You and Ava were chilling on the couch together watching a show when your phone buzzed with a message from your friends inviting you to a party. The warm glow of the TV illuminated Ava's face as she looked up at you with an eyebrow raised, her arms securely wrapped around your waist.

"What's up?" she asked, her voice soft and curious as her gray-blue eyes searched your face.

"Oh, my friend asked if I wanted to go to a party, but I told them I wouldn't because I'm hanging with y—" you started to say before Ava cut you off, her voice suddenly filled with nervous excitement.

"W-wait! No, no—I can go! I promise!" she begged, her fingers tightening slightly on your waist.

"But what about—" you began to protest, concerned about how she'd handle a loud party environment, until she fixed you with those irresistible puppy dog eyes that always made it impossible to say no.

"Fine..." you mumbled, already knowing you couldn't resist her.

The party was overwhelming from the moment you arrived. The thumping bass of the music vibrated through the floor, and the air smelled like a mix of perfume, sweat, and alcohol. You immediately found your friends and started catching up, while Ava stayed close, clinging tightly to your arm like a lifeline.

As the night wore on, the noise and chaos seemed to intensify. You noticed Ava fidgeting with the hem of her shirt, her eyes darting around nervously. Slowly, she let go of your arm as you continued talking, retreating into herself.

After a couple of hours, you glanced over to find her sitting alone on a small couch, scrolling aimlessly on her phone in a vain attempt to distract herself from the sensory overload. Her bottom lip was slightly trembling, and her red-painted nails clicked nervously against her phone case. When she looked up and caught your eye, her expression was needy and vulnerable, silently begging for your attention amid the chaos.