Tempted Attraction

Chapter 10: Naïve

As we sipped our hot chocolates, the tension between us only thickened, a silent understanding that this was far from over. We both knew that whatever was happening between us was dangerous—but neither of us could seem to walk away.

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"It's been so long since I saw you! At least that's what it feels like!" Ingrid exclaimed as she hugged me. She flopped onto my bed, resting her head on my shoulder.

"Yeah, it felt too silent," I replied with a small smile. Ingrid had been so busy lately, and even when she tried to spend time with me, she always seemed too exhausted.

After attending three days of classes, I finally had a day off. I had planned to catch up on some studying and get ahead on a few topics, but those plans were derailed when Stella showed up.

"Ugh, Ingrid won’t stop yapping about you at all. How do you charm everyone like that?" Stella asked, her tone as condescending as ever.

"I guess it’s just a power I have. Unlike you," I mumbled the last part, just loud enough for Ingrid to hear. She chuckled softly.

Stella rolled her eyes and continued, "You know, even Sebastian is—" But she stopped herself mid-sentence.

"Sebastian what?" I asked, curious now. The way she cut off made me feel like there was something I wasn’t supposed to know.

I noticed how Ingrid was giving Stella a sharp look, almost as if she was warning her to be careful with what she said.

“There’s a party at Sebastian’s home. You know, he doesn’t usually invite freshmen, but this time he made an exception... especially for you,” Ingrid said, her voice unusually sweet. It almost felt like she was trying too hard to sell the idea.

“For me?” I asked, acting surprised. I definitely did not want to tell her about me and Sebastian kissing.

Ingrid nodded, sitting up straighter. “Yeah! I think he likes you. I mean, Sebastian’s... complicated, but he's not as bad as people say. He just has a lot going on, that’s all.”

Stella snorted, clearly unimpressed. “Please, he’s not exactly the guy you want to get tangled up with.”

Ingrid shot her a glare. “You don’t know him like I do, Stella. He’s actually really sweet when you get to know him. He just... needs someone who understands him.” She turned to me with a knowing smile. "I think you could be that person, Florence."

I blinked, feeling a strange pressure in the way Ingrid was pushing this. Was she serious?

“Yeah, and I’m sure that’s what everyone says before they realize what they’ve gotten into,” Stella muttered under her breath, clearly unimpressed.

Ingrid waved off her comment and leaned closer to me. “Don’t listen to her. Sebastian’s different with you. He’s not like that with just anyone. He doesn’t open up easily, but once he does... you’ll see.”

I wasn’t sure if Ingrid was telling the truth or if she was just trying to force this narrative, but the way she spoke made it hard to argue. Her words painted a picture of Sebastian as someone misunderstood, someone who needed saving, and for some reason, she made it seem like that person should be me.

“Besides,” Ingrid continued, “a guy like Sebastian could really change your whole experience here, you know? He’s got connections, and he’s... well, he’s fun once you get to know him. Trust me.”

Stella, who had been quietly watching this exchange, finally spoke up again, this time her voice sharper. “Just don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

But Ingrid quickly jumped back in before I could even process Stella’s words. “Ignore her, Florence. You’re special, and Sebastian sees that. This party could be your chance to really connect with him. It’s not like he invites just anyone to his place.”

I sat there, feeling torn between the two conflicting sides. Stella’s skepticism made me question things, but Ingrid’s words were enticing. She made Sebastian sound like someone worth getting closer to—someone who just needed the right person to bring out the best in him.

I needed to escape the distractions, so I went to the library, thinking it would be a good place to clear my mind. But the moment I walked in, my heart sank. Sebastian was there, sitting with a group of people, laughing as if the world revolved around him. But what really hit me? The girl next to him. The way they sat close, how he leaned toward her—it was painfully obvious they weren’t just friends.

What was I thinking? How could I have been so naïve? My chest tightened as the realization hit me: Sebastian didn’t see me the way I thought he did. Stella was right. I should’ve listened.

Trying to compose myself, I walked over to a table where Joey was sitting with another guy. I could feel Sebastian’s eyes on me, that magnetic gaze of his that was impossible to ignore. But I kept my head down, pretending not to notice.

“Oh hey, Florence!” Joey’s cheerful voice pulled me out of my thoughts. “This is my friend, Elliott. Wanna sit here?”

I forced a small smile, hoping it masked the sadness clawing at my chest. “Yeah, if you don’t mind.”

Joey grinned as I pulled out a chair quietly. “Elliott, this is my friend Florence.”

“Hey,” I greeted softly, trying to sound normal. “Nice to meet you, I’m Florence.”

“The pleasure’s all mine,” Elliott said, flashing a warm smile. He had that same easygoing vibe as Joey, which put me a little at ease.

As we settled into conversation, Joey glanced at me, a flicker of concern in his eyes. “So, how’s studying going, Florence? You look like you’ve been buried under a pile of textbooks or something.”

I let out a half-hearted laugh. “Something like that. It’s been... a lot.”

“Ah, don’t worry. I mean, when it comes to quizzes, just remember—if you fail, you can always run away and become a circus performer. You’d make a killer tightrope walker.”

I cracked a small smile. “Tightrope walker, huh? Not bad. I’ll keep that in mind.”

Joey beamed, clearly satisfied with himself. “See? I knew I’d cheer you up. But seriously, you’re gonna ace this. And if not, Elliott here will let you copy off his notes, right?”

Elliott chuckled. “I guess I’m the backup plan now, huh?”

Their banter helped, if only a little. But no matter how much Joey tried, I couldn’t shake the image of Sebastian with that girl. And worse, the feeling of shame that came with it.