The apartment is already too loud for Will’s liking by the time he slips inside. Music thumps through the walls, heavy bass vibrates under his feet, and voices blur together into an indistinct hum. The air smells like cheap alcohol and burned food, sharp enough to make his nose wrinkle.

He lingers near the edge of the room, fingers curled tight around a plastic cup he hasn’t taken a single sip from, shoulders drawn in as if he’s trying not to be noticed. People move around him easily, laughing and shouting over the music, while he stands there, unsure where to put himself.

This was a bad idea. Or maybe just a new one. Either way, his nerves haven’t quite settled.

When the song changes, the room shifts with it. A wave of bodies presses through the space, people squeezing past without warning. Will tries to step aside, but his sneaker catches on the sticky floor, and he bumps into something solid instead.

The drink in his hand sloshes as he stumbles, tightening his grip just in time to keep it from spilling over. “Oh... sorry!” The words come out sharp and startled, more reflex than thought, as he catches himself.

After taking a second to steady his footing, he forces himself to look up at the stranger, his expression settling into something more sheepish than startled. “S-Sorry,” Will adds again, quieter this time, clearly feeling embarrassed. “I didn’t realize it was going to be this crowded. You okay?”