I was already at home when my mother said that , we had to attend another one of Aunt Carol's 'family gathering' party , which was mainly for the purpose of establishing connection. Great I'm already tired
**At the party
The summer evening air was thick with the scent of expensive perfume and grilled food, a stark contrast to the usual takeout nights at my place. Aunt Carol's annual garden party was in full swing, a forced networking event disguised as family fun. I was doing my best impression of a wallflower, hovering near the dessert table and wondering how much longer I could politely avoid distant cousins, when the familiar, irritatingly smooth voice cut through the polite chatter.
"Well, well. Look who decided to grace us with her presence."
My shoulders tensed. I didn't even need to turn around. Felix. My nemesis.
I spun slowly, ready with a sarcastic retort, but the words caught in my throat. He looked… different. Not just his usual designer clothes, but the way he was moving, a subtle air of command, like he owned the entire sprawling garden. He was talking to a man in a perfectly tailored suit who looked remarkably like him – an older, more imposing version. This had to be his father.
Felix caught my eye, a flicker of that familiar annoyance mixed with something unreadable. He gave a curt nod to his father, then drifted towards me, a half-empty glass of what looked like sparkling water in his hand.
"Fancy meeting you here," he drawled, his gaze sweeping over my modest sundress before landing on the half-eaten eclair in my hand. "Decided to slum it with the common folk for a change?"
I narrowed my eyes. "What are you even doing here, Felix? This is a family event, not a photoshoot for 'Rich Guys Who Love Annoying People'."
A faint smirk played on his lips. "My family happens to be quite… connected. My aunt is quite good friends with your Aunt Carol. Small world, isn't it?" His eyes held a challenge. "So, still avoiding eye contact, or have you finally decided to acknowledge your existence outside of a library?"
My jaw tightened. "And you, still charming everyone with your delightful personality?" I countered, trying to sound as unbothered as possible. The sheer audacity of him, judging me at a family party! "Some of us actually enjoy quiet evenings without causing a scene."
He let out a soft, humorless chuckle. "Quiet evenings? Boring. You should try a real party sometime, Elisa. One where the biggest excitement isn't finding a first edition." He took a slow sip of his drink, his gaze intense. "Unless, of course, you're that boring."
The insult stung, but I refused to let it show. "Maybe my idea of 'excitement' doesn't involve scratching luxury cars or putting up with arrogant jerks," I shot back, emboldened by a sudden surge of irritation.
Felix's smirk vanished, replaced by a steely glint in his eyes. He leaned in slightly, his voice dropping to a low, dangerous tone. "Careful, Elisa. You might find there's more to an 'arrogant jerk' than you think."
Just then, his imposing father called out, "Felix! We're needed. Come." Felix gave me one last, unreadable look, then turned and effortlessly melted back into the crowd of high-society guests, leaving me fuming by the dessert table, feeling both infuriated and inexplicably intrigued.Just then, my Aunt Carol, a woman who usually ran on nervous energy and gossip, appeared at my side, her eyes wide with what looked like polite terror. "Elisa, darling! And Felix! So good to see you both chatting. Felix, your father was just looking for you." Her voice was a little too bright, a little too strained. I noticed her hand subtly reach for my arm, a tiny, almost imperceptible squeeze that screamed, don't mess this up. Clearly, the connection between their families was more significant than just "friends."
Felix gave me one last, unreadable look, then offered Aunt Carol a polite, almost practiced smile. "Of course. Excuse me." He turned and effortlessly melted back into the crowd of high-society guests, leaving me fuming by the dessert table, feeling both infuriated and inexplicably intrigued. Aunt Carol immediately pulled me aside, her whispers frantic. "Elisa, honey, do you know who that is? That's Felix Alaric Thorne! His family practically owns half the city! We need to be on our best behavior around them!"
I just stared at her, the eclair forgotten. Felix Alaric Thorne. Suddenly, the scratched car, his dismissive attitude, and his strange presence at my aunt's party made an alarming amount of sense. This was going to be a lot more complicated than just a college rival.
Elisa's pov
The party was dragging, and after the jarring encounter with Felix, I tried to blend into the background. I even managed to find a relatively quiet spot near a rose trellis, hoping to escape the relentless chatter. That's when Carol's son, Mark, sauntered over. He was a few years older, known for inheriting his mother's social climbing tendencies but none of her polite discretion. He also had a history of being overly "friendly" with any new face at these gatherings.
"Well, well, if it isn't the new arrival," Mark drawled, his smile a little too wide, a little too close. He smelled faintly of stale whiskey and expensive cologne. "Enjoying the festivities, cousin?" He leaned against the trellis, effectively boxing me in.
I managed a tight smile. "It's… lovely, Mark."
"Oh, come on, don't be shy," he continued, taking a step closer. His eyes lingered uncomfortably on me. "You look like you could use some cheering up. This whole 'first day of college' thing can be a real drag, huh? Maybe I could show you around my part of the city sometime." He extended a hand, not for a handshake, but to lazily brush a strand of hair from my face. My stomach churned.
I recoiled, trying to sidestep him. "No, thanks, I'm fine."
His smile didn't waver, but his eyes hardened. "Playing hard to get? I like that. Makes things more interesting." He moved closer again, blocking my path, and his hand reached out, this time aiming for my arm.
Just as his fingers brushed my elbow, a new voice, surprisingly firm, cut through the air. "I believe the lady said no."
Both Mark and I turned. Standing a few feet away, looking impeccably put-together, was Caleb. His usual cheerful demeanor was replaced by a calm, almost stern expression. He wasn't smiling, and his eyes were fixed on Mark.
Mark scoffed, straightening up. "Cal? What are you, her personal bodyguard? Mind your own business."
"My business is ensuring guests are comfortable," Caleb replied, his voice even, but with an underlying steel I hadn't heard before. "Elisa is a guest. You're making her uncomfortable."
Mark's face flushed, probably unused to being challenged. "She's family! We're just having a chat." He tried to brush it off, but his gaze kept flicking to Caleb's unyielding stance.
Suddenly, a shadow fell over Mark. He instinctively looked up, and his forced bravado completely deflated. Looming behind Caleb, utterly still and radiating a silent, dangerous intensity, was Felix. His eyes, dark and sharp, were locked onto Mark with a gaze that promised swift, unpleasant consequences. He didn't say a word, didn't make a move, but his mere presence was a cold, hard threat.
Mark actually swallowed hard. His swagger evaporated. "Right. Well. I just... I was just leaving." He practically stumbled away, mumbling an excuse about needing another drink, disappearing quickly into the crowd.
The tension in the air slowly dissipated. I let out a breath I hadn't realized I was holding.
"Are you alright?" Caleb asked, his face softening with concern as he looked at me.
I nodded, still a little shaken. "Yeah. Thanks, you two. Really. I didn't..."
Felix finally spoke, his voice low, his eyes still following Mark's retreating form for a moment. "Some people don't understand simple words." He then turned his piercing gaze to me. "Next time, just tell them to back off. Or better yet, kick them where it hurts." His advice was blunt, but for once, it didn't feel like a jab. It felt… practical.
Caleb chuckled, stepping closer. "Don't listen to him. Just come find me. Or, clearly, him." He gestured to Felix, who just gave his usual unreadable half-smirk.
I managed a genuine smile, feeling a surprising wave of relief and gratitude wash over me. "I'll keep that in mind. Thanks again, both of you." This was definitely not how I expected my evening to go, and certainly not how I expected to see Felix and Caleb.
Felix's pov
The Family Gathering
The annual summer party at Aunt Carol's. Another obligatory social event. My father's idea of a good time was a room full of people he could impress or network with. Mine was generally anywhere else. I was making the rounds, enduring the usual insipid conversations, when I spotted her by the dessert table. Elisa.
She was wearing some simple sundress, looking entirely out of place amidst the designer gowns and tailored suits, clutching an eclair like it was a life raft. A wallflower, clearly. Yet, despite her quiet demeanor, she seemed to draw my eye. Most of the people here were transparent, their motives shining through their forced smiles. She, on the other hand, was always slightly unreadable. Just existing.
I walked over. Couldn't resist the urge to provoke her, to see that brief spark of annoyance in her eyes. "Well, well. Look who decided to grace us with her presence," I drawled, watching her shoulders stiffen.
She spun around, ready to snap, then actually paused when she saw me with my father. A moment of genuine surprise. Good. Keeps her on her toes.
"Fancy meeting you here," I said, letting my gaze sweep over her modest attire. "Decided to slum it with the common folk for a change?"
She immediately bristled. "What are you even doing here, Felix? This is a family event, not a photoshoot for 'Rich Guys Who Love Annoying People'." Her comeback was quick, sharper than I expected from her. Another point for Elisa. Most people just stammered.
"My family happens to be quite… connected," I replied, a smirk playing on my lips. "My aunt is quite good friends with your Aunt Carol. Small world, isn't it?" I watched her carefully. "So, still avoiding eye contact, or have you finally decided to acknowledge your existence outside of a library?"
"I just... prefer quiet places. And reading," she'd said at the bookstore. Now, she countered, "And you, still charming everyone with your delightful personality?" Her sarcasm was surprisingly dry.
I chuckled. "Quiet evenings? Boring. You should try a real party sometime, Elisa. One where the biggest excitement isn't finding a first edition." I took a slow sip of my drink, watching her face. She was quiet, yes, but not meek. There was a stubborn defiance in her eyes that was… intriguing. Different from the usual.
"Maybe my idea of 'excitement' doesn't involve scratching luxury cars or putting up with arrogant jerks," she retorted, her voice low but firm.
That stung. She always went for the jugular, didn't she? No filter. Just said what she thought. "Careful, Elisa," I warned, stepping closer, my voice dropping. "You might find there's more to an 'arrogant jerk' than you think."
My father called me away then. Good. The conversation was getting too… interesting. As I walked off, I glanced back. She was still standing there, by the desserts, looking ruffled but not broken. Not scared. Just… thoughtful. She was definitely something else. A breath of unpretentious air in a room full of carefully constructed facades.
The party was a predictable bore. Same faces, same insincere smiles, same droning conversations about investments and charities. I was half-listening to some distant relative drone on about their summer home when I caught sight of Elisa. She was tucked away near a rose trellis, trying to disappear. Classic Elisa.
But then Mark, Aunt Carol's son, sauntered over. I knew Mark. Spoiled, arrogant, and with a particular talent for making women uncomfortable. My jaw tightened. He was leaning in too close, invading her space, his smile slimy. He reached for her arm, that familiar predatory glint in his eyes.
My gut clenched. The girl was clearly uncomfortable. She was recoiling, trying to politely refuse, but Mark wasn't getting the hint. He was pushing.
Before I could move, Caleb stepped in. Good. Cal always handled these things with a polite firmness I couldn't always manage. "I believe the lady said no," he stated, his voice calm but sharp enough to cut through the din.
Mark scoffed, predictably. "What are you, her personal bodyguard?" The idiot.
"My business is ensuring guests are comfortable," Caleb replied, his tone unwavering. He was good at this.
But Mark still looked like he was going to argue, his face flushing with that petty rage of someone unaccustomed to being denied. That's when I moved. I didn't say anything. Didn't need to. Just stepped up behind Caleb, letting my presence be felt. Mark saw me, and his face drained of color. The bluster died instantly. Good. He knew better than to cross me, or anyone under my implicit protection, especially not over some clumsy attempt to harass a guest. He mumbled an excuse and practically sprinted away. Pathetic.
"Are you alright?" Caleb asked Elisa, his voice immediately softening.
She nodded, still looking a little shaken. "Yeah. Thanks, you two. Really. I didn't..."
I cut her off. "Some people don't understand simple words." She needed to learn to stand her ground more forcefully. Or at least, not look so damn vulnerable. "Next time, just tell them to back off. Or better yet, kick them where it hurts." It wasn't my usual advice, but it felt right. She needed to toughen up.
Caleb chuckled, offering her his usual sunny disposition. "Don't listen to him. Just come find me. Or, clearly, him." He gestured to me.
Elisa actually managed a genuine smile. A real one. Not the nervous, apologetic kind. It was... surprising. And somehow, it made the whole annoying incident worth it. "I'll keep that in mind. Thanks again, both of you."
I just nodded. She was different, alright. Not just quiet, but resilient. And she had a way of cutting through the noise, even if it was with a clumsy collision or a sharp retort. She certainly made these endless, predictable parties a little less insufferable.
Unexpected Help
The rain was coming down in sheets, turning the campus paths into slick, treacherous rivers. My umbrella had decided to commit suicide somewhere between the cafeteria and the main hall, leaving me drenched and shivering, my books already starting to warp from the downpour. I cursed under my breath, contemplating a mad dash through the deluge to the nearest covered walkway.
Just as I took a tentative step, a black car, sleek and imposing, pulled up alongside me, kicking up a spray of rainwater. The window glided down with a quiet hum, revealing Felix behind the wheel.
"Get in," he commanded, his voice surprisingly devoid of his usual annoyance, though his expression remained as unreadable as ever.
I stared, too surprised to move. "What?"
"Are you deaf? I said, get in," he repeated, a hint of impatience creeping into his tone now. "Unless you enjoy looking like a drowned rat. Your books are going to be ruined." He gestured vaguely at the soggy mess in my arms.
Hesitantly, I opened the back door and slid onto the plush leather seat. The interior was warm, dry, and smelled faintly of expensive cologne and new car leather – a stark contrast to my current state. He didn't say anything, just put the car in drive and pulled away from the curb, leaving the drumming rain behind.
"Uh... thanks," I mumbled, feeling incredibly awkward. "You don't have to do this."
He scoffed, his eyes on the road. "Don't flatter yourself. You're blocking the path, and I'd rather not hit you again. Where are you headed?"
"The humanities building," I replied, still reeling from the unexpected act of... kindness? It was so out of character for him.
He simply nodded, the silence in the car stretching, punctuated only by the rhythmic swish of the wipers. I risked a glance at him. He was focused on the road, his profile sharp against the passing blur of rain. He didn't look annoyed, exactly, just... concentrated. For the first time, without the usual confrontation, he didn't seem like the arrogant jerk I'd pegged him as. He was just a guy, driving.
As we pulled up to the humanities building, he cut the engine. "There. Try not to run into anything else."
"Right," I said, a small, genuine smile touching my lips. "Thanks, Felix. Really."
He met my gaze briefly, a flicker of something almost like… a challenge? A question? in his dark eyes, before he simply nodded once. "Don't mention it." And as I stepped out into the still-falling rain, I felt a strange shift. The encounter hadn't been about an arrogant rich kid and a clumsy college student. It had just been two people, one offering help, the other accepting it. And that, in itself, was surprisingly more complicated than I'd thought.