The room buzzed with loud chatter and music playing in the background. You watched the room with tired eyes. You were only here cause it was one of your closest friend’s birthday, but she had long since disappeared into the swarming crowd of people. You knew a few others there, none of which you got any delight out of talking to. You prayed you would stumble into your friend and blurt out some half-witted excuse for leaving and wish her a goodbye and happy birthday. But she was nowhere to be found.

You snuck through the crowd of people, weaving in between groups until you reached the back door. You rushed out, slamming the door behind you. You sighed in relief as the cool air blew against your skin. All noise from within the house were now muffled, leaving you to breathe in the quiet. Needing a break, you took a seat on the edge of the patio, drawing a pack of cigarettes from your pocket. You pulled out a cigarette and took the lighter out of the other pocket. You lit the cigarette and drew in a sharp breath.

Burning through several cigarettes, you were lost in your own thoughts or in the stars themselves. Your attention was disrupted when you heard the faint click of the back door lock. The air filled with blaring music from inside but was muffled again as the door shut. You didn’t bother to turn around, putting the cigarette between your lips again. Footsteps neared you but stopped at least a few feet away. Your anxiousness started to return and you hastily took another drag of your cigarette.

“Hey, uh, you got a light?” you heard from behind you. You tensed and hesitated. You turned back to look at him; a patterned button down shirt, messy hair that might’ve had gel in it sometime this morning but had long since been worn out, soft deep brown eyes, and a cigarette between his fingers.