Whispered Promises

Chapter 22 - Tangled in the Past

Josy's POV: The Party

By the time we arrived at the party, the air was thick with the smell of alcohol and the dull thrum of bass-heavy music. Jenny's house was a sprawling, modern mansion with a wide backyard that opened onto a pool, and it was clear from the moment Josy walked in that this was *Jenny's* territory.

The house was packed—people spilling out into the backyard, drinks in hand, laughter and chatter rising above the music. Jenny's parties were always like this: wild, chaotic, and teetering on the edge of disaster. But for some reason, I had come anyway, mostly for Alex's sake.

We made our way to the kitchen, in desperate need of a drink. This place was crowded with lots of cheerleaders and jocks. The thought of running into Xavier always made me uneasy, though I'd never told anyone why. Especially not Alex.

"Hey," Rosy said when she saw us, a relieved smile crossing her face. "Glad you made it."

"Of course," I replied, grabbing a drink for myself and taking a sip, the burn of alcohol settling in her throat. She quickly moved on to our other teammates.

"You good?" I asked Alex.

"Yeah," she said, though her eyes flicking around the room as if she was expecting something—or someone. "Just keeping an eye out. This place is... a lot."

I laughed softly. "Tell me about it."

Before we could continue, a voice I dreaded but recognized immediately sliced through the noise. My stomach twisted as I turned to see Jenny and Xavier standing just a few feet away. Jenny's arm draped possessively over Xavier's shoulder, and that familiar, fake smile plastered across her face sent a chill down my spine.

"Well, well, look who it is," Jenny said with a fake smile, her arm draped around Xavier's shoulders. "Josy and Alex, gracing us with their presence."

I fought the urge to roll my eyes. As much as I tried to ignore it, I knew Jenny had it out for me. Jenny and I had been rivals for years—captains of competing cheerleading squads, both popular, both commanding attention wherever we went. But our rivalry had less to do with school spirit and more to do with the boy standing beside her.

Xavier.

Xavier barely glanced at me, his eyes scanning the room as if he couldn't care less that I was there. I forced myself to stay calm, even though being in the same room as him still made my skin crawl. Xavier had been my first everything—first love, first heartbreak. I had fallen hard and fast, only to realize too late that I was just another notch on his belt. He had used me, played with my emotions, and then discarded me without a second thought. I had never told Alex the full story, too embarrassed to admit how badly I had been hurt. But being here, in Jenny's house brought all those old wounds to the surface and reminded me of that humiliation.

"Hey, Jenny," I said coolly, my grip tightening around my drink. "Thanks for the invite."

Jenny smirked, clearly sensing the tension. "Of course. Wouldn't want you to miss out on the fun."

With that, she sauntered off, pulling Xavier with her, leaving me standing there trying to remember how to breathe. I could feel Alex's concerned gaze on me, but I kept my eyes trained on the crowd, pretending the encounter hadn't rattled me.

"You okay?" Alex asked, her voice low.

I forced a smile. "Yeah, I'm fine. Let's just enjoy the party."

But as they moved deeper into the crowd, I couldn't shake the feeling of unease that had settled in my chest. Being here, surrounded by people who knew what had happened between me and Xavier, made me feel exposed in a way I hadn't anticipated.