Ice & Prejudice

Chapter 71

Ria's POV:

I felt an overwhelming sense of happiness and fulfillment wash over me as I sat in the dimly lit corner of the karaoke bar, chatting away with Mia. It was our 21st birthday, and I was surrounded by the people I loved most. Still, a small part of me couldn't help but wish Layla had been able to make it too. She would've loved this-laughing and making jokes about how we were finally legal, and just screaming our lungs out to random songs.

It was also strange, sitting here in a packed bar, celebrating like nothing had ever happened. Like I wasn't the same girl who'd been publicly humiliated three years ago, bullied out of the state after losing that horrific trial. Back then, I couldn't step outside without hearing insults thrown my way, being called a liar, and worse. But now... nothing. No one here seemed to recognize me, or if they did, they were keeping it to themselves. Sure, I noticed a few lingering gazes, but I chalked that up to curiosity more than anything else.

Mia nudged me, pulling me back to the present. "You know, you and Nik look really good together," she said with a smile, her voice light and warm. Mia had always been the most forgiving of the four of us, and it was clear she didn't harbor any bad blood toward Nik anymore. She was kind of a hopeless romantic like that.

I laughed, rolling my eyes playfully. "Oh, please. You're just saying that because he's been on his best behavior tonight."

Mia grinned. "Maybe. But it's true. You two are like... I don't know, opposites that somehow work perfectly together. It's weird, but it makes sense."

I snorted. "Weird is one word for it. But yeah, he's not so bad."

Mia raised an eyebrow. "Not so bad? Ria, you're practically glowing every time you look at him. Just admit it, you're smitten."

"Okay, fine," I conceded with a smirk. "Maybe I am. But don't let him hear you say that. His ego is big enough already."

Before Mia could respond, a sudden commotion broke out on the other side of the bar. We both turned our heads to see two guys going at it, fists flying as they shoved each other around. The people around them quickly backed off, giving the brawlers space as the fight escalated.

I shrugged, dismissing it. "It's probably just some idiots fighting over something stupid again."

Mia didn't respond right away, her gaze fixed on the scene with a furrowed brow. "Ria?" she finally said, her voice light as a feather. "Isn't that your idiot?"

My head snapped back toward the fight, and my heart sank when I realized one of the guys throwing punches was none other than Nik. "Oh no," I groaned, dragging a hand down my face. "That is my idiot."

We watched as Nik landed a solid punch, sending the other guy stumbling back. Despite the chaos, there was something almost graceful about the way Nik fought-calm, controlled, like he knew exactly what he was doing. And of course, he won. But as the bouncer finally broke it up, I could see the mess on his face-a split lip, a bloody nose, and probably a bruise forming under his eye.

"Well, that's enough fun for tonight," I muttered, standing up. "Nik and I are heading home."

"You two good?" Gia asked, her tone more concerned than anything else.

"Yeah, we're fine," I assured her. "Do you need money for a cab?"

Gia shook her head. "No, we're good. Just text me when you get home, okay? We won't be long."

"Speak for yourself," Lia grumbled, arms crossed.

I rolled my eyes, grabbing Nik by the arm as we headed out. He held a tissue to his nose, wincing slightly as we stepped into the cool night air. "You wanna tell me what that was about?" I asked as I unlocked the car and slid into the driver's seat.