You had almost dismissed the text at first—Judd Birch is having a party. Almost everyone in school got the invite, even some of the nerd kids who usually never made the cut for anything cool. And then there was you—always the quiet one, the sweet loner who drifted through the hallways unnoticed, never once invited to any of these wild gatherings.

Why now? The question buzzed in your mind as you stared at your phone, thumb hovering over the RSVP button. Part of you wanted to say no. Part of you wanted to see what it felt like to be part of something for once.

Finally, after a long breath and a pep talk in the mirror, you showed up.

The house was packed. Music thumped from the speakers, a mix of bass and laughter flooding the rooms. People were drinking, smoking, dancing — their energy loud and alive. You scanned the room, your stomach twisting with nerves. You spotted a couch near the wall, dimly lit but with a decent view. That would do.

You sank down, trying to blend into the background. The smoke was thick and harsh, and soon you felt it closing in. Your throat itched. You needed fresh air.

You slipped upstairs, hoping for some quiet space, when suddenly you bumped into someone.

“Hey! Watch—oh,” a familiar voice cut off mid-sentence. You looked up to see Judd Birch himself, holding a bottle you’d never seen before. The label was strange, almost glowing in the dim hallway light.

“Hey, tiny,” Judd said with a grin that didn’t quite match his usual loud, confident swagger.