Chapter 24

Pov: Nathan

Guiding Jules back into the makeshift party felt like steering a kite in a storm. She stumbled a little as we entered, laughing at herself, and I instinctively steadied her with a hand on her arm.

The room had shifted since we left. The energy wasn't as wild, but the buzz of chatter and the hum of music still filled the air. Groups had formed, conversations quieter, but the occasional burst of laughter or clink of cups reminded me the party wasn't quite winding down yet. A few stragglers lingered near the drinks table, Finn's laugh echoed over the music, and Jules blinked up at the lights as if she'd just stepped onto another planet.

She let out a breathless laugh. "It's brighter in here than I remember."

"You're just tipsy," I said, smirking. She shot me a mock glare.

"Tipsy?" she repeated, raising an eyebrow. "I'm perfectly fine."

As if to prove her point, she moved toward the crowd. But her foot caught on the edge of a chair, and she stumbled again. I grabbed her arm before she could faceplant. "Perfectly fine, huh?"

She laughed, brushing me off. "Fine enough."

Harper appeared out of nowhere, dragging Jules into their group. I hung back, leaning against the wall. My eyes lingered on Jules as she joined the conversation. She was animated, her hands waving in the air as she talked about something—probably the punch. Her cheeks were flushed, and her words tumbled out faster than usual, punctuated by that unrestrained laugh that seemed to catch everyone's attention.

It was weird seeing her like this. Normally, she kept herself together so tightly it was like she was bracing for an attack. But tonight? She was unfiltered, laughing louder, moving freer. And while part of me found it amusing, another part couldn't help but stay on edge, keeping her in my periphery.

I was mid-drink when Savannah appeared. I didn't notice her at first, too busy trying to keep track of Jules's movements from across the room. But then she was there, sliding into my line of sight like she owned the space.

"You look like you could use some company," she said, her voice laced with confidence.

I didn't glance fully at her. "I'm fine."

Savannah stepped closer, her smile unwavering. ""You don't seem to like this party. Maybe we could find something quieter." she suggested, her fingers brushing lightly against my arm.

I pulled away slightly, my gaze flicking to Jules, who was now laughing at something Finn was saying. "Not interested," I said curtly.

Savannah's smile faltered, her expression twisting into something sharper. "Wow. You don't have to be a jerk about it."

"Wasn't trying to be nice," I said, my voice cold.

She huffed, muttering something under her breath as she stormed off. I barely noticed, my attention already back on Jules. She was mimicking Finn's exaggerated dance moves, her laughter loud enough to reach me even from across the room.

Finn dragged Jules toward the makeshift dance floor, his antics drawing cheers and laughter. He was halfway through some absurd attempt at a breakdance move when Jules doubled over in laughter, clapping her hands.

Jules turned to me, her grin wide. "Come on, Nathan! Join us!"

"Not happening," I said, crossing my arms.

"Buzzkill," she teased, nudging me with her elbow. "You're no fun."

"You're doing enough flailing for both of us," I shot back.

She gasped in mock offense, her laughter spilling out again. "Rude!"

Finn attempted a spin, lost his footing, and ended up sprawled on the floor. Jules clapped enthusiastically as he stood up and took an exaggerated bow. She grabbed his arm, pulling him into another ridiculous move, and Finn obliged, always eager for attention. I caught myself smirking at her complete lack of inhibition, though I quickly buried it with a sip of my drink.

The noise of the party grew too much, so I retreated to a quieter corner. It wasn't long before Jules followed, plopping down onto a desk nearby. Her legs swung slightly, her sneakers bumping the wood in a rhythm. She was still buzzing with energy, the tipsiness making her more talkative than usual.

"This party is ridiculous," she declared, gesturing vaguely to the room. "Punch that tastes like Jolly Ranchers, string lights that are probably older than us, and desks pushed together for a dance floor. It's... chaotic. But kind of perfect."

I raised an eyebrow. "Perfect?"

"Yeah," she said, grinning. "It's so stupid, it works. Like... mismatched socks."

"Mismatched socks," I repeated, smirking. "That's your standard for perfection?"

"Obviously," she said, kicking my shin lightly. "Don't knock it."

"Noted," I said, shaking my head.

She leaned back on her hands, her gaze drifting to the lights strung across the ceiling. "Harper thinks I'm a lost cause socially."

"She might be onto something," I teased.

Jules shot me a mock glare. "Rude again. You're two for two tonight."

I shrugged. "Just calling it like I see it."

She laughed, her head tilting back slightly. "You're surprisingly tolerable tonight, Talon. Almost fun, even."

"Careful," I said, smirking. "Compliments might go to my head."

"Wouldn't want that," she quipped. "Your head's big enough already."

Jules rambled on, her words tumbling out in a steady stream. She talked about her favorite pencils again, the absurdity of the party, and how mismatched socks were the key to true happiness. Her cheeks were flushed, her gestures animated, and I found myself listening despite myself.

"Do you think they picked these lights on purpose?" she asked, pointing at the string lights. "Like, are we supposed to feel festive or... reflective or something?"

"I think you've officially overanalyzed the lights," I said, leaning back against the wall.

"I'm just saying," she insisted. "They set a mood. And the mood is chaotic."

"Sounds about right," I muttered.

She grinned, leaning forward slightly. "You don't hate it, though."

"Hate" wasn't the word I'd use. I glanced at her—the flush in her cheeks, the way her smile lingered. "Could be worse."

She laughed, her head tipping forward as she looked at me. "Nathan Talon, the secret optimist. Who knew?"

"Keep that theory to yourself," I said dryly, though I couldn't hide my smirk.

As the party began winding down, the noise grew softer, and groups dwindled. Despite it all, Jules showed no signs of slowing. Her legs still swung from the desk, her words spilling out as if she couldn't help herself.

"And another thing," she started, pointing her finger toward nothing in particular, "why do people always bring chips to parties? Like, no one eats them properly. They just grab handfuls and leave crumbs everywhere."

"This is the hill you want to die on?" I asked, crossing my arms.

"It's a valid observation," she said, her tone defensive but her grin giving her away. "You can tell a lot about people by how they eat chips."

"And what does that say about me?"

She tilted her head, considering. "Hmm. You're probably the type to eat one at a time. Methodical. Annoying."

"Annoying, huh?"

"Yeah," she teased, nudging my leg with her foot again. "But also reliable. Like, if there was a chip emergency, you'd ration them out properly."

"Glad to know I'd be the hero of the chip crisis," I said, rolling my eyes.

Her laugh came easily, softening the moment. "See? You're tolerable."

When I suggested heading back to the dorms, Jules shook her head, her legs swinging more deliberately now. "I'm not tired," she insisted, even as her eyelids betrayed her.

"You're practically asleep sitting up," I pointed out.

"Nope," she said. "You're stuck with me. Besides, I'm having fun."

I sighed, leaning back against the desk. "Alright, Chatty Cathy. Keep me entertained."

Her grin widened, and she launched into another story, something about a childhood art project that had gone horribly wrong. Her words blurred together slightly, the alcohol still woozy in her system, but her laughter punctuated every pause, pulling me into her energy.

"You know," she said, her tone softening as the room emptied further, "I didn't think I'd actually enjoy myself tonight."

"Yeah?"

She nodded, her expression suddenly more serious. "Parties like this always seemed... I don't know. Like something I'd mess up. But tonight? It's been fun. Stupid fun, but still fun."

"Stupid fun is still fun," I agreed.

Her lips twitched into a smile. "High praise coming from you."

Eventually, her words began to slow, her voice softer with each sentence. Her eyelids drooped, but she still fought against the pull of sleep.

"Alright, now you're done," I said, standing and offering her a hand.

Jules pouted but let me pull her up. "Fine. But only because you're being so bossy."

"Bossy keeps you from faceplanting," I said, steadying her as she wobbled slightly.

As we walked toward the door, the cool night air hit us. Jules stumbled slightly, her steps unsteady but her mood still bright. "You're not as cold as you pretend to be, you know," she said, her words slurred but sincere.

I shook my head, a faint smile tugging at my lips. "And you're worse than you think you are."

Her laugh echoed softly as we made our way back, the buzz of the party fading behind us.

By the time we reached the dorm, Jules was humming softly to herself, a lopsided grin plastered across her face. She paused outside the door, swaying slightly. "Wait," she said, holding up a finger. "I forgot to thank you for being my escort tonight."

"Your what?" I asked, raising an eyebrow as I unlocked the door.

"Escort," she repeated, dragging out the word like it was the fanciest thing she'd ever said. "Like... fancy people have. You were very professional."

I shook my head, pushing the door open. "Sure. Let's go with that."

The room was dark except for the faint glow of Jules's fairy lights, casting soft, uneven patterns across the walls. She plopped down onto her bed, kicking off her shoes with far too much enthusiasm. One sneaker landed neatly by the desk; the other hit the wardrobe with a dull thud.

"Nailed it," she mumbled, stretching out dramatically.

"You're a disaster," I said, flicking on the desk lamp on my side of the room. Its warm glow made the space feel smaller but cozier.

"I prefer the term 'chaotically charming,'" she replied, her voice muffled by the blanket she'd pulled over her face.

I rolled my eyes and leaned against my desk, crossing my arms. "You planning on sleeping like that?"

She peeked up, her hair a mess and her cheeks still flushed from the night. "Maybe. Why? Are you going to tuck me in?"

"Not a chance," I said, smirking. "But you might want to at least get under the covers properly."

She groaned, half-sitting up. "Ugh, fine. Bossy strikes again."

I watched as she fumbled with the blankets, finally managing to curl up properly. For a moment, the room was quiet except for her soft breathing and the faint hum of the heater.

"Nathan?" she said suddenly, her voice softer now.

"Yeah?"

"Thanks," she said, her eyes barely open. "For tonight. For... not letting me fall on my face. And for putting up with my endless talking."

"Anytime, Chatty Cathy," I replied, my tone light but genuine.

She smiled, her eyes closing completely this time. She mumbled something I didn't catch, her words trailing off. But then she stirred again, her voice barely above a whisper. "You know... you're kind of... handsome. But don't let it go to your head."

I blinked, caught off guard by her sudden comment. A faint laugh escaped her as she turned her face into the pillow, clearly half-asleep now. "I mean it," she murmured softly, her voice fading into the quiet of the room.

I watched her for a moment, shaking my head with a mix of amusement and bewilderment. Turning off the desk lamp, I settled onto my bed. The laughter, the chaos, Jules's unfiltered rambling—it wasn't what I'd expected from the evening. But for some reason, I didn't mind.

The faint glow of her fairy lights flickered across the ceiling, and I closed my eyes, the sound of her soft breathing lulling me into an unexpected calm.

She called me handsome. A genuine smile tugged at my lips, unbidden and entirely too natural for my liking.

-----------------------------

A/N

SOMEONESS FALLINGGGGGGGGGG

or someones... hihihihihi

Fr kiss already, even I am saying this LOL. BUTTTTT Jules called Nathan handsome, I mean she isn't wrong... but pookie bear smiled. Teeth and all.

Don't forget to vote. LOVE YOU GUYSSSS <3