Tessa stood in front of the mirror, arms crossed lightly over her stomach.
"I'm not wearing that," she said.
Behind her, Lily sighed dramatically.
"Yes, you are."
Tessa shook her head. "It's too much."
"It's not 'too much,'" Lily said, stepping closer. "It's just more than you're used to."
That didn't help.
Tessa looked back at her reflection.
The dress hugged her waist softly, falling just right against her hips.
The color....deep, rich....caught the light even in her room.
It didn't look like something she would wear.
It looked like something someone else would wear.
"I look different," she said quietly.
Lily smiled slightly.
"Good."
Tessa exhaled slowly, her fingers brushing over the fabric.
"I don't know if I like that."
Lily stepped behind her, resting her hands lightly on Tessa's shoulders.
"You don't have to be different," she said.
"You just have to stop hiding."
That made Tessa pause.
Her gaze stayed on the mirror.
On herself.
She reached up, adjusting a strand of her hair, the soft curls falling back into place over her shoulder.
Her makeup was simple.
Light.
Just enough to bring out what was already there.
She looked like herself.
Just… clearer.
More visible.
"…What if people stare?" she asked.
"They will," Lily said honestly.
Tessa's stomach dropped slightly.
"But not for the reasons you think."
Silence.
Tessa swallowed.
Then slowly
She dropped her arms.
Letting herself really look.
Not critically.
Not nervously.
Just… look.
And for the first time
She didn't immediately look away.
"…Okay," she said softly.
Lily grinned.
"That's my girl."
—
The music hit before they even stepped inside.
Loud.
Heavy.
Alive.
Tessa hesitated at the door.
Her heart was racing again.
Not from fear this time.
Something else.
"Ready?" Lily asked.
Tessa nodded.
Not fully confident.
But not backing out either.
The door opened.
And they stepped in.
At first
No one noticed.
Then
Someone did.
A pause in conversation.
A glance that lingered too long.
Then another.
"Wait…"
"Is that—?"
"No way."
The shift spread slowly.
Like a ripple.
People turning.
Looking again.
Tessa felt it immediately.
Her fingers tightened slightly at her side.
Her heels clicked softly against the floor as she walked.
Steady.
Measured.
Even if her heart wasn't.
She tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear, resisting the urge to look down.
"Keep walking," Lily murmured.
Tessa nodded.
And kept going.
Across the room
Adrian looked up.
At first
It didn't register.
Just movement.
Light catching fabric.
Then
He looked again.
And this time
He didn't look away.
His expression didn't change much.
But his attention did.
Focused.
Still.
"…That's her?" someone near him muttered.
Adrian didn't answer.
Because it didn't feel like a question.
It felt like something clicking into place.
That was her.
But not the version he remembered.
This one
Didn't look like she was waiting for anything.
Didn't look like she was unsure.
And that
That threw him off more than it should have.
Tessa slowed slightly as they moved further into the room.
"Drink?" Lily asked.
Tessa nodded.
But before they could move
Someone stepped in front of them.
"Hey."
Tessa looked up.
He smiled easily.
Confident.
"I don't think I've seen you around before."
"I go here," she said softly.
He tilted his head slightly. "Then I've definitely been missing something."
Lily smirked faintly but stayed quiet.
Tessa felt her cheeks warm just a little.
"I don't think so."
"I'm serious," he said. "I would've remembered you."
Across the room
Adrian watched.
The way the guy stood close.
The way Tessa didn't step back.
The way she was actually… engaging.
Something in his chest tightened.
Unfamiliar.
Unwanted.
The guy leaned in slightly, saying something that made Tessa smile....just a little.
And that was it.
Adrian pushed himself off the wall.
Without thinking.
Without planning.
He moved.
Straight toward them.
"Tessa."
Her name cut through everything.
She froze.
Just for a second.
Then slowly
She turned.
Adrian stood there.
Closer now.
Too close.
His gaze flickered briefly to the guy beside her
Then back to her.
Something unreadable in his expression.
"I need to talk to you."
The room didn't go quiet.
But for Tessa
It might as well have.
Because suddenly
Everything felt like it was holding its breath.
And for the first time since everything happened
He was looking at her like she mattered again.