25. A Party

25. A Party

That night, once Robert had left, the quiet in my room was lonely. I was on my bed, gazing at the ceiling, replaying all that we'd shared. His hands, his voice, his eyes—imprinted in my mind. It was hard for me to fall asleep because my mind is with full of his thoughts.

The following morning, I woke up unwillingly, the burden of my thoughts weighing heavily on each step. College was a haze. The same old lectures, familiar faces, yet my mind was preoccupied—distracted with thoughts of him. How is it that a person could take up so much space in your head?

I got ready to go college Emma was not coming to the college because of her injury.

I didn't receive any text or call from Robert. I was keep on checking my phone.

I reached college and entered the class.

I couldn't concentrate on the lectures and looking for Robert's text.

During the break, I just lied my head on the bench and closed my eyes. It was like taking a nap. Suddenly, a group of seniors entered our classroom. I got up and opened my eyes and looked at them. They are Robert's classmates but where is Robert. He didn't come to our class.

Seniors presence commanding attention. One of them stepped forward and announced, "Freshers' party tomorrow! Get ready to dress up, have fun, and show your talents!"

I randomly looked out of the window. I found Robert standing , looking at me continuously. This brought a bright smile on my face. Finally got a text from him.

" Sleepy ? " He sent.

I didn't reply but looked at him, placed one of my hands near the neck, under my hair and trying to avoid my gaze from looking at him continuously.

He smirked which is slightly teasing me.

Excitement spread through the air in the room, but my heart fell slightly. A freshers' party meant I'd going to encounter Robert formally, in a senior-junior environment. How could I cope with that? Would he be different towards me? Would he act as though nothing ever happened between us?

That night, sitting in my room trying to decide what to wear, my phone vibrated with a text from Robert.

Robert: "Wear something that makes you feel confident. Maybe red… it suits you."

I chuckled over the message but didn't respond. A couple of hours later, my doorbell rang. Surprisingly, it was a delivery man holding a package. Inside the box was the most beautiful red dress I'd ever laid eyes on—classy but provocative, with a note attached:

"For my junior. See you tomorrow. – R."

The following day, the atmosphere was party-like. Wearing the dress that Robert sent, I walked into the venue with eyes on me from all sides. I saw him standing almost immediately, amidst a group of seniors by the bar. His eyes met mine, and for a second, everything else melted away. He was stunningly handsome in his black blazer and crisp white shirt.

But my admiration was cut short by the glances other girls were sending him. They were giggling, whispering to each other, and even had one girl walk right up to him, twirling her hair as she talked. Jealousy stung me.

Robert's gaze never moved from me, however. He saw my look and smiled and obviously enjoying my unease.

As the night went by, one of the seniors declared a tradition: "Freshers, it's time to give a rose to the senior you admire the most!"

Roses were passed around on a tray, and I sat there and watched as practically every girl gave their rose to Robert. His hands were too full, and the smug expression on his face infuriated me.

When my turn came, I did the unthinkable. I strode right by him and gave my rose to a different senior—a gentle, low-key fellow I hardly knew.

Robert's jaw clenched, his smile wavering for the merest second. His eyes blazed with jealousy as he followed me out of the room. And, oh, how I cherished it.

After lunch, the dance session commenced. The seniors declared that a handful of juniors would be given the opportunity to dance with their peers, and our names would be chosen at random. To my own surprise—and terror—all my fellow male classmates inscribed my name.

As the announcer mentioned my name, a low growl crept from Robert's lips from the other side of the room. I could sense his eyes piercing into me as one of the students came forward to escort me to the dance floor.

I was about to take a step when my phone vibrated in my hand.

Robert: "Get to the parking lot. NOW."

My heart pounded as I slipped out of the hall, away from the crowd and the music. By the time I arrived at the parking lot, he was standing there, leaning against his car, his face unreadable.

He seemed otherworldly in the soft light of the street lamps, his angular face illuminated by the dark light. He straightened as I drew near, his eyes burning with ferocity.

Before I could utter a word, he took my hand, holding it closer. "Get in," he instructed, his voice low and authoritative.

I paused for a moment, but there was no arguing with the expression on his face. He opened the door to the backseat and led me in, closing it behind him.

The moment the door closed, he turned to me, his hands cupping my face. "Do you know how crazy you're driving me?" he said, his voice rough with emotion. "Watching you give that rose to someone else? Watching those guys line up to dance with you?"

I opened my mouth to answer, but he didn't allow it. His mouth landed on mine, desperate and urgent. The kiss was nothing like the ones we'd shared up until that point—raw, unfiltered, and with a hunger that spun my head.

His fingers moved down my arms, holding me close until there was no room left between us. His fingers slipped into my hair, holding fast as I reciprocated his passion.

"I can't stand the thought of anyone else having you," he murmured against my lips. His words sent a shiver down my spine.

"Robert," I breathed, struggling to get enough air.

His palms were on my waist, and he pulled me onto his lap as he kissed me deeper. The outside world melted into nothing; we were the only two people in this hot bubble of want and need.

When we finally broke apart, gasping for air, he leaned his forehead on mine. "You're mine, Amy," he whispered, his eyes scanning mine for a reaction.

I nodded, speechless. At that point, I knew there was no denying it—Robert possessed my heart in a way that no one else ever could.

The laughter of the party brought us back to our surroundings. Robert exhaled, swishing a piece of hair away from my face. "We need to return before they start searching for us."

I nodded once more, reluctantly getting off his lap. Stepping out of the car, he grasped my hand in his, giving it a gentle squeeze.

Walking down the hallway with me, the atmosphere was charged between us. My classmates looked at us questioningly, but I didn't care. The only thing that mattered was the unspoken vow that we exchanged: this was just the start.