Chapter Four — The Party Talk

Eli was trying to concentrate in the library, but concentration had never been his strong suit when Mara was in earshot. She leaned over the table, hair messy, eyes bright, practically buzzing with energy.

“You are so going to the party,” she said, slamming a flyer down next to his notebook. “I don’t care if you have homework or a test. You’re going, end of story.”

Eli looked down at the glossy paper, trying not to groan. It was full of colorful letters, balloons, and exclamation marks, advertising a “Crestfield Soccer Bash” at someone’s house over the weekend. Apparently, it had been “the event of the semester last year,” according to Mara, who had attended in full force and claimed she still had the bruises from laughing too hard.

“I don’t really—” Eli began.

“You don’t really what?” Mara interrupted, leaning back on her chair with a flourish. “You don’t party? You don’t socialize? You don’t breathe? Come on, Eli, live a little!”

Eli rubbed his forehead. “I just—It’s not really my thing.”

“Oh, it’s your thing now,” Mara said, pointing at him like he had committed a crime. “Why? Because apparently Mr. Quarterback himself is going to be there?”

Eli froze, pencil hovering over his notebook. “He… is?”

“Yes!” Mara whispered, leaning in closer like she was sharing state secrets. “Noah Lin. Your library, project, quiet-but-has-this-weird-hold-on-you Noah Lin. He’s going to be there. And you must go. Trust me.”

Eli wanted to protest, wanted to say he wasn’t the type to show up at random parties full of loud, sweaty people, but Mara’s grin was too insistent. Too persuasive.

“He’s not—he’s not asking me,” Eli stammered. “It’s not like…”

“Who cares?” Mara waved a hand dismissively. “That’s irrelevant. Just go. See. Observe. Socialize. Maybe—you know—say hi to Noah without turning into a human statue.”

Eli felt the familiar warmth creep into his cheeks. He hated that she could reduce him to an awkward mess with a few words. Mara, wild and untamed, thrived on this.

“And,” she continued, pulling out her phone like she’d saved the best for last, “you’ll get to meet the team. The real ones. Not just the ones sitting behind desks pretending to be normal humans.” She smirked. “You know, the ones who think the world revolves around touchdowns or goals.”

Eli groaned. “I don’t… I don’t care about that part.”

Mara tilted her head, eyes narrowing playfully. “Uh-huh. Sure. You only care about Noah Lin.”

Eli tried to ignore the statement, but his notebook was suddenly very interesting. He scribbled random notes, hoping to look busy, but Mara wasn’t fooled.

“I’m serious, Eli. You can’t sit this out. You’ll regret it. I’ll drag Theo too, and he’ll judge everyone mercilessly, which, I mean, is hilarious. But you? You get to actually interact.” She leaned back and crossed her arms, triumphant. “This is your chance. Don’t tell me you’re going to let it pass.”

Theo, who had been quiet the entire time, finally spoke from the corner of the table. “He’s not going to enjoy it. He’ll be uncomfortable, and the crowd will overwhelm him. If you’re planning on forcing him…”

Mara cut him off with a scoff. “Relax, Mr. Judgy Pants. I’m not forcing anything. I’m just… arranging circumstances. Call it fate.”

Eli looked between them, caught in their whirlwind of energy and judgment, and for the first time considered what Mara was saying. Noah, the precise, focused, unshakable quarterback… at a party. He wouldn’t be the same library Noah, or the project Noah. He’d be loud, unguarded, maybe even… approachable?

The thought was dizzying.

“Fine,” Eli said at last, surprising even himself. “I’ll think about it.”

Mara’s grin was immediate and victorious. “Think about it? Think about it? That’s basically agreeing. Yes, you’re coming.”

Eli groaned inwardly. He hated how persuasive she was. But Mara’s excitement was contagious, and deep down, curiosity prickled at the edges of his mind. He wanted to see Noah again, beyond the controlled library, beyond the quiet project moments.

“Good,” Mara said, leaning back and pretending she hadn’t just completely manipulated him. “I’ll handle the rest. Dress nicely, but don’t overdo it. And for the love of all things rational, don’t look like you’re about to faint when Noah smiles at you.”

Eli blinked at her. “I’m not going to faint.”

“You’re going to think about it,” Mara said, smirking, “and that’s basically the same thing.”

As Mara jabbered on about who else would be there, Theo judging in his silent way, and the logistics of arriving fashionably on time, Eli’s thoughts wandered back to Noah Lin. He imagined him laughing, passing the ball, maybe leaning against the wall, scanning the room with that calm, unreadable expression.

Eli wasn’t sure he was ready. But Mara had a point. This was an opportunity he couldn’t ignore.

And somehow, the thought of seeing Noah in a different world—one where he wasn’t perfect or controlled or distant—made Eli’s heart beat a little faster.

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