Edward's Point of view
I stood in front of the mirror at Hannah's house, adjusting the black suit she had lent me. I wasn't a fan of suits—never had been. They felt too formal, too stiff, unlike the comfortable clothes I preferred. But tonight was different. It was a big event, and I had no choice but to look the part.
Carl was on the couch, lazily scrolling through his phone while Hannah stood in front of me, arms crossed, giving me yet another lecture on how to behave at the party.
"Edward, I swear if you mess this up, Lisa's parents will throw you out before you even step in properly," she warned, her eyes narrowing.
I got it, alright? How many times are you going to tell me the same thing? I'm not a kid. I shot back, exasperated.
"Yeah, yeah, whatever you say, little Ed," she teased with a smirk.
"Knock it off," I groaned, but Carl chuckled, clearly enjoying the banter.
Before I could respond, my phone rang. Seeing "Mom" on the screen, I answered, putting it on speaker.
"Hello, Mom."
"Good evening, little Ed," she said warmly.
Hannah and Carl immediately exchanged grins. I knew that nickname would give them more teasing material for the rest of the night.
How are you? Is everything set for the party? I asked.
It's all taken care of. I just need the guests to arrive now. She replied.
So, where are you? I called Lisa, and she told me you were at a friend's house.
"Yeah, I came here to borrow a suit," I admitted.
"Is Carl with you?" she asked.
"Yeah, he's right here."
"That's good. I was going to invite him, but I didn't have his number. "Make sure he comes to the party," she instructed.
Carl grinned and gave me a thumbs-up.
Also, bring Hannah. "I'd love to meet her," Mom added.
Actually, she's right here too. "You can invite both of them directly," I said, handing the phone to Hannah.
"Hello," Hannah greeted.
"Hi, sweetie! I really wanted to meet you. Edward talks about you and Carl all the time. You two have to come, okay? You're family."
Hannah looked pleasantly surprised. "Are you sure it's alright if we come?"
Of course! "I wouldn't have invited you if it wasn't," Mom assured her.
She then said goodbye and hung up, leaving Carl and Hannah staring at each other.
"I need a dress," Hannah said.
"I need a suit," Carl added.
I chuckled. Alright, I'll head back to the apartment and leave with Lisa. You guys get ready and come together. And don't fight, I warned.
They nodded, and I left for the apartment.
---
Lisa's Point of view
I was already dressed and waiting in the living room when Edward walked in. The moment I saw him, my breath hitched.
He was wearing a full black suit. It fit him perfectly, enhancing his sharp features. He looked... incredible.
For a brief moment, I saw his gaze linger on me. My heart skipped a beat when I caught the slight admiration in his eyes before he quickly looked away.
A small smile formed on my lips. So, he did notice.
"Hey," I said softly.
He didn't respond.
You want something to eat or drink? Should I make you some tea? I asked.
Still no response.
"Okay," I muttered, turning back to my phone.
The silence stretched between us. It wasn't like before, when we used to talk freely. Things changed after our fight. He was still upset, and I knew it was my fault.
I watched as he walked into the kitchen to pour himself a drink. Taking a deep breath, I followed him.
"Hey, I just want to say I'm sorry," I said quietly.
He didn't even look at me.
"I know you're angry, but please don't let my mom see us like this. She'll be hurt," I continued.
He stayed silent for a moment before finally responding. "I'm not the kind of person who would make my mother sad because of my personal issues," he said.
Relief flooded through me. "Thank you. We'll leave in an hour, okay?"
He simply nodded and went to the living room, switching on the TV. I sat beside him, but there was a noticeable gap between us.
---
We sat in silence as I drove. It was our first time in the car together, just the two of us. The moment felt special, even if he wasn't speaking to me.
I kept glancing at him every chance I got. He looked even more handsome up close. The suit, the way his jaw clenched slightly when he focused on something—it was all too much.
To break the silence, I turned on the car's music player.
"Love Me Like You Do" by Ellie Goulding started playing.
I swallowed hard. The lyrics… they felt like something I wanted to say to him.
I glanced at Edward and noticed his expression shift slightly. He liked the song. I could even hear him mumbling the lyrics.
A small, hopeful smile played on my lips. Maybe all wasn't lost.
---
At the Party
When we arrived, the party was already in full swing. Guests were arriving, dressed in their finest.
As we walked in, the staff immediately recognized us and led us to my parents. Mom and Dad were talking with the guests, but the moment they spotted us, they came over.
Mom hugged Edward first, then me. Dad shook hands with him before pulling me into a hug.
"You both look great," Mom said warmly.
She then introduced us to her friends, and Dad did the same.
After some time, I spotted my friends and excused myself, leaving Edward alone in the crowd.
---
At the distance in the hall room
A woman stood in the crowd, her eyes locked onto Edward.
"Is that… Edward?" she murmured to herself.
She picked up two glasses of champagne and began walking toward him.
---
Carl's Point of view
Hannah and I arrived shortly after Edward and Lisa. As we parked, something caught my attention.
A tall man in a full black outfit was walking toward the entrance.
"Hey, Hannah… isn't that—?" I asked, pointing toward the man.
She followed my gaze and frowned. "What's he doing here?"
"I don't know, but I have a bad feeling about this," I said.
"Yeah… this party is about to turn into a disaster," she muttered.
---
Edward's Point of view
I stood alone, sipping my drink, when a familiar voice spoke beside me.
"Long time no see, Edward."
I turned and froze.
It was her.
"What are you doing here?" I asked, my voice low.
She smirked.
To be continued