Chapter 66

Celeste

I kept my gaze fixed on my reflection as I applied the last touch of lipstick. The striking red contrasted vividly against my pale skin. It was a bold choice for sure, but tonight was all about audacity.

Fiona stood by my side, offering words of encouragement. “Celeste, you look stunning,” she said. “Red really is your color.”

“Thanks, Fi,” I replied, taking a deep breath. “Just a little nervous about tonight.”

She offered a comforting smile. “I’ve got your back. You just focus on Matt.”

I swallowed, feeling as though my throat had closed up. “I just… What if it all goes wrong?” I asked, my eyes still locked on my reflection. There was still one piece left to my disguise: my mask, which I was holding in my hand.

“As in, Jack catching you?” Fiona asked.

I shook my head. “Not that. I guess I’m being a little naive by thinking that Matt could show interest in me without the mask—”

“That’s not necessarily true,” Fiona interrupted. “Just… Give it time, Celeste. Of course he’s not gonna ride off with you into the sunset tonight. But you might be able to get a hint about his true feelings if you just give it a chance. Even if there’s just a flicker of something there.”

I nodded. Fiona was right. “And if there is a flicker, I’ll reveal myself,” I said.

“And if there isn’t…”

Fiona’s words hung in the air like a pendulum. I swallowed again, pushing my shoulders back with feigned confidence. “If there isn’t, I’ll end things. For good.”

…

We arrived at the party and the atmosphere was electric, music pulsing through the crowd, the orange light from the bonfire casting dancing shadows.

The party was held within the circle created by a cluster of old cabins, which used to be campgrounds for summer camps. Now, though, the cabins served as something else.

A retreat. A place for the students of our campus to sneak out at night, dance amongst the trees alongside the fire, and have nights of passion in the old cabins.

But amidst the sea of faces, two stood out—Matt’s and, disturbingly, Jack’s.

My heart skipped a beat as my eyes locked with Matt’s. He was talking to Jack, and I could only imagine the nature of their conversation.

As if feeling my gaze on him, Jack looked up and directly at me. That chilling familiarity flashed in his eyes, but did he truly recognize me? Or was it just a trick of the dim lighting?

But before I could process it further, Jack’s gaze drifted elsewhere, and Matt, leaving Jack’s side, made his way toward me. As he neared, he pulled me close, wrapping an arm around my waist protectively.

“Hey,” he said, planting a kiss on my temple. “I was worried you wouldn’t come.”

“I wouldn’t miss it,” I murmured. However, my gaze kept drifting toward Jack. Matt, seeing this, let out a sigh.

“That guy,” he murmured, nodding subtly toward Jack, “his name is Jack. He used to be my friend, but he isn’t really a friend anymore. I was just being polite by hanging out with him just now.”

The sudden intensity in his gaze made my heart race. “Why?” I asked, trying to sound nonchalant despite already knowing the answer.

Matt hesitated for a moment, choosing his words carefully. “Jack... he’s cruel to his little sister. The way he speaks about her, the things he does... It reminds me of Patricia,” he admitted.

I nodded, recalling how Matt once mentioned his own younger sister, Patricia, and the protectiveness he felt toward her.

Matt continued. “I feel a similar sort of protectiveness over her, almost in a brotherly way. And I overstepped my boundaries by confronting Jack about it. I only keep in touch to check on his sister. She doesn’t deserve that kind of treatment.”

I was taken aback. Brotherly? The revelation was a mix of appreciation and disappointment. Could Matt only ever see me as a sister figure? Before I could ponder more on that, Matt offered his hand.

“Dance with me?”

I nodded, my mixed emotions momentarily forgotten as the music took over. The rhythm guided our movements, and as the night wore on, the dance floor became more heated.

Bodies pressed close, laughter filled the air, and the chemistry between Matt and I was undeniable. It was easy to get lost in the moment, to let the world outside this room fade away.

As Matt extended his hand, the flickering light from the bonfire reflecting in his eyes, I found myself entranced. Our fingers intertwined, and he led me to the pulsating center of the dance floor.

The bass of the music resonated deep within my chest, the rhythm syncing with the rapid beat of my heart.

We started with a gentle sway, our bodies barely touching, the music and the energy of the crowd washing over us. But as the songs shifted, growing more intimate and soulful, the space between us diminished.

Matt’s fingers grazed the small of my back, drawing me closer until our hips aligned, our steps matching in a fluid dance of unity.

The atmosphere was thick with a mix of tension and longing. The lyrics of the song spoke of love and desire, and it felt as though they were narrating our very emotions. Our eyes locked, and in that fleeting connection, a myriad of unspoken words passed between us.

His free hand found mine, our fingers locking in a delicate embrace, and as he spun me around, the world outside blurred into a medley of colors and sounds. It was just the two of us—two souls bound by the music, the night, and the unsaid feelings.

As the tempo slowed, Matt pulled me into a close embrace. I could feel the warmth of his breath on my neck, sending shivers down my spine. The rest of the crowd faded into oblivion as the world seemed to shrink to the circle of his arms.

“Rose,” he whispered, the softness of his voice contrasting with the loud beats surrounding us.

I tilted my head up, our faces inches apart. “Matt?”

His eyes roved over my face, as if searching for answers to questions he dared not ask aloud. “There’s something about tonight,” he murmured. “Something different. Can you feel it?”

I nodded, the intensity of his gaze making it hard to form words. “I can. It’s like... like there’s an energy between us.”

He smiled, his lips brushing against my ear as he whispered, “I’ve never felt this way with anyone before.”

My heart raced at the admission, the warmth of his body pressing close, the fabric of our clothes the only barrier between us. The sheer intimacy of the moment was overwhelming, the feelings raw and unfiltered.

As the song transitioned, the beats grew faster, yet neither of us pulled away. Instead, our movements became more fervent, our bodies swaying and grinding to the rhythm. Every touch, every glance was charged with an electricity that was impossible to ignore.

“I’ve wanted this,” Matt admitted, his words lost in the swell of music. “To be this close to you, to feel you against me.”

I swallowed hard, trying to process the intensity of his confession. “Matt—” I began, but the words were cut short as his lips brushed against my earlobe.

“Just let go, Rose,” he urged, his hands running down my back, tracing the curve of my waist. “Let’s forget the world for a while.”

And so, I did. We surrendered to the rhythm, our bodies moving as one. With each step, each turn, the boundaries between us melted away. It was as if the music had cast a spell, drawing us into its embrace, allowing us to experience each other.

But just as the evening’s crescendo reached its peak, Fiona caught my eye, subtly gesturing to the exit.

It was time.

Time to change back into Celeste.