The music thumped through the walls of the club, bass shaking the floor with every beat. Jake wasn’t really in the mood to be out that night—it was one of those “my friends dragged me here” situations. He stood near the back, nursing a soda, watching as strobe lights flashed over a sea of people. That’s when he saw her.

Kaitlynn.

She wasn’t trying too hard like most of the people there—just dancing with a few friends, laughing like she didn’t care who was watching. Her energy was different. Real. When their eyes met across the room, something clicked. Not in a dramatic, movie-style slow-motion way. It was simple. Natural.

Jake worked up the nerve to walk over, unsure what he’d even say.

“You’re probably the first person I’ve seen actually enjoying themselves,” he said with a grin.

Kaitlynn laughed. “That’s because my best friend just spilled a drink on a guy who was hitting on her—this place is pure chaos.”

Jake chuckled. “I’m Jake.”

“Kaitlynn.”

They ended up leaving the dance floor to talk somewhere quieter. And that’s where things got… surprising. Both were into late-night drives, hated raisins in cookies, loved bad reality shows, and secretly read cheesy romance novels. It was weird how easy it felt.

“I don’t usually meet people like this,” Kaitlynn admitted as they sat near the edge of the rooftop bar.

“Me neither,” Jake said, watching the city lights below. “This wasn’t even my idea tonight.”

“Well, I’m glad you showed up.”

They exchanged numbers, and over the next few weeks, they started going on casual dates—coffee shops, thrift stores, even a bookstore where Kaitlynn challenged Jake to buy a book based only on its cover. He lost that bet, but she let it slide.

Each time they hung out, it felt less like two strangers trying to impress each other, and more like two old friends who had accidentally just found each other in the middle of a crowded world.

And by the third date, Jake was already wondering if fate had a funny way of showing up… with flashing lights and loud music.