The Roots Beneath

Chapter 11: Unwanted Attention

The party was in full swing, music pulsing through the house and spilling out onto the lawn where clusters of students were scattered in small groups. The energy inside was electric, a contrast to Seren's usual comfort zone. She could still feel the excitement buzzing in the air, but as the night wore on, it was clear that everyone had come with different intentions.

Seren stood near the living room doorway, scanning the room for Emily, who had disappeared into the crowd not long after they arrived. She wasn't worried; Emily was the type to float around at parties, talking to everyone she knew, and then some. Still, it would've been nice to have her close, especially with Elijah off fetching drinks from the kitchen.

Seren shifted her weight from one foot to the other, suddenly feeling out of place. The house was packed, with people laughing and shouting over the music, drinks sloshing in their hands. She could feel a few curious glances thrown her way, especially since she wasn't someone who usually attended parties like these.

She tried to focus on the music, but the feeling of being watched was hard to shake. Then, out of the corner of her eye, she noticed a tall boy approaching her with a confident swagger. His blond hair was tousled in that deliberate way, and he wore a cocky grin that immediately put her on edge.

"Hey," he said smoothly, leaning casually against the wall beside her. "You look like you could use some company."

Seren blinked, caught off guard. "Oh, I'm actually—"

"You're Seren, right?" he interrupted, not waiting for her response. "I've seen you around school. Surprised to see you here."

"Yeah, I don't come to many parties," she said, forcing a polite smile as she edged back slightly.

"I can tell," the boy said with a chuckle, his eyes sweeping over her in a way that made her skin crawl. "You should come out more often. A girl like you shouldn't be hiding away."

Seren stiffened, unsure of how to respond. She glanced toward the kitchen, hoping to see Elijah making his way back, but there was no sign of him yet.

"Thanks, but I'm just here with friends," she said, hoping he'd take the hint.

But he didn't. Instead, the boy stepped closer, his grin widening. "Well, maybe I could be one of those friends. We could hang out—get to know each other better."

Before she could back away further, the presence of someone else filled the space beside her. Elijah. His sudden arrival was like a wave of calm washing over her anxiety, and she breathed a small sigh of relief.

"I think she's fine without the extra company," Elijah said, his voice low and steady, but there was an unmistakable edge to it.

The boy's grin faltered as he glanced at Elijah. "Oh, I didn't realize she was with you," he said, though his tone was less apologetic and more annoyed.

Elijah didn't flinch, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Now you do."

The tension between the two was palpable, and Seren could feel the shift in Elijah's demeanor. Gone was the relaxed, playful energy she'd seen earlier in the evening. Now, there was something darker simmering beneath the surface—something protective, almost possessive.

The boy raised his hands in mock surrender. "Hey, no need to get all territorial, man. Just trying to have a conversation."

"Conversation's over," Elijah said firmly, stepping in front of Seren, effectively cutting off any further attempts from the boy to engage with her.

The blond boy looked between them, clearly weighing his options before deciding it wasn't worth the trouble. "Whatever," he muttered, turning and disappearing back into the throng of partygoers.

Seren let out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. "Thanks," she said quietly, looking up at Elijah.

His jaw was still clenched, and his eyes were darker than usual, as if he were holding something back. But when he looked down at her, his expression softened slightly. "You okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine," she assured him, though her heart was still racing from the encounter. "That was... awkward."

Elijah handed her one of the drinks he'd brought. "Guys like him aren't worth your time."

"I wasn't planning on giving him any," Seren said with a small smile, trying to lighten the mood. "But thanks for stepping in."

Elijah's lips twitched into the faintest hint of a smile, though there was still something tense in his posture. "I didn't like the way he was looking at you."

Seren felt a flutter in her chest at his words, the way his protectiveness made her feel both safe and something else she couldn't quite name. She took a sip of her drink, suddenly feeling more aware of Elijah's presence beside her.

"Come on," Elijah said, his tone softening as he glanced around the room. "Let's get out of here for a bit. It's too crowded."

Seren nodded, grateful for the suggestion. The party had started to feel claustrophobic, and she could use some fresh air. As they made their way through the throng of people, she couldn't help but notice the curious glances thrown their way. Elijah's presence seemed to command attention, and while most people gave him a wide berth, a few girls watched him with open admiration.

Once they were outside, the cool night air hit Seren's skin, instantly soothing her. The noise from inside the house faded into the background as they walked across the yard, finding a quiet spot near the edge of the trees.

"Better?" Elijah asked, his voice calm again.

"Much better," Seren said with a small laugh, feeling the tension ease from her shoulders. "Thanks for rescuing me."

Elijah shrugged, his usual calm returning. "Anytime." But then he added, almost under his breath, "I wouldn't have let him near you."

The way he said it made her heart skip a beat. There was something deeper in his words, something protective that sent a warmth spreading through her. She didn't know what to make of it, but she couldn't deny the comfort she felt being around him.

For a few moments, they stood there in companionable silence, the sounds of the party fading into the distance. Seren glanced over at Elijah, catching the way the moonlight highlighted the sharp lines of his face, the shadows deepening the intensity of his eyes.

"Why did you really come tonight?" she asked, her voice soft.

Elijah looked at her for a long moment, his expression unreadable. "I told you, I wanted to make sure you were okay."

Seren smiled, though a part of her wondered if there was more to it than that. Still, she was grateful for his presence, for the way he seemed to ground her even in the chaos of the party.

And as they stood there together, away from the noise and the crowd, Seren couldn't help but feel that their connection—whatever it was—was growing stronger, even if neither of them was quite ready to acknowledge it yet.