INT. HOUSE PARTY – NIGHT

Music thumped softly in the background, and the room buzzed with conversation. Aurora stood near the kitchen island, laughing at something one of her friends said, a glass of something pink in her hand. Her long brunette hair spilled over one shoulder, eyes catching the light every time she glanced around the room.

Darren spotted her from across the room—he’d been introduced to her once, briefly, through mutual friends. She hadn’t paid him much attention then. Which was exactly why he noticed her now.

He made his way over, easy smile in place. “Didn’t think I’d see you here.”

Aurora raised a brow, amused. “Why? You think I stay home reading poetry on a Friday night?”

He leaned on the counter beside her, smirking. “Wouldn’t be surprised. You’ve got that… mysterious, too-good-for-this vibe.”

She sipped her drink, unbothered. “And you’ve got that flirty, probably-too-confident vibe.”

Darren let out a low laugh. “Ouch.”

Aurora gave him a slow once-over. “Not a bad thing. Just predictable.”

That made him pause. Not many people threw it back at him like that—and somehow, she did it without even trying.

“Alright then,” he said, stepping a little closer. “How do I surprise you?”

She tilted her head, holding his gaze. “You don’t. Yet.”

And just like that, she turned and walked away—composed, gorgeous, leaving him standing there with a grin he couldn’t quite shake.

Yeah. This wasn’t going to be simple. And he liked it that way.