Beneath His Cold Charm

34

More Than He Seems

★★★

The music pulsed through the air as the party continued, and the energy in the room seemed to intensify with each passing minute. After her conversation with Matt, Zoey drifted back toward the center of the party, trying to clear her head. She couldn't stop thinking about what Matt had said—his admission that he didn't want to mess things up with her. It was confusing, but in a way, it also gave her hope. Could things between them actually change?

Zoey glanced over at Emely and Chris, who were still glued to each other, dancing in their own little world. Nick had rejoined them and was teasing Chris about his terrible dance moves, while Emely laughed, clearly having the time of her life. Zoey couldn't help but smile. It felt good seeing her friends so happy.

Suddenly, a voice broke through her thoughts. "Hey, you're Zoey, right?"

Zoey turned, surprised to see a boy she didn't recognize standing beside her. He was tall, with messy brown hair and an easygoing grin that immediately set off alarm bells in her mind. She didn't know him, but there was something about the way he was looking at her that made her uncomfortable.

"Yeah, I'm Zoey," she said, keeping her voice polite but distant.

"I've seen you around," the boy said, stepping closer. "You're in my math class. I've been meaning to come talk to you. You're pretty cute, you know that?"

Zoey blinked, taken aback by his forwardness. "Uh, thanks... I guess."

The boy's grin widened, and he leaned in, lowering his voice. "How about we get out of here? We could hang out somewhere a little more... private."

Zoey's stomach churned. "No, thanks. I'm here with my friends."

The boy's expression darkened slightly, but he didn't back off. "Come on, it'll be fun. You don't have to stick with them all night."

Zoey felt her pulse quicken, panic rising in her chest. She glanced around, hoping to catch sight of Emely or Chris, but they were too wrapped up in the party to notice her. Even Matt was nowhere to be found.

"I said no," Zoey repeated, her voice firmer this time as she took a step back.

But the boy didn't seem to care. He reached out, grabbing her wrist lightly, and Zoey felt her heart race with fear. "Don't be like that," he said, his voice smooth. "I'm just trying to be nice."

Before Zoey could pull away, a hand appeared on the boy's shoulder, and she looked up to see Matt standing beside them, his face set in a cold, hard expression.

"Get your hands off her," Matt said, his voice low and dangerous.

The boy immediately dropped Zoey's wrist, his eyes widening in surprise. "Hey, man, chill. We were just talking."

"No," Matt said, stepping closer, his glare piercing. "You were bothering her. And now you're going to leave."

The boy hesitated for a moment, clearly considering whether or not to argue, but something in Matt's eyes made him think better of it. He backed off, muttering something under his breath before disappearing into the crowd.

Zoey let out a breath she didn't realize she had been holding, her heart still pounding in her chest. "Thanks," she said quietly, her voice shaky.

Matt's expression softened as he turned to face her. "You okay?"

Zoey nodded, though the panic still lingered at the edges of her mind. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just... caught me off guard, I guess."

Matt's eyes flicked down to where the boy had grabbed her wrist, and Zoey could see the tension still lingering in his posture. "You shouldn't have to deal with guys like that."

Zoey forced a small smile, trying to shake off the lingering discomfort. "Well, I guess I'm lucky you were here."

Matt's gaze softened, and for a brief moment, the cold mask he usually wore slipped away, revealing something more vulnerable underneath. 

They stood there for a moment, the music and the party fading into the background as Zoey met Matt's eyes. She could see the concern there, the protective side of him that he usually tried so hard to hide. It was confusing—frustrating, even—but it also made her heart race in a way she couldn't quite explain.

"You don't have to worry about me," Zoey said softly, though even she wasn't sure she believed it.

Matt didn't respond right away, but his eyes never left hers. "Maybe not," he said finally, his voice quiet. "But I do."

Before Zoey could say anything else, Emely suddenly appeared, her eyes wide with excitement as she grabbed Zoey's arm. "Zoey! Come on, Let's dance! You have to join!"

Zoey blinked, startled by the interruption, but she nodded, grateful for the distraction. She glanced at Matt one last time before following Emely back to the group.

As they rejoined Chris, Nick, and a few other students, Zoey couldn't shake the feeling that something had shifted between her and Matt. His words, his actions—it all left her feeling even more confused about what was going on between them. But for now, she pushed those thoughts aside and focused on the game.

Zoey tried to let herself relax, to enjoy the moment with her friends, but her mind kept wandering back to Matt and the way he had stood up for her.

Maybe there was more to him than she thought. Maybe, just maybe, there was something underneath that cold charm after all.

★★★