𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐭

twenty one

Kaiden

The night had been a blur of laughter, music, and people milling around the crowded rooms. I'd lost track of Ethan somewhere along the way and had found myself leaning back on the wall, scanning the place without much interest. Then, out of nowhere, Ethan popped up in front of me, looking a bit frantic.

"Hey, man, you gotta help me out," he said, waving his hand. "Eliza's completely out of it. She's with Delphine, and they're trying to get back to the dorms."

I straightened up, eyebrows raised. "Why me?"

Ethan looked exasperated, motioning toward the door. "You've got your car. Please? They could use a ride, and I'm not carrying Eliza across campus."

Sighing, I pushed off the wall, nodding toward the door. "Alright, alright. Let's go."

We made our way outside, and I followed Ethan to where Delphine was trying to hold Eliza up. Eliza was swaying, eyes half-shut, muttering something under her breath. Delphine looked a little strained but focused, one arm hooked around Eliza to keep her steady. I couldn't help but notice how calm she looked, even with her friend practically passed out against her.

"Hey," I called as we reached them. Delphine glanced up, her face unreadable as she gave me a quick nod of acknowledgment.

"Thanks for helping," she said, her voice cool, like she didn't want to be too appreciative.

"No problem," I replied, gesturing to my car. "Let's get her in."

It took a bit of maneuvering to get Eliza settled in the backseat beside Delphine, and Ethan hopped into the passenger seat, throwing me a grateful look. I climbed in, adjusted the rearview mirror, and caught Delphine's gaze in it. There was something guarded in her eyes, like she was holding back a part of herself just out of reach.

The drive was quiet at first, Eliza leaning on Delphine's shoulder, muttering things none of us could really understand. Delphine kept a steady grip on her, like she was used to keeping things under control. Every now and then, I glanced at her through the rearview, only to find her watching me with that same detached expression. But even through the silence, something hung in the air between us—something tense, like neither of us knew exactly what to say.

I noticed her looking out the window, her face softened by the dim streetlights. Her calm, collected demeanor made me wonder if she ever let anyone see past that facade. I couldn't remember ever seeing her ruffled, not even during practice.

Eliza mumbled something incoherent, and Delphine's attention shifted back to her friend. She patted Eliza's back gently, whispering something that was meant to soothe, though it was clear her friend was too far gone to understand.

"Guess you've done this a few times before," I said, half to myself, but I saw Delphine's gaze flick back up to meet mine in the mirror.

"She's a good friend," she replied quietly, her voice steady.

There was something in the way she said it that made me feel like there was more to her than she let on. Like maybe the walls she kept up weren't just for everyone else but for herself too. I nodded, not really sure how to respond, so I just kept my eyes on the road.

When we pulled up to the dorms, Ethan and I helped Eliza out of the car, steadying her as best we could. She gave me a sloppy grin and a wave, leaning heavily on Ethan as they made their way inside. I watched them go, feeling the weight of silence settle back over the car as Delphine and I were left alone.

"Need a ride back?" I asked, glancing over at her. She hesitated, then gave a small nod.

She climbed into the passenger seat this time, looking straight ahead, her hands folded in her lap. I drove in silence for a few blocks, trying not to let the tension in the car feel too thick. But out of the corner of my eye, I could see her sitting stiffly, like she was as out of place as I felt. I stole a glance at her, surprised by how relaxed her expression was, even if her posture said otherwise.

When she gave me her address, I raised an eyebrow, impressed. It was in one of the most upscale areas near campus—not exactly where you'd expect a college student to live. As we approached, I took in the tall building, all glass and steel, towering above us.

"You live here?" I asked, genuinely surprised.

"Yeah," she replied with a shrug, not looking particularly proud or embarrassed—just matter-of-fact.

I let out a low whistle. "Fancy."

She rolled her eyes. "It's not a big deal."

I chuckled, shaking my head. "Maybe not to you." I paused, glancing over at her again. "Guess I'll see you around."

"Yeah." She hesitated, as if there was something more she wanted to say. "Thanks... for the ride. And for helping with Eliza."

"Anytime."

For a moment, she just looked at me, her gaze softer than I was used to seeing. Then she nodded, opened the door, and stepped out, the cool night air flooding in. I watched her as she walked toward the entrance, her figure illuminated by the lights from the building's lobby. When she reached the door, she glanced back, her eyes meeting mine one last time before she disappeared inside.

I stayed parked for a few extra seconds, replaying the night in my head.