The music grew louder as the evening settled in, the kind that vibrated through the floor and made conversations blur into laughter.
Around Alan, the mood was easy—no sharp edges, no careful smiles. Just noise, jokes, and the comfort of being somewhere she didn't have to explain herself.
Alan leaned against the wall, arms crossed, nodding his head to the beat. "See? This is the good part of the party. Watching everyone embarrass themselves."
Blue laughed, sipping her drink. "You say that like you're not enjoying it."
"I enjoy observing," he said solemnly. "Big difference."
A group near the center had started dancing wildly, cheering each other on. Blue found herself laughing too—really laughing—her shoulders finally relaxing.
That was when she felt a hand brush against hers.
She turned, startled.
Saint stood there, looking more nervous than she had ever seen him. Quiet Saint—who sat two rows behind her in class, who barely spoke unless called on, who always kept his head down.
"Um," he said, voice almost lost in the music. "Can we… take a picture?"
Before she could respond, he gently took her hand, as if afraid she might pull away. The touch caught her off guard. She looked at him, searching his face for some sign of a joke, but there was none—just sincerity.
"Oh," she said softly. "A picture?"
He nodded quickly. "Just… a picture."
For a second, she hesitated. Then she told herself it was harmless. Just pictures. Nothing more.
"Okay," she said.
His face lit up instantly.
They stood side by side as someone raised a phone. Saint's hand loosened but didn't completely let go until the flash went off. Blue smiled naturally, the moment passing quicker than she'd expected.
"Thanks," he said, releasing her hand immediately, already retreating. "I—uh—thanks."
"You're welcome," she replied, giving a small wave.
He waved back, shy but pleased, before disappearing into the crowd.
When Blue returned to Alan's group, he raised an eyebrow. "Saint?"
She nodded, still a little amused. "Didn't see that coming."
"No one did," Alan said. "Man's been quiet all year and suddenly makes a bold move."
"It was just a picture," Blue said, though she smiled.
They settled back into watching the room—the dancers growing louder, the music faster, the night warmer. Someone started chanting for another song. A few people argued over what should play next.
Medina rejoined them eventually, flushed and grinning. "I leave you for five minutes and suddenly everyone's brave."
Blue laughed. "Apparently."
From where she stood, she could see almost everything—the swirl of bodies, the flashing lights, the shifting groups. She caught Ann glancing her way once or twice, unreadable, before turning back to her own circle. Blue didn't dwell on it.
For once, she felt present. Not watching herself from the outside. Just there.
Alan nudged her. "You're quiet."
"Not thinking," she said. "Just… enjoying."
He smiled. "Good. You deserve that."
As the day rolled on, the chaos softened into something warm and familiar. And standing there, surrounded by noise and movement, Blue realized she hadn't felt this light in a long time.
Blue's gaze drifted across the room without intention, following the slow movement of people and light, until it settled on the counter.
Adrian stood there alone, a drink resting loosely in his hand. He wasn't smiling. He wasn't talking much either. His attention seemed far away, yet his face gave him away—tight around the eyes, distracted, weighed down by something he wasn't ready to name.
Blue looked away, then back again.
In the center of the room, Ann was dancing, laughing louder than necessary, her movements exaggerated, as if she were performing rather than enjoying herself. The contrast was striking—him withdrawn, her overdone.
Before Blue could dwell on it, someone stepped into her line of sight.
James.
He approached with a girl Blue had never seen before, their shoulders brushing as they sat down near her. James caught Blue's eye and lifted his hand in a casual wave before heading toward the counter.
Blue blinked, surprised.
She turned to the girl beside her. "Hi."
The girl smiled easily. "Hi. I'm Sasha."
"Blue," she replied. "I don't think I've seen you around before."
Sasha laughed softly. "I don't go to your school."
Blue hesitated, then asked, "You came with James?"
Sasha nodded, her smile widening just a little. "Yeah. He's my boyfriend."
For a moment, Blue didn't respond.
"Oh," she said finally. "I didn't know."
"Most people don't," Sasha said, glancing briefly in James's direction. "We haven't been together long."
Blue nodded slowly, still processing. James—always relaxed, always joking—had brought someone openly, confidently. It felt unexpected. Bold.
"That's… nice," Blue said, meaning it more than she expected.
They talked for a while—nothing deep, just easy conversation about the party, music, and how crowded it was. Blue found herself liking Sasha almost instantly.
Then the mood shifted.
Voices rose from the dance floor—sharp, unmistakable. Blue turned just in time to see Ann standing in front of Adrian, her gestures wide, her expression dramatic. Whatever she was saying, it was loud enough to draw attention.
Adrian shook his head, clearly irritated. "This isn't the place, Ann."
"Of course it is!" Ann snapped back, drawing even more eyes. "You never listen unless everyone's watching."
Blue felt the room tense.
Adrian ran a hand through his hair, jaw tight. "You're making a scene."
"Then stop giving me reasons to!" Ann shot back.
The music faltered as people began to watch. Murmurs rippled through the crowd.
Adrian exhaled sharply. "I'm done with this."
He turned and pushed his way through the room, heading for the door.
Ann stood there for a second, stunned, before scoffing loudly and spinning back into the crowd as if nothing had happened.
Blue watched Adrian disappear outside, the noise of the party rushing back in around her.
The drama lingered in the air—unsettled, unfinished.
And Blue knew, even without understanding all of it, that the night had just changed.
The music picked up again, louder this time, as if the room itself wanted to forget what had just happened. Laughter slowly returned, conversations overlapping until the tension thinned and dissolved.
Blue was still watching the door when she felt a hand rest on her shoulder.
She flinched slightly and turned.
Alan stood beside her, phone already in his other hand. "Relax," he said with a grin. "You look like you've seen a ghost."
Before she could reply, he lifted the phone. That was when it clicked.
"A picture?" she asked.
"Exactly."
She faced the camera just as Alan's hand tightened on her shoulder, pulling her a little closer. The sudden closeness caught her off guard, and she let out a small laugh just as the flash went off.
"Hey!" she said, shoving him lightly. "Warning next time."
Alan laughed. "That was the warning."
"Rude," she replied, though she was smiling.
They drifted back to their small group with the rest , settling into the comfort of watching rather than participating. People ,posed for pictures, and disappeared into corners to talk. Blue found herself enjoying the simplicity of it—no expectations, no pressure.
By the time the party began to thin out, her feet ached .When they finally stepped outside, the night felt quieter, calmer.
And just like that, it was over.