"Why are you tagging along? This isn't some kid's birthday party, Jen!" Jade, my older cousin, snaps, his eyebrows furrowing as he glances at me with annoyance.
I cross my arms, unfazed by his glare. "There are no kids here. I'm not some baby, Jade," I retort, stepping closer to him. "Besides, you're not the boss of me. I’m coming whether you like it or not."
He looks at me with a raised eyebrow, his tone turning colder. "I don’t have time for you to be causing trouble at my party. Go back to your room before I—"
"Before you what?" I cut him off with a mischievous smile. "What’s the worst you can do? Tell Uncle Tom? Because I’m pretty sure he’d love to hear how his 'sweet boy' spends all his money on these stupid parties instead of actually studying like he promised."
Jade’s face twitches at the mention of my uncle. He knows I’ve got him wrapped around my finger when it comes to family matters. I see the slight hesitation in his eyes, but he quickly tries to hide it.
"You're impossible," he mutters, turning to walk away, but I follow him, not giving up that easily.
"You know," I continue, my voice sweet and playful, "If I go back to my room, I might just decide to share all those juicy stories of yours with the family." I raise my phone, as if getting ready to text.
Jade spins around, his face reddening. "You wouldn’t dare."
"Try me," I tease, leaning in closer with a wink.
Jade glares at me for a moment, but then, with a heavy sigh, he reluctantly relents. "Fine. You can come. But stay out of my way."
I grin, triumphant. "Thanks, Jade. You're the best."
I quickly rush up to my room, the excitement buzzing in my veins. Pulling open my cupboard, I sift through the clothes, eyes scanning for something that would stand out. I need to look good—something bold, yet effortless. Then, my eyes catch it. A shimmery short blue dress, the exact shade of my eyes.
"Perfect," I murmur to myself, a smile tugging at my lips as I slide it on. The fabric hugs my curves just right, making me feel confident and... a little dangerous. I finish getting ready with some subtle makeup, making sure I look just the right amount of polished but not too done up.
When I’m finished, I stand in front of the mirror, admiring the way the dress fits and how it makes me feel. Ready for the night.
As I head downstairs, I’m hit by the change in atmosphere. The house is alive with bright disco lights flashing across the walls, loud music pulsing through the air. The crowd is full of unfamiliar faces, new figures, and the overwhelming feeling of being a stranger in a place that’s supposed to be mine. I’ve only been staying with Jade for a week since I came here for college, and so far, everything about this place feels like a mix of excitement and chaos.
I take a deep breath and step down into the living room, eyes scanning the crowd. I’m looking for Jade, or at least someone familiar, but when I glance across the room, my gaze locks with a pair of intense grey eyes.
I freeze for a moment, caught in the magnetic pull of his gaze. His eyes, a striking shade of grey, pierce through the crowd like a storm on a dark horizon. He’s standing near the bar, leaning against it with a casual ease, but there’s nothing casual about the way he looks at me.
His lips curl into a slight smirk as our eyes lock. My heart skips a beat, and I quickly glance away, feeling a rush of heat creep up my neck.
"Jennet," I hear Jade's voice cut through the music, pulling me back to reality. I turn to find him pushing through the crowd, his frown back in place. "What are you doing here?"
I quickly gather myself, trying to push the strange feeling of attraction aside. "Just… looking for you," I lie, forcing a casual smile. "You know, making sure you’re not embarrassing yourself."
Jade eyes me suspiciously but doesn’t argue. "Whatever. Just stay out of my way, alright?"
But my attention is still drawn to the guy with the grey eyes. He's watching me closely, his gaze unwavering, and for a moment, I wonder if I’m imagining the way his stare sends a shiver down my spine.
"Who’s that?" I ask Jade, nodding toward him, my voice a little too breathless.
Jade follows my gaze, and his expression hardens. "Don't talk to him," he warns sharply. "That’s Axel. He’s trouble."
"Trouble?" I repeat, raising an eyebrow, a mix of curiosity and challenge stirring within me. "Why? Because he’s not part of your usual crowd?"
Jade's jaw tightens. "No. Because he doesn’t care about anyone or anything, Jen. Just stay away from him."
But his words only intrigue me more. There's something about the way Axel looks at me—like he knows exactly what he wants, and right now, it’s me.
I watch as Jade disappears back into the crowd, joining his friends, leaving me standing alone. I glance around the room, trying to keep my focus anywhere but on Axel, but it’s impossible. The guy seems to pull all the attention in the room—like a gravitational force. Every time I try to avoid his gaze, it feels like I’m drawn right back to him.
I catch a few girls sneaking glances at him too. And honestly, why wouldn’t they? Axel is sexy as hell. His sharp jawline, dark hair, and that effortless charisma practically scream trouble—and I can't help but feel like it’s pulling me in, even when I tell myself I shouldn’t care.
"Get a grip," I curse under my breath, turning away from the crowd and heading toward the pool area to clear my mind. At least out there, I can focus on something else. A group has gathered, and there's some kind of ridiculous game going on where if you lose, you get thrown into the pool. How original.
I watch the people toss each other in with bored amusement, leaning against the stone edge. "Lame," I mutter to myself. There’s something about the whole scene that feels childish, but I can’t deny it’s a distraction.
"Why aren't you taking part?" Axel’s words send a shiver down my spine, and I freeze. Without thinking, I turn around, my breath catching as soon as I meet those grey eyes again.
For a second, it feels like the entire world has paused. The sounds of the party fade into the background, and I’m lost in his gaze. There’s something in the way he’s looking at me—like he’s seeing more than just the surface, like he’s studying me, unraveling me with just a glance. It makes me feel exposed, but in the best way possible.
"Um, I’m not really into... getting thrown in the pool," I manage to say, my voice quieter than I intended, but the words come out shakier than I’d like.
Axel steps a little closer, his presence commanding but not overwhelming. "You don’t seem like the type to back down from a challenge," he says, his lips curling into a smirk. "Unless you’re scared."
My heart beats faster, and I feel that familiar spark of defiance rising within me. “Scared? Me?” I tilt my head slightly, meeting his gaze head-on. "I’m just not interested in looking ridiculous."
He raises an eyebrow, clearly amused. “What’s the point of a party if you’re not willing to make a fool of yourself?”
I can’t help but smirk at his challenge, even as the heat creeps into my cheeks. "I guess I'm not one for cheap thrills," I reply, trying to keep my cool, even though the way his eyes never leave mine makes it impossible to think straight.
Axel chuckles, low and almost teasing. "Well, maybe I’ll change that. Maybe you are up for a challenge after all."
Before I can respond, he steps back and casually strolls toward the pool, his confidence oozing from every step. I watch him for a moment, my heart pounding in my chest. There's something about Axel—a wildness, an unpredictability—that draws me in even though I know I should probably stay away. I bite my lip, unsure of whether to follow or not, but then I hear a few people urging me to take part in the game, and I hesitate for only a moment before deciding to dive in.
I follow Axel to the pool's edge, where a few others are getting ready for their turn. His eyes flick back to me as he notices I’ve joined in, and for a brief moment, I see a glimmer of something dark and dangerous in his stare. It’s almost like a challenge between us now, unspoken but undeniable.
"Ready to lose?" he teases, his voice low, sending a thrill through me.
I can feel the tension crackling in the air between us, the playful yet dangerous edge to his words pulling me deeper into whatever game he's playing. I tilt my chin up, staring him down. "We'll see about that," I reply, my voice steadier now.
The game is simple enough—there are a few glasses of shots lined up on a table, each one filled to the brim with alcohol. The rules are easy: finish your drink first, and you win. But the stakes? Whoever loses gets tossed into the pool. It’s childish, but it feels like everything just got a little more serious.
There are about ten glasses on the table, each one daring me to drink faster than the others. I eye them, already feeling the warm burn in the back of my throat at the thought of downing so many in one go. It's not like I've never drank before, but this is different.
Axel steps beside me, his posture casual, yet everything about him feels charged. His grey eyes never leave me, and despite the noise of the party around us, I can feel his focus like a heatwave. There’s something in the way he’s looking at me, something that makes the playful edge of the game feel suddenly… intimidating.
My heart skips a beat, and I try to shake off the nervous energy creeping up my spine. I reach for the first glass, trying to make my hands steady, but they’re betraying me. I take a deep breath, feeling my palms start to sweat. Axel, meanwhile, is effortlessly cool, his gaze still locked on me, as if daring me to make the first move.
“Feeling nervous?” he teases, his voice low, almost mocking.
I
shoot him a glance, the words barely leaving my lips before I manage to force a smirk. “No,” I say, trying to sound confident, but my voice betrays me with a slight tremor. “I’m just warming up.”
Axel’s smirk widens, and for a moment, it feels like the entire world has narrowed down to just the two of us.
The countdown begins, and I try to focus on the glasses in front of me. I knock back the first shot, the alcohol burning as it slides down my throat. But the heat in my chest is nothing compared to the one I feel from Axel’s intense gaze.
He finishes his first drink, and then his second, without even breaking a sweat. I glance up to see that he’s already ahead of me. Damn it.
The crowd cheers, but I can barely hear them over the sound of my own heartbeat. I take another shot, this one going down a little easier. But Axel—Axel is already on his fourth glass, his eyes still locked on me, a silent challenge in them. I feel my pulse race, my hands trembling slightly as I try to catch up.
“Come on, Jen,” he taunts, his voice smooth like velvet but sharp underneath. “Don’t tell me you’re already out of steam.”
I grit my teeth, pushing the fear and nerves down. This isn’t just about winning the game anymore. There’s something deeper to it, something in the way he’s looking at me, like he knows exactly how to push my buttons. Like he’s testing me—seeing how far I’ll go.
“Just watch me,” I mutter, determined to finish this, even if it means I have to outpace him somehow.
But it's not simple.
Axel reaches his second-to-last drink, lifting it effortlessly as if the game is child’s play to him. Meanwhile, I’m still struggling with my fifth, the burn of the alcohol starting to make my head spin. He gulps it down in slow motion, each movement deliberate, like he’s mocking me with every swallow. His grey eyes stay fixed on me, a smirk tugging at his lips, and I can feel the heat rising to my cheeks.
I glance at the glasses left on my side, frustration bubbling in my chest. I’m barely halfway, and he’s already down to one. There’s no way I can catch up now, and from the look in his eyes, he knows it.
Axel straightens up, placing his hands on the table with an air of finality. “I forfeit,” he says, his voice loud and clear, cutting through the noise.
The crowd goes still, stunned murmurs passing through the onlookers. For a moment, I think I misheard him. Forfeit? He was one drink away from winning. Why would he throw the game?
His eyes never leave mine, their intensity making me feel like I’m the only person in the world. It’s unnerving, the way he stares, like this entire thing was just for me.
Before I can ask what the hell he’s doing, the crowd erupts into cheers, pulling my attention back. That’s when I realize what’s happening. Axel’s hands go to his shirt, slowly unbuttoning it, one button at a time.
The noise around me fades into a dull hum as my eyes are glued to him. His shirt falls open, revealing a chiseled chest and toned muscles that look like they belong on the cover of a fitness magazine. Every movement is unhurried, deliberate, like he knows exactly the effect he’s having—not just on me but on everyone watching.
My breath catches, my chest tightening as I watch him toss the shirt to the side. The cool night air seems to ripple across his skin, but Axel doesn’t seem to notice. Or maybe he just doesn’t care.
He runs a hand through his messy hair, smirking as he steps toward the edge of the pool. “Rules are rules,” he says with a shrug, his voice dripping with amusement. “Loser takes the plunge.”
For a second, I forget how to breathe. The way he carries himself, so confident and unaffected, has me completely spellbound. Axel glances back at me one last time, his gaze flicking down to my half-finished drinks before locking with mine again... before he dives into the pool with a smooth, effortless motion.
Water splashes up, the sound breaking me out of my daze. The crowd cheers louder as Axel emerges, his wet hair slicked back, droplets of water glistening on his skin under the pool lights.
I stare at him, my mind a whirlwind of confusion, irritation, and something else I can’t quite name. Why did he forfeit when he could’ve easily won? And why does it feel like I was the real target of this entire game?
Axel leans on the edge of the pool, his arms resting on the tiles, and smirks up at me, his grey eyes sparkling with mischief. “You’re up next, princess,” he says, his voice rich with challenge.
And just like that, I realize he’s not done playing with me—not even close.
Stay tuned for part 2😉🔥
