Chapter 3

ROXANNE

The commotion in the backyard drew my attention, but it wasn’t the music, the laughter, or even Ryan’s antics. It was a sudden splash. My heart lurched before I even realized what was happening.

Eve.

She was in the pool, flailing, water swallowing her like it had a personal vendetta. My instincts kicked in faster than my thoughts. “Hold on!” I yelled, diving in. The cold hit me, but I didn’t care. All that mattered was getting her out.

Strong arms grabbed hers, and I hauled her toward the pool’s edge. She coughed violently, sputtering and trembling. Her eyes were wide and panicked. I could sense how terrified Eve was when I saw her clawing for air in the pool.

“You idiot,” I said breathlessly, not because I was mad, but because I couldn’t have been more relieved. “Are you okay? If you didn't know how to swim, why’re you at the pool?”

She nodded, but the tremor in her shoulders told me otherwise. I wrapped her in a towel, feeling the shiver that ran through her body. It was small, human, unguarded, and it made me realize just how different Eve could be when she wasn’t trying to be perfect or clever.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” I asked, keeping my voice calm. I wanted her to understand she didn’t have to face everything alone.

She stayed silent. Her lips pressed together, eyes fixed on some point in the distance. This wasn’t just embarrassment; it felt heavier, like something she’d carried for years. Maybe a phobia. Maybe something deeper. I didn’t push. Sometimes, silence spoke louder than words.

I tightened the towel around her shoulders, letting the warmth of it do what words couldn’t. “You don’t have to talk right now,” I said softly. “Just… breathe. I’ve got you.”

Her shoulders trembled, and I instinctively steadied her, one hand light against her back. The party noises around us dulled into nothing. Music, laughter, even Ryan’s voice all faded, leaving only the sound of Eve’s shaky breaths and the drip of water from her hair.

A shiver ran through her, and she let out a fragile breath, almost like her body was admitting defeat before her mind could. I could feel the tension leaving her bit by bit, though it wasn’t gone completely.

“I…” she started, but her voice faltered. She bit her lip and looked down.

“You don’t have to explain,” I said quietly. I wasn’t sure what else to say, so I just left it there, the words hanging awkwardly in the air between us.

Her gaze flicked up for just a second. Fear. Relief. Something softer I couldn’t quite name. For someone who seemed so bright and untouchable, Eve suddenly looked very small, and I didn’t know what to do with that.

“Come on,” I said after a pause, nudging her gently toward the pool’s edge. “Let’s get you somewhere warm.”

We walked slowly, carefully, the weight of unspoken things following behind us. Students were beginning to notice, but I blocked them out. I led her to a private room, and when she sat down, I fetched another towel and handed it to her. She clutched it tightly, almost as if it were armor.

I sat beside her, not too close, just enough to remind her she wasn’t alone. I watched her twist the towel between her fingers, her lips pressed tight like she was holding something back.

“You’re okay now,” I said quietly.

Her lips parted. A whisper slipped through, barely audible. “Thanks.”

I nodded, but inside, I wasn’t sure what that meant. Was she thanking me for pulling her out? For not pressing her for answers? Or something else entirely?

The night went on, the sounds of the party dull in the distance, but my mind stayed here, on this moment, in her silence. I didn’t understand why it unsettled me, why I couldn’t stop thinking about her expression.

And as I sat there, listening to the faint beat of music beyond the walls, one question clung to me like the damp air off the pool

Why did this matter so much to me?

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