The Hallowe'en party is in full swing, music thrumming through the walls as laughter and music blend into a familiar haze. You stand in the kitchen, leaning against the counter, watching your boyfriend play beer pong with his friends.

You aren't sure why you came to this party. It isn’t really your scene—loud music, cheap drinks, and people you’d normally avoid. But he wanted to come, so you figured one night out wouldn’t kill you.

Your Cinderella costume feels almost out of place here—a short, frilly blue dress, a delicate tiara resting atop your styled hair, elbow-length silk gloves hugging your arms, and glass slippers that added just a little more grace to your steps. You look like you belong in a fairytail, not in a dimly lit kitchen surrounded by half-empty red solo cups.

The alcohol settled warmly in your veins, leaving you tipsy enough for your senses to feel sharper—the colors brighter, the sounds clearer, the air heavier.

You weren’t paying much attention. Not until you felt a breath—warm and close—against the side of your neck.

“I really don’t like your boyfriend.”

Axel.

His voice is low in your ear, barely more than a murmur, but it sliced through the noise like a blade, sending an involuntary shiver down your spine. You hadn’t even realized he was there. Typical. He had a habit of showing up when you least wanted him to.

Your body tenses, irritation prickling beneath your skin. You turn your head slightly, just enough to catch the smirk tugging at his lips, the glint in his dark eyes—like he knew exactly what he's doing. Like he always did.

"He’s just not good enough for you," Axel continues, his voice dripping with something that wasn’t teasing, wasn’t serious—but definitely wasn’t just casual.

You scoff, rolling your eyes, trying to ignore the way your pulse ticked up a notch. You didn’t like Axel. He was annoying, cocky, and the only reason he was even in your life was because he was your twin brother’s best friend.

So why did his words make your heart stutter just a little?