Page 4 of Heartstruck

Alli

The music hits me first, a deep and throbbing bass that I feel in my chest. The Omega Kappa house buzzes with energy, lights spill out from every window, and the laughter and chatter of students fill the night air.

I take a deep breath, trying to ease my nerves as I walk up the steps to the front door.

Inside, the house is packed with people, everyone talking, dancing, and having a good time.

The smell of popcorn and the tang of spilled drinks mix with the scent of cologne and perfume, creating an atmosphere that’s both chaotic and exhilarating.

I scan the room, searching for a familiar face, when I feel a tap on my shoulder.

“Alli girl! You’re here.” Olivia’s eyes sparkle with excitement as she pulls me into a hug. “I’m so glad you came!”

I flash a quick grin, feeling a bit more relaxed. “I couldn’t let you have all the fun.”

“Come, come, let’s get you a drink,” she says, leading me through the crowd. As we weave our way past groups of laughing students and couples dancing closely, I can’t help but feel excited and… alive?

Olivia hands me a cup, and I take a small sip; the beer leaves a bitter taste as it goes down. She grins at me, and I can’t help but laugh at her face.

“What?” I ask, wiping my mouth with the back of my hand.

“You don’t drink beer often. I can tell.”

“Not really, just like… at weddings.”

Olivia nods and giggles, “Well, welcome to the first of many frat parties of our sophomore year.” she waves a hand over the crowd like she’s my tour guide. “It’s mainly kegs and water if you need it. If you’re lucky, you can find sodas around here.”

Joyful.

“See? This isn’t so bad, right?” she says, nudging me playfully.

“Yeah, it’s not bad.” I shrug, taking in the environment. I did go to parties freshman year, but I stopped once my workload took a toll on me.

The night unfolds, and I start to relax and loosen up a bit, but I owe that to the beer.

Olivia chats with a group of friends, and I wander a bit, exploring the house.

I turn a corner and stop dead in my tracks.

Ethan Díaz stands ever-so-casually against the wall, talking to a few guys. My heart skips a beat.

A flicker of nerves hits me, and for a split second, I consider going over to say hi. Then logic slams the brakes. What would I even say? Hey, I’m the girl who turned your white shirt into a latte stain. Lunch?

Yeah, no.

As if his spidey senses kicked in, Ethan looks up, and our eyes lock. He gives me a friendly smile, and I feel my cheeks pour red. My brain scrambles for something—anything—to say, but the words lodge somewhere between panic and my throat. Desperate, I scan the room for an exit strategy.

“Uh, I need to find Olivia,” I mumble, already halfway down the hall. My heart thuds like a drum, and I’m internally screaming at myself for bailing like a total coward.

Lost in my thoughts, I don’t see the person in front of me until it’s too late. I crash into a broad chest and stumble back, only to be caught by a pair of strong hands.

“Whoa, are you okay?” A deep voice asks. And I happen to know it too well.

I glance up and meet the gaze of Jared Collins.

To most people, he’s one of the best wide receivers in the South, all golden boy charm and effortless talent.

To me, he’s just Jared Collins from Riverbrook Middle School, the boy-next-door type, if you ignore the fact that he didn’t actually live next door.

His shaggy blonde hair falls in just enough to look intentional, and his sharp blue eyes seem to see straight through you.

There’s a crooked, almost lazy smile playing on his lips, like he knows exactly what effect he has on people but won’t admit it out loud.

“Sorry, I didn’t see you there,” I stammer, feeling my face flush even more.

“It’s all good,” Jared says, his smile stretching across his face. “You look like you’re in a hurry.”

“Yeah, I was just, uh, looking for my friend,” I say, trying to regain my composure.

“You mean avoiding that guy?” he juts his chin slightly at the scene of the crime. “He’s good looking.”

“Shut up.” I feel my cheeks burning like a campfire.

“Oh, what’s this I see? A blushing Alli? Are you crushing on him?”

My eyes widen, how does he know about that? There’s only one answer. “Serena told you?!” I slap his arm.

Jared feigns innocence. “Ouch! That’s my catching arm! And she didn’t tell me per se . You guys really should use your inside voices when you’re on FaceTime.”

If it wasn’t clear that I was blushing before, I’m definitely blushing now, but out of embarrassment. “You heard us that night?!”

Serena and I had an hour-long call when she was moving into her apartment this past summer, and I practically gushed about seeing Ethan in the student center that day. I was convinced it was love at first sight and fate bringing us together.

Jared raises a brow when he sees my face flushing pink. I blame the beer. “Earth to Alli?”

“Oh, yeah, sorry, I’m fine.”

He studies me for a moment, seeming to weigh my words. “You sure? You look flustered.”

I manage a weak laugh, hoping to brush off my obvious discomfort. “Yeah, it’s just… crowded in here.”

“It’s an Omega Kappa party, they invite everyone.”

“Well, I wasn’t expecting this many people.” I cross my arms, still holding onto my drink. I hesitate, glancing around the room. “I really should go find Olivia.”

I turn to leave, but Jared’s arm halts me, making me raise a brow at his touch. “Need something?” I ask with unintentional sass.

“I haven’t talked to you in a while, since—”

“Since we graduated and we moved away?”

He nods, a nervous laugh leaving his lips. “Yeah, I just thought we could catch up. How are your classes so far?”

“Busy. The first few weeks always throw me off—it takes a minute to figure out the workload and actually juggle everything. But I’m managing.” I glance around again, hoping to spot Olivia. “It’s just been… a lot.”

“I feel that.”

“Yeah, Serena told me what happened. Everything okay?”

“If ‘okay’ means no longer running away at the sight of sprinkle cupcakes, then sure. I’m jolly.” Jared leans back slightly, the corners of his mouth tugging into a wry smile, his hands resting loosely on his thighs.

“But those are the best kind,” I shoot back.

“Not when a girl breaks into your dorm covered in icing and sprinkles. Naked.” His tone is dry, but the way he runs a hand through his shaggy hair, almost as if banishing the memory, says it all.

I shiver, the image making my stomach turn. “I don’t think I’ll ever eat a cupcake again.”

Jared’s expression mellows as he continues, “Transferring this late isn’t easy, but my advisor’s been great about helping me figure things out. College can be a lot sometimes, but it looks like you’re handling it pretty well.”

I shrug, trying to play it cool despite the tightness in my chest. I barely survived my first year here, but he doesn’t need to know that.

“Trying my best. It’s not easy, though.”

Jared’s smile shifts, suddenly sympathetic, which feels… strange. In high school, we were more rivals than anything else, always at odds, especially after that one night we hooked up. Things changed after that, at least for me.

“You know,” he says, his tone friendlier now, “if you ever need someone to talk to or just want a break from all this”—he gestures toward the crowd around us—“I’m around.”

Okay, now something is up.

“Did Serena tell you to talk to me?”

Something flashes in his eyes, then he schools his expression, but that split second tells me enough.

“ Ay, Dios mío , she did,” I groan, dragging a hand over my face. “I’m not a child, and I definitely don’t need a babysitter.”

“I never said you were a kid… but you’re sure acting like one now.”

I stomp my feet as a reflex. “I’m not acting like a kid. I just don’t need everyone swooping in to ‘help’ me. I’m perfectly capable of handling my problems.”

Jared’s eyebrow arches, his smile shifting into a full-blown smirk. “So, what are you saying? That you’re too grown up for a little help?”

“I don’t need a babysitter,” I snap, crossing my arms defensively. “I can manage just fine.”

“Is that so?” Jared grins, a daring glint in his eyes. “Well, you were always the independent one back in middle school. Didn’t you ace that science project about watering plants with milk and water? Solo, no less.”

“Yeah, and I remember you were the one who blew up the lab with your experiment, not exactly the best role model. Seriously, who does Coca-Cola and Mentos as a science experiment?”

Jared laughs, shaking his head. “Hey, I learned from my mistakes. And I’m not here to blow up your world. Just offering a little help.”

“I don’t need help, I need space,” I say, turning away slightly. “Besides, I don’t need Serena telling you to watch over me like a hawk. I’m not twelve anymore, Jared.”

“Serena wanted me to check in on you.” His tone grows more serious. “It’s not about being a kid, it’s about having someone in your corner when you need them.”

“Oh, so now you’re the expert on my life?” I shoot back, my frustration making me more defensive. “God, who made you my dad?”

“Not an expert or your dad,” Jared yields, holding his hands up. “Just someone who cares. If you’d rather I disappear and let you handle it alone, that’s fine. But don’t act like you’re the only one who’s struggling here.”

I look at him, realizing he’s not just pushing my buttons. There’s genuine concern behind his words. He avoids my gaze for a few seconds.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to snap. I just… I don’t want to talk about my problems right now. I’m fine.”

“I get it,” Jared says softer, the usual smirk replaced with something quieter. “Look, if you change your mind, I’m here. No judgment, no strings attached. Just someone who gets it.”

“Fine, whatever,” I say, offering him a quick, tight smile. “I’ll see you around.”

With that, I continue my quest to find Olivia.

I push through the crowd, finally spotting her energetic presence in the middle of the room.

The noise of the party grows louder, but it fades into the background as my anxiety creeps in.

I force a smile as I chat with Olivia, who asks if I’m having fun, but the energy around me only feels suffocating rather than freeing.

Every beat of the music amplifies the internal chaos spewing, making it harder to connect with the people around me.

The room feels too hot and too loud, and I can’t shake the sense that I’m feeling out of place.

Despite my efforts to blend in and let loose, the anxiety clings to me like a shadow at night. No matter how much I try to be present, it feels like I’m just going through the motions, struggling to find any real connection in the midst of the crowd.