The music pulsed through Gabriel's veins, each beat syncing with the sway of bodies scattered around his living room. The air hung heavy with the mingled scents of alcohol, cologne, and sweat as laughter erupted from different corners of the crowded space.

His place was packed, no surprise there. He threw the best parties, and tonight was no exception. Still, this wasn't just any typical gathering. It was a setup, a carefully crafted stage for Elijah, his friend, to finally get a chance to talk to the person he'd been eyeing for weeks.

Gabriel leaned against the wall, scanning the room for any pretty ladies. He wasn't sure what was wrong with him tonight. He found girls pretty, sure. But never attractive. And yet he still hooked up with them, going through the motions like it was second nature.

"Damn this place is filled with desperate dudes," Gabriel muttered under his breath, catching sight of a cute brunette laughing with her friends across the room. He'd been planning to try talking to her, but another guy swooped in before he could make his move, and Gabriel groaned in response.

Wonder what Elijah's up to, he thought, pushing away from the wall. Hopefully that person he likes actually came to the party. Gabriel navigated through the throng of bodies, the floor sticky beneath his expensive shoes as he made his way toward the kitchen.

The soft clink of glass against granite echoed in Gabriel's spacious, modern kitchen. He leaned against the counter, swirling the amber liquid in his glass, eyes fixed on nothing in particular. The party outside raged on, music pulsing, laughter filling the house, but for once, Gabriel wasn't in the mood for any of it.

He'd drifted around, tried talking to a few people and even a few girls who seemed interested, but no one had caught his attention. His usual energy was running low. Maybe tonight's just not it.

Gabriel set his glass down with a soft thud, exhaling as he ran a hand through his tousled black hair. He caught a glance at the clock above the stove. Still early. Just then, he noticed a familiar figure approaching, and he grinned when he recognized them.

"Oh, fancy seeing you here in my fine kitchen," Gabriel spoke, taking in their appearance. Definitely a handsome guy. There were a few girls on campus who'd mentioned him, and Gabriel could kind of see why.

Actually, he could definitely see why. Gabriel wouldn't mind tapping that ass if they let hi-

Wait. What?

Gabriel stared at the floor, eyes wide while he slowly processed what he'd just thought. Well, it isn't a lie. Wait, no! Gabriel went into instant panic, wondering if he was going crazy from the lack of female attention or something. He forced himself to calm down, gaze flickering back up. "So... how's the party going?"