Ember sat in class, half-listening as Lily whispered excitedly beside her about some off-campus party happening over the weekend. A golden girl's place. Invite-only. Loud. Messy.
Ember nodded when she was supposed to, but her mind wasn't there. She was thinking about the test scheduled later in the week—structure, frameworks, things that made sense. Predictable things.
The classroom was still thinly populated. Too early for the Goldens. Too early for the noise.
Then the door opened.
Daniel walked in.
No entourage. No performance.
Just him.
Loose shirt, sleeves rolled, hair slightly undone, eyes sharp and alert—too alert for this hour. The room shifted instantly. Conversations died. Phones lowered. Every head turned.
He didn't look around.
He walked straight to Ember.
Before Lily could react, before Ember could process it, Daniel grabbed her wrist.
Firm. Certain.
"What—?" Lily started, but Daniel was already pulling Ember up.
Gasps rippled through the class.
Ember barely had time to steady herself before he dragged her out, through a narrow passage behind the lecture rooms—an old service corridor few students even knew existed.
The moment they were alone, Daniel pinned her against the wall.
Not violently.
But close enough to steal her breath.
His chest rose and fell rapidly. His hands pressed against the wall on either side of her head. His eyes searched her face like he was afraid she'd disappear if he blinked.
"Who are you?" he demanded. "And why do I keep seeing you in my dreams?"
Ember's heart slammed, but she forced herself to stay still. Calm. Grounded.
"What are you talking about?" she asked, breath uneven despite herself. "Dreams?"
He stared into her golden-brown eyes, visibly shaken.
"I see you," he said quickly, words tumbling out now. "Not you—but you. You said I'd been trapped too long. You pulled me out. You—"
"Okay, stop." Ember cut in, confused and slightly irritated now. "Do you even hear yourself? Dreams? What are you, twelve?"
Her tone caught him off guard.
Daniel pulled back a fraction, frustration flickering across his face—but something else too. Obsession. Certainty.
"You don't understand," he said lowly. "I have questions."
"I can't help you," Ember replied firmly. "I don't know what you're talking about."
He studied her again. Same eyes. Same voice. Same presence. It made no sense—and yet it felt more real than anything else in his life.
"I know I sound insane," he admitted quietly. "But the girl in my dreams… she looks exactly like you."
Ember tilted her head slightly, gaze unreadable.
"Well," she said calmly, "the mind does crazy things, doesn't it?"
She met his eyes—steady, knowing, unafraid.
And for reasons Daniel couldn't explain—
That scared him more than the dreams ever had
Daniel stepped back first.
He straightened his shirt, glanced at her once more—like he was memorizing her face—then turned and walked away without another word.
Ember stood there for a second, heart pounding, before heading back into class.
Every head turned.
Lily stared at her like she'd seen a ghost.
"Ember…" she whispered.
Ember frowned. "What?"
"What the hell is going on?" She mouthed.
"I have no idea." Ember responded with a sigh as the tension in the room could boil water.
——————————————————-
Jasmine sat at her usual spot before class.
The Pink Panther.
It was where the It girls gathered—polished tables, fresh smoothies, perfect lighting for pictures that made it to Intralog within seconds. Everything she wore was green and gold, curated down to the last detail.
Her rebellious red hair spilled over one shoulder, catching the light. Green eyes, sharp and unreadable. Egyptian, Ethiopian—people never knew, and she never corrected them. All anyone agreed on was that she was beautiful in a way that lingered. Haunting. Uncomfortable.
Sometimes Daniel met her there before lectures.
Today, he hadn't.
One of her friends slid into the seat beside her, leaning in casually like they were gossiping about nothing.
"It's not everywhere," the girl murmured, already nervous. "But I saw something."
She slipped her phone out just long enough for Jasmine to see.
The corridor.
Daniel.
His hand on another girl's wrist.
The girl tucked the phone back into her bag immediately, heart racing. "I didn't send it to anyone."
Jasmine didn't react.
She took a slow sip of her smoothie. Then she smiled.
Not sweet.
Not shocked.
Calculated.
A quiet fire burned behind her eyes.
She leaned back in her chair and clapped her hands once.
"Girls," she said lightly, voice smooth. "Looks like we've got a party to plan."
Her friends exchanged glances.
——————————————————
Ember and her friends sat in the cafeteria, trays half-touched, conversation drifting between classes and campus gossip. Lily leaned in close, lowering her voice.
"Just so you know," she said quickly, "you're not getting an invite. Jasmine doesn't invite subs. Ever."
As if summoned by the warning, the room shifted.
Jasmine walked in.
The cafeteria reacted immediately—heads turning, whispers breaking out, phones subtly lifting. She moved through the space like she owned it, her presence trailing something sweet and intoxicating, like a dream you didn't want to wake from. She handed out cream-colored invitations as she went, smiling, laughing, making girls feel chosen.
Then her heels stopped.
Right at Ember's table.
The air tightened.
Jasmine looked down at Ember and smiled. It was enchanting, practiced—beautiful on the surface, sharp underneath.
"Hey, new girl," she said smoothly. "I'd love to see you at my party tomorrow."
Her eyes locked onto Ember's, piercing, assessing.
Someone behind them muttered, "This is wild."
"It's an all-black theme," Jasmine added casually. "Make sure you dress accordingly."
Ember accepted the invitation without hesitation. Calm. Steady.
"Can I get one for my friend?" she asked, nodding toward Lily.
Jasmine's gaze flicked to Lily—cold, brief. A smirk followed.
She leaned closer to Ember, voice dropping just enough to feel intimate.
"I wish I could," she said sweetly. "But invites are finished."
She straightened. "See you there. Don't be late."
A wink.
Then she was gone, strutting out of the cafeteria like she hadn't just flipped the entire social order on its head.
Lily stared after her, stunned. "A public confrontation and a party invite in one day?" she said breathlessly. "Baby, you are on a roll."
Ember shrugged, staring down at the envelope in her hand.
Ember lay on her bed, invitation resting on her chest.
All black, it read.
Her phone buzzed.
Unknown Number:Don't wear black.
Ember sat up slowly.
Her heart began to pound.
"Who is this?" she typed.
The message delivered.
No reply.