eight
Aaliyah's POV
I KNOW I'm drunk now.
How?
Because I'm dancing with Zaria so hard my curls are slapping her in the face and she's not even mad.
Music blasting.
Lights flashing.
My shoes somehow still on.
My body on autopilot.
And the best part?
I feel amazing.
Zaria yells, "THIS IS MY SONG—AAAAYE!!" and starts throwing it back in a way that should honestly require a permit.
I scream-laugh and try to copy her.
It does not go well.
Caleb appears out of nowhere like a stressed suburban mother. "Y'all need WATER."
Zaria pushes him away. "LET US LIVE."
I take another sip from my cup—bad idea—and stumble slightly.
A hand catches my waist instantly.
Large. Warm. Steady.
I don't have to look to know who it is.
Leo.
He pulls me upright gently, leaning down so only I can hear him.
"Aaliyah. You're done drinking."
I pout. "No I'm not."
"You are."
"No I'm—"
He takes the cup from my hand and hands it to some random man who looks terrified.
"You're done," Leo repeats.
My mouth drops open. "You're bossy."
He smirks—barely. "You're drunk."
Before I can respond, Zaria grabs my wrist.
"Bathroom break, babe. Come on."
She drags me down the hall, and everything tilts like a funhouse.
By the time we come out, I feel... woozy.
Soft.
Sleepy.
Uh oh.
Caleb meets us with two water bottles.
He hands me one immediately. "Drink. All of it."
I blink at him. "You sound like my doctor."
"I'm acting like one," he mutters.
I drink. I don't know how much goes into my mouth and how much onto my shirt but effort is effort.
When I'm done, Caleb sighs. "Alright. It's late. We should get you home."
Zaria loops her arm through his. "I'm ready. My head hurt."
Caleb nods, then looks at me.
Concern in his eyes.
Dad energy activated.
"Liya," he says gently, "I'll buy us a ride home. You shouldn't walk anywhere like this."
Before I can even speak, Leo appears behind me like the devil heard his name.
"I'll walk her."
Caleb's head snaps toward him so fast I hear his neck crack.
"The hell you will."
Leo's expression doesn't change. "You live across campus. She told me her place is like five minutes from here."
"I got it man," Caleb says, jaw tight.
"No need," Leo counters. "I'm headed that way."
"That doesn't make me feel better," Caleb fires back.
Zaria winces. "Oh boy..."
I put my hand on Caleb's arm. "Cal... I'm okay."
He looks down at me. "Liya—"
"I'm okay," I repeat. "You guys live in the opposite direction. And I share my location with you both anyway. If something goes wrong you'll see."
Caleb's jaw ticks.
He hates it.
Hates all of this.
But he knows I'm right.
He sighs deeply — the sigh of a man accepting defeat. "If he does ANYTHING—"
Leo interrupts quietly.
"I won't."
Caleb glares. Hard.
Leo stares back without flinching.
Two protective men.
One drunk me.
Great.
Zaria gently nudges Caleb. "Come on, babe. She'll be fine."
He groans but finally relents. "Text when you get inside."
"I will," I promise.
Caleb pulls me into a tight hug. "I swear, if he—"
"He won't," I assure again. "I'm okay."
He kisses my forehead and Zaria squeezes me and then they leave.
And suddenly...
It's just me and Leo.
The world feels quieter.
The music muffles.
The hallway empties.
He looks down at me.
I look up at him.
He exhales once — like he's been holding his breath since the fight with Caleb.
"You ready?" he asks softly.
I nod.
He walks beside me through the house, hand hovering near my lower back like he's ready to catch me at any moment.
People stare as we pass.
Whisper.
Because Leo doesn't walk anyone home.
Leo doesn't care about anyone.
But Leo is at my side like he's been assigned to me by fate.
We step into the cool night air.
And immediately, I wobble.
Not dramatically — just a little.
But enough.
Leo's hand is on my waist in less than a second.
"Easy," he murmurs.
My breath catches.
His warmth is addictive.
The grip gentle but firm.
"I'm fine," I whisper.
"Sure you are."
He doesn't let go until he's certain I won't fall.
We start walking down the sidewalk.
The night is quiet.
Crickets humming.
Streetlamps glowing.
I realize something:
We've never been alone before.
Not really.
Not like this.
And suddenly I'm very aware of how close he is.
How tall he is.
How warm his presence feels.
How my hands feel too empty.
After a minute, I speak.
"You didn't have to walk with me."
He shoves his hands in his pockets. "I know."
"So why did you?" I ask softly.
His jaw tightens.
He doesn't look at me.
But his voice is low. Quiet.
"Because you shouldn't be alone. Not like this."
A beat of silence.
Then softer:
"And..."
He hesitates.
Swallows.
"...I wanted to."
Oh.
Oh that—
That does something to me.
Something huge.
Something terrifying.
Something warm.
I stumble slightly — stupid uneven sidewalk — and he's there again, steadying me, hand gripping my waist like it's instinct.
"Aaliyah," he murmurs, closer now. "You okay?"
I look up at him.
His face is inches from mine.
Eyes dark.
Focused.
Worried.
He looks at me like he's memorizing me.
I whisper, "Yeah. Are you?"
His brows twitch.
Then he lets out the faintest laugh.
Barely there.
But real.
"I'm fine," he says. "Just... trying not to stare."
I blink. "At what?"
His gaze drops.
Slow.
Tracing down my lips.
My neck.
My chest.
My waist.
My legs.
Then back up.
"You," he says simply.
My stomach drops straight through the earth.
He steps closer.
Close enough I feel his breath on my cheek.
Close enough he could kiss me if he leaned forward an inch.
"Aaliyah," he says softly.
His voice.
God. His voice.
Then—
He blinks.
Looks away.
Steps back.
"We should keep walking," he mutters.
Heartbroken by reality, I nod.
But inside?
I know.
He wanted to.
He really, really wanted to.
We walk the rest of the way in silence.
Not awkward.
Not tense.
Just... electric.
When we reach my building, he waits until I'm inside the lobby.
His eyes linger.
Like he doesn't want to leave.
Then:
"Text Zaria," he murmurs.
"I will."
He steps back.
But says one more thing.
Low.
Unfiltered.
"You looked beautiful tonight."
I freeze.
He doesn't wait for my reaction.
He turns and walks away into the quiet campus night.
And my heart?
Yeah.