Chapter Text
Lily Cameron had always been the quieter twin. Where Sarah was bold and outgoing, Lily was reserved, preferring the quiet curiosity of observing the world from the sidelines. She had just returned from a vacation with her aunt, her mind still swirling with stories of new places and faces. But today, all her thoughts focused on her sister. Someone mentioned that Sarah was at a Pogue party, and curiosity got Lily's attention. She wasn’t one to attend such gatherings, but something inside her tugged at the idea.
Dressed in a light blue fluffy dress, with a matching ribbon tied in her hair, Lily decided to go. She wanted to blend in, but also look cute, as if her Pogue disguise might protect her from standing out too much. Her heart pounded in her chest as she approached the party, peeking around with wide doe eyes. She was shy because she never attended these events unless her siblings makes her go.
The scene was overwhelming—people everywhere, laughter, bonfires, and the kind of raw energy she rarely encountered. Taking a deep breath, she ventured inside, trying to keep her steps steady. Just as she maneuvered through the crowd, she stumbled, losing her footing. Before she could hit the ground, strong hands caught her wrist and pulled her up. She blinked in surprise, her heart racing as she felt herself being drawn closer into someone’s arms. It was as if someone had wanted her from the moment she had entered the room.
Her breath hitched as she looked up. His eyes—familiar, piercing—locked onto hers. John B. Routledge. Her sister had talked about him often, describing him as the Pogue King, Sarah’s crush, though Lily had never given it much thought. But now, standing so close to him, she could see why he was so captivating. The intensity of his gaze sent shivers through her, and her cheeks flushed a deep pink.
“Whoa, careful,” he murmured, his voice low as he kept his arms wrapped around her. His grip was firm and possessive, and something about it made her want to run. But before she could pull away, his thumb grazed her cheek, the gentleness of the touch making her breath catch again. She hadn’t expected this, hadn’t planned on catching his attention. It caused her to blush and feel like something straight out of a movie.
Her mind screamed to get away, but her body betrayed her. The tension between them was palpable, electric. Before she knew it, she leaned in and kissed him, a soft brush of lips that took both of them by surprise. For a moment, she thought he would push her away, but instead, John B deepened the kiss, his hands sliding up to cup her face as though he couldn’t bear to let her go.
Lily’s heart raced as she kissed him back, her hands instinctively wrapping around his neck. Everything around them seemed to disappear, leaving only the two of them in that charged moment. She heard voices in the distance—Sarah’s, Kiara’s, JJ’s—but the sound barely registered. Her mind was spinning, and all she knew was that this felt dangerous, intoxicating, and utterly forbidden.
She broke the kiss first, her pulse wild with panic. “I— I have to go,” she whispered breathlessly, her cheeks burning as she pulled away. It was her heart that knew anything could happen at that very moment.
Before John B could say anything, she disappeared into the crowd, her heart still thudding, inside of her. She spotted Sarah a few feet away, chatting with Kiara. As she drew closer, she overheard Sarah talking about John B, mentioning that he seemed different tonight, like he was falling for someone.
Lily’s stomach twisted. She hadn’t meant to start anything, especially not with John B. He was Sarah’s crush. She couldn’t allow this to happen. But deep down, she knew one thing for sure—John B wouldn’t let her go that easily. They knew this was the beginning of what might've been first love.