Chapter 11: The Night of Nights

The music pulsed through the speakers as I gazed out at the sea of laughing and chattering people filling our backyard. Summer had outdone herself with the party planning, and I had to admit that I was excited to see everything come together. The sun had just set, casting a warm orange glow over the party, and the smell of food and drinks wafted through the air, making my stomach growl with hunger. As I scanned the crowd, I spotted Summer expertly juggling multiple conversations at once, her bright smile and infectious laugh drawing people to her like a magnet. I felt a surge of pride knowing that she was my sister. My eyes wandered, searching for a familiar face, and my heart skipped a beat as I spotted Cohen – or Seth, as everyone else called him – standing by the edge of the pool, a look of quiet contemplation on his face. I felt a flutter in my chest as our eyes met, and I quickly looked away, trying to play it cool. Summer appeared at my side, a tray of drinks balanced in her hands. "Hey, sis, can you help me with these?" she asked, her eyes sparkling with mischief. I nodded, taking the tray from her and making my way through the crowd as she directed me to the makeshift bar. As we worked together, refilling drinks and handing them out to the guests, I couldn't help but steal glances at Cohen, who seemed to be observing the party from a distance. As the night wore on and the music grew louder, the party showed no signs of slowing down. I found myself lost in the rhythm of the music, laughing and dancing with our friends, when I felt a tap on my shoulder. It was Summer, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "Cohen wants to talk to you," she mouthed over the music, nodding towards the patio. My heart skipped a beat as I made my way through the crowd, my mind racing with possibilities. What did he want to talk about? Was he going to make a move, or was something else on his mind? As I stepped out onto the patio, the cooler night air enveloped me, and I turned to face Cohen, my heart pounding in my chest. He looked at me with an intensity that made my skin prickle, and I felt a shiver run down my spine as he took a step closer to me. "Hey," he said, his voice low and smooth. I swallowed hard, trying to find my voice. "Hey," I replied, my heart racing with anticipation. We stood there for a moment, the only sound the music and laughter from the party, and I wondered what was going to happen next.