𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝔀𝓪𝔂 𝓘 𝓵𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓭 𝔂𝓸𝓾

ོ༘₊⁺☀︎₊⁺⋆.˚

Emberlyn stood in front of the full-length mirror in Celina's room, adjusting the strap of her dress for the third time.

The silk clung in all the right places — a deep red that looked expensive, a little reckless, and more revealing than anything she usually wore.

It wasn't about looking good for anyone. It was about showing up and not looking like the girl who cared too much.

"You're gonna shut the whole party down in that," Celina said, flopping onto the bed with a half-curled piece of hair and a can of hairspray in her hand.

Emberlyn turned, glancing over her shoulder at the open back. "It's not too much?"

"It's exactly the right amount of too much," Celina said. "Especially considering she will be there."

Nicole and Conrad weren't officially anything, but anyone with eyes could tell there was... something.

Some tension

It was the kind of thing Emberlyn tried hard not to notice, but it still clung to the edges of her brain like static.

"I don't care," Emberlyn said.

Celina looked at her. "You don't have to lie. Not to me."

Emberlyn gave a one-shoulder shrug and sat down on the edge of the bed to strap on her shoes. "I'm not gonna get weird about it. She can hang out with whoever she wants."

"She's not the reason you're upset," Celina muttered, brushing mascara onto her lashes.

She had barely spoken to Conrad since the night he crashed her date with Charlie — a date he had no business interrupting.

They'd fought, hard. And the worst part?

She still hadn't decided if she was more mad that he showed up, or that she'd wanted him to.

A knock on the door was followed by it creaking open — no time to answer.

"Jeremiah left my charger in here—"

Conrad stepped into the room and stopped.

His eyes landed on Emberlyn — half-turned, one strap slightly off her shoulder, dress clinging to her like it was sewn onto her skin.

Her face was bare except for a swipe of eyeliner, hair pulled back with a few pieces falling loose around her face.

She didn't move. Didn't say anything. Just looked at him once and then back down at her phone like he wasn't even standing there.

"Sorry," he said quickly. "Didn't know you were in here."

" it's her room" Celina didn't look up from her mascara. "And It's on the desk."

He grabbed it, lingering for a second too long.

"You look—" he started.

Emberlyn didn't look up. "Don't."

That made him pause. She didn't raise her voice. Just said it, calm and cold.

Conrad nodded once. "Right."

He turned, hesitated like he wanted to say something else, then left.

The door shut behind him.

Celina exhaled. "Damn."

"I'm not doing this tonight," Emberlyn said, standing up and grabbing her lip gloss. "I'm not letting him ruin this."

Celina gave a small smile. "You didn't even let him speak."

"Good."

She clicked the gloss shut. No more lingering glances. No more half-finished fights. No more excuses.