Whispered Promises

Chapter 21 - The Weight of Expectations

Alex's POV

The pounding of the music vibrated through the walls of the locker room as I tied my sneakers tightly, trying to shut out the nagging thoughts swirling in my head. School, football, Lucien, Levi—it was all starting to get too much. My mind felt like a tangled mess, and no amount of extra training seemed to untangle it.

Lucien had been sweet—too sweet, really. He'd been patient with me in ways no one else had been, and I appreciated it, but I also felt suffocated by the weight of his expectations. Every time he looked at me with those kind, hopeful eyes, I felt a pang of guilt that I wasn't sure I could live up to whatever it was he saw in me. Then there was Levi, with his infuriating smirks and quick remarks that stirred something in me I didn't want to acknowledge.

I needed a break.

"Alex?" Josy's voice broke through my thoughts as I leaned against the locker beside her, hair still damp from the post-practice shower. "You okay? You've been spacing out."

I let out a sigh, rubbing the back of my neck. "Yeah. Just tired and a lot on my mind. Training, school... you know how it is."

Josy frowned, concern etched on her face. "I get it. But maybe what you need isn't more training or schoolwork. Maybe you just need a night off."

I raised an eyebrow, shooting her a skeptical look. "A night off? Doing what exactly?"

Josy's face brightened, as if she'd been waiting for this exact moment. "Well, funny you should ask. Jenny is throwing a party tonight, and I thought it might be good for you to go. Get your mind off things."

"Jenny?" I repeated, frowning. "As in Jenny from Xavier's school? The cheercaptain Jenny?"

Josy's smile wavered slightly, but she forced it back into place. "Yeah, that Jenny. Look, I know she's... not the nicest person in the world, but she throws good parties, and I figured it'd be a good distraction. You need to let loose, Alex."

I hesitated. I wasn't much of a party girl, and I didn't exactly enjoy being around people like Jenny, who thrived on drama and superficiality. But at the same time, Josy had a point. I had been drowning in responsibilities lately, and maybe a night away from all of it would help clear my head.

"Alright," I finally said, standing up and grabbing my gym bag. "I'll go. But I'm not getting caught up in any of Jenny's games. I just need to blow off some steam."

Josy grinned, a glimmer of excitement returning to her eyes. "That's the spirit! Don't worry, we'll stick together. Besides, you're like a fortress—no one's messing with you."

I chuckled, shaking my head. "Yeah, well, let's hope it doesn't come to that."

As we left the locker room and headed for Josy's car, I felt a strange mix of anticipation and apprehension settle in my chest. A night away from everything sounded like exactly what she needed, but the fact that this night involved Jenny and Xavier's crowd was unsettling. Xavier had always been a sore spot for Josy, though she had never fully explained why. But whatever had gone down between them, it had left its mark.

"So, what about Jackson?" I asked as they climbed into the car. "Is he coming?"

Josy blushed slightly, biting her lip. "He's going separately, but yeah, he'll be there."

I shot her a knowing look. "You two have been spending a lot of time together lately."

Josy shrugged, though her smile betrayed her feelings. "Maybe. It's... complicated." "Complicated?" I teased, nudging her playfully. "That's what everyone says when they're basically head over heels."

Josy rolled her eyes, but her blush deepened."It's not like that. Jackson's... he's sweet, okay? And fun.."

I smiled softly, happy to see my friend so smitten, but also worried that she might get too involved in this whole thing. "Don't get worked up. Just don't let Jenny's drama ruin your night. She's got a thing for Jackson too, doesn't she?"

Josy's face darkened at the mention of Jenny and Jackson's past. "Yeah, but Jackson's made it clear that he's not interested. At least, I think he has. It's just... annoying."

"Don't worry about her," I said firmly. "You've got Jackson wrapped around your finger."

Josy giggled, and for a moment, the tension between us eased as we focused on the excitement of the night ahead. But deep down, I knew this party had the potential to stir up a lot more than just drama. I could feel it in my gut. Still, I pushed the thought aside and reminded myself that I was going for one reason only: to escape the tangled mess of my thoughts, if only for a few hours.

At the Party

The moment we stepped through the front door of Jenny's house, the smell of alcohol and perfume hit me like a wave. The place was packed, music thumping so loud I could feel it in my chest. People were laughing, shouting, and dancing, all lost in their own worlds. I felt a pang of discomfort in my stomach, but I forced it down. I was here to unwind, to stop thinking about everything that had been weighing me down.

Josy led the way through the crowd, her eyes already scanning the room for Jackson. I followed behind her, keeping an eye on the people around us. A few familiar faces nodded or waved, but I kept my responses brief, not in the mood for small talk. We grabbed some drinks and kept wandering around.

Until we found Jackson near the stairs, his easy smile lighting up when he saw Josy. The way they looked at each other was almost enough to make me forget about my own problems. Almost.

As they started talking, I found myself wandering toward the back of the house, away from the noise and chaos. I slipped outside to the backyard, where the noise was muffled and the air was cooler. There were fewer people out here, mostly couples talking quietly or making out in the shadows. I leaned against the railing of the deck, closing my eyes and taking a deep breath.

For a moment, I let the quiet sink in, the cool night air calming my nerves. But even in the stillness, my thoughts wouldn't settle. Lucien's face flickered in my mind—his soft voice, his patient encouragement. Then Levi, with his sharp wit and smirks that always seemed to pull me in, even when I didn't want them to. It was all too much, and yet I couldn't stop thinking about either of them.

The door creaked open behind me, and I heard footsteps approaching. I opened my eyes, half-expecting to see Josy or Jackson coming to check on me.

But it wasn't them.

Levi stood there, hands in his pockets, looking at me with that infuriating smirk on his face. The air between us felt charged, the tension from all those heated arguments still hanging in the space.

"Didn't expect to see you here," he said, his voice casual, but his eyes never left mine.

"Yeah, well," I replied, my tone just as sharp as I met his gaze. "I could say the same about you."

For a moment, we just stood there, the noise of the party fading into the background. There was something unspoken between us, something neither of us seemed willing to address. But it was there, humming just beneath the surface.

And for the first time that night, I didn't want to run away from it.

❇