Amara took a long sip from her beer and leaned back on her elbows, staring up at the sky. "You ever just look at the stars and wonder how many other people are doing the exact same thing right now?"
Kael blinked. "I mean… I usually just think about how I should've brought a jacket."
She laughed, her eyes flicking to him. "Okay, Mr. Deep."
He smirked, but the comfort of the quiet night and her presence slowly peeled away his usual caution. He took a sip from the can she handed him—his first real taste of beer. Bitter, weirdly fizzy, not his vibe, but he powered through.
"Y'know," he said, glancing at her, "I'm not usually the party type. This kind of scene? Not really for me."
"I figured," Amara said, smiling. "But you came anyway."
"You asked nicely," he said. "And you used a smiley face. That's, like, emotional blackmail."
She laughed again, leaning into him slightly. "Well, I'm glad it worked."
They sat in silence for a few moments, the dull thump of music still audible through the wall, but muffled now by the night.
"Can I tell you something kinda stupid?" Kael asked suddenly.
Amara turned to him, curious. "Of course."
"I still haven't forgiven my best friend for killing my dog in Minecraft."
Her brows rose. "Wait—what?"
Kael nodded, deadly serious. "Max. He was a white wolf I found on day three of a survival world. Tamed him with my last bone. He saved my life like, five times. We had a bond. And then my dumbass friend Tyson lured him into lava."
Amara burst into laughter. "No way! That's so messed up!"
"It is!" Kael said, laughing along with her. "Max was a good boy. We built a little house together. Had a fenced garden. I even gave him a doghouse made of quartz, because he deserved luxury."
"That's actually kind of adorable," she said, nudging him with her shoulder. "You really loved that virtual dog."
"I mourned him. For real. Held a funeral and everything."
"Did you invite anyone?"
"No, I was too heartbroken," he replied solemnly. "Just me, Max's collar, and the sunset."
Amara wiped a tear from the corner of her eye, still laughing. "Okay, that's the cutest and saddest thing I've heard all week."
"I like to think he respawned in dog heaven," Kael said with mock seriousness, raising his beer. "To Max."
"To Max," she echoed, clinking her can against his.
They shared a warm smile, the kind that lingered longer than it should've. The conversation drifted from Minecraft to their favorite childhood shows, stupid things they believed as kids, and the first time they each got caught lying. With every word, the space between them seemed to shrink—not physically, but emotionally.
And for once, Kael wasn't thinking about business or strategy or his parents' debt. Just this moment. This night.
While Kael and Amara sat together, the cool night air helping settle the noise from the party inside, a sudden laugh interrupted their moment.
A blonde girl appeared from the doorway, her arm wrapped tightly around a tall guy who reeked of cocky frat-boy energy. She spotted Kael and Amara immediately, and her lips curled into a smirk.
"Nchooo, little Kael's out past his bedtime," she cooed mockingly, leaning into her boyfriend as if to emphasize the contrast. Her voice dripped with condescension, the kind that carried enough venom to sting for hours after.
The guy beside her chuckled in that lazy, dismissive way that made Kael feel five inches tall. Embarrassed, Kael managed a small, awkward smile and set his cup down on the step beside him, trying to appear unaffected.
"Get lost, Lyra," Amara snapped, her eyes flashing with irritation.
Lyra raised an eyebrow, clearly entertained. "Alright, have fun with your little boyfriend," she said with a wink. "Let's go, babe. I'm getting drunk as hell tonight." She strutted up the stairs between them without another glance.
Her boyfriend followed, not sparing Kael a second thought.
Kael let out a low sigh.
"Hey," Amara said softly, placing a hand on his arm. "Don't mind her. She's just a bitch."
Kael offered a weak chuckle. "Yeah, thanks. I think I'll go now. My parents might get worried if I stay out too late."
Amara nodded. "Oh, alright. See you, Kael." She watched him walk away, her expression unreadable—until he turned the corner.
The moment he was gone, her face twisted into disgust. She exhaled sharply, snatched up the drinks, and stood.
'Fuck, I hate that crybaby. I should totally tell Lyra about his stupid Minecraft dog story. She'll die laughing,' she thought bitterly as she stepped back inside.
Hours later…
Inside the dorm, the music had died down, and the air was thick with smoke and the scent of leftover booze. The core eight members of the group lounged lazily in the main room.
"That was one hell of a party," Lucian said, a cocky smirk on his face as he leaned back in his chair.
To his left, Amara exhaled a puff of her vape, eyes locked on the ceiling in a haze. Next to her, a girl with bright pink hair and a sharp undercut scrolled through her phone with wired headphones in, nodding to music only she could hear.
Across from them, a guy with blond hair, piercings threading across his brow and lips, sat with his legs spread, smoking a blunt. His eyes were narrow, always watching, always judging. No one liked sitting too close to him. His name was Kai Ashford.
Kellan was sprawled across the carpet, his body limp from whatever pills he'd popped earlier, a dopey grin stuck to his face. His full name ,Kellan Draven.
Ryder Cain stood behind the group like a silent shadow—tall, muscled, and watching everything unfold with a calm stillness that was more unnerving than comforting.
Lyra sat on one of the couches, arms folded, a scowl etched into her otherwise pretty face. Her boyfriend had left earlier, and she'd been sour about it since. She'd planned for a much steamier ending to her night.
And finally, there was Aria Vale. Her white hair shimmered under the dim lighting, and she sat apart from the others, lost in her own thoughts, legs curled up underneath her.
"Alright, let's begin," Lucian said, clapping his hands together. "Amara, what's the status on Kael?"
"He's fine," she said with a bored shrug. "Definitely crushing on me. But he bailed early because someone couldn't keep her mouth shut." Her eyes slid toward Lyra.
"Oh, fuck off. We all hate the kid, so why does it matter if I tease him a little?" Lyra shot back.
"I don't hate Kael," Aria muttered from the corner. "I think he's nice."
"Shut up, Aria. Nobody asked," Amara and Lyra said in eerie unison.
Lucian held up his hands like a referee. "Alright, alright, calm down. It doesn't matter. There's only a few weeks left until we ditch the kid anyway."
A heavy silence followed his words. No one protested. No one objected.
Because they all knew what they were here for—and it wasn't friendship.
These eight had known each other since high school. They grew up together, went to college together, and now… they schemed together. They weren't just friends. They were a cartel of ambition, bound not by loyalty, but by mutual benefit.
And Kael? He was just the pawn they'd chosen to sacrifice.
TO BE CONTINUED