The entire room seemed to hold its breath, and after a moment’s hesitation, Finn made his choice. He leaned over and kissed Bella, a light, polite kiss that lacked any real passion. The room erupted in cheers, but there was a different kind of energy—one that felt more like disappointment or curiosity than celebration.
As he pulled back, he met Bella’s gaze, the silent understanding passing between them. But when he looked across the circle at Hanna, her expression was unreadable, her face carefully neutral.
The game continued, the noise and excitement returning to the group, but Finn felt distant, hollow. In trying to protect what he thought he had to, he felt like he’d just pushed away the one thing he actually wanted.
The crowd was buzzing from Finn’s kiss with Bella, but for Ciara, it was eye-roll material. She leaned over to Jacob, her voice low and conspiratorial. “Can you believe this? Finn being all noble in front of everyone. It’s just for show.”
Jacob chuckled, raising an eyebrow. “Probably. But hey, he made his choice.”
Ciara gave a dramatic sigh, nudging him with her shoulder. “Whatever. This game is officially boring. You want to get some fresh air?”
He hesitated for a moment, then shrugged. “Sure. Better than watching this circus.”
They slipped away from the crowded room and out onto the quiet porch, where the night air was crisp, and the sounds of the party faded into the background. The sky was clear, dotted with stars, and a soft breeze ruffled Ciara’s hair as she leaned against the railing, casting Jacob a glance that was softer than her usual cool exterior.
“Thanks for coming out here,” she said, her voice unusually quiet. “Sometimes I just need to get away from all… that.”
Jacob studied her, his curiosity piqued. “All that meaning… what, exactly? The drama? The games?”
“Yeah,” she said, her eyes flickering to meet his. “I guess sometimes I feel like no one really gets me, you know? I don’t have a lot of people I can just… be real with.”
Jacob watched her for a moment, his initial skepticism melting away as he saw a glimmer of vulnerability in her eyes. “Maybe if you stopped playing the part, people would get the real you more often.”
She let out a soft, humorless laugh. “And maybe they’d still look at me like I’m a spoiled brat. It’s easier to be who they think I am.” Her gaze dropped to the ground, and when she looked back up, there was something raw in her eyes. “But you… you’re different. I feel like you actually see me, Jacob.”
The words hit him harder than he expected. Without thinking, he reached for her hand, lacing his fingers through hers. Her eyes widened slightly, but she didn’t pull away. Instead, she leaned closer, her gaze lingering on his, and before he knew it, her lips brushed his in a tentative, almost hesitant kiss.
That first touch set off something inside him, and he pulled her closer, his hand slipping to the small of her back as their kiss deepened, their usual banter and tension melting away in the warmth of the moment. The world around them faded, leaving only the two of them under the stars, their breaths mingling as they broke away, eyes locked in mutual surprise.