Whispered Desires

chapter 2

The music from Emily’s party thumped in Ariel’s chest as she made her way through the crowded dorm hallway. She could already feel the heat from the throngs of people spilling out from the living room and down the stairs. There was a mix of laughter, chatter, and the occasional burst of loud bass from the playlist that had taken over the house. Ariel tried to push past the uncomfortable lump in her stomach. Parties like this weren’t her scene, but she’d promised Emily she’d show up. That was all.

As soon as she stepped into the living room, she was nearly swallowed by the crowd. Emily, who was in the middle of a conversation with a group of friends, spotted her and waved excitedly. Ariel smiled back, giving a little wave of acknowledgment.

“Hey, you actually made it!” Emily cheered, pulling her into a hug. “I knew you’d come around.”

Ariel let out a small laugh, trying to look excited. “Yeah, yeah. What’s going on? You said Tristan’s here?”

Emily grinned. “He just got here. You know how he is, always trying to act like he’s too cool for a party. But he’s here for the weekend, so you’ll get to see him.”

Ariel’s stomach did a small flip at the mention of Tristan’s name. It had been years, and even then, the two of them hadn’t exactly been close. But now? It was strange to think of him as just Emily’s older brother. So much had changed, and she wasn’t sure if she was ready to face whatever lingering tension there might still be between them.

Emily led Ariel through the crowd, weaving her way to the back patio where people were gathered. The air was thick with cigarette smoke and the sound of laughter. Ariel felt her body relax just a little, her eyes scanning the faces around her. She recognized most of them, but no one seemed to catch her attention until—

“Hey, Ariel.”

Ariel’s breath caught in her throat. She turned, the familiar voice hitting her like a punch. Standing just a few feet away, leaning against the patio door frame with a beer in his hand, was Tristan.

He looked different, but also the same. His dark hair was a little longer than she remembered, and he had grown taller, more muscular. His jawline was sharper, more defined, and his intense eyes seemed even more piercing than before. There was a calm, confident aura around him now, the kind of presence that made her feel like she was under a spotlight.

For a moment, neither of them said anything. Ariel was too busy trying to swallow the nervous lump that had formed in her throat. She hadn’t expected him to be standing right there.

“Tristan,” she finally managed, offering a tight smile.

He returned the smile with a small chuckle, his eyes scanning her face. “It’s been a while. How have you been?”

Ariel shifted on her feet, feeling the heat from the party pressing against her skin. “Good, you know, college stuff. Busy. You?”

“Same.” He shrugged, taking a sip from his beer. “Just trying to survive senior year.”

There was a brief silence between them, the weight of unspoken history hanging in the air. The last time they’d seen each other, it had been right before he left for college. There had been a strange distance between them, one that she couldn’t quite explain. And now, standing here in the middle of a crowded party, it was as if nothing had changed—but everything had.

“Emily mentioned you were back for the weekend,” Ariel said, trying to break the tension.

“Yeah,” Tristan replied, his gaze never leaving hers. “She dragged me here. I didn’t expect you to show up though.”

Ariel chuckled, nervously tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “Yeah, I wasn’t sure about coming. But here I am.”

Another moment of silence passed, but it wasn’t uncomfortable. It was just... different. She felt the need to fill the quiet with something.

“I didn’t know you liked parties,” Tristan said, a teasing grin tugging at his lips.

Ariel rolled her eyes, trying to laugh it off. “I don’t really. But, you know, Em. She’s persuasive.”

“Well, I’m glad you came,” he said, his voice lowering slightly. “It’s good to see you again.”

Ariel felt her heart beat a little faster. It was just a simple statement, but the way he said it, the way his eyes held hers, sent an unexpected rush of warmth through her. She couldn’t deny the way he affected her, even after all these years.

“Yeah, you too,” she replied, her voice a little quieter than she intended.

There was something in the way Tristan looked at her, something unspoken, like he was seeing her in a way he never had before. The air around them seemed to shift, thickening with something she couldn’t quite place. The party, the noise, the people—it all seemed to blur, as if it were just the two of them in that moment.

Before she could say anything else, Emily came rushing over, pulling her attention away from Tristan.

“There you are! I thought you two were gonna run off and leave me behind.” Emily winked, giving Tristan a playful shove before turning to Ariel. “Come on, let’s get you a drink.”

Ariel glanced at Tristan, who gave her a small, knowing smile before she was pulled into the crowd by Emily. As they moved further into the house, Ariel felt the strange sensation of Tristan’s eyes on her, lingering in the back of her mind.