Tonight was supposed to be fun.
A New Year party. Music, games, laughter, everyone counting down like nothing in the world could go wrong.
But the moment I walked in, I saw Sasha standing too close to Kevin.
They were laughing. Talking. Standing in a way that made my chest tighten for no good reason. I told myself not to be dramatic. Kevin is allowed to talk to people. He's allowed to smile. But something about Sasha's hand brushing his arm made me feel… invisible.
I tried to ignore it. Everyone was playing games, shouting, teasing each other. But every time I looked up, Sasha was still there, leaning closer to Kevin like she owned his attention.
So I did something bold.
I walked right between them.
I started talking to Kevin about something random — school, the music, anything — just so Sasha couldn't keep standing that close. I could feel her irritation like heat in the air.
"Why are you here?" she suddenly snapped. "Let me be with my honey."
My heart jumped.
Honey?
Kevin turned to her, looking uncomfortable. "Sasha, stop. We've never been 'honey.' You're just teasing me, and I don't like it."
She laughed like it was a joke. "Oh please. You're lying."
Before I could stop myself, I spoke. "He already told you you're done. So… you're done now."
Sasha's eyes narrowed and she looked straight at me.
"And what exactly is your relationship with him, Kate?"
My throat went dry.
But I didn't look away.
"He's my boyfriend," I said.
She burst out laughing. "Yeah? Prove it."
I don't know where the courage came from, but I stepped closer to Kevin and hugged him. I leaned in and whispered, "I'm sorry… just trust me."
Then I looked at Sasha. "See? We're together. No one can come between us."
She scoffed. "That's nothing. I can hug him too."
She moved toward Kevin, and something inside me snapped.
"Don't even think about it," I said, stepping in front of him.
The room felt suddenly quiet, even though the music was still playing.
I don't know what Kevin was thinking.
I don't know what Sasha was planning.
All I know is… my heart was racing.
Just as Sasha was about to say something else, Mike suddenly shouted,"Everyone! Ten seconds to midnight!"
The whole room changed in an instant.
"Ten… nine… eight…"
Music got louder. People started cheering. The lights dimmed.
"Three… two… one!"
Fireworks burst outside the windows, lighting up the sky in bright colors. Balloons fell from the ceiling, floating everywhere. Everyone stared up, amazed. Some people hugged. Some leaned close to each other.
I felt irritated.
Not because it wasn't beautiful — it was — but because everyone suddenly looked so close, so happy, and I didn't know where I stood.
I looked at Kevin.
Our eyes met.
For a moment, everything else disappeared. Then I quickly looked away.
Then I heard Sasha's voice.
"Baby… we should do something too."
My heart jumped.
I saw her lean closer to Kevin.
Before I could think, I stepped right between them.
"No," I said, holding my hand up between them. "Not happening."
Sasha opened her eyes. "What are you doing in between us?"
"Just protecting Kevin from a very annoying situation," I said.
She scoffed. "What's wrong with you? Kevin isn't even your type."
"Oh really?" I snapped. "And he definitely isn't yours either."
She laughed. "Fate put us together."
Kevin looked uncomfortable. "Sasha, stop. We've never been 'together.' You just tease me, and I don't like it."
She rolled her eyes. "You're lying."
I stepped forward. "He already told you it's over. So it's over."
Sasha glared at me. "And what is your relationship with him, Kate?"
My heart pounded, but I didn't look away.
"He's my boyfriend."
She burst out laughing. "Prove it."
I grabbed Kevin's hand and pulled him close. I whispered, "I'm sorry. Just trust me."
Then I looked at her. "See? We're together. No one can come between us."
"That means nothing," she said. "I can stand close to him too."
She tried to move forward, but I blocked her.
"Don't," I warned.
"So dramatic," she muttered.
I didn't care. My heart was racing, but I wasn't backing down.
Thinking fast, I grabbed Kevin's hand again."Come with me."
I pulled him toward the hallway. We didn't stop until we reached a quiet room. I checked the door — Sasha wasn't there.
I finally let go of his hand.
"Thanks for saving me," Kevin said.
"No problem," I replied… then turned to him. "But why were you laughing with Sasha?"
"Kate, she's just a friend."
"Oh. I see."
I sat down, crossing my arms.
"Are you jealous?" he asked, teasing.
"No," I snapped. "Why would I be?"
"Your actions say something else."
"I'm not jealous," I said quickly. "I just… don't like you talking to her."
He laughed softly.
"Just go to sleep," I muttered.
But my heart was still pounding.
Love didn't feel sweet tonight.
It felt dangerous.