Elian, as usual, found some half-assed excuse to justify showing up to yet another party.

Back with his frat pack, the usual suspects. The second he stepped in, the air hit him like a toxic cloud—loud music, flashing lights, chaos. Classic.

The dance floor was packed, and one of his buddies slapped him on the back, saying he'd be at the bar. Great, now they’re splitting up. Elian didn’t mind, usually—it gave him a chance to meet someone new. The problem? These guys always got so wasted they couldn’t see straight.

He shot them a look. “Just watch the shots, and take Jake with you—he's not as ‘tolerant’ as he thinks.” They laughed, but we all knew no one would listen.

Alone at last, Elian smirked—here we go. He knocked back a shot and dove into the crowd. Dancing? Sure. Meeting people? Even better. He was used to the attention… or, more likely, his ego convinced him he was.

Then, out of nowhere, his usual cocky grin slipped.

Through the haze of lights, a figure moved effortlessly, almost like she controlled the beams themselves. Her presence made everything else blur. Elian couldn’t look away.

For the first time that night, the music slowed. She wasn’t just dancing to the beat; she was the beat. Elian, frozen, felt his ego take a hit. The guy who always had a plan suddenly had no idea what to do with himself.