Chapter 50 PLEASE, SHOW UP
MERRIELYNN.
Monday, I was at my locker, pulling out my books for first period, when something slipped from between the slats.
A small, square envelope fluttered to the ground. Curious, I picked it up and turned it over in my hands. The front had my name written in neat, slanted handwriting. Opening it, I found an invitation inside.
“You’re invited to a party this Saturday. Please, show up.”
The note was handwritten, and the words made me smile. I didn’t need to guess who it was from. Tobias.
He'd used the exact same words as last time. It had to be Tobias. The handwriting seemed familiar, and the way the note was phrased—it just felt like something he’d do.
I tucked the note into my bag, but as I headed to class, my mind wouldn’t let it go.
Should I go? I wasn’t sure. Parties weren’t really my thing, but the idea of spending more time with Tobias was a little... tempting.
We now had some sort of history.
By lunchtime, I’d made up my mind to ask Emorie. She always had an opinion, and her advice—while often dramatic—was usually spot on.
I slid into the seat next to her at our usual table. “Hey, Em, I need your opinion.”
She perked up immediately. “Ooh, is it about a boy? Tell me it’s about a boy. Prefarably your boy.”
I rolled my eyes, fighting the urge to cringe at that last part. “Maybe.”
Her grin widened. “Spill.”
I pulled the note from my bag and handed it to her. She read it quickly, then looked up at me, her eyebrows raised.
“Tobias,” she said, like it was the most obvious thing in the world.
“You think so?” I asked, even though I already knew the answer.
“Please. Who else would write you a note like this? Again!" She pointed out, "He’s had a crush on you for months.”
Her words made my stomach flutter, even though I tried not to let it show. “Okay, but should I go?”
Emorie gave me a look like I’d just asked if water was wet. “Of course, you should go! You only live once, Mere. Plus, it’s not every day Tobias finally grows a backbone and makes a move. Again."
I laughed.
There were so many parties. And honestly, I was yet to have a good experience at one. “Fine. But only if you come with me.”
“Deal.” She grinned. “We’ll make a night of it.”
That settled it. By the time Saturday rolled around, I was more excited than nervous.
Emorie and I showed up at the party together, the music so loud we could hear it from the street. The house was packed, and the lights inside were dim, with bursts of neon flashing from somewhere in the living room.
But refreshingly, it wasn't Valtor's house.
It didn’t take us long to find Tobias. He was standing by the kitchen, a red cup in hand, looking a little out of place but still smiling. His whole face lit up when he saw me.
“Hey! You made it!” he said, his voice just loud enough to hear over the music.
“Of course,” I replied, smiling back.
We fell into an easy rhythm, chatting and laughing as the night went on. Tobias had always been easy to talk to, and with Emorie there to keep things lively, I was actually enjoying myself.
At some point, Emorie got hold of a drink that was clearly too strong for her. She was giggling uncontrollably, leaning heavily on me for support.
“You know,” she slurred, pointing a wobbly finger at Tobias, “I’m proud of you. Took you long enough to make a move on Care.”
Tobias looked confused. “What are you talking about?”
Emorie blinked at him, then at me. “The note, duh. The one you left in her locker.”
“What note?” Tobias asked, genuinely baffled.
My stomach sank. “Wait… that wasn’t you?”
He shook his head. “No, I didn’t leave any note. I just heard about the party and thought it’d be cool to see you here.”
I didn’t know what to say. If Tobias hadn’t sent the invitation, then who had?
Before I could dwell on it, something caught my eye. Across the room, Cormac was standing near the edge of the crowd, his sharp gaze locked on me.
Even in the dim light, I could see the anger etched into his face.
Our eyes met, and he tilted his head slightly, a silent command for me to follow him.
I froze.
For a moment, I considered doing exactly that. But then I thought better of it. Cormac didn’t get to dictate my night.
I turned back to Tobias and Emorie, pretending I hadn’t seen Cormac at all. “Let’s grab another drink,” I said, trying to shake off the unease creeping into my chest.
It worked, for a while.
But later, when I went to find the bathroom, Cormac cornered me in the hallway.
“Who’s the boy?” he asked.
I folded my arms, trying to look unbothered even though my heart was racing. “Tobias. He’s my friend. Why do you care?”
His jaw tightened. “I don’t want you around him.”
I laughed, though there was no humor in it. “What, are you going to ban me from talking to him too? Like you did with Valtor?”
“If I did,” Cormac said, stepping closer and throwing words back at me that I'd heard before, “you’d listen.”
“You’re insane,” I snapped, though my voice wavered. “You always do this. You show up, say the most confusing, mind-twisting things, and then just leave like it’s nothing.”
I expected him to walk away then, like he always did. But instead, he turned back to me, his eyes blazing.
And then he snatched hold of me in the blink of an eye.
“Is this what you want?” he demanded, pinning me against the wall with his body.
I gasped, my heart thundering in my chest. The heat of his skin pressed against me was impossible to ignore. His proximity, the intensity in his eyes—it was all too much.
“Cormac,” I began, but my voice came out barely above a whisper.
He didn’t move, didn’t say anything. His gaze dropped to my lips for a split second before snapping back to my eyes, and I hated how much I wanted him to close the distance between us.
“Am I interrupting something?”
I turned my head to see Valtor standing at the end of the hall, his expression unreadable but his eyes sharp.
Cormac stepped back so quickly it was like he’d been burned.
He didn’t say a word, rather just exchanged a long, tense look with Valtor before walking away.
I stood there, stunned, as Valtor approached. He didn’t speak right away, just studied me with an intensity that made my skin prickle.
“What was that about?” he finally asked.
I opened my mouth to answer, but no words came out.
How could I explain something I didn’t even understand myself?
Valtor didn’t press me further. He simply shook his head, like he was disappointed, and walked away.
I leaned back against the wall, trying to catch my breath. My thoughts were a mess, my heart still racing.
One question echoed in my mind as I stood there alone.
Why on earth does Cormac always leave me like this?
Affect me... this way?