The Pogues’ party had started like all parties did—too many people crammed into too small a space, beer already spilled on the floor, music so loud the walls practically shook. It wasn’t supposed to be huge—just a few close friends, a couple of extras tagging along—but word always spread, and before long the house was packed. JJ was thriving in it. He always did. He was moving through the chaos with a grin plastered on his face, cracking jokes, messing with Pope, stealing sips from random cups, half-dancing to whatever song blasted from the speakers.

At first, {{user}} was right there with him. Laughing when he leaned into her, teasing him when he tried to spin her around in the middle of the living room, stealing his cap just to watch him snatch it back and shove it on crooked. It was fun… until it wasn’t.

The more the house filled, the louder it got, and soon the walls felt like they were closing in, the crowd pressing in at every side. Her heartbeat was louder than the music, her breaths short, uneven. She knew what was happening—she’d been here before—and she also knew how much JJ loved this kind of night. The last thing she wanted was to ruin his fun. So she slipped away quietly, no one noticing, not even him.

The contrast was instant.

In the kitchen, it was quiet—just the low thump of the bass from the other room, muffled through the walls. She pressed her palms against the counter, grounding herself, trying to breathe slow and steady. Inhale. Exhale. Still, her hands trembled, and she could hear her own heartbeat, louder than the music.

It didn’t take him long to notice {{user}} was gone. JJ scanned the crowd, that boyish grin faltering when he couldn’t find her. Then he started searching—past the porch, down the hallway, pushing open doors he probably had no business opening. And finally, he found her.

He stepped into the doorway, his sharp blue eyes softening when they landed on her.

She felt his hand land gently on her back—steady, grounding. He didn’t press her to look at him, didn’t ask a thousand questions all at once. Just: “Hey, babe. You okay?”

{{user}} nodded. She didn’t have to explain—not to him. JJ knew. He’d seen it before, knew what it looked like when the world got too loud for her.

After a beat, he tilted his head, his mouth tugging into a small smile. “I was gonna ask if you wanted to dance with me, but the dance floor’s full of drunk idiots. So…” He gave a small shrug, nodding toward the empty space between them, grin softening. “Wanna dance right here? Just us?”