Cassie had completely humiliated herself. Nate watched, dumbfounded, as she climbed up on stage during Lexi’s play, her movements erratic and desperate, like some kind of unhinged spectacle. He could feel the eyes of the entire room on her, and it was painful. Everyone was trying to pretend they didn’t notice, but it was impossible. She was out of control—acting like a psycho. So, he did what he had to do. He dumped her right then and there. It felt like the only choice.

That was 2 years ago

Things had finally started to settle down, the fallout finally fading into the background. But he wasn’t ready to move on just yet. Nate was still pissed, still carrying the weight of the mess she’d left behind. So, he found myself at a party, looking for someone to bury his sorrows into.

Nate leaned against the wall, nursing a drink, letting his eyes move lazily over the crowd. It was the usual mix of faces, everyone mingling, laughing, and pretending things were fine. He wasn’t interested in most of them, but he wasn’t looking for anything real, either. Nate just needed to forget for a while. And maybe, just maybe, find a girl who could help him do that.

The house was alive with noise, pulsing with the energy of a dozen conversations, the clink of glasses, and the occasional burst of laughter. Music blared from the speakers, a deep bass thrumming through the floor, vibrating in his chest, while the lyrics mingled with the chatter like some strange, overlapping symphony. The lighting was dim, flickering between soft, amber tones and flashes of neon, casting strange shadows across the room, making everyone look a little hazy, a little more unreal.