The dance floor pulsed with bodies, heat, and the thumping rhythm of the music. Harper had lost count of the drinks she'd had, and Ella was still beside her, pulling her into laughter and dancing, the two of them lost in the chaos of the party. The air was thick, humid from the press of people, but Harper didn't care. She was here to have fun, to forget about the tension with Connor for a few hours.
"Let's get another drink!" Ella shouted over the music, grabbing Harper's hand and steering her toward the kitchen.
Harper followed, feeling a buzz from the alcohol but also from the energy in the room. She downed another shot with Noah, laughing as he made some ridiculous joke. Everything felt good, light, easy. But then, she caught sight of Connor again, standing off to the side with James. His eyes locked onto hers immediately, and that easy feeling she'd been chasing slipped away.
He looked...intense. More so than usual. She ignored it, turning her attention to the guy beside her—one she vaguely recognized from one of her classes. He was tall, decently attractive, and clearly interested.
"Wanna dance?" the guy asked, giving her a grin that was charming in a frat-boy sort of way.
Harper hesitated for a second, her gaze flickering toward Connor for a moment. He was still watching, his jaw tight, his expression unreadable. Without another thought, she smiled at the guy and let him pull her back toward the dance floor.
They started dancing, her movements swaying to the rhythm of the song, her body falling into the beat. She could feel the guy's hands on her hips, but she didn't care. The alcohol buzzed through her veins, and Harper let herself get lost in the music, her movements becoming a little more suggestive, her body flowing in a way that felt both freeing and rebellious.
She wanted to forget about Connor. About his stupid smirks and his constant jabs. She wanted to forget the way he made her heart race every time he looked at her like she was a challenge he needed to conquer. But as she danced, she could still feel his eyes on her, and it made her move even more.
She pressed closer to the guy, dancing more provocatively now, just to see if Connor would react.
It didn't take long.
From the edge of the crowd, Harper saw Connor shove his way through the throngs of people, his face hard and angry. He didn't say a word to her; instead, he turned and stormed upstairs, out of sight. Her stomach twisted, but she pushed the feeling away.
"He'll get over it," she muttered to herself, trying to ignore the sudden hollowness inside her.
After a while, the party began to lose its appeal. The guy she'd been dancing with leaned in close. "Wanna get out of here?" he asked, his hand brushing her arm.
Harper hesitated for a moment but decided she didn't care. She was done with the night. "Yeah," she said, glancing at Ella and Noah, who were still deep in conversation. "Let's go."
They slipped out of the crowded house, the cold night air hitting Harper like a slap. It had started raining, and Harper pulled her coat tighter around her, already regretting the decision to leave.
Her car wasn't parked far, and soon they were on the road, but as they drove further, the rain came down harder, and the car sputtered with a cough.
"What the hell—" Harper muttered as the car slowed, then finally stalled. She tried the ignition, but nothing. The engine was dead.
"Great. Just great." She slammed her hand against the steering wheel in frustration, cursing under her breath.
The guy beside her shifted uncomfortably. "Uh, maybe we should call someone?"
YOU ARE READING
Forever Chasing
Teen Fiction"Chasing Forever" is a contemporary romance that follows the intense, complicated relationship between Harper Westwood and Connor Cooper. Set against the backdrop of their senior year at an elite high school, the story explores their journey from ac...
