedness.
"Hey," he said, his voice dropping to that protective, soft tone he reserved only for her. "We're in and out, remember? If anyone makes you feel even a little bit small, we're gone. I've got you."
Annie took a deep breath, the scent of his cologne and the leather of the truck seats giving her a momentary surge of courage. She nodded, meeting his gaze. "I'm okay. As long as you don't leave my side."
"Not a chance," Ethan promised, his eyes flashing with a protective glint as he hopped out of the truck to come round and open her door.
They made their way inside the house, deep bass shook the walls as a sea of teenagers and college students filed in and out of rooms. Everyone mingling happily.
As Annie stepped through the front door, a number of eyes looked at her. A few flickered with recognition while others looked at her curiously.
Ethan's hand stayed on the small of Annie's back as he weaved them through the throngs of people before he pulled her into a different room. The room seemed to be a lounge room where tables, chairs and couches adorned it.
The room much quieter and had less people inside. Each person in the room had a red solo cup in hand, chatting happily.
"Annie! You're here!" Ellie chirped as she handed her cup to Riley and ran off towards Annie with her arms outstretched.
"Hey Ellie," Annie chuckled as she was engulfed in a hug.
"Before I forget, give me your number! I've been wanting to text you but I keep forgetting to ask!" Ellie shoved her phone into Annie's hands.
Annie chuckled as she typed her number in the phone, when she handed the phone back to Ellie, Ellie grabbed her wrist and pulled her forward.
As Annie felt herself being swept away by Ellie's whirlwind energy, a hand reached out, grazing her arm just enough to steady her, and a tall silhouette leaned down.
The heat of Ethan's breath against her ear sent a shiver straight down her spine, his voice a low, honeyed vibration that cut right through the thumping bass of the party.
"I see how it is," he murmured, a hint of a teasing pout in his tone. "The girl I practically had to kidnap via pebble-toss gives her number to Ellie in five seconds, yet I'm still out here working for it? I'm starting to think I'm losing my touch, Doll."
He didn't pull away immediately, letting the comment linger just long enough for her to feel the warmth radiating off his leather jacket before he straightened up. He gave her a wink that was both protective and devastatingly charming, his eyes promising that he hadn't forgotten the "deal" they made in the truck.
Annie's face flushed a deep, dusty rose, the heat from his breath still lingering on her skin even as Ellie tugged harder on her wrist. She stumbled back a step, caught between the momentum of her friend and the magnetic pull of the boy in the leather jacket.
She looked back at Ethan over her shoulder, her eyes wide and shimmering with a mix of shyness and a rare, playful spark.
"Maybe you're just not as smooth as you think, Ethan," she called back softly, her voice barely carrying over the music but landing right where she intended. She offered him a small, dimpled smile- the kind that felt like a secret just for him. "You never actually asked."
Before he could respond, Ellie's grip tightened, pulling Annie towards the group. "Go on," he added with a playful nudge toward the crowd. "But don't think I'm not getting that phone later. I've got a reputation to uphold, remember?"
Annie turned away quickly, her heart hammering against her ribs, leaving Ethan standing there with a lopsided grin as he watched the girl who had been "just a friend" three years ago disappear into the neon lights.
"Everyone this is Annie!" Ellie said happily, Annie took in the face of the people in the group. Riley stood with a girl around his arm, as he saw Annie he shoved her away.
Then she saw the familiar face of Natalie, the only girl in the school that treated Annie with an ounce of respect. Although they were never friends, Natalie always went out of her way to make Annie's life marginally better.
"Annie, it's good to see you again," Natalie offered Annie a small smile.
"Natalie, you look good," Annie smiled back at the girl.
Then her gaze moved to a brunette she didn't recognize, many people move in and out of the town every year, so Annie wasn't surprised to not know a few faces.
"Gina," she smiled, holding her hand out.
"Annie," she shook her hand.
Then beside Gina was non-other than Max. Although he hadn't said a word to her at the previous party, avoiding eye contact all together. This time he looked directly into her eyes, his facial expression unreadable.
"Max," Annie nodded her head towards the stoic man.
He grunted as a reply before turning his attention to a different direction. "What, I don't get a greeting?" Riley asked with a pout.