if you still care series: vol 9
°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･
Moni shifted her weight, irritation evident as she turned to see what had him so preoccupied—especially tonight, of all nights. It was her birthday, and Ahmad's attention was supposed to be on her. She scanned the room, following his line of sight, and her eyes landed on you, standing in the kitchen with Alisha, laughing as you poured drinks.
Her expression soured. You hadn't been at a party in ages, and now you showed up at hers, looking way too good to ignore. Ahmad's smirk grew as he watched you, and Moni clenched her jaw, not thrilled about the uninvited competition.
Meanwhile, Alisha nudged you playfully, leaning in. "Girl, do you see who's eyeing you?"
You glanced over, catching Ahmad's gaze across the room, his intense stare making your heart skip. He tilted his head slightly in acknowledgment, that familiar smirk on his face as if to say he'd been waiting for this moment. You swallowed, playing it cool as you looked away, but the butterflies were impossible to ignore.
"Well, well, look who's making an impression," Alisha teased. "Seems like somebody's here for more than just Moni's birthday cake."
You rolled your eyes, laughing it off. "Girl, let's not start anything. I'm just here to have fun, alright?"
But as you said it, you could feel Ahmad's gaze burning into you from across the room, making it clear that the night might turn out more interesting than you'd planned.
Tyler handed out the cups, the clear liquid inside smelling strong enough to make you hesitate. "I got one chaser we can all share," she said, holding up a half-full bottle. Normally, drinking wasn't your thing, but tonight was all about firsts. Counting down together, you and the girls threw back your shots, the burn lingering in your throat as you forced yourself to swallow.
As the night went on, you felt a buzz of confidence rising with each sip. You and Alisha found a corner, laughing and dancing, losing yourselves in the music and each other's energy.
"Y'all wanna smoke?" Tyler asked, reappearing with a grin and something tucked in her hand. Alisha didn't even give you time to answer before grabbing your hand and pulling you along after Tyler. She led you all outside to a patio area, where the vibe was much more lowkey than inside. The fresh air helped ground you, though the excitement was still humming under your skin.
The patio seating was packed, and you scanned for a spot. Alisha found a place across the way, and you realized the only open seat left was on a love seat beside Ahmad. He raised an eyebrow, patting the spot next to him with a smirk as you approached.
"I don't bite," he murmured, his voice low, just enough for you to catch over the hum of conversations and music. He patted the seat beside him again, his expression playful yet inviting, drawing you in almost effortlessly, like some kind of modern-day Pied Piper.
You hesitated for a second, but his gaze was steady, his eyes practically daring you to sit. Before you knew it, you found yourself sliding into the seat next to him, every move feeling deliberate and a little bit thrilling.
"So, what made you finally come out tonight?" he asked, leaning in just enough that his voice felt like it was meant for your ears only.
"Had the house to myself, so..." You shrugged, trying to sound casual, but the look in his eyes told you he wasn't buying the nonchalance. You glanced down, feeling your cheeks warm.
He chuckled, clearly amused by your reaction. "I'll take it. But I didn't peg you for a rule-breaker."
"Guess you don't know me that well," you shot back, surprising yourself with the boldness in your voice.
