Ethan
The gymnasium pulsed with the thumping beat of pop music. Fairy lights, strung haphazardly across the basketball hoops, cast a warm, inviting glow over the swirling mass of students. It was the annual Spring Fling dance at Regent Crest Academy, a night typically reserved for awkward slow dances and nervous laughter.
But this year, with the added layer of simmering romantic tension, the air crackled with an almost palpable energy. Romeo leaned against a wall, his arms crossed, his gaze fixed on Venecia.
She was a vision in a simple, yet elegant, emerald green dress that shimmered under the lights. Her dark hair, usually pulled back in a practical ponytail, cascaded down her back in loose Afro. He'd been trying to catch her eye all night, but she seemed preoccupied, her attention flitting between her friends and the dance floor. And then there was Ethan.
Ethan, with his easy charm and disarming smile, had been circling Venecia like a shark since the beginning of the evening. He'd complimented her dress, made her laugh with some silly anecdote, and now, he was twirling her expertly across the dance floor to a particularly upbeat number.
Romeo's jaw tightened. He knew Ethan was just playing games, testing him, but the sight of Venecia in his arms, even for a fleeting moment, sent a jolt of possessive anger through him.
"You look pretty this evening, Ethan complimented.
"Thank you, you don't look bad yourself, Venecia replied.
"Your boyfriend is trying to create hole in my head, he joked.
"All this wouldn't have happened if you didn't steal me away the moment I came, Venecia said. "If you're trying to play games with Romeo then please stop, she replied firmly.
"Games, I'm not playing any games, I'm interested in you, nothing else.
Across the gym, Eleanor watched Romeo's reaction with a carefully veiled smirk. She'd been glued to his side all evening, a constant, if somewhat unwelcome, presence. She'd even managed to snag a slow dance with him earlier, much to Venecia's barely concealed annoyance.
***************
Eleanor
Eleanor tightened her grip on Romeo's arm, her nails lightly digging into the fabric of his jacket as she leaned in, her voice laced with amusement. "He's really laying it on thick, isn't he?" Romeo barely spared her a glance, his gaze locked onto Venecia as she laughed at something Ethan had said. His jaw clenched. "You talk too much, Eleanor," he muttered.
Eleanor smirked, unfazed. "Oh, come on. Don't tell me you're actually worried about Ethan." She tilted her head, studying his expression. "He's just having fun. And maybe she is too."
Romeo's fingers curled into fists at his sides. "She's mine." The words were sharp, edged with something dark, something possessive.
Eleanor chuckled, a low, knowing sound. "That's cute. Really. But from where I'm standing, it looks like she's enjoying the attention." She leaned in even closer, her breath warm against his skin. "Maybe she's tired of waiting for you to make a move."
Romeo turned to her then, finally tearing his eyes away from Venecia. His stare was cold, calculating. "You don't know anything about us."
Eleanor pouted playfully. "Oh, but I do. You're brooding, jealous, and completely obsessed with her. And yet..." She trailed a manicured finger down the lapel of his jacket. "Here you are, stuck with me."
Romeo grabbed her wrist, his grip firm but not painful. "Don't push me, Eleanor."
She simply smiled. "Why not? It's fun watching you squirm." Then, dropping her voice to a whisper, she added, "But if you really want her, you should stop wasting time standing here with me."
Romeo exhaled sharply, releasing her wrist. "Stay out of my business."
Eleanor grinned. "No promises."
With that, Romeo turned away from her, already making his way across the gym, his eyes dark with determination. Eleanor watched him go, shaking her head with a smirk. "Men are so predictable," she murmured to herself before disappearing into the crowd.
Romeo grunted in response, his eyes still on Venecia..
He could feel Eleanor's gaze on him, a palpable weight, but he couldn't bring himself to care. All he could think about was Venecia, her laughter echoing across the crowded room, a sound that usually brought him joy, but tonight, it grated on his nerves.
Venecia, for her part, was acutely aware of the two pairs of eyes tracking her every move. Ethan's flirtations were flattering, in a way, but they also felt... calculated. She knew he was trying to provoke Romeo, and she refused to be a pawn in their game.
She glanced across the room, meeting Romeo's gaze for a fleeting moment. His eyes, usually warm and playful, were clouded with something she couldn't quite decipher. Disappointment? Anger? She felt a pang of guilt. She knew she was playing with fire, allowing Ethan's attention to linger, but she also craved Romeo's attention, his reassurance.
As the music shifted to a slower, more intimate melody, Ethan smoothly transitioned into a close embrace, his hand resting a little too low on her back. Venecia stiffened. "Ethan, I..." she began, intending to politely extricate herself from the situation.
But before she could finish her sentence, Romeo was there, his hand firmly but gently tapping Ethan on the shoulder. "Mind if I cut in?" he asked, his voice deceptively calm.
Ethan, never one to back down from a challenge, smirked. "Wouldn't dream of it," he replied, his eyes locking with Romeo's in a silent battle of wills.
Romeo pulled Venecia into his arms, his touch sending a shiver down her spine. He ignored Ethan's lingering gaze and focused on Venecia, his eyes searching hers. "Are you okay?" he whispered, his voice low and concerned.
Venecia nodded, her heart pounding in her chest. She could feel the heat radiating from Romeo, the familiar comfort of his presence a stark contrast to Ethan's calculated charm. "I'm fine," she whispered back, her gaze fixed on his.
They swayed gently to the music, the world around them fading away. The noise of the dance, the flashing lights, even the presence of other people, all disappeared. It was just Romeo and Venecia, their bodies close, their breaths mingling.
"My love, Romeo began, his voice a low rumble, "I don't like what happened today. I'm so pissed off right now, he said firmly. "You let some filthy being, who's not me touch you, huh? You're mine to touch, mine to feel. So, don't let this happen again, okay?
"But you were with Eleanor, Venecia countered back.
"She was annoying and too loud for me. As for you no one is allowed to be near you apart from me, do you understand, he said with rage in his eyes.
But Venecia kept quiet with a defiant look.
"I asked you something, my love. Did you not hear, Romeo said calmly.
His hand tightened around her waist as he held her chin upwards to look at him.
"Don't make me repeat myself my love, he gritted out. "Hmm"?
"Y..yes..she stammered out.
"Good", he said, satisfied.
Suddenly, a mischievous glint appeared in Romeo's eyes. He pulled her closer, his hand gently cupping her cheek. "Come with me," he whispered, and before she could respond, he led her off the dance floor, through the back door of the gymnasium, and into the cool night air.
They found themselves in a small, secluded courtyard behind the school, hidden from the prying eyes of the dance. The only light came from the stars above, a million tiny diamonds scattered across the velvet sky. The music from the dance was a distant hum, barely audible.
Romeo turned to Venecia, his eyes shining in the starlight. He took her hand in his, his touch sending a jolt of electricity through her as her mark burned. He trailed off, his gaze drawn to her lips. He could feel the pull between them, a magnetic force that seemed to grow stronger with each passing moment.
Venecia's heart pounded in her chest. She knew what was coming, she could feel it in the air, in the way Romeo's hand tightened around hers, in the way his breath hitched slightly. Romeo leaned in, his face inches from hers. He could feel her breath on his skin, warm and sweet. He hesitated for a moment, giving her a chance to pull away, to say no. But she didn't. She stood there, her eyes locked with his, her breath catching in her throat.
And then, he kissed her.
It was a slow, tentative kiss at first, a gentle exploration. But as the seconds ticked by, the kiss deepened, becoming more passionate, more urgent. It was a kiss that spoke volumes, almost as if punishing her. As their lips met, a surge of energy pulsed through them.
The marks on their shoulders, which had been glowing faintly all evening, flared brightly, radiating a warm, golden light. The stars above seemed to shimmer and dance in response, as if the universe itself was celebrating their connection, time ceased, and nearby plants started to wither.
Liana and Damien, who had been observing from a distance, shared a knowing look. Their own connection, though different, resonated with the raw power they had just witnessed. Theirs was a slow burn, fueled by constant clashes and veiled insults that masked a deep attraction.
Earlier in the evening, a heated argument over a guy trying to hit on Liana had escalated into a breathless moment of near contact, their faces inches apart, the air thick with unspoken desire. The tension between them was a palpable thing, a live wire humming with potential. As they watched Romeo and Venecia, they both knew their own moment was coming, a moment that would ignite the flames that had been smoldering for so long.
*************
Earlier in the evening
The night had barely begun, yet the tension between Liana and Damien was already simmering dangerously close to the surface. The gymnasium was alive with music and laughter, but Liana barely heard any of it. She was too focused on the smug grin plastered on Damien's face as he leaned against the refreshment table, watching her with lazy amusement. "You're glaring," he noted, sipping his drink. "I'm not glaring," Liana shot back, arms crossed over her chest.
"You're definitely glaring," Damien chuckled, pushing off the table and stepping closer. His cologne—a mix of cedar-wood and something undeniably Damien—wrapped around her, making it annoyingly hard to focus. "Maybe I have a reason to," Liana snapped, tilting her chin up defiantly. "What the hell was that back there?"
"That?" Damien feigned innocence, arching a brow. "Oh, you mean when that guy—what was his name again? Jason? —was getting a little too close, and I just happened to step in?"
"You nearly knocked him out," she accused. "He put his hands on your waist," Damien said flatly. "I don't like it when people touch what isn't theirs."
Liana scoffed, ignoring the way her heart flipped at his words. "I can handle myself."
"Clearly," Damien mused. "Which is why you looked two seconds away from shoving him off before I got there."
She wanted to deny it, but he wasn't wrong. Jason had been persistent, and while she wasn't helpless, Damien had stepped in without hesitation, like it was second nature to protect her. That realization only pissed her off more.
"You don't get to act like you care," she muttered, stepping back.
And yet, Damien followed, closing the space between them.
"You think I don't care?" His voice dropped an octave, the teasing edge fading.
Liana swallowed hard. He was close. Too close.
His dark eyes searched hers, challenging, daring her to keep pretending she didn't feel the fire crackling between them.
Liana knew she should step back, put distance between them before she did something reckless. But she didn't. Neither of them moved. The air between them was thick, suffocating. Liana's pulse pounded in her ears.
Damien exhaled sharply, his hand twitching at his side like he was restraining himself. "Tell me to walk away," he murmured. Liana opened her mouth, but no words came out. Because she didn't want him to. And that was the moment everything changed.
**************
Hehe Hehe..... a lot is going on isn't it. Let me know your thoughts in the comment section.