Page 12

Eve

The music pulsed through the dance studio as I spun, the tips of my hair brushing against my shoulders in the low ponytail I tied it in.

The scent of rosin and wood oddly comforting. The movements felt like second nature, a series of motions so ingrained they were more instinct than thought. I pushed harder, losing myself in the music, the stress of life bleeding out with every sharp turn and fluid stretch.

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"Still practicing this late?" Katies voice echoed, breaking my rhythm. I turned toward the door sharply, wiping sweat from my brow. She leaned against the frame with her usual warm smile, dressed in her 90s inspired waitress uniform. Her vintage backpack hanging off of her shoulder.

"You know me," I said, grabbing my water bottle and tossing it into my duffel with the rest of my things. "Can't resist the peace of this place."

"Peace? You're practically setting the floor on fire." She crossed the room. "You've already spent 4 hours here, I'm here to pick you up."

I slung my duffel bag over my head, resting it on my shoulder. My steps sychronized with hers as we walked out of the broken and spent old university gyms.

"You're coming to the halloween party tonight, right?" My steps hesitated, I hadn't planned on attending especially since the whole fiasco with Carson went down. I had a plan, plain and simple. Stay out of Carson Blakes way. He was going to be my undoing, he was going to unravel me, I could feel it. I had spent the last 20 years on this earth making sure that wouldn't happen.

"I'm not sure. Costumes and drunk college kids aren't really my thing."

"They're not your thing yet." Katie smirked, climbing into the drivers seat of her car. "I hear Carson's going, and we both know you two light up any room together."

My chest tightened at the mention of Carson again. His grey eyes and easy smile had been haunting my thoughts more than I cared to admit. But what could I offer someone like him?

Katie studied me with a knowing look as she turned out of the car park. "You should come. You deserve to have fun, Eve. Besides..." She trailed off. "If Carson is too much of a pussy to play the long game, we can always find you someone new."

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I yanked my black mini dress down, only to regret my decisions a moment later as I nearly exposed the taxi driver my chest. Why did I let Katie convince me to wear a strapless dress.

"Right here. Thanks!" Katie exclaimed passing a 15 dollar bill to the driver, jumping out of the car she grabbed my hand and dragged me out with her. The smell of weed and alcohol filled my senses, sending bitter memories my way.

"Stop!" I shouted as my father's hand came my way, his hand froze inches away from my face. My body tensed. This was the first time I'd stopped my father's abuse since Luke had left for college. The urge to pick up the phone and call the police intensified every day.

"What did you say to me you whore?" I clamped my eyes shut as his face invaded me, the scent of whiskey whooshing in my face.

"I-i said...stop."I whisper out weakly, weak. That's what I was, thats what I always was as my father liked to remind me.

Finally opening my eyes, I looked into the eyes of my biological father. That's all he was, he shared my blood. He forced me to walk this earth yet he still punishes me for it. I envison myself, picking up the screwdriver under my pillow and slamming it into his neck. Then I'd do the same to mine.

I don't see the punch coming.

"Eve.." Katies voice trails off, snapping me out of my memory.

"I'm fine, just got out of my head for a second there." I laugh it off.

"Well-" She picks up my cat ears from off the floor, placing them on top of my head. "I think you look wonderful. If you want to leave at any time just tell me, I'll come with you."

"I highly doubt you'll be sober enough to recognise me." I say gently shoving her, she laughs and shoves me back as we make our way up towards the house.

The house was alive, throbbing with the beat of music and the chaotic energy of a Halloween party in full swing. Costumed students spilled out onto the porch, their laughter mingling with the thumping bass. Katie tugged me through the crowd, her hand gripping mine like a lifeline as we pushed past a pirate making out with a vampire and a guy in a banana costume who nearly tripped over his own feet.

Inside, the heat was overwhelming, a mix of too many bodies, spilled alcohol, and the artificial fog rolling across the floor.

Katie disappears the moment we step in, her vampire costume fading into the sea of partygoers. I adjusted the stupid cat ears on my head and smoothed my dress for what felt like the hundredth time, my nerves buzzing with every step.

I shouldn't have come.

I knew it before I even got into Katie's car, but standing there now, surrounded by flashing lights and the smell of cheap beer, the certainty settled deep in my chest. This wasn't my scene. And worse, I knew he was here.

I spotted him across the room before he saw me. Carson Blake, leaning against the counter like he owned the place, his signature leather scent somehow cutting through the haze of sweat and booze. He wasn't even in costume—just jeans and a T-shirt that clung to his frame in a way that made my mouth dry.

His hair was a little messy, like he'd run his fingers through it one too many times, and those grey eyes of his scanned the room like he was searching for something—or someone.

Katie's words echoed in my head: You two light up any room together. I shook my head, trying to clear the thought. No. Carson and I were a bad idea wrapped in an impossible fantasy. He didn't need my baggage, and I didn't need the heartbreak.

"Eve?"

I turned sharply, my stomach sinking as I came face-to-face with the last person I wanted to see tonight. Alex. He was dressed as a devil, which felt fitting, considering his behavior last time.

"You look incredible," he said, his eyes lingering on me in a way that made me want to crawl out of my own skin.

"Thanks," I said shortly, stepping back.

"Hey, about the other night," he started, leaning in like we were sharing some intimate secret. "I feel like we got off on the wrong foot. How about I make it up to you?"

I opened my mouth to tell him exactly where he could shove his apology when another voice cut in.

"You should go." Carson said, his hands sliding around my waist, pulling me back to him. "Maybe find someone else to bother tonight."

"You're a real cockblocker." Alex snarled.

Attempting to push past me to reach Alex, I reached my hand out to his bicep, pulling him back to me."If you don't leave this room in five seconds, I'll feed you your own cock." He growled, his hands tightening around my waist.

"No pussy is worth this much." Alex mumbled before turning away, my blood boiled.

"Oh, you're so fucking dead-" Carson shouted, pushing himself after Alex, I turned around to stop him, planting my hands on his toned chest.

"Eve.." He groaned, staring down at me with adoration. His eyes flickered towards Alex's retreating form.

"You didn't dress up?" His eyes snapped to mine.

"I can be whatever you want, baby."He whisperd, I shoved his chest away. Ignoring the double meaning between his sentence.

"Come, I'll introduce you to some of my guys." He said, his hand fixing itself onto my lower back as he led me through the crowd. People greeted him as we passed, shouting his name and throwing half-hearted compliments on his "non-costume," but his attention never wavered from me.

We stopped in the corner of the room where a group of guys—his teammates, I realized—were gathered around a keg. TK spotted us first, his grin widening as his eyes landed on me.

"Eve!" TK exclaimed, throwing his arms open like we were old friends. He was in a boxer costume, but his gloves hung off his neck, and he had a red solo cup in hand. "Damn, you clean up nice. Didn't think I'd see you here."

"She's with me," Carson said, his voice low but firm. There was no mistaking the possessiveness in his tone, and it sent a jolt through me.

"No I'm not." I said, proud I managed to get words out of my mouth.

"Oh, is she?" TK teased, arching a brow completely ignoring what I said. He took a deliberate sip of his drink, his eyes flicking between us like he was trying to piece something together. "Well, good for you, Cap. But, Eve, if you ever get tired of him, you know where to find me." He winked, and I rolled my eyes.

"Don't you have someone else to bother?" Carson shot back, though there was a hint of amusement in his voice.

"Not when I've got company this good," TK said with a smirk, leaning against the wall.

"I'm Kade." A guy in a medival knights costume comes up to greet me, "Eve".

"I hear your the girl that's brought my best friend down to his knees." He smirks at Carson above my head, I fluster feeling the heat rise to my cheeks.

"I certainly will not ever be in a position where Carson Blake is on his knees." I say, Kade lets out a laugh and TK snorts behind him. Carsons firm hand come up to my waist to pinch me, I squirm under the contact. Turning around to hit him with a glare.

"Well damn, I think I'm in love with you." Kade's laugh was rich and warm, and it made my embarrassment somehow worse. I glanced up at Carson, whose expression was a mixture of annoyance and something else—something possessive that made my stomach do a somersault.

"She's not available," Carson muttered, his grip on my waist tightening. I opened my mouth to protest, but Kade only grinned wider, clearly enjoying the tension.

"Relax, man. Just saying what we're all thinking," Kade said, holding his hands up in mock surrender before taking a sip from his drink. "But seriously, Eve, it's nice to finally meet the girl who's got our captain acting like a human."

"Barely," TK added, earning himself a sharp look from Carson.

The conversation flowed easily after that, with the guys teasing Carson mercilessly and occasionally dragging me into their banter. I found myself laughing despite my earlier anxiety, their energy infectious. I got introduced to many of the other teammates after that, all who seemed perfectly polite in front of their captain.

Kade kept making jokes at Carson's expense, while TK threw in exaggerated compliments every time I spoke. They were an odd group, but they had an undeniable camaraderie that made me feel unexpectedly at ease.

At some point, Carson's hand slid away from my waist, and I took the opportunity to step back, needing a moment to collect myself. I wasn't used to this—being the centre of attention, especially with Carson's intense gaze burning into me like I was the only person in the room.

"I'm gonna grab a drink," I said, gesturing toward the makeshift bar in the corner.

"I'll come with you," Carson offered immediately, but one of this teammates - James, I think - clapped a hand on his shoulder, pulling him into a side conversation about the next game.

"I'll be fine," I added quickly, not waiting for his response before slipping away. I needed space—just a little bit—to breathe, to think, to stop feeling like I was teetering on the edge of something I couldn't control.

I made my way to the bar, pouring myself a cup of something that smelled vaguely fruity but strong. I took a cautious sip, grimacing at the taste but grateful for the distraction. Leaning against the counter, I let my eyes wander over the crowd, taking in the chaos.

That's when I saw it.

Carson was still in the corner where I'd left him, but he wasn't talking to James anymore. Instead, he was watching as a girl I'd seen at eh football game as a cheerleader talked animatedly in his ear.

She was dressed as some kind of sexy fairy, her glittery wings catching the light as she tilted her head back in laughter. Her hand rested lightly on Carson's arm, her nails painted a shimmering gold, and my chest tightened at the sight.

He was smiling at her.

Not the polite, distant smile he gave most people, but the real one—the one that made his dimples show and his eyes crinkle at the corners. The one that he gives me.

I clenched my cup so tightly that the cheap plastic nearly buckled under the pressure. It shouldn't bother me. He wasn't mine—he never had been. But seeing him with her, looking so effortlessly charming, so completely at ease, made something bitter and ugly twist inside me.

"You good?" Kade's voice startled me, and I turned to see him watching me with a curious expression, his brow slightly raised.

"Yeah, I'm fine," I lied, forcing a smile.

"You sure? Because you look like you're about to murder someone—or cry. Hard to tell."

"I'm not—" I started to protest, but the words caught in my throat as I glanced back at Carson and Lola. She was leaning closer now, her lips moving near his ear, and whatever she said made him laugh softly.

Kade followed my gaze, his lips quirking into a knowing smirk. "Ah. Got it."

"It's not like that," I said quickly, but the heat rising to my cheeks betrayed me.

"Right." He didn't sound convinced. "You know, Carson's oblivious as hell when it comes to this stuff. He probably doesn't even realize she's flirting with him."

"I don't care if she's flirting with him," I snapped, more harshly than I intended.

Kade raised his hands in mock surrender. "Alright, alright. Just saying, if you want his attention back, it's not hard. Trust me, he's got it bad for you."

I opened my mouth to argue, to deny it, but the words wouldn't come. Instead, I turned back to the bar, downing the rest of my drink in one go. The alcohol burned on the way down, thank god, it would give me some confidence for what I was about to do next.