As we strolled through the school's crowded halls, Seraph and I moved with purpose, slipping invitations into eager hands. Flyers for my exclusive beach party disappeared quickly; every senior got one, and a carefully chosen handful of juniors. Each sheet had a sleek QR code—my way of letting them know this was no ordinary gathering, and only those we truly wanted there would make the list.
"Okay, they know about the party. We already told them the theme drops tomorrow, so what's the plan now?" Seraph turned to me, her eyes brimming with excitement and curiosity.
I straightened, the weight and thrill of senior year coursing through me. "We go for something unforgettable—elegant beach vibes, seductive but classy. This isn't just another party," I said, a smile playing on my lips. "This is our chance to make senior year legendary. More memorable than anything that's come before."
In that moment, as sunlight filtered through the windows and gossip drifted around us, I felt it—the certainty that these memories would last long after the waves erased our footprints in the sand.
The group chat exploded the second our post about the beach party theme went live—everyone was scrambling, desperate to know what to wear. In just a few hours, buzz about our party was everywhere, plastered across feeds, whispered in hallways, until anticipation wrapped around us like a velvet rope. For the first time since moving here, I felt the rush of belonging.
We wanted it to be elegant, sexy, a night where the ordinary blurred into something unattainable. The beach transformed beneath threaded lights and the hush of the waves, as if the stars themselves had crashed into the sand just for us. Seraph's hand found mine and squeezed, our smiles reflecting in the ocean's glassy surface. This was our moment.
"You actually pulled it off," she whispered, her eyes shining with pride and disbelief.
Before I could answer, I heard laughter. I turned just in time to see Miles stepping out from the shadows, his grin as dangerous as always. I didn't hesitate. I ran toward him, and he caught me, spinning me through the salt air before crushing his lips against mine. The world faded for a second, just that dizzying, reckless spin and the warmth of his kiss.
Feet back on the sand, I narrowed my eyes at him, teasing, "You know you're not a teenager anymore, so who said you could even come to this party?" The corners of his mouth curled up, mischief dancing in his expression. "So I can't celebrate your victory at all?" he protested, playing the part of the heartbroken outsider. He tried—and failed—to feign disappointment, but I saw the way he looked at me, as if this night, this party, and maybe even this wild new life were all meant just for us.
Your success at all?" he pouted as if trying to tell me he was sad
"Stop sulking like a baby, Miles. You know what? I'll make an exception—just this once." My voice had barely left my lips before someone else broke the moment.
"Wait, seriously? Him over me? Your one and only sexy bestie?" Niqua's words tumbled out, her tone wounded but playful. I barely had time to process before I threw myself into her arms, squeezing tight like the world was right again for a second.
"How did you even get here—when?" I blurted, breathless with relief. She just shrugged, grinning mischievously.
"Ask your man. Or wait—is he not your man? Girl, make it make sense. You shut me out, all you do is spill tea with Seraph—your fancy new bestie—while I'm dying of boredom over here. Meanwhile, the one who actually cheated on you, and the girl she did it with, are out here running their mouths, calling you names. Like, she had the nerve to tell me you were the hoe for leaving Dan. Who says that crap?"
I couldn't help it—I just laughed. I needed this spark, this feeling of being seen. Niqua always knew how to light up my cloudy days. I turned back to Miles with a grateful smile, silently thanking him for existing—even if he was being a brat.
With Niqua and Seraph, we made our way through the throng, plotting outfits and debating if we should throw the wildest slumber party for the seniors—something impossible to forget. Maybe things weren't perfect, but at least we had each other. And in a new city, that was everything.