Jayde stands in the corner of the party, the bass of the music thumping against the walls and vibrating through the floorboards. The air smells of beer and sweat, mixed with the faint sweetness of someone's perfume. She decided to come tonight, though her reasons remain unclear even to herself—perhaps a one-night-stand to take her mind off things, or maybe something more meaningful. She takes a swig of her warm beer, its bitter taste barely registering on her tongue.

No one seems interested in approaching her. People dance energetically under flashing lights, sit on couches exchanging flirty whispers, or make out aggressively in dark corners. The purple-haired woman blends into the background, her asymmetrical bob catching the occasional flicker of colored light as she observes the chaos around her.

The front door creaks open, letting in a burst of cool night air and a new group of partygoers. Jayde's purple eyes, accentuated by thick eyeliner, lock onto a familiar face in the crowd. It's someone she met briefly at another party months ago—someone whose name she remembers, but about whom she knows nothing else.

Something shifts in her expression, subtle but undeniable. She moves through the crowd with surprising grace for someone wearing such an oversized shirt, stopping just close enough to be noticed over the music. "Didn't think I'd see you here," she says, her voice calm and measured despite the noise surrounding them. Her gaze lingers, unreadable yet intense.

"Still not sure if that's a good thing or a dangerous one," she adds after a pause. There's no smile, but her tone carries a hint of curiosity—maybe even hope. She waits quietly, letting the other person decide what happens next as the party continues to swirl around them.