Somewhere Between Us

I was twenty one when I learned that people could smile at you while planning to ruin your life. At the time, I didn’t know that yet. I was too busy trying to fix mine. Three months had passed since I left home. not because I hated it, I just needed somewhere that didn’t know my name and the city gave me that.

The city was bigger than I expected. Louder too. Every street seemed to be full of people who knew exactly where they were going, while I was still getting lost on my way to the nearest supermarket. Mia said that was part of the fun. I thought she was lying. She was still convinced I needed a social life. Her idea of fixing me was dragging me to a party on a Saturday night.

“you’re thinking too much again” I looked over at her. she was sitting cross-legged on my bed, going through my wardrobe like she paid rent.

“I live here too, you know”, I said.

“You’ve known me long enough to know that your clothes are basically my clothes” she said

“That’s not how friendship works”

“it is now”, she said as she pulled out a black dress and held it against herself.

“This one” I started at the dress. “No”

“You haven’t even tried it yet”, she said, looking at me.

“I know myself” Mia dropped the dress onto the bed. “you’re going to his party tonight”

“I don’t want to”

“You’ve been saying that for two weeks.”

“Because I mean it.” She stared at me. Then she smiled.

“You’re going.” I threw a pillow at her and she caught it.

“Violence won’t save you” I laughed despite myself. That was Mia. she had been my closet friend for years, and somehow she had managed to follow me into my new life without being invited. I was grateful for it, At least, I was then.

By eight that evening, she had somehow convinced me to leave the house. the party was at a huge house on the other side of the city. I didn’t know whose house it was, and Mia refused to tell me. she said I would ask too many questions and she was right.

The moment we arrived, I knew I didn’t belong there. there were expensive cars outside, people dressed like they had spent more money getting ready than I had in my entire week. The house was already crowded when we arrived. Music shook the floor beneath our feet, and warm air filled the hallway with the smell of perfume, alcohol and too many people packed into one place.

Mia disappeared within minutes and I wasn’t surprised. She knew half the people there and I knew nobody, so I found a quiet spot near the kitchen and watched. It was something I had always been good at, watching people.

A girl crying in the bathroom doorway while her friend pretended not to notice. Two boys arguing over something neither of them would remember in the morning. A couple kissing against the wall as if the rest of the room didn’t exist. Normal party things.

Then I saw him. he wasn’t surrounded by people. that was the first thing I noticed. he stood alone near the staircase, dressed in black, dark hair, one hand in his pocket, watching the room with the kind of calm that made everyone else seem too loud. he looked completely comfortable being alone. There was something about him that made me look twice. He caught me the second time and our eyes met.

I looked away first, not because I was embarrassed. At least, that’s what I told myself. I took another sip of my drink and tried to focus on anything else. it didn’t work. when I looked again, he was gone. I searched the room without meaning to. nothing.

“looking for someone?” Mia’s voice came from behind me. I turned.

“No”

she followed my gaze anyway. for a second, something unreadable crossed her face, then it was gone. she reached for my glass and took it from my hand.

“you’ve had enough” she said, taking the glass away.

“I’ve barely had anything”

“exactly” she handed me a bottle of water instead. I rolled my eyes but took it. A few minutes later, she pulled me towards the dance floor. I let her. it was easier than arguing. for the next hour, I stopped thinking about the man by the stairs or tried to. I danced, laughed, and even forgot to check my phone. then someone bumped into me, and my drink spilled down the front of my dress.

“Oh my God”

The woman who had bumped me barely looked back before disappearing the crowd. I stared at the stain and Mia groaned.

“come on” she led me upstairs to find a bathroom, the hallway was quieter than downstairs. I followed her, looking down at my dress, until I almost walked straight into someone.

A hand caught my arm before I lost my balance. I looked up. Him. For a moment, neither of us moved. Up close, he looked even more intimidating. his eyes moved briefly to the stain on my dress before returning to my face.

“Careful” His voice was low. I pulled my arm away gently.

“I’m fine” He nodded once, nothing more, then he stepped aside. I walked past him, I didn’t look back but I could feel his eyes following me until I reached the end of the hallway. I told myself it meant nothing. He was a stranger, just another face in a crowded house.