Beyond The Spotlight

Chapter 1

Katerina glanced over at Nick, the way his relaxed demeanor contrasted with her own internal chaos. Why was she so flustered? This was new territory for her. She never let guys affect her like this. Ever.

uraj suddenly announced, "Alright, I'm going to brave the inside bathroom. I'll be back in a minute!" He swung the door open, sending a gust of night air into the car. Alex, ever the opportunist, leaned forward from the backseat.

"I'm getting out for a smoke!" he called, sliding out after Juraj.

As the two of them exited, a comfortable silence settled in the SUV. Kate shifted in her seat, feeling the weight of Nick's presence beside her. He adjusted himself, leaning back against the headrest, his expression casual, but there was an intensity in his gaze that made her heart race.

"So, how do you know Juraj? I'm Nick by the way" Nick asked, breaking the silence.

Kate hesitated for a moment, gauging his interest. "I'm Katerina. We met during orientation in our first year. And you?"

Nick chuckled, the sound warm and inviting. "He's my cousin."

"Wait, really?" Kate blurted out, surprised.

"Yeah, my parents moved to the States when I was ten," Nick explained, leaning back slightly, his demeanor more relaxed now. "I spent every summer in Slovakia with my grandparents. Juraj was always there, causing chaos."

Kate couldn't help but grin. "You definitely have that 'Slovakian mischief' vibe."

Nick raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. "And you have the 'I'm-not-here-for-your-drama' vibe. I like it."

She laughed, a genuine sound that surprised her. "Thanks? I guess that's one way to put it." The moment felt easier, the pressure dissipating like the clouds of smoke from Alex's cigarette. "So, what are you studying?"

"Physics," he replied. "Not nearly as fun as what you seem to be doing over here."

"Yeah, I'm just a chemistry nerd trying to avoid a full-blown existential crisis," she said, a hint of sarcasm in her voice. "No big deal."

Nick chuckled, and for a moment, they were both lost in the light banter. But then, curiosity flared again. "So, why weren't you sleeping when Juraj called?"

"Because I definitely was," Kate shot back, a teasing smile on her face. "But I owe him a favor."

"Sounds like a dangerous debt," he remarked, leaning closer, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "What did he do to earn that?"

She hesitated, the lightness of the moment slipping away as memories flooded back. "Let's just say it involves my ex-boyfriend, a party two hours outside of campus, and me stranded on the side of the road."

"Yikes," Nick said, genuine concern etched on his face. "What happened?"

Taking a deep breath, Kate plunged into the story, her voice steady despite the emotional undercurrents. "So, I was at this party, having a great time with Juraj and some friends, when my then-boyfriend showed up out of nowhere. He'd heard about the party, got jealous, and confronted me right there in front of everyone."

Nick frowned, his expression shifting from amusement to seriousness.

"He was furious, yelling about how I was 'embarrassing' him," she recounted, her tone laced with bitterness. "Next thing I know, he's dragging me outside, saying he'd take me home. But instead of driving me back, he left me on the side of the road."

"Seriously?" Nick exclaimed, his voice filled with disbelief.

"Right?" she said, shaking her head. "I called Juraj because he drank the least, hoping he'd come to get me. He showed up, heroically rescuing me from a potential night of sleeping in a ditch or worse." Kate shrugged, trying to downplay it. "It was just a rough night. I've moved on since then." But as she spoke, a pang of emotion tightened in her chest, a reminder of how close she had come to a far worse fate.

Before Nick could respond, the SUV was jolted back to life as Juraj and Alex returned, their banter filling the air again. As laughter erupted in the car, Kate stole another glance at Nick, who seemed more relaxed now, the weight of their earlier conversation lingering in the air. She felt the connection they had begun to forge, an unexpected warmth spreading through her chest.

"Did you miss us?" Juraj teased, flopping into the backseat.

"Hardly," Kate replied, rolling her eyes. "I was just about to ask Nick if he had any wild party stories."

As they chatted, the conversation flowed effortlessly, filled with jokes and playful banter. It felt refreshing, like a breeze cutting through the stifling heat of summer. Yet, beneath the surface, Kate sensed an undercurrent of something deeper between her and Nick. The way he looked at her, as if he was genuinely interested in her thoughts and stories, sent butterflies fluttering in her stomach.

When the food finally arrived, the chaos erupted again. Juraj and Alex scrambled to grab their meals, and the air was thick with the sounds of paper crinkling and laughter. Kate smiled, feeling a sense of belonging with this ragtag group of friends.