They entered the gym, transformed for the night with shimmering streamers and vibrant lights bouncing off the walls. Music pulsed, and groups of students huddled together, laughing and greeting one another. Hanna glanced around, looking for familiar faces, but also feeling a slight pang in her chest as she scanned the crowd for Finn, unsure if he’d come alone.
On the other side of the room, Ciara clung to Jacob’s arm, her eyes sweeping the crowd, lingering on Hanna with a small, calculating smile that Jacob didn’t notice. He was busy greeting friends and introducing Ciara to people, but even as he leaned in to whisper something to her, she was watching Hanna and Marco from across the dance floor, an unreadable expression in her eyes.
Then Finn walked in, dressed sharply in a black suit, his gaze scanning the crowd. He looked composed, but Hanna noticed a slight tension in his expression, as if he were bracing himself for whatever might unfold tonight. As his eyes met hers across the room, he nodded slightly. She returned the gesture, feeling her heart speed up despite herself.
Unknown to the crowd, a figure slipped away from the dance floor, weaving their way toward the back of the gym where the fire safety system was set up. They worked quickly, fingers deftly manipulating the system, ready to trigger a flood that would send water raining down and ruin the evening. But as the figure glanced around to ensure no one was watching, it froze.
“Bella,” a voice said behind her.
She whipped around to see Finn standing there, his expression unreadable. She knew immediately he’d been watching her and, based on his look, likely for longer than she realized.
“Trying to ruin the dance for everyone?” Finn asked, his voice calm but edged with cold anger. Bella’s face twisted, but she masked it quickly, her lips curving into a small, defiant smile.
“Maybe,” she replied coolly. “Since you’re here alone, I thought it might be fun to bring the whole place down with you.”
Finn stepped closer, his voice low. “I know everything, Bella. I’ve been watching you for weeks. I have proof of everything you’ve done—slashing tires, the paint prank. And if you go through with this, I’ll report everything to the police and the university board of the dream university you’ve spent so much time crafting an application for. You’ll be done.”
Bella’s face paled, but she quickly covered it with a forced laugh. “So that’s what this is about? You’ve always had a weak spot for Hanna. Just drop it and come back to me, Finn. You know we belong together.”
Finn shook his head, his eyes hard. “Not a chance, Bella. And you’re done. Walk away now, or I’ll make sure everyone knows what you’ve done.”
For a long moment, they stood there, the weight of his threat sinking in. Bella’s eyes flickered with fear, then anger, and finally, a resigned acceptance. With one last glare, she muttered, “You’re going to regret this, Finn.” Then, with a frustrated huff, she stormed off, disappearing into the crowd.
As the music picked up and students continued to dance, Finn took a deep breath, steadying himself before heading back into the crowd, his expression calm. No one noticed what had almost happened, and for now, the night went on.
Across the room, Hanna caught his eye again, and he mouthed the words, “It’s okay now.” She smiled back, a warmth spreading through her chest as she realized he’d protected the night. But as she turned back to Marco, she saw the stony expression on his face and felt her heart sink.