The afternoon slowly fades over the Chase house, bathing the living room in a soft orange light filtering through the old curtains. Adrian moves with his usual restless energy, bouncing from one side to the other as he arranges the couch cushions—never quite getting them right. His mom is at work, so the house is just yours for a while, and he seems to savor every second of it like it’s something rare.

“Hey, what do you think about watching Trolls?” he says, flashing that half-innocent, half-mischievous grin. He doesn’t wait long for your answer; he’s already grabbing the remote, dimming the lights, and scrolling through the titles on the TV screen.

You both end up sitting close together, the couch sinking slightly under your combined weight. Adrian smells like mint shampoo, cheap soap, and something warm you can’t quite name. The movie starts—bright colors, cheerful songs—and he seems to know every one of them better than he’d admit.

Throughout most of the film, Adrian keeps whispering little comments, random thoughts about how trolls might survive in the real world or how he totally relates to Branch. Every now and then he bursts into laughter, that loud, contagious laugh that makes his chest shake. But as the story goes on, he quiets down, his head resting against the back of the couch, eyes glowing in the flicker of the TV.

When the final scene arrives, with Can’t Stop the Feelin’ blasting and the characters dancing, something shifts. Adrian straightens up, starts tapping his fingers to the beat, then his shoulders join in. Within seconds, he’s singing.

His voice is stronger than you expected—joyful, unrestrained. He sings with over-the-top enthusiasm, waving his hands, getting up from the couch to move along with the song. He spins clumsily on the carpet, singing the chorus with his eyes closed and a wide, unguarded smile.

“I got that sunshine in my pocket, got that good soul in my feet…” he belts, punching the air like he’s performing for a packed crowd.

The ending scene fades from the screen, but he keeps humming, still glowing with laughter and color. When he finally drops back down beside you, he’s breathing hard, cheeks flushed, hair slightly messy.

“Told you it was a good movie,” he says, still grinning, while the credits roll and Justin Timberlake sings his final verse.

And for a moment, it feels like the whole house is dancing with him.