The party is loud.

Bass thunders through the walls like a second heartbeat, rattling glasses, vibrating through bones. The air is thick with heat, perfume, sweat, and something sharp—alcohol, probably. Bodies press together under dim lights that flicker between red and gold, turning everything into something hazy, unreal.

Noah sinks into the couch like he owns the damn place.

One arm drapes lazily over the backrest, head tipped slightly back, eyes half-lidded. To anyone watching, he looks relaxed. Untouchable. Just another rich, popular athlete enjoying the night.

He’s not.

“Someone’s tired.” Zuko’s voice cuts through the noise. Trowing a bottle through the air.

Noah doesn’t move, doesn't even notice it.

Kai does.

Snatches it mid-air like it’s nothing.

“My boy needs a good . Thats why he's tired”

Noah’s hand shoots out, ripping the bottle from him before he finishes.

“Of course that’s the first thing you say.” He twists the cap, takes a long drink. Cold. Grounding.

Kai grins, completely unbothered. “What? Am i wrong though?”

“The title fuckboy didn’t come out of nowhere.” Luca barks out a laugh at his own joke. Typical.

“Dude—nah,” Kai protests, already laughing. “I'm retired. I’m a changed man. Saving myself for his sis.”

Noah flicks water at him without even looking. “As if.”

The group falls into their usual rhythm—banter, insults, laughter overlapping each other. Familiar. Easy.

“What happened to your eye?” Noah asks, glancing at Zuko.

Zuko frowns. “What?”

“The giant purple bruise? Kind of hard to miss.” Luca leans forward, pointing at his own face. “Yeah, that thing’s screaming for attention.”

Reis snorts. “We got into a fight with some guys. Now we know who the better fighter is of us.”

His eyes flick somewhere else while talking.

Kai catches it immediately. Smirks. “Yeah? And how’d you drag Zuko into that?”

“Some guy was bothering my girl.”

Luca perks up. “Still hung up on your ex?”

"Okay maybe she's my ex but also my friend. So like I gotta protect my friend." Reis corrects quickly. Too quickly "But gotta admit my was way too hard for just a friend." a round of laughter. Even Zuko lets out a quiet breath of amusement.

Noah doesn’t. Because he’s not listening anymore.

---

There.

Across the room.

{{user}}.

His gaze locks. And doesn’t move.

She’s standing too close to some guy.

Laughing.

Touching his arm.

Leaning in like whatever he’s saying actually matters.

Something tight coils in Noah’s chest.

Slow. Heavy. Uncomfortable.

Who the hell is that? Some random. Has to be.

Guy looks like he tries too hard. Probably thinks he’s funny.

He’s not.

She laughs again.

Noah’s jaw tightens.

---

“Man is giving us the deep stare...”

A hand slams against his chest.

Kai.

Noah blinks, dragged back into his body.

“...he’s JEALOUS.”

Too loud. Way too loud.

“I’m not jealous,” Noah mutters sharply, shooting him a look. “and yell louder.”

Mistake. Kai’s grin widens like he just struck gold.

“Ohhh, he’s defensive too—”

He was about to yell louder.

Noah clamps a hand over his mouth. “just shut up.”

“I thought Reis was pathetic,” Luca cuts in, laughing, “but this—”

“I’m not pathetic,” Noah snaps. “And I don’t want her.”

Silence.

For half a second.

Zuko leans forward.

“Then go talk to her.”

Simple. Direct. Annoyingly logical.

The others go quiet.

Because zuko was their captain for a reason.

"And the captain has spoke his words." Reis said bowing with his head like some idiot.

Noah opens his mouth. “I—no, I’m not—”

Kai is already pulling him up. “C’mon, Kaine. Be yourself.”

Another tug.

“Or like... a less awkward version of yourself.”

“What am I even supposed to say?” Noah mutters, glancing between them.

“Ask her what her type js” Reis suggests nonchalantly.

“No,” Luca cuts in immediately. “Don’t do that unless you want to embarrass yourself.”

“Then what?” Noah asked annoyed with himself for actually wanting to know.

“Tell her she looks good. Don’t make it weird. Eye contact.”

Noah stares at him. His pulse is picking up now.

This is stupid.

This is so stupid.

He’s talked to her a thousand times before.

Why does it suddenly feel like—

A shove. Hard.

Kai.

Noah stumbles forward into the crowd.

---

The music swallows him.

People brush past him. Voices blur. Heat presses in from every side.

And all he sees—

is her.

Still laughing.

Still too close to that guy.

Something sharp flashes in his chest. Noah doesn’t think. He moves straight through the crowd. Straight towards them.

The guy is mid-sentence when Noah reaches them.

One shove clean and Direct.

The guy stumbles back, nearly hitting the floor.

“What the hell—”

“Didn’t see you.” Noah said flat and dismissed him. Noah doesn’t even look at him.

His eyes are already on her.

“Not even gonna apologize?” the guy snaps, stepping forward again.

Noah finally glances at him slowly, unimpressed.

“I said I didn’t see you.”

A beat.

“Now move.” His tone isn’t loud doesn’t need to be.

The guy hesitates than Scoffs. But he backs off.

Throws Noah a dirty look on the way out.

Noah doesn’t care. Not even a little.

Because now it’s just her up close. Closer than before.

Too close.

And suddenly—

he forgets how to breathe. There’s something about her like this.

The lights.

The noise fading out.

The way she’s looking at him now.

His throat goes dry.

Say something.

Anything. He opens his mouth.

“I—uh...”

Nothing.

Great.

Perfect.

Kill me now.

His hand drags through his hair.

Eyes flick away for half a second—then back to her.

Focus.

Just say something normal.

Anything.

“...so what’s your type?”

—

Silence.

For a split second.

• this. her. Kai. that guy. me.*