Chapter Text
Sang
Jade’s end of summer bash had been the talk of the school. The big party of all parties, everyone said. It was certainly all Marie and Danielle seemed to talk about the week before summer let out. They’d been planning for this party for ages and now that I was here, I didn’t see what all the hype was about. I wondered if Jay knew anything about this or if he even cared. As far as anyone else knew, Jay stayed out of Jade’s affairs and I guess that included big parties with a bunch of drunk teenagers.
I hated high school parties. They always smelled like alcohol, drugs, and sex. And there was always that one person who stood at the edge of the party that never got asked to dance by the hot guy.
That was me. Plain, forgettable Sang.
I felt invisible ninety percent of the time, and even when I wasn’t, it was usually because someone needed an essay or a term paper done at the last minute. I wasn’t someone people noticed. I was someone they used when it was convenient.
I didn’t think anyone here really knew my name.
Just–that girl. The one with the dorky glasses and cartoon-themed sweaters.
One more year, Sang, I told myself as I scanned the room again. One more year, and then you’ll be gone. Far away from all of this.
I really hoped Marie was almost done at this party, because I was ready to leave. It was obvious no one was going to ask me to dance, and even if they did, I didn’t think I could bring myself to step into that crowded, suffocating mess anyway.
The music was too loud. The air too thick. I felt out of place just standing here.
I sighed, ducking my head when I spotted two guys enter the parlor.
They had to bend slightly under the doorway beam, both tall and broad in a way that made them instantly stand out. Their presence alone seemed to shift the atmosphere in the room.
Most were still wrapped up in the music, moving against the guys they were already dancing with, but a few slowed, attention drifting. One by one, they pulled away and started toward the newcomers, drawn in despite themselves.
The two of them couldn’t have been more different.
Like night and day.
My eyes followed their movements, and I stared at their striking forms as they crossed the dance floor and began approaching in my direction.
Me?
I felt my heart speed up, my eyes widening as I ducked my head, adjusting my glasses while I waited for the inevitable.
But the impossible never happened. Instead, they moved past me, stopping off to the side and leaning against the wall near an expensive vase with a plant I couldn’t remember the name of.
My shoulders deflated, a mix of disappointment and something heavier settling in my chest. But beneath that, there was also relief.
They were undeniably handsome, but from the way Jade was eyeing the one with the gold hoop in his ear, I already knew they were off-limits. Way out of my league.
Why did I ever think they’d approach me? Or even glance my way?
Silly, Sang. So silly.
I’d never be able to compete with Jade or any girl in this room, really. The thought alone was enough to bring my fleeting fantasies to a screeching halt.
I shook my head. Back to people-watching. It was safer.
Flo Rida’s song Low filled my ears, and I found myself tapping along to the beat, swaying my hips from side to side. I wasn’t fond of most music these days, anything in America or from this century, at least. But for some reason, I liked this song. It always made me want to dance.
Like anyone was going to ask what I thought, though.
Once a lonely sheep, always a lonely sheep. I had nobody flocking to my corner of the room. Well…if one didn’t count the plants and other unmentionables on the floor, that is.
My shoulders slumped, and I resisted the urge to sigh when I caught movement out of the corner of my eye.
I gulped, a nervous shiver running through me as I realized Superman and Batman (at least, that’s what I’d dubbed them in my head) were making their way over to where I stood.
Excitement sparked through me, a sudden rush of energy tingling up my spine. I mean, it wasn’t every day someone came up to talk to me. Nobody noticed the girl hiding behind her popular, older sister.
They’re probably looking for Marie, I reasoned quickly. It’s the only explanation.
The thought made my shoulders droop again in disappointment, and I braced myself for the inevitable question as they drew closer.
I kept my head down, focusing on the blur of movement on the dance floor as their presence closed in on either side of me.
I blinked, startled.
I could feel their eyes on me, and that nervous feeling came rushing back, stronger this time. It started at the tips of my toes and settled low in my stomach.
I nearly fainted on the spot when I finally glanced up through the curtain of my hair, lifting a shaky hand to adjust my glasses.
Mother of everything good–there weren’t enough words to describe how handsome they were. I could list every adjective I knew, and it still wouldn’t be enough to do them justice.
I swallowed the hard lump suddenly lodged in my throat, my eyes shifting between the two as I really took in their features.
The one I’d dubbed Superman was like yin; his smile was bright, full of promise, with kind eyes and dark skin. He looked European, I thought, but something about his features made me pause. I could be wrong, but I was fairly confident in my guess. I was good at observing people, picking apart little details and piecing together bits of their lives just by watching closely.
When you spent enough time people-watching, you learned a few things.
His friend, however, was every bit the yang to Superman’s yin. He radiated that ‘bad boy’ persona, with equally dark eyes and matching dark hair. Even his outfit was dark, completely jet black, I think. The only thing that stood out was the single gold hoop earring in one ear.
Somehow, it suited him. Right down to the permanent scowl on his face. I didn’t think he was scowling at me, per se. At least…I hoped not.
I swallowed hard, darting my tongue out to wet my lips, nerves creeping up on me all over again.
I didn’t think much of the action, but apparently it drew Superman’s attention as well as Batman’s, because there was a moment where they exchanged looks before the former turned his attention back to me.
Batman crowded closer, making me stiffen uncomfortably as I tried to make myself as small as possible. His head was turned slightly away while Superman gave me the most brilliant smile I’d ever seen.
Now I truly understood what the term gentle giant meant.
“You seemed a bit lonely, so my friend and I decided to join you. I’m Silas,” Superman said, offering me his hand.
When I took it, his large fingers curled around mine, squeezing gently before he nodded toward his friend.
“And this is my friend, North.”
“S-Sang,” I squeaked, my face heating up as I looked between the two of them.
North lowered his gaze to me, and for a moment, I thought he might shake my hand too. But Silas still held mine in his calloused grip.
He surprised me, though, when he reached up and tucked a strand of hair behind my ear, moving it aside to reveal more of my face.
“Better,” he said.
My cheeks flamed as he gave me something that was almost a smile, almost a smirk. I couldn’t quite tell, but there was something darker in it. Something…promising.
These two were dangerous. Or maybe just a figment of my imagination.
“Now we can see your beautiful eyes,” Silas added with a wink, staring down at me with those large, soulful eyes of his.
I ducked my head, my blush deepening.
There was a slight lilt to Silas’s words as he spoke, like he was trying to soften an accent but couldn’t quite hide it on certain syllables. It made his voice warmer somehow, more distinct, and paired with the deep, gruff baritone of North, it left me reeling. Their voices suited them perfectly. Strong, commanding, and undeniably attractive in a way that felt almost unfair.
The sound of them alone sent a strange, tingling warmth through me, starting at the base of my spine and spreading slowly, settling low in my stomach in a way that made me feel unsteady.
In only a few seconds, they had somehow reduced me to something soft and malleable, like I didn’t quite belong to myself anymore.
I didn’t know what to say. I felt frozen in place, caught between them, my gaze flickering from Silas to North as they made me feel things I had no experience with. Part of me wanted to bolt, to hide behind the nearest piece of furniture and stay there until I could breathe normally again. But even that didn’t feel like it would help much, not when they were this close.
If I had to describe them in one sentence, it would probably be something ridiculous like, Superman and Batman crashing a high school party just to get turnt.
The thought hit me so suddenly that I let out a small snort before I could stop myself, clapping a hand over my mouth in horror at the sound.
Oh god.
“Something funny?” North asked, his voice cutting through my thoughts and pulling me back.
He wasn’t smiling, not like Silas. His expression hovered somewhere between neutral and amused, his lips set in a thin line as his gaze assessed me. The intensity of it made me feel exposed, like I was being examined too closely, and instinctively, I shrank in on myself, shaking my head quickly.
“Don’t mind him, he doesn’t like parties,” Silas murmured, leaning in slightly, his grin easy and infectious as it slowly drew a hesitant smile from me in return. “This isn’t usually our scene, but I suppose with a beautiful little aggele like you to keep us company, it isn’t so bad.”
His fingers brushed lightly against my heated cheek, and my breath caught.
From beside me, North let out a quiet snort.
Embarrassment flooded my face, and I didn’t dare look up to see his reaction to Silas’s words. I could hear the faint sound of his chuckle, though, low and amused, and it only made the heat in my cheeks burn hotter.
I had no idea what aggele meant, or even what language it was, but it sounded heavenly rolling off Silas’s tongue. My mind struggled to make sense of what was happening. Were these two actually flirting with me? North was more subtle, but Silas was relentless, throwing out comment after comment until my head spun and my body buzzed with a mix of nerves and excitement.
Still, it was nice to know that not every guy at this party thought it was the greatest place in the world. Were they telling the truth? I had no idea. With my thoughts in turmoil, I just stood there, probably looking completely dumbfounded as my face heated up like hot tomato soup.
I was so used to being invisible, to being overlooked, that when I finally glanced up and met their eyes again, I didn’t look away right away.
I stared, curious.
But the moment they caught me looking, I flushed and looked down, hoping they would just ignore me again so I could go back to sneaking glances at them. Maybe I could pretend this moment had been a dream.
One that made reality a little easier to bear.
“Would you like to dance?” Silas asked after a while, a gentle smile on his face. If I stood close enough, I swore I could smell something like the ocean on him. “I promise we don’t bite.”
“Much,” North added with a wink.
The scowl was still there, but there was a hint of a smile now that made me grin back, albeit shyly. My impression of him made me think he was always a little angry but when he smiled, he was handsome. Beautiful, even.
I instantly liked it. Not that I was ever going to tell them that. Not if I wanted to die of embarrassment.
My cheeks burned under their heavy gaze, and I rubbed my palms against my jeans as I swallowed down the nerves crawling up my spine. I didn’t know what to say, how to react, what to do.
What did someone do in my position?
Say yes? No?
But I wanted to say yes.
My heart was telling me one thing while my head told me another. In moments like this, which one was I supposed to listen to?
And at this point…who cared?
This was my once-in-a-lifetime chance to do something different, something everyone else seemed to do so easily.
Be normal, my mind supplied.
Even if a small voice in the back of my head warned me it was a bad idea, I couldn’t ignore how I felt. North and Silas were both so handsome, so overwhelming in the best way. Even if this was just a one-time thing and I never saw them again after tonight, I didn’t care.
I felt happy. They noticed me. They talked to me. They asked me to dance.
I fisted the hem of my sweater, suddenly determined.
“O-okay,” I replied. “I’d love to.”
I bit my lip, gazing up at their serious faces, which soon shifted into matching, almost wicked, identical grins. Suddenly, it felt like they were predators on the prowl, and I was the small, helpless prey.
When Silas extended his hand to me, I stared down at it for a few moments, my nerves creeping in as my resolve began to slip. I was scared, terrified really.
Why did I agree again?
North must have seen the worry in my eyes, because suddenly I felt his calloused palm against my cheek. The touch surprised me, but even more so was the look he gave me. It was surprisingly soft, almost gentle.
“Don’t think,” he said quietly. “Just do it. And if at any point you feel uncomfortable, just say the word and we’ll back off.”
In that moment, I believed him.
When reached the edge of the dance floor, I was a nervous wreck inside. I was pretty sure my palms were clammy and I was sweating in places nobody should be sweating.
Silas kept a firm grip on my hand as he led the way, with North close behind me, but all I wanted to do was run and curl up at home with my mountain of books. Unfortunately, the two towering mammoths made that decision nearly impossible.
I could feel their combined heat surrounding me, causing the baby hairs at the back of my neck to cling to my skin. My sweater felt like a second skin, and I was pretty sure there were damp spots under my arms.
As long as neither of them lifted my arms, I’d be fine.
Otherwise…hello, sweaty Sang.
We came to a stop near a set of sliding glass doors that were partially open, a faint draft cooling the heat on my skin. I nearly sighed in relief, my shoulders slumping as I pushed my glasses up my nose.
Feeling a steady gaze on me, I looked up and found Silas’s gentle eyes focused on mine. His stare never wavered, and once again, I found myself mesmerized by the kind smile he gave me.
No one had ever looked at me that way. Not ever.
A strange feeling stirred inside me, and it scared me a little.
I jumped when a strong hand landed on my shoulder and nearly flinched out of my skin when I felt another hand settle on my waist. I realized with a start that it was North. His large palms felt heavy, like a weight anchoring me in place. It was a heady, unfamiliar sensation, one I wasn’t sure how to process.
But it wasn’t unpleasant. Quite the opposite, in fact.
Still, I was uncomfortable. There was a guy in front of me and another behind me, effectively sandwiching me between them, though not enough to crowd me. They weren’t pressed up against me like the other couples on the dance floor, and for that, I was grateful. I already felt like some kind of sham, like these handsome guys shouldn’t be dancing with someone dull like me.
I knew it was wrong to put myself down, but I couldn’t help it. I felt too aware of everyone around me, and my anxiety was already climbing through the roof.
“Stop thinking so much. Just move with us,” North whispered, his hand tightening slightly on my hip.
I gulped, feeling his breath brush against my ear and fan across my neck. A shiver ran through me, embarrassment and nerves tangling together as I ducked my head and stepped closer to Silas.
It was such a natural instinct to step back when he came forward suddenly, taking me by surprise, since were standing so close. I ended up bumping my nose into Silas’s chest, stumbling backward into North before my foot came down on his.
I heard him grunt and curse under his breath, but Silas caught me by the waist with his other hand while North steadied himself.
I was shaking the entire time, my eyes wide and my mouth slightly open as I pulled out of their hold and nearly pressed myself against the sliding doors.
“I-I’m sorry,” I stammered nervously. “I’m not very good at dancing…with others.”
I cringed internally at how squeaky my voice sounded.
“I think maybe this was a bad idea.”
“Why the hell would you say that?” North boomed, startling me and a few dancers nearby.
Silas punched his shoulder, and the two of them shared a quick look, one I didn’t quite understand, before North turned his attention back to me.
“Sorry ’bout that,” he added, his voice quieter now. “Didn’t mean to scare you. I’ve just got a big mouth.”
I didn’t look up. I just nodded, fiddling with the hem of my sweater as I stayed pressed against the glass, feeling like an absolute idiot standing there between two guys who looked like they belonged anywhere but here with me.
My cheeks burned so hot I was sure you could fry an egg on them.
Maybe if I stayed quiet long enough, they’d get bored and leave. Then I could go back to wallowing in my own little pity party.
An awkward silence settled between us.
The music thumped in the background, filling the space, and just as I was about to bolt, warm fingers tilted my chin upward.
I found myself looking back into Silas’s gentle gaze once again.
“Stop hiding, aggele.”
I felt pinned by their gazes, with Silas calloused hands cupping my chin and North’s heavy stare on me. It was like they saw me, the person I tried so hard to keep inside because I was convinced nobody even wanted to know that person.
The scowl returned to North’s face, and Silas’s smile faded into a frown as they both looked down at me.
Thankfully, before either of them could say anything, the lights throughout the house flicked on and the music abruptly cut out.
“Hey! What the fuck, man? Turn the music back on!” one of the guys shouted from the crowded dance floor.
A chorus of agreement followed, voices rising together until it became a chant, repeating over and over as the makeshift DJ struggled to speak over them.
“Shit, too soon,” North muttered, more to himself than to me. Or maybe to Silas, because they exchanged another wordless glance, like they were communicating without speaking.
It was strange, but my attention shifted quickly. I was more worried about Marie and the growing tension as the crowd of teenagers grew louder, demanding the music back.
I swallowed hard, looking between Silas and North, but they moved closer until I really was sandwiched between them. Nervous shivers ran up and down my arms, but neither of them seemed to notice or care.
With their height and broad frames, it was hard to see anything past them, especially with North’s wide shoulders blocking most of my view. Still, I managed to catch sight of Jade storming toward the stage, where the DJ was already hurriedly packing up his equipment.
“Look, we just got a text that the cops are on their way! Everyone get the fuck out of my house and take your shit with you! Out! Now!” Jade screeched, dropping the mic before rushing off the stage, with Tiffany, Danielle, and another girl I didn’t recognize following behind her.
I could only describe it as pure, utter chaos.
It took only a second for her words to sink in before people started scrambling to get outside, trying to escape before the cops arrived and started arresting people.
My heart sped up as I searched wildly for Marie’s taller frame and dark hair. It was only a moment, but I had no time to properly look for my missing sister as Silas pushed me forward while North forced his way through the chaotic crowd.
I pulled my beat-up cell phone from my bra, flipping it open with one hand before hastily sending Marie a message asking where she was. She had the keys to the car, but I was the designated driver since I knew without a doubt she’d been drinking tonight.
I knew by memory that she was wearing a short yellow dress, so she shouldn’t have been hard to spot but I couldn’t see over the mass of bodies trying to shove their way out of the front door. I tried craning my neck, but it was useless, not with North’s tight grip on my hand and Silas’s strong arm around my waist.
I checked my messages again but there was still nothing. Just great.
The night’s cool chill hit my face as we were shoved through the door, and it was then that I got my first glimpse of the chaos outside.
People were shouting and yelling, jumping into nearby cars or running down the street, whooping about the party while trying to avoid getting caught. I swallowed, unease settling deep in my stomach as the three of us raced across the lawn toward where the cars were parked.
North and Silas started pulling me toward a black Jeep parked at the edge of the street, but I stopped short at the last second, trying to yank my hand free from North’s grip.
He didn’t let go.
As one, they both turned to look at me, their dark gazes locking onto mine. Confusion and concern flickered across their features, but all I could think about was Marie.
I was scared, and I had no idea where she was.
A sense of dread crawled up my spine, followed by the nagging feeling that maybe, just maybe, Marie had left me behind. Or completely ditched me with her boyfriend and posse in tow.
I had to get away.
As kind and amazing as those two boys seemed, I didn’t know them.
“It’s the cops! Run!” someone shouted from across the street.
My head whipped around, and I spotted the first set of flashing red and blue lights blazing down the road. A siren wailed, and soon I could hear the screech of tires as several police cars flooded the street, officers spilling out and grabbing people left and right.
I gripped my cell phone tightly in one hand while North held onto my other like his life depended on it. I tried to pry my fingers free, using the sweat from our palms as leverage, and it must have worked, because a second later, I broke free and bolted down the street.
“Sang!” North shouted after me.
My heart pounded in my chest as adrenaline surged through my veins, driving me forward. I didn’t look back at North’s call, but Silas’s worried expression lingered in my mind.
They were strangers.
And despite the trust I thought I saw in their eyes, it was probably too good to be true.
Still, as my feet carried me farther away, a small part of me wanted to turn back and return to the warmth they offered.