TOUCH .

I thought you was a shy girl....

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Maya's POV:

I was feeling a bit tipsy, trying to keep my balance as the heels I wore made me feel a little unsteady. "Let's get you some water," I heard Alice say from a distance. Everything felt so far away, though. She held my hand and helped me into the kitchen, but at some point, I let go and decided to keep the night going with some dancing. The music felt amazing, and I was caught in the rhythm, completely enjoying the moment.

But then, I noticed Katie and Gabby walking toward me, their faces serious.

"Maya, we need to talk," Katie started, concern in her voice. Gabby, with a laugh, added, "Wait, are you drunk right now?"

I laughed, feeling a little silly, "Yeah, maybe a little too much!" I shouted over the music. "Or am I?"

I couldn't stop laughing, even as I danced and yelled along with the tunes.

I glanced over to see Alice searching for me, and in that moment, I decided to slip away. I needed a break and... maybe a bathroom too. My vision blurred as I made my way upstairs, stumbling into a few people along the way. The whole world felt like it was spinning.

I opened the first door I found, and that's when I saw something that stopped me dead in my tracks. I froze, seeing Raveen with another girl. They were kissing, and it felt like a punch to my stomach. I couldn't believe my eyes.

"ARE YOU SERIOUS?" I shouted, my voice loud with hurt. The door slammed behind me as I stormed out, trying to push away the tears. The situation was spinning out of control, and I felt embarrassed for feeling so shaken by it. I rushed downstairs, my mind racing, and found Alice running up to me. She didn’t ask questions—she just scooped me up into her arms and carried me to the backyard.

She held me there as I cried into her shoulder, her arms wrapped around me in comfort. "It’s okay," she whispered, rubbing my back gently. "You don’t need to apologize. Let it out."

I couldn’t stop the tears, but slowly, her comforting presence made everything seem a little less heavy. "I'm sorry I ruined the night," I managed, sniffling.

Alice shook her head, smiling softly. "You didn’t ruin anything. Honestly, this has been the most fun I've had in a long time."

She helped me sit on her lap, and we talked, sharing little moments about ourselves that made me feel a little lighter. We talked about our lives, our favorite things, and even laughed at how different yet similar we were. Despite everything that had happened, being with Alice felt like a safe space.

After a while, she helped me stand up, still keeping me close. "Let’s go somewhere quiet," she suggested. We ended up in a cozy corner outside with a big blanket, where we relaxed, talking and enjoying the peace.

At one point, I asked her with a playful grin, "What’s the craziest thing you've ever seen at a party?"

Alice thought for a second before laughing. "Well, I once saw a couple do something as outrageous as a dare..." She gave me a knowing smile.

I almost choked on my drink, laughing. "What?!" I said, wide-eyed.

"Yeah," she said with a grin. "Your turn."

I thought for a moment and said, "Honestly, I don’t think I’ve ever stayed at a party long enough to see something that crazy. But... maybe kissing you was the craziest part." I blurted it out before I could stop myself.

Her eyes softened. "I’m glad it was with me," she said, her voice a little quieter now.

I hadn’t expected the evening to take this turn, but I was glad Alice was there. It felt comforting, like everything that had felt overwhelming just moments before was now a distant memory. With her, I could be myself.