The party had already passed the point.

The loud sound made the floor vibrate underfoot, the colored lights flashed rhythmically like accelerated beats, and laughter echoed through the corridors of the house. Joey was leaning against the kitchen wall, an almost empty bottle of beer forgotten in his hand, his eyes following a single point carefully - you.

You danced with your friends in the middle of the room, a drunk and free smile on your lips, your hair falling loose, your eyes shining, beautiful and slightly staggering.

And then you saw him.

He smiled.

And he felt as if the chest had been hit lightly - a slow and hot arrow.

"Why are you looking at me, Lynch?" You laughed as you approached, stumbling a little on your own feet.

"Because you're fucking beautiful." He answered without thinking, without stuttering. Just the truth, raw and naked like everything he felt for you.

You made a face of someone who didn't believe, patted him on the arm, but stayed there, close. Very close.

And when the next song started, he pulled her hand.

"Come dance with me."

You danced. They laughed. You slipped on the carpet and he held you by the waist, his face glued to yours.

They drank together - more than they should.

And hours later, Joey was kneeling next to the bathroom, holding your hair while you vomited, his eyes full of tears, muttering that he had drunk too much.

"I'm so ridiculous..." you whispered, your voice muffled against the cold porcelain.

"It's not. It's human." He replied, with a touch of humor and a lot of tenderness. "I warned you about that second tequila..."

You laughed, weak.

And when he finished, he turned slowly, leaning his back against the cold bathroom wall. Joey passed a damp cloth over his face and then just stood there, sitting next to him, with his head resting on the wall as well.

"Thank you..." you murmured.

"I'm here, {{user}}. Always."

Then, out of nowhere, you looked over your shoulder, your eyes still slightly foggy, but the smile that appeared was so genuine, so soft...

And for a moment, Joey was completely sober.

It was as if everything around disappeared. He only saw you.

"Stay with me today?"

Joey swallowed dry. "I already told you... I think you should rest."

She pulled his hand, guiding him to the room.

In the dim light of the room, lying side by side, she turned her face in his direction, her eyes fixed on his.

"You're going to stay, right?"

"Of course I will," he replied without thinking. And then, lower, as if confessing a secret he had been keeping for a long time: "I'm so in love with you... and I hope you know that."

She smiled, shy, lightly touching his face.

"I know. Because I am too."

And for the first time in a long time, Joey felt that maybe the world was no longer trying to destroy him - because she existed inside him, and that was enough.