I had been planning for this night forever. My white dress, my hair, everything was on point. This was the night. The night where maybe—just maybe—Elordi would finally notice me as more than just his best friend. If there was ever a time for something to happen, tonight was it.
When I arrived at the party, it felt like all eyes were on me. For once, I wasn’t the invisible sidekick in the background. I was center stage.
“Hanna, oh my God! You look amazing!” Emily screeched the second she saw me, grabbing me in a tight hug before pulling back to admire the dress. “Seriously, Elordi is going to die when he sees you.”
I blushed, feeling my heart speed up. “You really think so?”
“I know so,” Emily said, nudging me toward the crowd. “Go talk to him!”
I spotted Elordi across the room, leaning against the wall by the punch bowl, laughing at something one of his soccer friends said. He looked so calm, so perfect. I was about to make my move when—of course—she appeared.
Ciara.
“Wow, Hanna,” she said, her manicured hand brushing my shoulder as she appeared out of nowhere. “You really clean up well.”
“Thanks,” I said through gritted teeth, trying not to let her get under my skin.
Ciara leaned in close, her voice dropping to that venomous whisper I knew all too well. “Enjoy tonight. Who knows, maybe you’ll find your ‘true love’.” Her laugh was sharp, cutting through the air like glass.
Before I could even think of something clever to say back, she was gone—drifting toward Finn like he was a prize she was about to collect. I watched as Finn followed her like a puppy, his eyes never leaving her.
My stomach twisted into a knot.
I turned back to Elordi, hoping for some magical moment, but he was still deep in conversation with his friends. He hadn’t even noticed me.
