Stella’s POV
I stood just outside the stage area, the night air cooling my flushed cheeks as I looked down at my phone. The buzz of excitement from the crowd still hummed in the background, but my attention was locked on the text message from Liam.
“We won!! Come to the backstage room, I want to see you.”
I blinked at the message, my brows furrowing slightly. What did Liam want? Of course, I was happy for them. The performance was amazing, and they truly deserved the win, but still, what was this about? My fingers hovered over the screen, uncertain for a second, before I typed back:
“Congrats! I’ll be there in a few.”
With a deep breath, I pocketed my phone and started making my way toward the backstage room. Part of me was excited to see Liam and congratulate him and his friends in person, but another part of me felt… conflicted. Zeus had given everything during his performance too. He didn’t win, but in my eyes, he was still incredible. My heart tugged in two directions, but I pushed that feeling down. Tonight was supposed to be about celebrating the winners, and I didn’t want to take that from them.
I noticed Dana is no longer at the area too. Probably left the concert earlier.
---
As I entered the room, it felt like I’d walked straight into a whirlwind of energy. Liam’s face lit up as soon as he saw me, and before I could even say anything, he rushed toward me and wrapped me in a tight hug. I stumbled back slightly, surprised by the sudden embrace.
“We did it! We won!” he said, his voice bubbling with excitement. His eyes were sparkling with pride, and I couldn’t help but smile back at him, even though my thoughts were still a little tangled.
“Congratulations!” I said, hugging him back briefly before stepping away. “You guys were awesome up there. Seriously.”
Behind him, Rencio, Warren, and Janserd were talking loudly, their voices overlapping as they replayed their best moments from the performance. Warren was practically bouncing with excitement, while Rencio leaned casually against the wall, a satisfied grin on his face. Janserd was typing something furiously on his phone, probably updating his social media about the win.
On the other side of the room, Mia and Harper stood quietly in the corner, watching the scene unfold. Mia’s eyes were wide, her lips slightly parted as if she couldn’t quite believe what she was seeing. Harper, on the other hand, looked more amused than anything, her arms crossed as she leaned against the wall, clearly taking it all in.
Liam pulled back, still grinning like a kid on Christmas morning. “We’re throwing a party tonight at the other building on campus! You have to come, Stella. It’ll be fun.” he said, his eyes gleaming with excitement.
I hesitated for a moment, my mind flashing back to Zeus. I had planned to meet up with him after the event, and I knew he’d be waiting for me. The thought of ditching him for a party made me feel uneasy. 
“Uh, I don’t know…” I started, searching for an excuse that wouldn’t sound too lame. “I’ve still got a lot of stuff to do back at the dorm. My room’s a mess, and I have this report to prepare for…”
Before I could finish, Rencio groaned dramatically from behind Liam. “Oh, come on, Stella! You can clean your room anytime. This is a once-in-a-lifetime celebration!” he said, throwing his hands in the air.
Warren chimed in, a mischievous grin on his face. “Yeah! You can do the report later. Tonight’s for celebrating, not boring homework!”
Janserd glanced up from his phone and nodded in agreement. “Stella, seriously, you’ve gotta come. We already have everything planned. It’s going to be epic.”
I laughed awkwardly, feeling the pressure from all sides. It was hard to say no when they were all looking at me like that. But I couldn’t just leave Zeus hanging, could I?
“I mean… I really should get back and…” I started again, but before I could finish, Harper pushed off the wall and stepped forward.
“I can help you with your report if that’s what’s holding you back,” she said casually, her eyes locking onto mine with a small smirk. “It won’t take long if we do it together.”
I blinked at her, completely thrown off guard. Harper wasn’t exactly known for being the helpful type, especially when it came to schoolwork. What was she up to?
“You’d really help me?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.
She shrugged casually, a small smile playing on her lips. “Sure, why not? It’s not like it’s that hard.”
I was cornered. There was no way out now. Not even Harper was on my side, and I knew if I kept trying to make excuses, they’d just keep pushing until I caved.
Liam’s eyes sparkled with anticipation. “So? You’re coming, right?”
I forced a smile, my mind racing for any last-minute excuse. But I couldn’t think of anything. Not with all of them staring at me like that. “Yeah, okay,” I said slowly, nodding my head. “I’ll come.”
Liam’s face lit up even more, and his friends erupted into cheers from the back of the room. Rencio punched the air triumphantly, while Warren did a ridiculous little dance that made everyone laugh.
“That’s what I’m talking about!” Rencio shouted, clearly hyped. “Stella’s joining the party!”
Warren sidled up to me, grinning from ear to ear. “You won’t regret it, trust me. It’s gonna be legend.”
I laughed awkwardly, trying to match their energy, but deep down, I couldn’t shake the guilt growing at me. Zeus wasn’t here. He wasn’t celebrating with us, and I knew I was letting him down. He’d been counting on me to be there for him after the performance, and instead, I was about to go party with Liam and his friends.
“I’ll just text him and let him know I’ll be late,” I thought to myself, pulling out my phone discreetly.
As I typed out the message, the conversation around me kept getting more ridiculous. Warren was now arguing with Janserd about who had contributed the most to the band’s win, while Rencio was boasting about how his “bass solo” had been the highlight of the entire performance.
“Dude, your bass solo wasn’t even a solo,” Warren shot back, rolling his eyes. “You played like… three notes.”
“Three epic notes,” Rencio corrected, his grin widening.
Janserd snorted, shaking his head. “Please, the real star of the show was obviously me on the keys. You all were just my backup band.”
Warren pretended to be offended, placing a hand over his heart. “Oh, so that’s how it is? We’re just your minions now, Janserd?”
The banter between them was ridiculous, but I couldn’t help but laugh along with everyone else. Even Mia, who had been mostly quiet, was now giggling at their antics.
“Alright, alright,” Liam said, holding up his hands. “We all know the real star of the show was… me.” He flashed a cocky grin, and everyone groaned dramatically.
“Of course,” Rencio said, rolling his eyes. “It’s always about you, isn’t it?”
Liam just laughed, clearly enjoying the teasing. “Hey, I’m just stating facts.”
I smiled, shaking my head at how ridiculous they all were. As much as I was worried about Zeus, it was hard not to get caught up in their energy. They were just so… carefree. Even Harper was smiling now, and that was saying something.
But despite the laughter and the lighthearted mood in the room, I couldn’t completely shake the guilt weighing on me. Zeus wasn’t here. He should’ve been. And I knew, deep down, that I couldn’t ignore that.
As the guys continued their banter, I quickly sent a text to Zeus, letting him know I’d be late. Hopefully, he’d understand.
---
We all started heading out of the backstage room toward the building where the party was going to be held.
We arrived at the side building, and I couldn’t help but pause at the sight. It was like stepping into a different world. The area looked… lovely, with small twinkling lights strung up everywhere, casting a soft glow over the space. A long table was set up in the middle, welcoming us with all kinds of food, and a bucket filled with ice and alcohol sat at one end. A group of students was grilling meat in the corner, the smell making my stomach growl even though I wasn’t particularly hungry. 
You could even see the mountain from here, the same view you’d get from the cafeteria during the day. The air was cool but not too cold, just right for an outdoor party like this. I couldn’t help but smile at the sight. For a second, it almost felt perfect.
As soon as we stepped closer, students swarmed around Liam and his friends, cheering and congratulating them for the win. Rencio, Warren, and Janserd were instantly pulled into the crowd, high-fiving and laughing along with everyone. The atmosphere was electric. The music was already loud, and people were starting to dance, their bodies moving uncontrollably to the beat as if the music was pulling them in. 
But while everyone else was getting hyped, I found myself drawn to a quiet spot—a bench just off to the side. I wasn’t far from the music, still close enough to feel the bass vibrating under my feet, but my attention wasn’t really on the party. My phone buzzed in my hand, and I glanced down at the screen. 
There it was. The last message I sent to Zeus.
“Wait for me a bit. Sorry.”
He hadn’t replied yet. It had been over an hour since I texted him, and the longer the silence stretched, the heavier the guilt weighed on me. I tried to type something else, an apology maybe, but no matter how hard I tried, the words wouldn’t come. Everything felt too… hard. Too complicated.
“Stella.”
I jumped a little at the sound of my name, not realizing I had been spacing out. I looked up and saw Liam standing in front of me, a soft smile on his face, but there was something else there, something in his eyes that looked almost worried. 
“Yeah? Uh, sorry, what was that?” I stammered, quickly shoving my phone into my pocket as if I could hide what I was feeling.
Liam laughed quietly, shaking his head as he sat down next to me on the bench. “I said, your drink’s ice is melting. You haven’t even touched it,” he said, gesturing toward the cup I had placed next to me.
I scratched the back of my head, feeling awkward. “Oh… yeah, I guess I just… forgot,” I muttered, letting out a small laugh.
Liam’s eyes didn’t leave mine, though, and his expression turned more serious. “Something bothering you?” he asked, his voice soft but direct.
I quickly shook my head, waving off his concern. “No, no, I’m fine. Just… I don’t know, this whole party thing is kinda new to me,” I said with a small shrug, trying to play it off. But that wasn’t really true. I’d been to plenty of parties like this before. I was no stranger to passing out drunk or making a fool of myself in front of everyone. In fact, I had slapped a random guy once because I got too carried away. Classic me.
But tonight was different. Tonight, I wasn’t in the mood to be the wild, carefree version of myself. My mind was elsewhere, on Zeus, on the fact that I was here while he was… wherever he was, probably feeling hurt.
Liam hummed quietly, leaning back on the bench and looking up at the sky. The wind picked up a little, ruffling his hair as he closed his eyes for a moment. “You know,” he started, his voice thoughtful, “whenever I feel like I’ve got something heavy on my mind, I just… start humming. Let the wind carry it away.” He smiled softly, his eyes still closed. “My dad taught me that.”
I looked at him, surprised by the softness in his tone. It wasn’t often that Liam shared stuff like this, and I couldn’t help but smile a little. “That’s… nice,” I said quietly, my voice barely above a whisper. I found myself agreeing with him, though. Sometimes, it really did feel like the wind could take away your problems, if only for a moment.
Liam opened his eyes and looked at me, his smile widening. “No wonder girls fall for a dork like you,” I teased, giggling softly.
He chuckled, shaking his head. “I don’t even like all that attention, honestly. It’s enough for me that I’ve got my friends, you, Rencio, Warren, Janserd. That’s all I really need.” His eyes flicked toward me as he spoke, and for a second, I could feel the sincerity in his words. He wasn’t just saying it to be nice. He meant it.
I chuckled too, leaning back on the bench. “Well, there’s one person who gives you a little extra attention,” I said, my voice teasing. “Isn’t Harper special to you? She’s beautiful, kind, and she…”
I didn’t even get to finish my sentence before Liam cut me off. “Likes me. I know.” He turned his head to look at me, letting out a small, soft laugh. “I’m not blind, Stella. I know how Harper feels.”
I blinked, a little taken aback. I had no idea he was that aware of it. “Oh,” I muttered, unsure of what to say. But before I could come up with a response, Liam added something that shocked me even more.
“Harper’s special to me, yeah,” he said, his voice quiet now, “but not in the way she wants. She’s a good friend, someone I can rely on. But that’s it.”
I felt a strange pang of guilt hit me. Harper had been crushing on Liam for so long, and hearing him talk about her like that… it made my chest feel heavy. I didn’t know what to say. For a moment, the lighthearted vibe between us faded, replaced by an awkward, heavy silence.
Minutes passed, and the sounds of the party carried on around us, students laughing, music thumping, the smell of grilling meat wafting through the air but none of it reached us. We were in our own little bubble.
Finally, Liam broke the silence. “Come on,” he said, his voice brightening again as he stood up and held out his hand. “Let’s join the night. It’s too nice to spend it sitting here, don’t you think?”
I was about to reach out and take his hand, but suddenly, something felt… off. I couldn’t explain it, but it was like this weird feeling washed over me, like something—or someone—was watching me. I hesitated, my eyes darting around the area quickly, scanning the crowd.
That’s when I saw them.
Harper. She was standing a little ways off with Mia, who was dancing and laughing, a cup of alcohol in her hand. But Harper wasn’t dancing. She wasn’t laughing. She was staring.
Right at me.
Her eyes were locked on me and Liam, and the expression on her face was unreadable, but there was something in her eyes that made my stomach twist uncomfortably. It was like she had caught us in the middle of something we shouldn’t have been doing, even though nothing had happened. I felt my pulse quicken, a wave of guilt crashing over me.
I quickly stood up, avoiding Liam’s hand and Harper’s eyes at the same time. “Yeah, let’s… let’s go,” I said, my voice sounding a little too high-pitched as I hurried away from the bench.
------
The music started pumping harder, the beat taking over everything. Lights flashed across the yard as the crowd got wilder, students were dancing and drinking like they were letting loose for the first time in forever. It was like a fever dream, everyone just moving and swaying without a care in the world. And for a moment, I let myself get lost in it too. I was back on the dance floor, swaying to the rhythm, feeling the alcohol buzz hit me harder and harder with each sip.
"One more drink, one more," I told myself, grabbing the nearest cup of whatever was in that ice bucket. I could barely taste it anymore, but it burned going down. The dizziness was already creeping in, but I didn’t stop. I couldn’t. There was this strange numbness that came with it, this… forgetfulness. It was what I wanted. What I needed.
But after a while, my legs started feeling like they weren’t connected to the rest of me. My head spun, and the world felt like it was tilting sideways. I was trying to keep up with everyone else, trying to dance like it was my last night, but the room—or rather, the outdoor party—was spinning too fast for me. 
Mia, who was laughing and downing another drink herself, stopped when she caught a glimpse of my face. “Stella…?” she said, her smile faltering. “Are you okay?”
I waved her off, not wanting to spoil the mood. “I’m fine. Just… a little too much, I guess,” I mumbled, though the words were slurring together. But I couldn’t deny it anymore. The pounding in my head was getting worse, and the dizziness felt like it was swallowing me whole. My feet were starting to give way underneath me.
Mia leaned in closer, worry creasing her brow. “No, you don’t look fine. Stay here for a sec,” she said before turning and weaving through the crowd to find Liam and Harper.
Through the haze, I saw them standing not too far away. Harper had her arms crossed, looking like she wasn’t having as much fun as everyone else, and Liam was laughing with Rencio and Warren. Mia pulled them aside, her face serious now as she explained something to them. I couldn’t hear what she was saying over the music, but from the looks they were giving me, I knew it wasn’t good.
Harper sighed heavily, her shoulders dropping in that exasperated way she always did when something needed fixing. But it was too loud, too blurry for me to really notice or care. I just kept moving to the music, letting the bass fill my chest and drown out everything else.
After what felt like an eternity, Harper and Mia made their way back over to me, and Harper grabbed my arm gently but firmly. “Stella, we need to get you back to the dorm,” she said, her voice cutting through the noise.
I blinked up at her, confused. “What? No, I’m fine, I’m fine,” I mumbled, swaying on my feet.
Harper shook her head, her patience clearly running thin. “No, you’re not. You can barely stand, Stella. Come on, we’re getting you out of here.”
Mia pouted, crossing her arms over her chest. “But the party just started getting good!” she whined, clearly not thrilled about having to leave so soon.
Harper shot her a look. “Mia, she’s about to pass out. We don’t have a choice.”
Mia sighed dramatically but didn’t argue any further. She grabbed my other arm, helping Harper steady me as I stumbled forward. My head felt like it was filled with lead, and every step was like walking through quicksand. 
Liam appeared out of nowhere, his eyes full of concern. “Let me help. I’ll carry her back,” he said, stepping forward.
Harper held up a hand, stopping him in his tracks. “No, Liam, we’ve got it. She’s not that heavy,” she said firmly. “We can handle it.”
“But—” Liam started to protest, his eyes flicking toward me with that familiar protective look.
“I said we’ve got it,” Harper cut him off, her voice hard now. She glanced at me briefly before looking back at him. “We’ll take care of her for you,” she added, the last words coming out in a way that felt… off. Like there was something more to it.
Liam hesitated, clearly wanting to insist, but Harper wasn’t giving him a choice. She turned on her heel, pulling me with her, and Mia followed close behind, still pouting but doing her part to help.
As they led me away from the crowd, the party continued without us. The music pounded on, and the students kept dancing, completely unaware of the scene unfolding on the sidelines. It felt surreal, like I was watching it all from a distance, even though I was still right there, in the thick of it.
The walk back to the dorms felt like it took forever. Every step felt heavier than the last, and I could barely keep my eyes open. Harper and Mia kept talking to each other, their voices low, but I couldn’t make out what they were saying. It was like they were speaking underwater, their words muffled and far away.
By the time we reached the dorm building, I was barely holding on. Harper opened the door, and the cool air inside hit me like a wave of relief. They helped me up the stairs and into our room, where they finally let me collapse onto my bed.
“You okay, Stella?” Mia asked, her voice softer now, as if she knew I wasn’t going to give her a real answer.
I nodded weakly, though I wasn’t sure if I was okay. My head was still spinning, and my stomach felt like it was doing flips, but at least I was horizontal now. That was something, right?
Harper sighed again, running a hand through her hair as she sat down on the edge of the bed. “Next time, don’t push yourself so hard, okay?” she said, her tone more gentle now. “It’s not worth it.”
I nodded again, though I wasn’t really listening. My eyelids were heavy, and all I wanted was for the room to stop spinning long enough for me to fall asleep.
“Come on, Mia,” Harper said, standing up. “Let’s give her some space.”
Mia grumbled something under her breath but followed Harper out of the room, leaving me alone in the dark.
As I lay there, staring up at the ceiling, my mind drifted back to Zeus. I hadn’t heard from him all night. Was he mad at me? Disappointed? I didn’t know, and the thought of it made my chest tighten.
But before I could dwell on it any longer, the exhaustion finally won. My eyes fluttered shut, tears start escaping from my eyes and some how the darkness take me little by little.