FORTY-ONE
Aliya
PRESENT
The main hall of the SVH has transformed for the annual Halloween party. Black fabric has been draped along the walls and ceiling, creating a dark, web-like effect. In every corner of the room, flickering lights cast eerie shadows that constantly shift and move.
“Why didn’t you dress up?” Silver complains, eyeing my school uniform.
“Costumes just aren’t my thing,” I mumble, scanning the room for Milan.
Silver is dressed as Harley Quinn. Her outfit consists of a tight black and red top, a pair of matching shorts, and diamond-patterned tights. She’s got a baseball bat slung across her back, and her look is completed with white-blonde braided pigtails.
“You’re such a killjoy,” she grumbles, crossing her arms in annoyance. “Everyone else is in costume.” Her gaze sweeps the room, taking in the different outfits.
“I bet Shane would’ve liked it if you’d taken my advice and dressed up as Catwoman.”
She’s right.
He’d probably rip the black catsuit off my body, complaining about how long it’s taking because the fabric is tight.
This thought makes my cheeks burn, but I clear my throat quickly.
“You’re thinking about how much fun you could’ve had if you’d listened to me, aren’t you?” she teases.
“Shut up,” I hiss, embarrassed, and she laughs at my reaction.
“Just imagine how shocked Shane would be if he saw you in a skin-tight Catwoman costume.”
“I completely agree.”
I let out a scream as I’m suddenly pulled back against a hard chest. Milan wraps his strong arms around my waist and presses me firmly against his body, the hard planes of his chest and abs pushing against my back.
I look up at him, my face flushed.
He’s dressed all in black, the color highlighting the sharp angles of his face. His dark hair falls messily over his forehead, tousled and a bit wild.
I swallow hard.
He looks so good.
“You’re pretty jumpy tonight,” he muses, a lazy smile playing on his lips.
“Maybe it’s because you keep sneaking up on me.”
“Did I scare you, sweetheart?”
“As if,” I mutter. “You couldn’t scare me even if you tried.”
His rough laugh rings in my ear. “Is that so? Maybe I should try harder then.”
I shiver involuntarily and curse the effect his presence has on me. “Do whatever you want.”
Without warning, Milan spins me around so that I’m facing him.
I swallow hard, my heart racing as his fingers grip my hips more firmly, pulling me even closer. “Then let’s play.”
Before I can react, he captures my lips in a hot, demanding kiss that makes me shiver with desire.
I gasp, my body reacting instantly. His tongue brushes against my lower lip, and I relent, opening my mouth.
He claims me as if he’s trying to prove his dominance.
His hand travels to the back of my neck, igniting a spark of lust. I cling to him, my fingers digging into the fabric of his shirt as I return his kiss with equal intensity.
I can’t breathe. But who needs air when the essence of his presence is all I want?
I moan softly, the sound muffled by his lips as he devours my mouth. His teeth graze my lower lip, tugging and nibbling, sending a wave of heat crashing over me.
Milan finally pulls back, breaking the kiss with a smug grin on his face. “Did my efforts pay off, sweetheart?”
I try to steady my breathing. My hands are still gripping his shoulders as I stare at him.
Then it suddenly hits me where we are.
In the main hall of the school.
My cheeks are probably flaming red by now. I was so caught up in him that I completely forgot we were standing in the middle of a crowded party.
Embarrassed, I quickly glance around and notice the stares resting on us.
Milan’s hand on my neck glides up to my jaw, gently turning my face back to him. “Looks like we attracted a bit of attention.”
“ A bit? Get a room,” Silver comments, clearly having witnessed our little display.
“I agree with Silvertail,” Damian adds, appearing out of nowhere with Shin, wrapping an arm around Silver. She immediately takes a step back and crosses her arms in front of her chest in annoyance.
Damian raises his hands innocently, a devilish smile playing around his lips. “Calm down, tiger.”
She scoffs and turns to me. “I’m gonna go check on the planning committee … See you later.”
And she’s gone.
“She’s secretly into me,” Damian assures us, making me roll my eyes.
Shin gives him a brotherly pat on the shoulder. “You’re delusional, D.”
“I am not. She just can’t resist my magnetic charm.” Damian’s gaze flickers between Milan and me. “But more importantly,” he starts with a mischievous grin. “That was hot. Mind if I get a turn, Servant?”
Uh, no, thanks.
Milan wraps his arm around my waist, pulling me closer. “You wanna die?”
Damian pouts dramatically. “You’re so boring, Shane.”
“And you’re a pain in my ass.”
“Careful,” Shin advises. “You don’t want to push Milan too far. He might forget we’re in a room full of people and just strangle you.”
“Me?”
“Don’t tempt me,” Milan’s voice drips with sarcasm.
I can’t help but laugh at their banter. Despite their constant bickering, it’s clear they genuinely care about each other.
Even though I still don’t think much of Damian, he’s important to Milan.
“Alright, alright,” Damian concedes, his gaze scanning the crowd. “There are plenty of other girls here anyway.”
His eyes land on a trio dressed in matching cat costumes. They’re standing close together, engrossed in a private conversation. Damian’s attention lingers on them, a wolfish smirk spreading across his face. “Let’s see if they can purr as good as they look.”
And just like that, he’s off to join the girls.
“Typical,” Shin mutters, rolling his eyes.
Milan hums in agreement. “He’s a disaster.”
But there’s a hint of reluctant respect in his voice as he watches Damian make his way through the room. He knows Damian is unpredictable, and he’s worried about his friend’s reckless tendencies for a reason.
“I’ll be right back.” Shin taps on his phone.
“Where are you going?” Milan asks.
“I just need to check something. I’ll be back in a minute.”
And with that, he disappears into the crowd.
Milan looks after him for a moment with a puzzled expression on his face before turning back to me. “So, here we are again. Just the two of us. Alone.”
“We’re not alone.” I nod toward the packed hall.
“Alone enough,” he says, his voice dropping to a low tone. “Or do you want to get out of here? Then we can really be alone .”
I can’t help but swallow, my throat suddenly dry.
His presence is intoxicating, his scent filling my senses and making it hard to think straight. The thought of being alone with him, somewhere secluded, is both thrilling and terrifying. But then I look up at him, and I get lost in the burning intensity of his gaze.
The truth is, I can’t resist him.
When I hear Silver calling my name, it breaks the spell Milan has over me. I look to her and see her waving me over.
Oh right, I promised her something.
Reluctantly, I turn back to him. “Silver’s calling me. I promised I’d help with the fireworks.”
Milan’s expression hardens at my words.
“Fireworks?” he repeats, the word sounding strangely choked.
“Yeah, apparently, they want a big spectacle this year and that’s why they’re starting with fireworks.”
His face pales slightly. The confident, cocky look he usually wears is replaced by something else entirely.
“I see,” he responds tightly.
I furrow my brows.
Is he upset that I’m not leaving the party with him?
“Aliya!” Silver calls out again, gesturing impatiently.
He pulls me a little closer, his lips brushing against my ear. “Find me when you’re done.”
And then he pulls away abruptly.
I watch him walk off, my stomach twisting into knots as he heads toward the basketball team. I can’t help but notice the tension in his movements and the stiffness in his shoulders.
Something’s not right with him.
With one last fleeting glance in Milan’s direction, I turn and make my way over to Silver.
After helping Silver with the firework preparations, I slip away from the group. The fireworks are all set up, and the fuse is ready, just waiting to be lit.
Many students and teachers are already gathered outside the school to watch the spectacle.
Adena, who’s sitting on the steps with her friends, throws me a fleeting glance but quickly turns away with an air of arrogance. It’s been a while since she stopped pretending to be my friend, and I’m glad. I don’t need her superficial conversations anymore.
The music’s blaring, people are dancing, and cocktails are being served.
It’s no surprise that most students are drunk despite the no-alcohol policy.
I need to find Milan before the fireworks start.
My eyes sweep over the basketball players. The team’s number ten, Levi Sokolov, is dancing on a table to In da Club by 50cent, while the other players cheer him on.
But there’s no sign of Milan.
Shin is sitting among the basketball players, a cup in his hand, watching his teammates with an amused smirk.
I make my way over to him, squeezing past a group of giggling girls. When I finally reach Shin, I tap him on the shoulder.
“Have you-?” I begin, but Levi interrupts from his spot on the table.
“Sierra!” he slurs, waving his arms wildly. “Come here and dance with me!”
Shin chuckles as I grimace. “Ignore him,” he says with a lopsided grin. “He’s wasted.”
“Have you seen Milan?”
His smile falters slightly. “I thought you two were together.”
I shake my head. “I was helping Silver with the fireworks.”
Shin’s expression darkens instantly. “Fireworks?”
I frown. “Yeah, the school-”
The sound of the first rocket sends a shiver down my spine, and I flinch instinctively. My heartbeat quickens, adrenaline and nervousness flooding my veins.
“Fuck!” Shin curses beside me, jumping to his feet.
Around us, the students start cheering and get even more excited, heading outside to watch the fireworks.
But Shin just looks sick.
“What’s going on?” I press.
I knew something wasn’t right, and Shin’s reaction just confirmed it.
He runs a frustrated hand through his hair. “Listen to me, Aliya.”
A sense of dread settles in my stomach, the feeling that something terrible is about to happen.
“Tell me what’s wrong.”
“He’s probably already gone home. Or he’s retreated somewhere.”
His words hang heavy in the air. Their implication slowly dawns on me.
Milan is gone.
He told me to find him. He wouldn’t just disappear and leave me at a party on my own.
“What do you mean? Where would he have gone?”
Shin’s face is grim, his eyes dark with unease. “Milan can …” he starts heavily. “He doesn’t like … fireworks.”
My suspicions are confirmed.
The tension in his body, the tightness in his voice. It was just like that time when we talked about the lighthouse.
“Doesn’t like fireworks?”
“No, it’s more than that.” Shin runs his hand through his hair again. “On nights like New Year’s Eve or … the Fourth of July, he always retreats.”
Days like New Year’s Eve or the Fourth of July. Days that are all about fireworks and loud explosions. Occasions Milan most likely hates for that exact reason.
There’s so much I didn’t know about Milan – like his fear of heights and his aversion to fireworks. And yet, despite all the things I’ve to learn about him, he’s still the person I’m closest to in the world.
I hear another rocket being launched outside, its loud explosion cutting through the air.
And even though I don’t fully understand why Shin looks so stressed or why Milan feels the need to pull away, I know I have to find him.