Chapter 1 Chapter 1

Brielle.

I’ve been in love with my best friend, Tristan Langford, for as long as I can remember.

It started as a stupid, harmless crush when I was ten then turned into an unrequited love over the years because he doesn't see me that way.

“Look at her legs,” Tristan muttered, dropping down beside me like he always did, shoving his phone in my face.

Another girl.

The girl on the screen was pretty—of course she was. Long legs, confident pose, the kind of girl who knew she’d be looked at twice. My throat tightened as I forced myself to glance at the picture, pretending this didn’t sting the way it always did.

Don’t even get me started on his love life.

If you could call it that.

Tristan didn’t date. He cycled through girls like phases, intense attention, charming smiles, late-night texts then boredom. Two weeks, max.

After that, he’d come back to me, like always. Like I was constant, safe and

Invisible

And I hated myself a little for letting him.

Because no matter how many girls he showed me, no matter how many times he reminded me I was just his best friend, my heart still betrayed me. I still hoped for something more.

.“She’s pretty, right? Her name is Serena. I invited her to the party. I can’t wait to have her in bed,” he breathed near me, and I turned to him, slightly nudging him.

“Get away, you pervert,” I joked, despite my heart breaking.

I wanted Tristan to see me, but to him, I was just his best friend, a nerd who probably wouldn’t meet his needs. He would never see me that way.

He laughed, really hard, and my heart softened. It always did whenever he laughed.

“She’s coming to the party tonight. You should come too, Brie. It’s going to be fun. You barely ever have fun.”

Tristan was always at parties. Girls were always all over him. I mean, he was one of the hottest guys in school,if not the hottest.

Then I thought about it. I would probably end up seeing him flirting with other girls, and my heart definitely couldn’t take that much. That was why I always avoided going to parties with him.

“No. I’m not interested, Tristan. Go have fun with your Serena or whatever…” I said, adjusting my glasses as I stood up and moved closer to my desk.

We were in my room. He had come over to drop off the class projects he needed me to do for him before launching into his usual party talk—and, of course, the Serena girl.

“You know you’re coming. I honestly won’t take no this time,” he insisted, standing up and moving closer. He shut the book I had just opened and held it up, out of my reach.

“Give it back, Tristan,” I murmured.

“No, Brie. Not until you dress up and come with me to the party. As long as you’re with me, you know your mom won’t be bothered.”

“Tristan, stop!” I said, reaching for my book, but he was too tall six-foot-two compared to my five-foot-five. He laughed, clearly enjoying teasing me.

“Brie, you’re so short!” he mocked, still refusing to hand it over.

I gave up when my heart started pounding like crazy. We were too close now, our bodies almost pressed together. His familiar cologne filled my nostrils, and I completely lost it.

“Hm,” I cleared my throat.

“Fine. I’m coming with you. You’re so annoying,” I hissed, turning away before he could notice just how much power he had over me.

“Good girl,” he said, keeping the book and ruffling my hair.

My cheeks flushed as I pressed my lips together.

“I’ll help you pick a dress. You know you have to look hot,” he added, opening my wardrobe.

I seriously couldn’t believe him right now.

“And no glasses, Brie. You’re using your contact lenses,” he said, turning to me like he was warning me.

Later, Tristan and I arrived at the party in his car. It was a house party hosted by one of his close friends.

I felt incredibly uncomfortable in the short dress Tristan had insisted I wear. It had tiny sleeves, and I was literally freezing.

“Tristan!” a girl called out, waving the moment we walked in.

She rushed toward him and pulled him into a tight hug.

It was Serena, the girl he’d shown me earlier. I couldn’t lie. She looked even prettier in person.

“Hey, Brie,” she said, finally turning to me after hugging Tristan.

I frowned slightly. She knew my name.

“You know me?” I asked.

“Of course,” she replied. “You’re Tristan’s nerdy best friend. Who doesn’t know you at Crestwood High School? I mean, you follow Tristan around all the time.”

She muttered it casually, but I stilled.

She didn’t sound friendly at all.

“Hey. Don’t say it like that. Brie is like a sister to me,” he muttered.

The music was blaring now, loud enough to vibrate through the walls. Colored lights flashed across the crowded living room as students packed the house laughing, shouting, dancing, red cups raised in the air.

“Okay, fine,” Serena said, stepping closer to him.

Before I could process it, she locked her lips with his—right there, in front of me.

My heart stopped.

She pulled away, giggling softly. “We should dance,” she whispered, grabbing his hand and dragging him toward the crowd.

They were already walking away when Tristan suddenly paused. He turned back, spotting me standing there like I didn’t belong.

“Brie, join us!” he called out loudly, trying not to leave me out.

“I’m fine!” I replied quickly, making sure he heard me.

I forced a smile, even as my chest tightened, watching him disappear into the crowd with her.I walked over to one of the stools by the kitchen counter, where drinks were lined up like a makeshift bar. I sat there quietly, my back slightly turned to the living room.

I looked around, feeling completely left out.

I wasn’t interested in anything happening here. The loud music, the dancing, the laughter. it all felt distant. I just wanted to go home.

I decided to get a drink. Something simple. I picked up a cup from the counter and stayed there, perched on the stool, sipping it little by little.

I was halfway through my drink when Tristan suddenly appeared beside me.

“Come and dance, Brie,” he said, pulling up the stool next to mine. “Why are you sitting here? I invited you to have fun.”

“You know I’m not used to these things…” I said, lifting my drink and taking a small sip.

“Tristan, you left me all alone. We were dancing!”

Serena suddenly burst in between us, her arms looping around Tristan’s neck. As she did, her hand deliberately knocked against my cup.

The drink spilled instantly.

I flinched as the liquid poured all over me, just seconds before it could reach my mouth. Cold soaked into the front of my dress, clinging uncomfortably to my skin.

“Oh my God, Brie!” Serena gasped, turning to me with fake concern.

She did that it on purpose.

Tristan shot up from the stool immediately, stepping closer when he saw how drenched I was.

Serena reached out, pretending to help, trying to wipe my dress. “I’m fine. I’m fine,” I said quickly, backing away.

Tristan didn’t hesitate. He gripped my wrist firmly.

“Come with me,” he said.

Tristan held my wrist tightly as he led me through the crowd. We pushed past people, and my heart did that little thing it always did flipping, stumbling, refusing to stay calm.

He took me upstairs like he owned the house. It was probably Blake’s room—his close friend’s. The noise from downstairs faded the moment we stepped inside.

He pulled me into the restroom and grabbed a towel, running it under the tap before wringing it out. Then he turned back to me. He started wiping the drink off my neck gently.

I could barely breathe.“You really know how to ruin a party, Brie,” he teased, still wiping the drink off me.

I gulped hard.

He moved slowly going down, even to my legs, trying to clean everything. I swear I was trying to hold it together, but I was this close to exploding—my thoughts spiraling in directions they shouldn’t, my heart racing out of control.

“That’s enough… Tristan,” I said, my voice coming out in pants.

His green eyes met mine.

“Are you okay, Brie?” he asked, looking up from where he was wiping my legs.

“Yeah. Yeah, I’m fine. I can clean myself. I’m not a baby, you know,” I said, quickly looking away.

He let out a slow, dragged laugh.

“But you’re still clumsy as ever,” he said, standing up and setting the towel aside.

“This won’t do,” he muttered.

Before I could react, he started pulling off his T-shi

rt.

My eyes widened instantly, and I turned away, my thoughts spiraling even faster.

“Tristan, what are you doing?!”