Chapter 56

KAIA

Callum's hand was warm in mine as we stepped into the mansion, and it was like we crossed into another universe. The air inside smelled like expensive perfume and spilled tequila.

Nokia by Drake thumped through speakers so loud the walls almost pulsed with the beat. Neon lights flickered from every direction, casting everyone in golds and purples. I blinked a few times, taking it all in.

Everywhere I looked, people looked like they'd just stepped off red carpets or Instagram explore pages. Perfect skin, perfect outfits, too much money, too many secrets. I instantly felt underdressed even though I had tried. Tried to keep up. Tried to look like I belonged here beside Callum.

He did. God, he so did.

People kept calling his name, nodding at him, patting his back, giving him those chin-up, cool-guy greetings. He responded to everyone with that confident grin, but through it all, he never once let go of my hand.

That... grounded me. Made me feel like I wouldn't get swallowed by this house and the energy that buzzed through it.

Someone came over—this guy in a silk shirt and too many rings—and motioned us to follow him through a hallway that led to a massive lounging area, sunken with a marble fire pit in the center and floor-to-ceiling windows behind it.

His friends were already there, draped across velvet couches, laughing about something. They all looked like they lived on yachts and only ate food that came with gold flakes.

"Callum!" one of them called out, lifting his drink.

They all turned their attention toward us. A couple of them smiled at me. I gave them a shy smile back, recognizing a few faces I'd only seen in tagged posts on social media.

But one of them stood out immediately.

Melody.

I remembered her from Coachella. Adrien's crush. The one Amy said he used to be into. She was prettier in person, if that was even possible. Face like a magazine cover. And the moment her eyes landed on me, she looked me up and down, slow and deliberate, before smiling.

It didn't reach her eyes.

At all.

I sat down next to Callum, across from the group. He immediately leaned forward to catch up with whatever joke they'd been in the middle of, talking fast with his hands, and everyone started laughing again.

I tried not to look completely out of place, keeping my gaze on whoever was speaking, nodding like I understood even though I didn't have a clue what they were talking about—NFTs, some luxury beach party in Cabo, someone's dad buying them a penthouse in New York.

It was like listening to a podcast in another language.

Then Melody leaned toward me. "So, you go to Ivywood, right?"

I blinked. "Yeah."

"Cool. That's where Adrien goes too, right?"

My stomach dipped.

"Uh-huh," I said quickly, trying to keep my tone neutral.

Callum turned slightly at the mention of Adrien's name. I felt it.

Melody's smile grew a little sharper.

"I think I saw you with him at Coachella."

I swallowed. "We ran into each other."

"You know his sister, right? Amy?"

"Yeah. We're... close."

"Ohhh," she drawled, dragging out the word, like she was connecting imaginary dots. "So are you close with Adrien too?"

I froze for half a second. Her tone was too sweet. Too curious. And when I glanced up, I caught Callum's eyes on me now, his expression unreadable.

"I mean, not really," I said quickly, hoping to shift the conversation. "I know him through Amy."

"But Coachella's a big place," Melody said casually. "And I definitely saw you two together. You guys seemed... close."

Callum turned fully toward me.

"Wait—you didn't tell me you saw Adrien there. You said you got separated from Amy and just chilled for a bit."

My heart stuttered. "I—I did. I ran into him by accident. We just talked."

Callum frowned, eyebrows knitting together.

"Talked where? For how long?"

His voice was getting sharper now. Too many people were starting to listen. I could feel eyes on me from around the lounge.

I tried to stay calm.

"Callum, it wasn't a big deal. It was just a few minutes—"

But Melody cut in, her tone feigning innocence.

"That's weird. Adrien was gone for hours that night. Didn't come back to our group until the end of the set. We all thought he hooked up with someone."

Silence.

A thick, awkward silence settled in the room like a fog.

Callum suddenly stood up, brushing invisible lint off his jeans.

"I'm gonna get a drink," he muttered, his voice clipped.

I watched him walk off, muscles tense. The line of his jaw was tight. He was mad. And he didn't even try to hide it.

Melody sipped her drink, a smug little smirk on her lips.

I looked away, chewing the inside of my cheek.

I didn't owe her anything. And yet, she made me feel like I'd just exposed something I hadn't meant to.

And worse than that—I wasn't even sure what bothered me more.

The fact that Callum was pissed... or the fact that Adrien had left that much of an impression on me that night.

An impression I couldn't seem to shake.

OoO

I stood in the corner of the room, my drink untouched in my hand, watching Callum from a distance. He looked... fine. Laughing with the crowd, tossing back shots like water, head thrown back as someone cheered beside him. His arm was slung around a guy I didn't recognize, and the sight twisted something in my chest.

It was like he had already decided to drink the night away—maybe to forget what Melody said, maybe to avoid asking more questions. Either way, it was clear I wasn't getting a ride back to campus tonight. I sighed, already pulling out my phone to check the Uber app when I realized I needed to pee.

I weaved my way through the crowd and climbed the stairs. The second floor was quieter, dimmer. Couples were sprawled out on every couch and hallway bench, talking in hushed tones, limbs tangled like vines. I didn't even know where to start looking for the bathroom.

"Hey," I said gently to a girl walking past in glitter heels. "Do you know where the bathroom is?"

She slowed down, blinking at me like she was trying to focus.

"This one's clogged," she said, gesturing vaguely over her shoulder. "But you can use the one in the master bedroom. End of the hall. Big white door."

"Thanks," I said, already heading that way.

I knocked lightly before pushing the door open, praying I wasn't about to walk in on someone mid-hookup. When the room was empty, I let out a breath of relief and stepped inside.

It was huge—like hotel-suite huge—with floor-to-ceiling windows and a bed that looked more expensive than my entire dorm.

I spotted the bathroom on the other side and started walking toward it... but the door suddenly creaked open behind me.

I turned, startled, just as a guy stumbled in and shut the door behind him.

He didn't see me at first. He made a beeline for a cabinet near the dresser and started rummaging through drawers, muttering something under his breath. Then I saw it—small plastic bags, white powder.

Cocaine.

I took a step back. The bathroom no longer mattered.

I started toward the door, but my foot hit a loose floorboard and the creak made him turn. His eyes widened slightly when he saw me.

"Shit," he said. "Didn't see you there."

"Sorry," I said quickly. "I was just... looking for the bathroom. I'll find another one."

I reached for the door, but before I could open it, his voice stopped me.

"You Callum's girl?"

I paused, my hand still on the doorknob. "Yeah...?"

He stepped closer, too close.

"What's wrong with this bathroom?" he asked, leaning against the door now, effectively blocking it.

My heartbeat picked up. "Please move."

He tilted his head, smirking. "Relax. I don't bite."

I took a step back, suddenly aware of how alone I was, how loud the music downstairs was, how far away Callum felt right now.

"I said move."

He didn't. Instead, he moved toward me, his eyes dark and glassy.

"You're real pretty," he slurred. "Didn't think Callum had taste like that."

He reached out and touched my arm.

"Don't," I snapped, shoving his hand away. I tried to push past him, but he was stronger. Way stronger.

His arm locked around my waist and before I could even scream, I was slammed back against the wall. His mouth was on mine, rough, unwanted, hands grabbing at my sides.

"No—stop!" I gasped, trying to twist away. I shoved him as hard as I could and finally got free enough to slap him across the face.

The sound echoed in the room.

And then pain exploded in my cheek as he hit me back—hard. I crashed to the floor, my head spinning.

"Stupid bitch," he growled, looming over me. I tried to crawl away, but he dropped to his knees, grabbing at my shirt, trying to rip it open.

"No—get off me!" I sobbed, thrashing beneath him, my voice cracking as I screamed.

And then—

The door burst open.

Someone grabbed him from behind, yanking him off me and shoving him hard against the wall. I gasped for air, crawling toward the corner, trembling as I pressed myself against the cold wall, clutching what was left of my shirt.

"What the hell, Tyler? Are you crazy?" the other guy shouted. "Back the fuck off!"

Tyler stumbled, looking dazed, but the rage in his eyes hadn't cooled. I watched through tears as the other guy pushed him back again, holding him away from me.

Then he turned toward me, his voice gentler.

"Are you okay?"

"Don't touch me!" I screamed, recoiling as he took a step closer.

He stopped, hands raised in surrender.

I pushed myself up, my whole body shaking, tears blinding me, and bolted out the door.

I stumbled down the stairs, my breath shallow and shaky, my hands gripping the banister like it was the only thing holding me upright. The music was louder down here—too loud—and the lights too bright.

My face was wet, and I didn't even realize I was still crying until I caught the curious glances from strangers as I moved through the crowd.

They stared. Whispered. Pointed. Someone even asked if I was okay, but their voice was distant, like I was underwater.

I just needed to find Callum.

My eyes scanned the partygoers frantically until they finally landed on him—right in the middle of the living room, a shot glass in one hand, his arm slung around someone's shoulder, laughing like the night was the best thing that had ever happened to him.

He was so far away from me in that moment. So far from what I needed.

I stood there frozen, hoping maybe he'd see me, maybe he'd notice something was wrong. But he didn't. He was too caught up, too drunk, too... oblivious. And I couldn't breathe.

The tears just kept coming, falling faster now, harder. My chest caved in with every breath I tried to take.

Talking to him wouldn't help. Not now. Maybe not ever.

So I turned around and walked out.

The night air hit me like a slap—cool and sharp, stinging my skin. I kept walking, arms crossed tightly around my chest as I made my way down the long, winding driveway, the gravel crunching beneath my shoes.

My legs felt numb. My body ached. I didn't even know where I was going.

I reached for my phone with trembling hands, trying to think. I wanted to call Amy. God, I needed her. But then I remembered—she was out with Nate. On a date. Probably happy.

And I didn't want to ruin that.

My thumb hovered over her name before I pulled it away and kept scrolling.

Then I saw him.

Adrien.

My fingers moved before I could think, before I could reason with myself. I didn't know why. I didn't even care. Something deep inside me just knew—he would come.

I hit call.

It rang once.

Twice.

And then he finally answered.

"Adrien," I finally choked out, my voice breaking. "Please... can you come get me?"

That's all I managed before another sob escaped.

"I'm on my way," he said, firm. Steady. There was no hesitation. No questions asked.

That was all I needed.

I collapsed onto the pavement at the edge of the driveway, dropping to my knees as the phone slipped from my fingers. My arms wrapped around myself and I cried—loud, messy, and broken. I didn't care who saw. I didn't care who judged.

I just wanted to feel safe again. And maybe—just maybe—he'd help me remember how.