It was Jason’s twenty-second birthday, and he had promised himself that this night would be legendary. He wanted something people wouldn’t forget—something that would leave his name echoing around campus long after the music stopped. So, he invited everyone. Literally. His closest friends, classmates, the people he bumped into at parties, and even those he didn’t know that well but thought would bring energy to the night. The result? His house was packed, overflowing with students from his college and their plus-ones, a sea of faces lit up by strobe lights and neon glow sticks. Two hundred people? Maybe more. Hard to count when every room pulsed with life.

The place was chaos in the best possible way. The living room throbbed with bass from the speakers as bodies pressed together on the dance floor under colorful lights. The kitchen smelled of spilled beer and tequila, with red solo cups stacked high and people yelling over each other to be heard. The backyard, though—that was where the real madness was happening.

Past 11 p.m., the pool had turned into the crown jewel of the night. Girls splashed in the water, some without tops, their laughter ringing out every time someone cannonballed into the deep end. Guys had long since abandoned any sense of modesty, some diving in fully naked, others standing at the edge shouting drunken encouragement. Weed smoke lingered in the air, mixing with the sharp smell of chlorine and the sweet tang of cheap beer. A few students were sprawled on the grass, stoned and giggling at nothing, while another group lined up by the poolside, leaning down to sniff lines like it was the most natural thing in the world.

Jason stood at the center of it all, watching the chaos unfold with a wide grin. This—this was exactly the kind of night he’d envisioned. A blur of music, laughter, and bodies, with no rules and no limits. And yet, even as the party roared around him, a strange thought crossed his mind: something was missing.

When Jason saw him, he didn’t know much about him—didn’t even know if they had ever spoken before—but there was something about the way he stood out from the chaos. Not trying to dominate the space, not drunk off his ass like half the people here. Just... there. Watching. A drink in his hand, a faint curve of amusement on his lips, and eyes that lingered on Jason a little longer than anyone else’s.

Their eyes locked for just a second. Just long enough for Jason to feel that flicker in his chest, the spark that the party itself hadn’t quite managed to ignite. Before he could approach, friends pulled him toward the pool. "C’mon, bro, we’re jumping in!"

Jason let out a laugh and ran with them, throwing himself into the water with a powerful dive. The pool erupted in cheers as the splash soaked everyone nearby. When he came back up, he slicked his wet hair back, water streaming down his face, and found the guy still watching him. Still smiling. Still sipping that drink with an ease that drove Jason’s curiosity wild.

Without hesitation, Jason swam to the opposite side, gripped the marble edge, and pushed himself up. Water cascaded off his tall frame, his shirt hanging half-open to reveal toned abs. Drops of water ran down his chest, catching the glow of the pool lights. Placing his bare feet on the wet grass, Jason walked toward the guy with deliberate, confident strides. Water still dripped from his hair and jawline as he approached.

"Hey," Jason said, voice smooth and low, leaning in slightly with green eyes glinting. "What’s up?"