Fangs & First Kisses

Chapter 7

LEXI

TW!!! A BIT OF SMUT BUT GRAPHIC!!!

My phone buzzes suddenly, shattering the silence of the night. I blink groggily, barely able to open my eyes. A message flashes across the top of the screen—it's from the class group chat. Lycan sent the message.

Guys, party at my house tomorrow night!

Seriously? That's what woke me up?

I groan and rub my eyes, squinting at the glowing numbers on the clock beside my bed—2:18 a.m. I sigh, rolling over and noticing that Owen is online, too. My fingers move before my brain is fully awake.

Hi

Hi Lexi, why are you up so late?

Lycan woke me up

Why are you up?

Parents are torturing humans.

Sorry you have to go through that

It's ok

I set my phone down on the pillow beside me and stare out the window. The night sky is crystal clear—streaked with stars, glowing softly like they were placed there just for me. For a moment, I feel suspended in something pure and far away from this world.

Needing a distraction, I tiptoe out of my room and head into the living room. Pen and Edward are passed out on the couch, tangled in a heap of bare limbs and discarded blankets. Gross. I avert my eyes and head into the kitchen for a glass of water. The coolness calms me a little as I gaze up at the stars through the window. They feel comforting, like a reminder that beauty still exists even in the middle of all this chaos.

But then my thoughts drift back to the message from Lycan.

A party. Great.

Is Owen going to be there?

Will Pen try to rope me into babysitting the twins? If she even dares, I swear I'll Brexit her head clean off.

As if on cue, Edward stirs. Penelope's eyes flutter open, disoriented for a second.

"Eddie...I'm so tired. Let's go back to my room, okay?" she mumbles.

Edward groans in agreement and stumbles after her, still half-asleep. As they disappear down the hallway, I hear their bedroom door shut—and then the unmistakable sounds of round two. Seriously? Can they not just book a hotel like normal people?

Grumbling, I return to my room and flop back into bed, putting on some TikToks to drown out the noise. I don't even realize how much time has passed until the sun peeks through my window, and I've been scrolling for three straight hours.

School. Great.

I bolt into the shower before Pen has a chance to hog the bathroom and slather on conditioner until my hair feels like silk.

I know Owen loves it when I do.

As I brush my teeth, I can't help but hope he put on some lotion, too. Is that weird? Whatever. I throw on my fuzzy tank top—yes, I look like a walking Pinterest board, but who cares? It's all worth it if Owen notices. I grab my bag, glance at my phone one last time, and head out the door.

Naturally, with my luck, I don't see him on the way to school. I look calm on the outside, but inside, I'm spiraling.

What the heck is he wearing today?

The morning rush around school feels duller than usual. The hallway buzz is less intense, and for once, I can breathe without feeling like I'm being watched. But even with the quiet, a dull ache lingers beneath my ribs.