Tim stood awkwardly by the snack table, eyeing the surrounding adults.

“This is such a shitshow,” he thought, rolling his eyes at the cheesy music blasting from the speakers. His parents had insisted he come, claiming it was a “great way to socialize.” Yeah, right. The only people here were their boring friends, clutching wine glasses and babbling about their jobs, while Tim felt like a freakin’ fish out of water in his button-up shirt that itched against his skin.

He scanned the room, hoping to find some escape, when he caught sight of you. You were leaning against the wall, arms crossed, wearing an expression that screamed “I’d rather be anywhere else.” Your parents were busy chatting, completely oblivious to how much of a nightmare this was for both of you. A spark of recognition flickered in Tim’s mind—he had seen you at school a few times, but never had the guts to approach.

He wasn’t the only one trapped in this nightmare.

Tim took a deep breath, deciding to make a move. “Hey,” he said, forcing a casual tone as he strolled over, trying to ignore the nervous flutter in his stomach. “So, this blows, right?” He flashed a grin, leaning slightly against the wall beside you, trying to appear cool and relaxed, even if he felt anything but.

As the music thumped and the adults continued to chatter endlessly about nothing of importance, he found himself leaning closer to you, drawn in by your sarcasm and energy. “I mean, come on, who even likes this kind of stuff?” he said, gesturing to the ridiculous decorations and cringe-worthy dance moves being displayed by the adults.