Chapter 9: Cheers, Chaos, and Shirtless Models
The campus bar was buzzing.
Well, technically it was the class celebration, but the students treated it like a festival. Streamers hung from the ceiling, music pulsed through the air, and the smell of pizza mingled with the faint scent of spilled beer.
Lily Hart leaned casually against the bar, laughing with Mia. She didn't care that the entire class was watching, that Noah was standing across the room, or that the photographers had already begun snapping pictures for the school newsletter.
She had survived Foundation Day.
The ballet had been a success.
And tonight? Tonight, she was untouchable.
"Well," Mia said, nudging her, "we survived. And by survived, I mean Lily didn't trip, fall, or murder Noah in front of everyone."
Lily sipped her soda. "Barely. But hey, the applause was worth the sweat."
Her eyes wandered over to the corner of the room where a group of male models hired for the celebration were standing. Muscular, tanned, shirtless—their presence was pure chaos.
"Oh, hello," Lily murmured under her breath.
Before Mia could stop her, Lily sauntered over, waving casually. "Mind if I admire your… dedication to fitness?"
The men grinned. She touched a shoulder here, adjusted a posture there, all in her signature casual, carefree way.
From across the room, Noah Blackwood froze.
His chest tightened.
His jaw clenched.
And for the first time in weeks, he wasn't watching Lily out of curiosity, admiration, or casual annoyance.
He was jealous.
Amy appeared at his side, fluttering, clutching her drink like a lifeline. "Noah! Did you see? She's—"
Noah didn't respond.
His eyes followed Lily as she laughed with one model, spun around and touched another's shoulder, all perfectly casual, perfectly free.
Amy blinked. "Noah?"
He ignored her.
She waved her hand in front of his face. "Uh… Noah?"
Nothing.
Amy's smile faltered. "I… she—"
Noah's attention snapped sharply to Lily again as she teased one of the men into a mock push-up contest. She laughed, carefree, beautiful, untouchable.
How dare she be happy without me noticing her? he thought. How dare she flirt—no, admire freely—without giving me the chance to react?
Lily's gaze met his briefly—not accusing, not even acknowledging. She just smirked and returned to the models.
Amy gasped. "Noah… why aren't you—"
He cut her off sharply, finally speaking. "I'm… busy."
"Busy?" Amy repeated, voice tight. "With… what?"
He didn't answer.
Instead, he just stared, unblinking, as Lily leaned casually against a tall model, whispered something that made the guy laugh, and then clapped another on the back.
Mia elbowed Lily. "Maybe tone it down? You're making Noah's face scary."
Lily glanced at him and smirked. "Good."
Noah's fists clenched.
She's… amazing.
She's… infuriating.
She's mine.
And just like that, the Foundation Day celebration had officially changed.
Noah Blackwood—used to controlling everything—was now watching helplessly as Lily Hart owned the room, the attention, and his heart.
Amy, meanwhile, was slowly realizing… this wasn't her spotlight anymore.
And Noah? He wasn't looking at her. Not once.
Not tonight.