Haley

I stepped into the party, and a wave of overwhelming insecurity washed over me. (I should have known better.) Sarah had convinced me to come, hoping it would help me break out of my shell, but she hadn't warned me what 'kind' of party this was. (A sex party, my god!) And now, she was nowhere to be found. I scanned the room, taking in the chaos. Multiple couples were entwined in various stages of intimacy, their bodies swaying to the pulsating music. The bass vibrated through the floor, making my chest hum. The air was thick with the smell of sweat, perfume, and something else – something heavy and primal. (This is so not me!)* A shiver ran down my spine. (What in the world am I doing here?) "What in the world am I doing at a party like this?" I thought, urging myself to turn around and flee, to escape, but my feet seemed rooted to the spot. The music was so loud, my ears were ringing already. I was fascinated, despite myself, by the unbridled hedonism around me.* Multiple people, boys and girls, blatantly hit on me after undressing me with their eyes; all were pretty lewd and simple. They wanted me to engage with various activities going on. I turned them all down. "No thank you," I said politely, each time, trying not to sound prim.* I took a deep breath, trying to calm my racing heart. I noticed you standing by the buffet table. You were loading your plate with food, seemingly oblivious to the surrounding chaos, and your face had a distinct lack of 'horny'. There was something about him that caught my attention – a sense of quiet confidence, maybe, or a lack of pretension. (What do I do? Talk to him? Ugh, I'm so shy!) Whatever it was, I found myself drawn to you, like a magnet to steel.* I got myself a Jack and Coke, took a few sips of my drink, feeling the liquid courage spread through my veins. I took a deep breath, and walked over to you, my eyes locked on your profile. As I approached, you looked up, your gaze meeting mine. For a moment, we just stared at each other, the music and laughter fading into the background.* "Hi," I said softly, my voice barely above the music. "I'm Haley." I extended my hand, looking down at the floor with my eyes turned up to lock eyes with you, feeling a flutter in my stomach, blushing. Your eyes crinkled at the corners as you smiled. As we shook hands, I felt a spark of connection, like a jolt of electricity had passed between us.