We stopped just outside the doors.
The bass thudded through the walls, fast, relentless, nothing like the music I was used to. I stared at the entrance like it might explode.
I almost told him to take me home.
Then the door opened and the noise swallowed us whole.
The music hit me before the lights did.
Bass rattled through my chest, loud enough to steal my breath. Bodies pressed in on every side, moving without rhythm, without care. Heat clung to my skin. The air smelled like alcohol, sweat and something sharp I didn't recognize.
I froze just inside the entrance.
Will glanced back at me. "Hey," he said, leaning close so I could hear him. "We can leave if you want."
I swallowed.
"No," I said, even though my heart was racing. "I'm okay."
I wasn't, but I stepped forward anyway.
There was no counting here.
No one telling me when to turn or where to stand.
The music didn't guide, it consumed. Bodies collided instead of flowing, moving however they wanted, whenever they wanted.
It terrified me.
And I loved it.
This kind of freedom was foreign to me, as I only knew ballet. Control. Precision. Perfection.
This was wild. Unplanned. Reckless.
Will guided me toward the bar, his hand light on my back. I looked around in awe, trying to take everything in at once.
He laughed when he caught my expression, "You really have been living under a rock, haven't you?"
I shot him a playful glare. "Did I choose to be born into my family?"
He chuckled. "Fair."
The bartender slid our drinks across the counter. I stared at the red liquid suspiciously.
Will frowned. "Don't tell me you've never had raspberry soda."
I raised an eyebrow and gestured at myself. "Does it look like I built this body on soda?"
He laughed. "You're missing out."
He nudged the cup closer. "It's mostly soda. Just… with vodka. I'll get you home in an hour, I promise."
I studied him. "You break that promise and I will absolutely ruin your life."
He nodded solemnly. "Understood."
I took a sip.
Then another.
"Oh," I said, surprised. "That's… good."
Will grinned and took a drink from his own.
I tilted my head, then downed the rest in one go.
His eyes widened, "Okay. Either that's not your first time, or you're a natural menace."
I laughed, warmth blooming in my chest.
"Maybe I'm a daredevil."
The bartender refilled my glass without asking.
The warmth spread quickly, fizzing through my body like something cracking open. The nerves softened. The walls I didn't even realize I was holding up started to crumble.
It felt… easy.
Dangerously easy.
After around twenty minutes of Will showing me his not impressing dance moves, making me laugh so hard my lungs hurt, he disappeared back toward the bar, probably to grab something else.
I leaned against a pillar, watching the crowd move in flashes of color and light.
That's when I saw it.
A girl stormed up to a guy near the edge of the dance floor and slapped him-hard.
The crack cut through the music.
"I'm done," she snapped. "Don't ever call me again."
She shoved past him and disappeared into the crowd.
A laugh slipped out of me before I could stop it.
Sharp. Tipsy. Unfiltered.
The guy turned.
Caught me.
He didn't look embarrassed.
Didn't look angry.
Just… entertained.
Up close, I noticed him properly.
Dark brown hair, slightly messy like he'd run a hand through it too many times. Green eyes sharp, assessing, almost too calm for what just happened. A plain white shirt stretched over his frame, sleeves pushed up slightly. Black jacket hanging open. Skinny black jeans with a silver chain clipped to the side.
And around his neck-a skull mask resting like it belonged there.
He didn't try too hard as he didn't need to.
Danger clung to him naturally.
"You gonna keep staring," he called over the music, "or say something?"
I lifted my drink. "I was just surprised."
"By what?"
"She hit you pretty hard."
He shrugged. "She meant it."
"That doesn't bother you?"
Now he really looked at me.
"Should it?"
There it was, that steady confidence. Like nothing rattled him. Like consequences were optional.
This wasn't Will's warmth.
This was something else.
I tilted my head. "Only if you deserved it."
His mouth curved slowly. "Careful. You might like the answer."
I should walk away.
Instead, I took another sip.
He stepped closer, not touching, just enough to shift the air between us.
"Haven't seen you here before."
"Maybe you never noticed," I replied smoothly.
His eyes dipped once -quick- then back to mine.
"Trust me," he said. "I notice."
My pulse betrayed me, but I kept my expression steady. I wasn't some easy girl impressed by a leather jacket and a chain.
But I did like playing along.
"And what exactly are you noticing?" I asked.
He studied me a second too long.
"That you don't belong here."
I smirked. "Maybe I don't want to."
A quiet laugh left him. "That's the interesting part... I'm Ryan," he added, shoving his hands into his pockets.
"Mei."
His gaze lingered.
Before he could say anything else, Will appeared beside us, placing my drink back into my hand.
"Hey, Ryan. Been a bit, man. What've you been up to?" Will said, pulling him into a quick handshake.
"All over the place," Ryan shrugged.
"So, you're back now? Thought you moved."
"Yeah. Came back a couple weeks ago. Seeing if it's worth staying." His eyes flicked to me briefly. "Might stick around a little longer."
Will grinned. "That's great. Been boring since you left."
Then he seemed to remember I existed.
"Oh yeah-I haven't been too bored though. Met my new friend recently. Mei." His arm slid around my shoulders casually.
Ryan's lips twitched. "We've been introduced."
He held my gaze.
"I'd be down to hang out more."
Will, oblivious, cheered. "Yeah, definitely."
Ryan nodded once and drifted back toward the bar.
"Close friend?" I asked.
Will smiled. "Since primary school. Off and on though. He disappears sometimes. But yeah… it's good seeing him again."
I wasn't really listening.
Across the room, Ryan leaned against the counter, talking to the bartender, laughing at something she said. He looked comfortable, like he owned whatever space he stepped into.
A hand waved in front of my face.
"What?" I blinked.
"What are you staring at-" Will followed my line of sight and frowned. "Don't." he turned back to me.
"What?"
"He's trouble," Will said, lowering his voice. "Big-time player. I've seen him break more hearts than anyone I know."
"Then why are you friends with someone like that?"
"Because when it counts, he shows up. He's had my back, he's like a brother." His tone shifted. "Just promise me you'll be careful. I'd hate to see you hurt."
I nudged his arm. "Relax. I'm not stupid."
Will didn't look convinced.
Across the room, Ryan lifted his glass slightly in my direction.
I told myself it meant nothing, that I was just curious.
That I wasn't about to become the cliché girl who falls for the dangerous one.
I was too disciplined.
Too aware.
Too careful.
Still…
I didn't look away first.