Back at their dorm, Jonathan was sprawled on his bed, scrolling through his phone while humming to a tune only he knew. Justin, meanwhile, sat at his desk, eyes glued to his laptop screen, trying to finish up a document they were told to fill out before the semester officially began.
The room was filled with quiet energy soft background music playing from Jonathan's speaker, the rustle of paper, and the occasional ding of phone notifications.
Suddenly, Jonathan let out a loud "Yessss!" and jumped up from his bed.
Justin turned around, startled. "What?"
"Dude!" Jonathan waved his phone excitedly. "There's going to be a freshman welcome party this weekend!"
Justin raised an eyebrow. "Okay… and?"
Jonathan blinked. "And?! That's literally the best thing I've heard all day."
"Cool," Justin muttered, turning back to his screen.
Jonathan tossed a pillow at him. "Bro, don't tell me you're not coming."
Justin sighed. "You already know I don't like parties. What's the point? Loud music, sweaty dancing, fake smiles nah, I'm good."
Jonathan threw himself into the chair across from him. "Come on, man. It's a college tradition. First party of the year. Everyone's gonna be there it's like, the place to meet people, network, maybe even find someone cute."
Justin chuckled. "And you think I care about that?"
Jonathan smirked. "Not yet. But you will. Trust me."
There was a pause. Justin hesitated, staring at his laptop before glancing back at Jonathan. "What's the theme?"
Jonathan grinned like a kid in a candy store. "Glitz & Afterglow. Classy vibes, dark tones, dress to impress."
Justin rolled his eyes. "So now I gotta dress up?"
"Yes, because we are going. End of story," Jonathan replied, typing something rapidly on his phone. "And lucky for you, I already found us a couple of cool outfits online."
Justin groaned. "Seriously?"
Jonathan turned his screen to show him a sleek, black button-down with silver accents and matching fitted pants. "This one's for you. Minimalist, sharp. Just your style."
Justin actually paused. "That's… not bad."
"I know," Jonathan beamed proudly. "And mine is this wine-colored suit with velvet lapels. Bro, we're gonna walk in there looking like music video extras."
Justin laughed in spite of himself. "You're doing too much."
"Too much is the bare minimum," Jonathan replied dramatically.
They spent the next half hour scrolling through outfits on a fashion app, debating over blazers, shoes, and watches. Jonathan added nearly ten items to his cart, while Justin reluctantly chose just two.
"I can't believe I let you drag me into this," Justin said, finally placing his order.
"Because you secretly want to go," Jonathan teased. "Deep down, you wanna feel that party buzz too."
Justin just shook his head. "I'm going to regret this."
"Nah," Jonathan grinned. "You'll thank me later when the lights are low, the music's pumping, and you're dancing with some gorgeous girl who smells like vanilla and danger."
Justin snorted. "Wow. You've really imagined this whole thing."
"I live for this," Jonathan replied, flopping back on his bed. "And it's about time you did too."
Later that night, they were both chilling on the couch in the common lounge, sipping soda and chatting.
"So what kind of parties did you go to before college?" Justin asked.
Jonathan leaned back. "Back home? Man, I used to sneak into lounges with my cousins. Birthdays, prom after-parties, even rooftop karaoke. It's kinda my thing."
Justin nodded. "We didn't really party much. Mom and Dad were pretty strict. I was more of a books and basketball type."
"I get that," Jonathan said. "You've got this quiet vibe. Like, the guy who stays in the corner and everyone secretly wants to know more about."
Justin laughed. "Never heard that one before."
"I'm telling you," Jonathan said. "At the party, you just have to stand there with a drink and brood. Girls love a good mystery."
"You've thought this through, haven't you?"
Jonathan raised his soda can. "Always."
Back in their room, Jonathan stood in front of the mirror pretending to walk into the party.
"Watch this," he said. "I walk in, give a small nod like this" he tilted his chin "and let my eyes scan the room like I own the place. Boom. Confidence."
Justin burst into laughter. "You're ridiculous."
"And you're lucky to be my roommate," Jonathan declared proudly. "You'll thank me after this party."
Justin shook his head but smiled. For all his dramatic flair, Jonathan's energy was contagious. Maybe the party wouldn't be such a bad idea after all.
Maybe.