In The Backseat

Chapter 11: Jealousy Strikes

So, here's the thing about parties: they're supposed to be fun, right? A time to let loose, forget your worries, and just enjoy yourself. But clearly, the universe had different plans for me. Because the moment we arrived, my night took a hard left turn straight into jealousy city.

Picture this: we walk into the party, and the music is so loud you can practically feel it vibrating in your bones. The whole place is packed, everyone's dancing, drinks are flowing, and I've got my friends trailing behind me, already wide-eyed at the sheer chaos of it all.

And what's the first thing I do? Start looking for Calitrope, obviously. I mean, it's not like I'd actually admit that to anyone (or to myself, for that matter), but there it is. I wanted to find her before Callie did because Callie, with her flirtatious nature and unrelenting curiosity, was bound to make a beeline for Calitrope if she got the chance. And something told me I would not survive that scenario.

So, for a solid half-hour, I was weaving through the crowd, scanning every corner of the party, hoping to catch sight of her. I tried to play it cool, of course, making casual conversation with my friends and nodding along to whatever music was blasting through the speakers, but every time someone got in my way, I felt a pang of annoyance.

And then... I saw her.

But it wasn't the heart-flipping, butterflies-in-the-stomach kind of sighting I'd been hoping for. No, it was Calitrope, all right—on the dance floor, with some senior girl who looked like she'd just stepped off the cover of a magazine. The girl had her arms draped around Calitrope's shoulders, and they were laughing, leaning in close, like they were sharing some inside joke meant only for them.

What.

My stomach twisted. It was the kind of jealousy that hits you out of nowhere and makes you feel like you've just been punched. Suddenly, the music was too loud, the room was too crowded, and all I could see was Calitrope, grinning at that girl like she hadn't spent the last week throwing me into an emotional whirlpool of almost-kisses and confessions.

And here's the worst part, dear reader: I knew I had no right to be jealous. Calitrope wasn't mine. We weren't together, we didn't have labels, and I had no claim on her... except that I wanted to. And seeing her with someone else made me realize just how much.

I could feel my hands clench at my sides, my cheeks burning with a mix of embarrassment and irritation. Because really? Was this what I had come to? Standing in the middle of a party, openly brooding over a girl who clearly didn't feel the need to give me a second thought?

I watched as the senior girl leaned in closer, whispering something in Calitrope's ear that made her laugh—a soft, low laugh that I'd heard a thousand times but never like this, never when it was directed at someone else. And suddenly, it felt like there was a weight pressing down on my chest, making it hard to breathe.

"Earth to Vee!" James's voice broke through my mental spiral, his hand waving in front of my face. "You've been staring at them for the last minute. Are you good?"

I snapped back to reality, forcing a smile that I was pretty sure looked more like a grimace. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just... people-watching."

James gave me a look that said he wasn't buying it. "Uh-huh. You sure you're not, you know, someone-watching?"

I rolled my eyes, but the blush on my cheeks gave me away. "It's nothing," I muttered, desperately trying to keep my voice steady. "She's just... my roommate."

"Oh, so we're sticking with that story, huh?" James smirked, clearly entertained by my internal meltdown. "Because from where I'm standing, it looks like your roommate is making you a little... jealous?"