ALINA’S POV.

    “Damn it.” Talia muttered under her breath in annoyance.

    “Hi, Evans.” I said with a smile.

    Evans wasn’t just good at academics, he was also great at sports, good-looking, and genuinely kind. He was the full package, and he had his fair share of girls flocking around him in college.

    “Well, I’ll be damned,” he said, clearly shocked. “You look stunning, Ally.” Heplimented me, pulling me into a warm. hug.

    “You clean up nice too, Evans,” I told him with a small smile.

    “Well, well, well… if it isn’t Taliana.” He teased, turning towards Talia and pulling her into a hug too.

    “Still not my name, Evangeline.” She rolled her eyes but returned the hug with a smirk tugging at her lips. !--

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    He chuckled.

    Evans had this charm about him, an effortless vibe that made it hard not to like him.

    “Well,e on inside. The party’s only just beginning.” He said as we followed him in.

    Whispers were already floating around, and I knew exactly who they were about, obviously me.

    I looked different now, the good kind of different.

    In college, I never bothered dressing up or trying to look pretty. I was known as Seraphina’s ghostly-looking sister. But now, I stood out, and seeing some jaws drop in surprise was more satisfying than I’d expected.

    The room was cozy, lit with a soft golden hue. A huge circr sofa hugged arge table in the center already stacked with food and drinks.

    Talia and I scanned the space for a free seat. There were a few, including one next to Adrian, who had Seraphina seated on his other side.

    Everyone watched me, expecting me to walk over and sit with him, like I used to.

    As if.

    I walked past him without sparing a nce and moved to a space at the far end, settling down with Talia beside me. “The fuck are you all looking at?!” Talia snapped, in a sharp voice filled with irritation as her re cut through the tension.

    She has had enough of their stares.

    Everyone quickly averted their eyes, and I couldn’t help the softugh that escaped me.

    Talia could be incredibly intimidating when she wanted to be.

    “You good?” She asked, concern heavy in her tone as she leaned in to study my expression.

    my w im going to do. To hell with everything else.”

    “Hell yeah.” She cheered quietly, raising her ss.

    a sinne. “I’m here to let loose, and that’s

    I knew I hated being in the same room with Adrian, Seraphina, and half the people here, but I wasn’t going to let them ruin my night.

    I was going to act like they didn’t exist.

    Twenty minutester…

    Remember when I said I was going to treat them like they didn’t exist? Yeah…that was easier said than done, because now everyone suddenly wanted to be in my business.

    “Did you get stic surgery done?” A girl, whose name I couldn’t even remember, asked, in a sharp and mocking tone. A few idiots chuckled around her, including Seraphina.

    “Not everyone needs to get a BBL done to look pretty or feel confident about their body.” I fired back calmly, taking a sip from my ss while locking eyes with her.

    “Burnnnnn.” Talia snickered loudly, clearly enjoying the show, which only made the girl scowl harder.

    Evans and some of his friends didn’t even bother hiding theirughter.

    “Damn, girl, you’ve been on fire all night.” Talia whispered in my ear, sounding genuinely impressed on how I was handling everything.

    “me the alcohol.” I told her chuckling softly.

    “Wanna leave?” She asked the same question she’d been asking me for thest twenty minutes.

    “I’m fine, Talia. I swear,” I said, cing a hand gently over hers. “The moment I feel ufortable, I’ll tell you, and we’ll leave.”

    “Alright, guys, let’s get things interesting and y a game of Truth or Dare.” Seraphina announced loudly, shooting me a mischievous smile.

    People around her cheered in excitement.

    Bunch of kids.

    I knew what Seraphina was doing, this was her pathetic attempt to embarrass me. She’d been ring at me from the moment I walked in, clinging to Adrian like someone was trying to steal him away.

    Well, at least now she wasn’t hiding the fact that they were an item.

    He, on the other hand, hadn’t taken his eyes off me since I arrived. Not that I was looking at him, but it’s hard not to notice when someone’s gaze feels like it’s burning a hole into the side of your head.

    I was sure if his eyes weresers, I’d have a hole in my skull by now.

    The game began. Seraphina spun the bottle, and itnded on some random guy. He picked dare.

    “I dare you to give us a strip tease for two minutes.” Seraphina said, making everyone erupt intoughter, including me.

    It was actually a good one, I had to admit.

    The guy got up and began his dare, dancing as he slowly unbuttoned his dress shirt with dramatic ir.

    The crowd howled withughter. A few girls cheered loudly, urging him to pick up the pace.

    “Come on, my grandma’s faster than that!” Someone called out, sending another wave ofughter through the room.

    He finally took off his shirt and threw it toward us. Itnded on a girl, and she squealed with excitement.

    “Wooohoooo!” She spun the shirt over her head like a prize. “Take off your pants!” She yelled shamelessly.

    Wow, I thought, amused. She’s really got no shame.

    Before he could make another move, his two minutes were up.

    “Awn.” Came a collective groan from thedies.

    The game continued… and then the bottlended on me.

    I picked

    “Alina, truth or dare?” the guy who spun the bottle began, smirking as he held my gaze.

    “Dare.” The words left my lips before I could stop them.

    I was going to say truth but the look in his eyes told me I would regret that choice so I went with dare.

    “I dare you to kiss someone in this room… someone you love.”

    The whole room fellpletely silent.