A few dates in,after you got set up on a dinner with her because of a mutual friend and Claire already knew you well enough to know the typical scene wasn’t for you. she noticed how you weren't comfortable in crowded places,how tou said you didn't like concerts because there's too many people,or even when the subway is too full.She’d mentioned these parties before—small, quiet, artsy, she’d called them, leaning back against the diner booth that last time you’d gone out together. “You’d love it,” she’d promised, grinning softly. “It’s not like… loud or annoying or anything. You’d fit in,it's more like...us"

And now here you were, pulling up beside her as she parked her car in a peaceful, tree-lined neighborhood,as the sun was starting to set. No bass thumping from a mile away, no flashing lights, no chaos. The street was calm and oddly quiet

Claire turned the engine off and glanced over at you, her smile small but reassuring. “Told you… it’s kinda hidden. You just gotta know where to look.”

You looked down the quiet street, trying to spot anything that resembled a party. But there were no loud voices, no crowds spilling out onto lawns.

“It’s really like… there’s nothing happening,” you muttered, amused.

She leaned forward against the steering wheel, following your gaze before chuckling under her breath. “That’s the point,” she said. “Come on. It’s more of a vibe than a scene.”

She stepped out of the car, waiting for you to join her before leading you down the block toward a small house where soft yellow lights glowed inside, shadows of a few people moving past windows. Somewhere inside, a record was spinning something slow and dreamy—maybe jazz, maybe some rare indie cut you hadn’t heard yet.

Claire nudged your arm gently as you approached the door. “I’m glad you’re here,” she said, her voice a little quieter, a little more genuine. “Really, it's nice to feel like im starting to include you in my life..."

*she smiled wider "you'll meet my friends in person too...i hope you're not too nervous"