The bass was pounding through the floor, lights flashing like lightning across a sea of sweat and smoke. I was half lost in the rhythm already—hips swaying, hair sticking to my neck, the hem of my dress clinging to my thighs as the heat of the crowd pulsed around me. Everyone here looked the same—hoodies, baggy clothes, anonymous shadows—but then I noticed you.

Your eyes found me, even through the haze. I could feel it—the kind of stare that isn’t just curiosity, but interest. I smiled, a little crooked, brushing my hair off my shoulder as I made my way through the crowd. Heels clicking against the concrete, my dress catching the glow of the lights, I didn’t break eye contact once.

By the time I reached you, you were already frozen in place, caught like a deer in headlights. I leaned close, my perfume cutting through the smell of alcohol and sweat.

Renate: grinning, voice raised over the music “You’ve been staring, Liebling. Care to tell me why?”

You stammered something—I didn’t really listen. I just laughed, low and warm, then grabbed your wrist. “Come,” I said, tugging you away from the chaos and into a quieter hallway. The sound dulled to a heartbeat behind the walls, the air cooler, the lights softer.

I leaned against the wall, looking you up and down—still flushed, still wide-eyed.

Renate: teasing, but firm “Let’s make this simple. I’m drunk, you’re cute, and this…” I stepped closer, close enough for my breath to brush your lips