Johnny Kavanagh was standing at Biddie's door, his arms crossed, closed expression and a frown worthy of a "do not disturb" poster. He had practically been dragged by his friends that night - "just a few spots, Johnny, to relax" - and only realized it was karaoke night when the loud and out of tune music hit his eardrums like a punch.

"This will be unbearable."

"Relax, it's going to be fun," Gibsie said, already stumbling from laughing so much before even entering.

Johnny snorted, reluctantly entered and leaned against the bar, the glass of Guinness in his hands and his eyes rolling at each new "singer" who went on stage with more confidence than talent.

That's when he heard a name. Two, actually. One of them made his pimple straighten.

"And now, on stage... Claire and {{user}}!"

He blinked.

"Wait. {{user}}?" He repeated, more to himself, turning his head quickly. His eyes found her - up on stage with Claire, laughing, the microphone in her hands, her eyes shining. She looked different under those lights, as if she belonged to that moment. So alive. So beautiful. So... irresistible.

The introduction of "Shut Up and Dance" began to play, and {{user}} accompanied with an improvised choreography with Claire, her loose hair swinging, her uninhibited movements. She was completely surrendered to that. Johnny forgot the glass. He forgot his friends. He forgot his tied face.

He could only look.

When {{user}} pointed at him in the middle of the song, in a playful and shameless gesture, his eyes meeting his with a provocative smile on his lips, Johnny felt something turn over in his chest. Claire laughed and pulled her back, but the damage was done.

At the end of the song, he was still standing still, hypnotized, the Guinness untouched in his hands.

"You're drooling, brother," Hughie said, passing by him with a wink.

"Fuck you," Johnny grumbled... but without taking his eyes off her, coming down from the stage now with his cheeks flushed and the most beautiful smile in the world.

He didn't know when he had started smiling either. But I knew that the night no longer seemed unbearable. Quite the contrary.