"Hey!" Jade's voice rang out, full of life, as she practically skipped toward Andrea. Before Andrea could say anything, Jade was already pulling her into a tight hug, squeezing her with excitement. The moment felt like it could last forever—Jade's heart was racing in pure joy, but Andrea laughed, a warm smile spreading across her face.
"I'm so glad you guys could make it, Andrea!" Jade's words tumbled out, her eyes dancing as she pulled back, still grinning from ear to ear.
"Yeah, me too," Andrea replied, her tone softer now, but still light. Her gaze shifted, a spark of mischief in her eyes as she scanned the crowd. When her eyes landed on Xavier, she couldn't help herself—a sly grin pulled at the corners of her mouth.
Jade caught the glance and laughed, leaning in conspiratorially. "Ooh, that?" She waved it off, teasing but with a spark of mystery in her voice. "You'll find out later."
Andrea's grin widened. "I can't wait," she said, but her eyes flicked back to Jade, narrowing with a playful suspicion. "But seriously, where's Drayton?"
Jade's breath caught for just a second, the rush of energy she had felt earlier slowing down, a small knot twisting in her stomach. She didn't want to look too eager, but the uncertainty swirled in her chest. Her eyes darted around the room, searching for him, though she kept her face composed. "Uh... I'm not sure…" She faltered, though her voice tried to sound casual.
Andrea caught the subtle shift, a knowing smile tugging at her lips. "Well, he's over there—doing his usual 'I'm too cool for this crowd' thing." Andrea shrugged as if it were just another part of Drayton's charm.
Jade felt a small breath of relief—at least Andrea wasn't pressing her further. But then Andrea grinned mischievously, her eyes glinting with something she couldn't quite place. "Here's an idea," she said, nudging Jade forward with a friendly shove. "Why don't you go talk to him?"
Jade froze, the thought striking her like a sudden cold wave. Her feet felt like they were glued to the floor, but Andrea's nudge was firm, and before Jade knew it, she was being gently but persistently pushed in Drayton's direction. Her stomach flipped, her palms suddenly clammy.
"No, no, no, Andrea!" Jade protested under her breath, but Andrea just laughed, her pace unwavering.
When they reached Drayton, standing in the corner with his hands shoved into his pockets, the air around him seemed to hum with his usual cool indifference. Jade's heart stuttered in her chest. For a split second, she thought about turning and running in the other direction. She had never been good at this—approaching someone she admired, especially someone like Drayton, who always looked like he had the world figured out while Jade was still stumbling through it.
But she forced herself to straighten her back, taking in a slow breath. She plastered on a smile, though it felt a little too tight. "Hey, Drayton," she said, her voice betraying just a hint of hesitation.
Drayton looked up slowly, his cool, unreadable gaze meeting hers. He gave a small, indifferent nod, his posture relaxed but distant. "Hey," he replied, his tone easy but without much emotion. "Glad you could make it."
Jade's smile faltered for a second, the edge of her excitement dissipating like a balloon losing air. She fumbled for something to say, anything to keep the conversation going. "Yeah, it's not like I had much of a choice," Drayton added with a half-smirk, his tone flat. The words landed like a cold splash of water over her enthusiasm.
Her smile, though still present, felt thin now. She shifted her weight from one foot to the other, eyes darting between Drayton and the floor, trying to find her footing. "Soo…" she said, her voice trailing off as she searched for something, anything, to fill the awkward silence.
Finally, she blurted it out, hoping she wouldn't regret it. "You look… hot. I mean, nice," she stammered, the words coming out far too quickly and jumbled. Her cheeks burned, and she could practically feel the heat of embarrassment rising in her neck.
Andrea, standing behind Jade, suppressed a chuckle, shaking her head slightly at her friend's awkwardness. Jade wished she could disappear into the ground.
"Yeah, thanks. You too," Drayton said with a quick glance, a barely perceptible curl to his lips—whether it was a smile or just a shift in expression, Jade couldn't tell. She felt her own face flush deeper.
Before she could say anything else, Drayton's best friend Brian appeared, all cocky confidence, casually draping his arm around Drayton's neck like it was second nature. "Hey, buddy," Brian greeted with a grin, loud and carefree.
"Hey, babe," he said to Andrea, his tone light but a little too casual. Jade could practically hear the tension in the air before Andrea even moved. Andrea's face darkened instantly, her eyes narrowing with the promise of trouble.
"Call me that one more time and you'll see yourself without a dick," she said, her voice sharp and controlled, but every word carried the weight of a serious threat. There was no humor behind it—just pure warning.
Brian blinked, thrown off for a moment, but he only laughed it off, clearly unfazed by the threat. Andrea turned on her heel, already walking away. "Let's get a drink before I puke," she muttered, clearly irritated by Brian's presence. Jade gave one last glance at Brian, shaking her head in disbelief, before following her.
"Should I come with?" Brian called after them, grinning with all the confidence of someone who didn't know when to back off.
Andrea didn't even look back. "Take a step closer and you'll end up without feet," she shot over her shoulder, the words so calm and deliberate that they almost felt like a promise.
Brian only smiled wider, his admiration for Andrea shining through despite her threat. "I love her," he murmured, a grin spreading across his face as he wrapped an arm around Drayton's neck.
Drayton gave him a push, though it was half-hearted. "Seriously, man?" he muttered, rolling his eyes as he adjusted himself, still clearly unamused by Brian's antics.