“Sorry about the party last night,” he adds, his voice surprisingly sincere.“I’m sure that wasn’t the most comfortable situation for you.”
I glance at him, slightly caught off guard.It’s the first timeanyonein this apartment has acknowledged how screwed up that was.
“Oh… uh, it’s fine,” I lie, though we both know it wasn’t.
Blaze offers a half-smile.“You don’t have to be nice about it.What we did?Bringing strangers to the apartment without your permission?Yeah, that was messed up.You’ve got every right to be pissed.”
The words hit harder than expected—not because I didn’t know I had the right, but because someone actuallysaid itout loud.Someone that wasn’t me.
Before I can respond, a familiar voice cuts through the air.
“Blaze, shut the fuck up.Why are you apologizing to him?”Fox calls out from the living room, irritation sharp in his tone.
Blaze rolls his eyes.“Can you be nice foronce?”he fires back, clearly annoyed.
Right on cue, Carter strolls into the kitchen.No cigarette this time, thank God.He nods in my direction.“Hey, man.I’m Carter.”
“Cameron,” I reply, giving him a small nod.“Nice to meet you.”
He offers a smile—small, easygoing.Laid-back.Not threatening.If nothing else, he doesn’t seem like the type to spit slurs in a hallway.
For a brief moment, it feels like the atmosphere is… almost normal.
Then Blaze speaks again.
“You ever wanna come out with us—no pressure or anything—there’s a frat party this weekend.Might be fun.”
My body tenses.My fingers tighten around my spoon.Of course they’re inviting me to aparty.
Before I can say anything, the air shifts.He’s here.
Fox enters the kitchen like a storm rolling in—dark eyes locked onto mine, jaw tight.The tension slams into the room like a punch to the chest.
“Blaze,” Fox growls, “leave him alone.”
Blaze raises an eyebrow but doesn’t back off.
Fox steps closer, gaze still burning into me like I’ve done something wrong just by existing.“I don’t want him anywhere near my parties.”
There’s venom in his voice.Directed atme.
My pulse spikes, but I don’t flinch.Not this time.
“I don’t want to party with you either,” I say, keeping my voice calm even though I’m seething underneath.“I don’t evenlikeparties.”
Fox scoffs.“Of course you don’t.Nerd.”
I clench my jaw.
“You’re being a jerk,” Blaze mutters, giving Fox a not-so-subtle elbow to the ribs before grabbing his arm.“Come on, man.Just stop.”
Fox doesn’t resist, but he doesn’t look away from me either.Not until Blaze pulls him out of the kitchen and the sound of their footsteps fades.
I should’ve stayed in my room.
I breathe a small sigh of relief, grateful the awkward conversation is over.For once, I can eat my cereal in relative peace.But that moment is short-lived.
Just as I reach the bottom of my bowl, the blonde girl from earlier strolls into the kitchen.She doesn’t look at me—doesn’t evenacknowledgeme—as she heads straight for the fridge, humming under her breath like she owns the place.
