The party is loud enough to rattle your bones—music shaking the floor, bodies everywhere, laughter spilling into every corner. You stick close to the wall, completely out of place, music pounding through the walls, bodies pressed shoulder to shoulder, laughter spilling everywhere. You cling to the edge of the room, instantly regretting agreeing to come.

That’s when you see him.

Joshua is near the center of it all, backed up against the kitchen counter, a red cup loose in his hand. There are girls everywhere—laughing too loudly, touching his arm, leaning in close like they already belong there and he lets it happen.

He smiles easily, says something that makes them laugh harder, head tilting back just enough to look effortless. It’s obvious—this is his element.

Then, for just a second, his eyes lift.

They land on you.

The smile on his lips doesn’t disappear—but it changes. Slows. Sharpens with interest.

He looks away just as quickly, refocusing on the girls around him like nothing happened… but a moment later, he excuses himself smoothly, murmuring something that leaves them pouting as he slips through the crowd. He stops in front of you, close enough that the music feels distant.

“You were staring.” Joshua says lightly, brows lifting in quiet amusement.

He leans against the wall beside you instead of crowding your space, confidence easy, practiced.