these past few days had been... off. the scratch along my side was healing well—better than i'd expected, but things between me and ellie hadn't been the same. we hadn't spoken since the night of my injury and i didn't know if she was avoiding me or if i'd been the one pulling back. maybe both. either way, the silence between us felt louder than anything we could've said.

i spent most of the afternoon in the stables, brushing down sage's coat and humming quietly to myself. the familiar, earthy smell of hay and horses was comforting, and sage's soft whinnies as i ran the brush along her side made me smile.

"you're such a good girl," i murmured, running my hand gently over her neck. "the best, aren't you?"

she nudged my shoulder in response, and i laughed, grabbing a carrot from the small bag i'd brought with me. her ears perked up immediately, and she snatched it from my palm with a little too much enthusiasm.

"easy," i said, shaking my head fondly. "you act like you're starving."

sage flicked her ears toward the sound of approaching footsteps, and i glanced up just as nate—one of the guys i'd seen around town but never really talked to—stepped into the stables. he had a sheepish smile on his face and his hands shoved into his jacket pockets.

"sorry, didn't mean to scare you," he said, stopping a few feet away.

"you didn't," i replied quickly, though my heart skipped a little. "i just wasn't expecting anyone else in here."

"figured i'd check on the horses," he said, stepping closer. "though it looks like you've got it covered."

i shrugged, turning back to sage and running the brush along her side again. "she likes being spoiled. don't you, girl?"

sage let out a soft snort, and nate chuckled. "she's a beauty. is she yours?"

"yeah," i said, a small smile tugging at my lips. "her name's sage."

"you can tell she's really attached to you," nate said, leaning against the stall door. "not every horse is that calm around people."

"she's special," i said, patting her neck affectionately.

there was a brief pause, and when i glanced at him, he was still watching me. it felt like he wanted to say something, but i couldn't figure out what.

"so," he started, clearing his throat, "are you going to the party tonight?"

i shrugged again. "probably. dina's been bugging me about it, so... yeah."

"should be fun," he said casually. "you know, music, drinks... a chance to relax a little, especially after the storm."

"yeah, i guess," i said, more focused on picking hay out of sage's mane than the conversation.

"if you don't already have someone to go with, maybe we could... meet up there or something?"

i blinked, looking up at him. was he asking me to... no, he couldn't be. right?

"uh, sure," i said after a moment, feeling like i should say something. "i mean, i'll probably see you there anyway, right?"

his smile faltered for half a second, like he was expecting a different answer, but he nodded. "yeah, of course. i'll look out for you."

was that supposed to mean something? like, did he mean 'look out' literally, or was he just being polite? god, i was so bad at this.

"cool," i said, giving him a polite smile before turning back to sage.

"well, i'll let you get back to it," he said after a moment, his tone light. "see you tonight, leilani.

"see you," i said without looking up.

when he left, sage let out a soft huff, almost like she was amused. i sighed, brushing a strand of hair out of my face. "what?" i asked her, as if she could actually answer. "it's not like he was flirting or anything."

her ears twitched, and i rolled my eyes. "don't give me that look."

but even as i went back to brushing her, i couldn't shake the feeling that i'd missed something.

by the time evening rolled around, the sun had dipped below the horizon, casting the town in soft, fading light. i wasn't sure what i was doing exactly, or why i even cared about the party in the first place, but i found myself standing in front of the mirror, trying to decide if i'd put too much effort into my outfit. not that it really mattered.

there was a soft knock at the door, and i turned just as joel stepped into the room. his eyes lingered on me for a moment before he raised an eyebrow.

"well, look at you," he said, his voice carrying a hint of amusement. "who's the fancy get up for?"

i blinked, a bit startled by the question. i hadn't expected him to comment. "uh, it's just a party," i said quickly, tugging at the ends of my dress, suddenly feeling self conscious. "nothing special."

joel chuckled, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he leaned against the doorframe. "right. a party. so you're telling me you're all dressed up like that for just a party?"

"yeah, why? what's wrong with it?" i shot back, though i was mostly teasing.

he tilted his head, studying me with that same knowing look he always seemed to have. "just curious," he said, his tone light. "you never know who's gonna be there, right? maybe there's someone you're trying to impress."

i froze, caught off guard by the suggestion. "no, i'm not—i'm not trying to impress anyone," i stammered, suddenly wishing i hadn't tried so hard to pick something nice to wear. joel just gave me that amused look, clearly not buying it.

"uh-huh," he said, voice dripping with mock sincerity. "so you're not getting all pretty for anyone in particular? just... yourself?"

"maybe," i muttered, feeling like i was digging myself into a hole.

there was a long pause, and then joel shrugged, pushing off the doorframe. "well, whoever it is, they're lucky. you look good, kid."

i couldn't help the small smile that tugged at my lips. "thanks, joel."

"you're welcome. just don't go too crazy tonight, alright?" he said, his voice softening a little. "remember, you don't need to impress anyone to have fun. just be yourself."

as the door clicked shut behind him, i was left standing there, still unsure about what to do with myself. was i really dressing up to impress someone? nate?

the moment of uncertainty was broken by the soft creak of the door, and before i could even turn around, ellie walked in like she owned the place. she paused in the doorway for a moment, eyes scanning me up and down with that signature, unreadable look. i couldn't tell if she was judging me or just trying to figure me out, but either way, it made me feel... weird.

"you look nice," she said, and it almost sounded like it pained her to admit it.

before i could even respond, she flopped down onto her bed, one arm draped across her forehead as if she was exhausted from just existing. her silence hung in the air, thick and heavy, and it was obvious she wasn't really interested in continuing the conversation.

"uh, thanks," i muttered, trying to sound casual, but it came out feeling awkward.

i glanced at her one more time, but she was already staring at the ceiling, like she didn't care anymore. so i grabbed my coat and closed the door softly behind me.

- ellies pov -

i didn't want to come to this stupid party. i'd been perfectly fine staying in, nursing the rest of that bottle of whiskey i swiped from joel's stash, but then i overheard him talking to leilani earlier. something about her "impressing someone."

the words shouldn't have meant anything to me. they shouldn't. but they latched onto my brain, digging deeper with every second, until i found myself grabbing my jacket and storming out the door like a goddamn idiot.

now, here i am. standing in the corner, drink in hand, shoulders tight as a bowstring. i can't shake this heat under my skin, this restless buzz in my head. my eyes keep scanning the room, not even pretending to care about the music or the laughter or whatever dumb conversations are happening around me. and when i finally spot her—laughing, head tilted back just a little too far—it's like all the air gets knocked out of me.

and he's there, right beside her. too close. leaning in like he's got a right to be there. every time his hand brushes against her arm—or her back or anywhere—something in me snaps. like a rubber band stretched too far, ready to break.

my chest feels tight. my head's spinning. and i can't think about anything else. not the drink in my hand, not the people brushing past me, not dina's voice somewhere in the background. all i see is her. smiling like that, her lips curving just enough to drive me insane. and him—acting like she's his to touch, to talk to, to make laugh like that.

"ellie."

the sound of my name yanks me out of the spiral, and i glance to my side to see dina standing there, arms crossed, smirking like she's got me all figured out.

"you look like you're about to set this whole damn room on fire," she says, raising an eyebrow.

i glare at her, not bothering to hide the irritation on my face. "shut up," i mutter, my eyes snapping back to leilani.

i lean toward dina, my voice low. "how much has she had to drink?"

dina's smirk widens. she glances over at leilani, then back at me, clearly enjoying this way too much. "she's been at it for a while, but trust me, she can hold her liquor better than you think. unless..." her tone turns teasing, "you wanna be the one to carry her back to your room later?"

i shake my head, trying to keep my fustration from spilling over, "i don't care about her damn drinking," i snap, my voice sharper than i mean it to be. "i care about him."

dina's smirk fades just a little, and she studies me like she's trying to decide whether to push or back off. "he's harmless," she finally says. "and she's just drunk, ellie. you need to chill before you do something dumb."

but then i see it. his hand. on her ass. and it's like a fuse gets lit inside me.

"fuck this," i mutter under my breath, shoving off the wall. i don't even realize i'm moving until i'm halfway across the room, anger bubbling up in me so fast it's all i can feel. i don't know what i'm gonna do when i get there, but there's no way i'm letting this slide. no fucking way.

just as i'm closing the distance, dina's hand grabs my arm, yanking me back.

"ellie, stop," she says, her voice low but firm. "don't do something you'll regret."

i freeze, breathing hard, my fists clenched so tight it hurts.

"this isn't the way to handle it," she adds, softer now. "trust me."

she's right. i know she's right. but it doesn't make this burning in my chest any easier to ignore. i stand there, stuck, my eyes locked on leilani.

and then she looks at me. just a quick glance over her shoulder, her eyes meeting mine for half a second. and she smiles. that smile that always fucks me up, no matter how much i try to act like it doesn't.

and just like that, i feel like i'm coming undone all over again.

- leilani's pov -

i catch a glimpse of ellie across the room, just as dina hooks her arm through ellie's and starts steering her toward the bar. ellie's face is a storm—her brows pulled tight, her jaw set so sharp it looks like it might cut glass.

for a second, i wonder what dina's saying to her. she's leaning in close, talking low like she's trying to calm her down. ellie doesn't look like she's having it, though. her shoulders are tense, and her hand keeps twitching at her side like she's dying to punch something—or someone.

i can't help but feel a little guilty. okay, maybe more than a little.

it's not like i didn't notice her watching me all night. god, her gaze was practically burning into me. every time i laughed, every time i leaned just a little too close to nate, i could feel her eyes on me, heavy and sharp like a warning.

and, yeah, i'd be lying if i said i didn't lean into it a little. nate's harmless—sweet, sure, but harmless. and maybe i let him get a little closer than i normally would, but... it wasn't really about him.

no, it was about her.

because what the hell else was i supposed to do? she's been avoiding me for days, acting like we're back to square one. and honestly? it pisses me off.

so maybe i wanted to see if she'd care. if she'd react. if she'd stop pretending like nothing's changed.

but now that i'm watching her storm off with dina, that knot of guilt in my stomach is twisting tighter.

nate's voice pulls me out of my thoughts. "you okay?" he asks, leaning in a little too close again, his voice low and casual like we've been best friends forever.

i force a smile, even though it feels like my face might crack. "yeah, i'm fine."

but i'm not. not really.

because even as nate keeps talking, my eyes keep drifting back to ellie. and the look on her face—the one she had right before dina dragged her away—it's stuck in my head, like a song i can't turn off.

it was anger, sure. but there was something else, too. something softer, buried underneath all that fire.

and maybe that's the part that's really getting to me. because i felt it, too.

nate leans in closer, his breath warm and tinged with the sharp bite of whatever he's been drinking. his words are slurring a little now, and he's talking about something—something i'm definitely not paying attention to.

because the second he leans in, i know exactly what's about to happen.

my stomach twists, and i try to step back, but the buzz in my head makes me slower than usual. he doesn't seem to notice—or maybe he just doesn't care.

"nate," i start, my voice tight, trying to sound firm, but it comes out more nervous than anything.

before i can get another word out, he hooks an arm around my waist, his fingers pressing against the small of my back.

"you look like you could use some air," he says, his voice low, his words slow and deliberate.

his grip tightens slightly, and he starts to steer me toward the edge of the room, toward the door.

"wait," i say, my voice sharper now, but it doesn't stop him.

and then, just as he starts to lead me toward the door, the moment shatters.

"hey!"

the voice cuts through the noise of the party like a whip, sharp and furious.

i barely have time to register what's happening before ellie's there, grabbing nate by the shoulder and yanking him back so hard he almost stumbles.

"the fuck do you think you're doing?" ellie snaps, her voice low and rough, her eyes blazing.

nate looks stunned for a second, his face caught between confusion and irritation. "what's your problem?" he slurs, straightening up like he's trying to act tough.

"my problem?" ellie steps closer, her shoulders squared, her whole body radiating this dangerous energy. "you're about two seconds away from making a real bad decision, buddy."

nate laughs, but it's nervous, forced. "chill out. we were just leaving."

"leaving?" ellie's jaw is tight, her fists clenched at her sides. "she's not going anywhere with you."

"ellie," i snap, my voice cutting through the tension, but she doesn't even look at me.

"she's drunk," ellie growls, her focus locked on nate like he's the only thing in the room. "and you fucking know it. what, you think you can just—what? take advantage of her?"

"you're crazy," nate mutters, his voice defensive now.

"yeah? try me."

ellie's voice is calm, but it's the kind of calm that makes your skin crawl, like the calm before a storm.

"ellie!" i grab her arm, finally forcing her to look at me. "what the hell are you doing?"

her eyes flick to mine, and for a second, something softer flashes in them. but then she glances back at nate, and the fire's back.

"you don't need to protect me," i snap, my voice sharp, my chest tight with a mix of embarrassment and frustration. "i can handle myself."

ellie's jaw works like she's grinding her teeth, but she doesn't say anything.

nate scoffs, shaking his head as he stumbles back into the crowd. "you two are insane," he mutters before disappearing.

and just like that, it's over.

except it's not.

because now everyone's staring.

and i feel like i'm about two seconds away from losing it.

"what the hell was that?" i hiss, pulling ellie away from the crowd, my face burning with humiliation.

"he was about to—"

"i don't care what he was about to do!" i cut her off, my voice low but sharp. "you made a scene, ellie. do you have any idea how embarrassing that was?"

she looks at me, and for a second, i see something almost like regret in her eyes. but then her jaw tightens, and she crosses her arms.

"he was out of line," she mutters, her voice defensive.

"and you think you weren't?" i fire back, my chest heaving.

she flinches, just barely, but it's enough to make me pause.

"you don't get to just—do that," i continue, my voice quieter now, but still shaking. "i didn't ask you to step in. i didn't need you to."

ellie's shoulders sag, just a little, and she looks down at the floor. "i just..." she starts, but the words die on her lips.

i shake my head, the weight of everything pressing down on me. "just—leave me alone, ellie."

and with that, i turn and walk away, leaving her standing there in the middle of the room, her fists clenched at her sides, her face a mix of anger and something else. something that almost looks like hurt.