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Astrid’s POV

“Hey, relax,” Ocean cooed, tightening his grip on me.

“I'm relaxed,” I lied through my teeth and he knew it.

The moment we reached the entrance of the club, I knew I had made a mistake which was too late to correct now.

The bass from the music was pulsing through the floor beneath my heels, vibrating up my legs and settling somewhere deep in my chest.

Neon lights flickered overhead, casting flashes of purple and blue across the crowd waiting to get in.

People were laughing and chattering on the top of their voices.

Nervous, I kept darting my eyes until it fell on some girls from my school.

They stood near the entrance of the club, dressed in outfits that ranged from effortlessly glamorous to dangerously daring.

Their conversations stopped one by one as soon as their eyes landed on me.

No, not just on me, on us.

Their expressions shifted to surprise, curiosity and disbelief like ripples spreading through water.

“Oh no.” I said under my breath as my heart fell into my stomach with a loud plop.

Holding my breath, I instinctively took half a step back, but Ocean’s hand tightened around my waist, pulling me closer against his side.

“You good?” He asked, the warmth of his palm grounding me even as my anxiety began to spike.

“They’re staring,” I muttered under my breath. I was trying really hard to remain but I couldn't.

“Of course,” he replied calmly.

“I hate this.” I bit out, staring at my feet.

His head dipped slightly closer to mine, his voice lowering so only I could hear him.

“Breathe.”

I exhaled shakily, folding my hands in front of me.

“You’re doing great,” he murmured. “Just stay with me.”

The simplicity of his tone settled something inside me though the nerves were still there, crawling beneath my skin but it was enough that I didn’t turn and run.

We moved forward together, slipping past the entrance as the music grew louder and heavier, swallowing us whole.

Inside, the club felt alive.

Lights danced across the ceiling, reflecting off mirrored surfaces and creating the illusion of an endless movement.

People crowded the dance floor, bodies were swaying in rhythm, while others lounged at tables and booths, laughing and drinking.

I tried not to stare too much.

I also tried not to feel like an outsider stepping into a world that wasn’t mine.

Ocean guided me carefully through the crowd, his hand still resting securely at my waist.

Every time someone brushed past us, his grip tightened slightly in a protective manner without being overwhelming.

Finally, we stopped in front of a large table and once again, my heart sank again.

Ocean had taken me to a table where some members of the hockey team were seated.

The boys looked up simultaneously, their conversations cutting off mid-sentence.

I watched as recognition flashed across their faces. Some looked surprised, others were amused while some were outrightly shocked.

One of them actually blinked twice like he wasn’t sure he was seeing correctly.

Ocean didn’t seem fazed as he slowly took his hand off my waist.

“Stop staring,” he said casually, though there was an edge beneath his tone.

A few of them laughed awkwardly, but their eyes stayed on me.

Uncomfortable, I shifted my weight from one foot to the other only for one guy to stand up.

He was tall, his hair was messy and he had an easy grin that screamed trouble.

“Hi, I’m Calvin Moore, nice meeting you.”

His energy was infectious, loud and vibrant.

“Astrid,” I replied, shaking his hand.

“I know you,” he said dramatically. “Everyone knows the mysterious Astrid.”

“Mysterious?” I blinked.

“Yeah,” he continued, already launching into another sentence before I could respond.

“You’re like this myth around campus. Pretty, quiet, always disappearing before people get to know you.”

He paused and then with a shrug, he added, “Honestly, I thought you were a conspiracy theory until tonight.”

I glanced at Ocean, who looked thoroughly unimpressed.

“Calvin,” he warned.

“What?” Calvin shrugged innocently. “I’m welcoming her.”

“That’s not welcoming.”

“I’m charming,” Calvin corrected.

“You’re exhausting,” another guy muttered from the table, earning a round of laughter.

I couldn’t help it, a small smile slipped out.

Calvin noticed immediately and he hit his palms together in glee.

“Yes! She smiles!” he announced like he had just discovered a rare species.

Placing my hair behind my ear, I laughed despite myself.

“Okay, that’s enough,” Ocean said dryly.

We took our seats at the table, and I became acutely aware of how close Ocean sat beside me.

His thigh brushed mine occasionally, sending little sparks of awareness through me that I tried very hard to ignore.

Once we were seated, Calvin leaned forward again.

“So,” he said eagerly, “who are you to Ocean?”

The table quieted slightly.

Ocean turned his head toward me, leaving the question hanging in the air.

Digging my finger into my thigh, I swallowed hard, unsure of what to say.

“We’re dating,” I said finally, lifting my gaze.

My response was followed by silence at first then chaos.

“What?”

“No way.”

“Seriously?”

“You’re kidding.”

Their reactions overlapped into one loud burst of disbelief.

Another guy which I recognized to be number eight leaned back in his chair, alternating his gaze between us like we were an impossible math equation.

“But… wasn’t she with Reis?” someone asked cautiously.

My chest tightened as Ocean cast me a glance again.

Straightening slightly, I said with a firm tone, “We’re not together anymore.”

The words felt strange leaving my mouth but I didn’t regret it.

“Oh,” Calvin said softly, his eyes widening. “Well… that’s new.” He smacked his lips.

Another guy elbowed him in the side before he could continue.

“Shut up,” the guy muttered under his breath while Calvin winced dramatically.

“Dude, that was unnecessary.” He groaned.

“You were about to say something stupid,” the guy replied.

“I always say something stupid.” Calvin snorted like it was a known fact.

“Exactly.”

Laughter broke out again, easing some of the tension.

“Drinks?” someone suggested, waving toward a server nearby.

Orders started flying around the table. Their choices were loud and confident and that made me feel even more out of place.

They ordered beer, whiskey and cocktails with names I didn’t recognize.

Ocean leaned closer to me. “You don’t have to drink if you don’t want to.” He whispered.

“I know,” I said quietly.

When it became my turn, everyone’s attention shifted toward me again.

I hated that.

“What would you like?” the server asked politely.

My mouth opened but nothing came out.

Suddenly, the air felt thick and heavy like something had shifted.

With my heart in my mouth, I slowly adjusted on my seat, cold chills running down my spine.