Just like in the book.

"Are you coming tonight?"

Stella rose her head from her romance novel and did a brief scan of her surrounding, she pushed the bridge of her glasses up out of habit and looked with a questioning brow at the group of friends discussing their plans, a little too loud for a library.

She rolled her eyes and pulled her attention back to her book, but it was too late, she couldn't dive back into her imaginations again. She shut the book almost too dramatically and grabbed her bag to leave the school library.

She surfed through the hallway crowd, successfully blocking out all conversations about the 'party of the year' taking place that night, the one she swore she would attend. She didn't want to hear anyone talk about, about all the noise and alcohol and blinding lights, if she listened into even one conversation, she would convince herself that this was a waste of time and her time spent on reading pride and prejudice for the fifth time would be a lot more productive.

But she had to go to that party, if not because of who was throwing it, but for the sake of rule number five in her Romance novel from earlier: always attend your crush's parties. Se didn't know what to expect from this, a drunken kiss like the main character in her book?

Stella reached for the handle of her front door but was pulled in instead, she recovered from the shock and looked up to meet the beaming face of her best friend, she sighed and dropped her backpack beside the door, before pulling off her jacket.

"You're here early," Stella said as she poured herself a cup of juice from the fridge, she peeked up at, Mia, her friend who took morning classes, while she herself took evening classes.

"No, you're late, I was wondering when you were gonna return from that library" Mia responded and chuckled

Stella cocked an eyebrow, "how do you know I was at the library" 

Mia scoffed, "Please, I know when you just had your nose in a romance novel, it's the reason you decided to go to Ryan's party, isn't it" 

Stella held the cup mid-air and peered over it for a moment before chuckling, "I don't want to talk about it, just make me...you" she waved her hands for effect. She rinsed her cup and followed her friend to her room.

She entered the room and groaned loudly as she took in the messy room, dresses scattered across the bed, shoes flooded the floor. Mia immediately went on to bring out dresses for Stella to try on, she started with a green dress.

"Stella, if I come in there, you will eat the dress instead of wearing it" Stella stilled in her underwear with the dress still hung on her arm, she realized she had been standing in the closet for a long time. She quickly donned the dress, as she took Mia's threats very seriously.

They reached the party, no time was wasted because Stella ignored Mia's complaints and just opted for the first green dress she had tried on earlier along with four-inch heels.

She looked over at Mia and she motioned for them to go get drinks, Stella shook her head but Mia dragged her to the Ryan's large kitchen anyway.

Stella reached for the soft drinks cooler, but Mia pushed a red solo cup in her hands and she held hers, she drank hers swiftly so the former took a sip, it tasted like strawberry with hints of alcohol, feeling fascinated, Stella swallowed the rest of it.

This was all overwhelming for her first college party, Stella hoped that that 'drunken kiss' would happen soon, she was feeling tired already. As she walked with Mia by her side through the noisy house, she had already received few curious glances from students all around, she didn't blame them, this was the first time seeing the 'introvert' at a college party, let alone the biggest, Ryan McCarthy's party.

"You dance?" She heard Mia's voice somehow, over the pounding music.

"Yes, salsa," she responded absentmindedly, as her eyes roamed around the crowd, looking for Ryan, though she doubted she would find him like this, almost everyone looked identical all huddled up.

"Let me guess, girl in your novel dances salsa?" Mia teased, Stella hit her on the arm, mainly because she was correct, she wondered

Would Ryan love salsa like the guy in her book?

"Is that so bad?" she asked, her eyes still surfed the crowd. She audibly gasped as her eyes landed on a bed of dark brown hair amongst the crowd. Stella knew everyone looked the same, but in a sea of dark brown hair, she would still be able to single him out.

She tapped Mia's arm, and she caught on to what he was looking at,

"I would say 'go on', but I'm not even sure you can" 

She was right, Stella herself didn't know if she 'could', still she would try.

"I will, hold my drink" she said simply while starting ahead so she wouldn't lose sight of him

"You don't have a drink—"

"I know!"

She left behind a cackling Mia and walked with borrowed confidence towards the direction of the kitchen, she waited a bit as she saw Ryan speaking to one of his friends, a red solo cup in each boy’s hand.

Stella knew she had spent about three full minutes watching the boys, her eyes literally bored into their backs, she wondered how they didn't notice. Or maybe they did? And the group discussion was about her?

She looked down at her dress and smoothened out imaginary creases, she looked up again and stilled, Ryan stared directly at her with a questioning brow, she started back with a shocked expression.

She straightened and waited with baited breath as Ryan excused himself from his group and made his way towards her.

“Are you lost?” he asked when he was close enough for her to hear over the booming music, and she could smell hints of Hennessey in his breath.

“No, no i’m not” she responded, thankfully without stuttering.

“Ok, why were you standing here for so long?” 

“I wanted to—”

Stella frowned as she swayed when Mia shook her awake, she blinked twice and she couldn't see the blinking lights, she couldn't hear the deafening music. She turned with a sleepy eye towards Mia’s looming form over her bed.

“What is it?” she asked gruffly

“You dozed off, it's almost time for the party” it was then she noticed her dazzling dress

“Ok” Stella stood up and went on to the closet to dress up. Deep down she hoped she would be able to replay all that happened in her dream, in real life. 

Just like it did in her romance novel... 

Just like in the book...