Fencing The Line ( A Glassheart Short Story)

Lip Service (Re-Vamped)

Chloe wasn't sure how she ended up in yet another situation she had sworn off a few months ago. Neon lights pulsed through the room, casting flashy colours on the walls. Bodies swayed and bumped into her every other second, sending tiny shocks of irritation through her system. Chloe had always firmly believed in one thing and one thing only.

Parties fucking suck.

Either that or Dizzy needed to seriously reconsider her party-planning skills. Though, to be fair, Chloe had come to terms with her own problem: she was, after all, a complete and utter nerd. But like- that was anything but her fault. Being captain of the Fencing team came with a social status she surely was not meant for.

And parties like this? They were just not her scene. The noise, the chaos, the unpredictability-it all went against her carefully maintained sense of order. But for some reason, tonight felt... different.

She glanced to her right. Bridget stood next to her, practically vibrating with excitement, her pink hair glowing under the harsh lights like a neon sign. She thrived in this chaos, which may speak a lot to her character.

On her left, there was a much more surprising companion: Red. The red-haired girl stood next to her, much closer than Chloe would have expected. Their shoulders brushed ever so slightly, just like they had by the campfire not long ago. That subtle touch sent an electric charge up Chloe's spine, but she shook it off. They were just friends now , she reminded herself. (Friends who maybe kissed, or... well, did a bit more than kiss...)

Still, the contrast was striking. She had her best friend on one side, and her former rival turned sort-of friend on the other. The combination was odd, but maybe it meant this night wouldn't be as unbearable as she'd initially thought. Or the complete opposite knowing her luck.

"Kill me now.." Chloe sighed under her breath, "Could the music be any louder? The coaches are definitely going to hear us."

Bridget grinned wide, tugging only Chloe's arms with a force that would surely keep her from leaving any time soon. "Not if we drown them out first. Come on, Chloe. When's the last time you've been to a real party, huh?" She questions and well, Chloe already knows the answer to that. And to say it's been a while would be an understatement.

It was a battle of will, and she was losing every moment she stared deep into Bridget's pleading eyes. Fine, she would stay. Chloe sighed, clearly resigned to her fate. "Remind me again why I'm here and not in my room?"

"Because you love me," Bridget answered with a cheeky grin, "and I'm pretty sure the devil on your other shoulder is voting to stay as well."

Chloe rolled her eyes, knowing exactly who Bridget meant by "the devil." Any time Bridget made a jab like that, it was always aimed at Red. Somehow, their bickering was so relentless and sharp, that Chloe often found herself stuck in the crossfire. She turned toward Red, expecting to see that familiar fiery glint in her rival's eyes-one she'd only ever seen during fencing duels. But when Red's eyes met hers, the heat softened, replaced with something... gentler. Chloe felt her heart skip, but she quickly pushed the thought away.

"My vote is whatever Chloe wants," Red said smoothly, her lips pulling into a mischievous grin. "And I'd prefer you not refer to me as the devil, gumdrop."

Bridget rolled her eyes, biting back a smile as she mumbled, "Fuck off."

Despite the tension, Bridget moved in front of Chloe, blocking out the flashing lights, the suffocating noise, and the chaotic swirl of the party around them. At that moment, Chloe only saw her best friend. Bridget's gaze softened, her voice low and coaxing. "One hour. No hiding in the kitchen, no wallflowering. Just let yourself have fun for one hour. You haven't let loose once since we got here."