After a sumptuous dinner filled with light conversation and laughter, Julian took Zara to a scenic viewpoint nestled on a quiet hilltop, overlooking the glittering city lights below. The night was calm, the sky painted with stars, and the city shimmered like a sea of diamonds in the distance.
As they stepped out of the car, a gentle breeze tousled Zara's hair. Julian draped his coat over her shoulders without a word, his touch warm and protective. They stood at the edge of the overlook, the city lights stretching endlessly before them.
"It's beautiful," Zara whispered, hugging the coat closer to her.
Julian looked at her instead. "It is," he said softly, "but not as beautiful as you."
She turned to him, cheeks flushed, unsure whether it was from the compliment or the cool night air.
"You know," he continued, "I've been chasing after you for months… but tonight, seeing you smile like that… it's worth everything."
Zara looked away, heart fluttering. "I wasn't sure I should say yes to you at first," she admitted. "But… tonight's been really special."
He took her hand gently. "Then let me keep making it special. One day at a time."
For the first time in a long time, Zara felt seen—not for who she was chasing, but for who she was.
Julian turned to her, eyes searching hers beneath the moonlight. "Zara… can I ask you something incredibly high school and mildly dramatic?"
She blinked. "Go on…"
"Have you ever been kissed? Like, proper kissed—not spin-the-bottle disaster kissed."
She blinked, caught off guard by the question. For a heartbeat, she froze—then quietly answered, "No… not yet."
The words surprised even her, but she didn't take them back. Maybe it was easier that way—to treat this moment like a beginning.
A gentle smile tugged at his lips. "Then… may I have the honor of being your first?"
Zara hesitated for a second, her heart thudding. But something about the way he asked—soft, respectful, sincere—made her nod.
Julian stepped closer, one hand gently brushing a loose strand of hair from her face. "I'll be gentle," he murmured.
And then, with the city lights flickering below and the stars bearing silent witness above, he leaned in and kissed her—slowly, sweetly. It wasn't rushed. It wasn't demanding. Just warm and full of promise.
When they pulled apart, Zara's cheeks were flushed, her lips tingling, and her heart… entirely unsure of what to do next.
The truth was—Julian wasn't Zara's first kiss.
Her real first kiss happened one night, long before this moment under the stars. It was quiet, unexpected, and something she'd locked deep within her heart.
Adrian had been drunk that night. He and Harrison, along with Alistair, had spent the evening drinking after a tough week, their laughter echoing through the mansion until it faded into drowsy murmurs. When Zara stepped outside, she found Adrian slumped on the garden bench—half-awake, his usual guarded expression softened by the haze of alcohol.
Without a word, she helped him inside, guiding him to the guest room. His arm draped over her shoulder, his steps heavy but trusting. She settled him gently onto the bed, reaching down to adjust the pillow under his head.
Then, it happened.
Adrian reached out, his fingers brushing her wrist, the warmth of his skin grounding her in the chaos of everything unsaid. His eyes—glassier than usual, but clear with intent—locked onto hers.
Before she could take a breath, he leaned in and kissed her.
A real kiss.
His lips met hers softly at first, hesitant, like he was giving her one last chance to pull away. But when she didn't—when she tilted her chin up the slightest bit—his mouth moved more deliberately. His hand slid to the back of her neck, drawing her closer, and his lips parted against hers, coaxing hers open with a slow, deliberate stroke of his tongue.
It wasn't rushed. It wasn't needy. It was unfiltered, heady—like he was trying to say everything he'd never been brave enough to say.
Zara froze, her heart thudding so loud it drowned out the world. But then, as his tongue moved with hers in a slow, aching rhythm, she let herself fall into it.
Just for a moment.
Because it was him.
Adrian.
But just as quickly, it was over.
His head fell back against the pillow. Within seconds, he was asleep—breathing deep, unaware, as if nothing had happened.
The next morning, he didn't say a word about it. No sly glance. No hesitation. Nothing.
He didn't remember.
And so, Zara never brought it up.
To him, it was nothing.To her, it was everything.
***
What Zara didn't know was that they were being watched. From a short distance, Harrison, Alistair, and Adrian stood quietly. Harrison's instinct was to march over and pull them apart. His protective side flared instantly, but he stayed where he was.
Zara was seventeen now. She was no longer the little girl who used to follow him around the house. He knew the pain she had gone through, especially because of Adrian. He had seen her heartbreak, watched her try to move on. And now, she was choosing to open her heart again.
He looked at Adrian, who remained silent beside him, his expression unreadable. Harrison let out a quiet sigh.
He still didn't fully approve of Zara dating, but he understood he couldn't protect her forever. Sometimes, letting go was the only way to truly support someone you love.
Moments later, the first firework exploded above them in a burst of gold. Zara's eyes widened in surprise as colors lit up the night—red, violet, silver, one after the other, like blooming flowers against the dark canvas of the sky.
She laughed softly, overwhelmed and glowing. "Julian… you planned this?"
He looked at her, eyes reflecting the fireworks. "You deserve a night you'll never forget."
Zara turned her gaze back to the sky, her heart full.
And for a brief moment, under the shower of light, she let herself feel like she was the only girl in the world.