Slow It Down

Part 2 •REWRITTEN•

The house is lit up, music pouring from inside, and even from here, I can see students spilling out onto the front lawn, drinking and laughing. Some are stumbling over themselves, clearly way too intoxicated.

Hearing the music thumping from inside, and seeing people stumbling out onto the lawn, and different colored lights glowing through the windows makes something inside of me whisper— Maybe I can try. Maybe tonight can be different.

Maybe I can be different.

Kayce stands to my left, and Natalie to my right. We're observing the scene, both of their faces etched with eagerness while I'm sure mine is of fear. Kayce stretches his arms over his head for a brief moment, glancing back at us.

"I'm heading in. Meet at the car by midnight."

Natalie scoffs. "You're acting like you're our dad."

Kayce smirks. "Well, if you want to call me Daddy—"

"Shut up," we say in unison. Natalie groans in annoyance, but my voice is full of disgust.

Kayce laughs and heads toward the house, already slipping into his usual social persona as some of his teammates greet him outside. Natalie nudges me with her elbow, winking. "Ready?"

I hesitate for half a second before sighing. "Let's just get this over with."

She loops her arm through mine, practically dragging me toward the house.

The moment we step inside, the energy of the party hits me all at once.

The air is thick with heat, alcohol, and sweat, and the music is loud. Not just normal party loud—but feel it in your chest, make your ears ring, and shake the floorboards loud.

Kayce walks in first, shouldering past people effortlessly like he belongs here—because, well, he does. The moment he steps inside, a few more guys from the football team call out his name, lifting their drinks in greeting. He grins and nods back, slipping easily into conversation, already blending in like he owns the place.

The bass thumps beneath my feet as we step inside, the crowded house already filled with dozens of students. People crowd the living room, half-drunk and swaying to the beat, others standing in groups, talking over the noise. A few guys pass by us, drinks in hand, laughing loudly at something I don't catch.

This is exactly what I expected.

And exactly why I didn't want to come.

Natalie grabs my hand, practically dragging me forward as we maneuver through the chaos.

"See?" she says over the music, flashing me a knowing grin. "Not so bad, right?"

I force a tight lipped smile and nod my head, not convinced.

This party is way bigger than I thought it would be. I expected some cramped living room, a handful of players drinking and playing beer pong. But this?

This is like something out of a movie.

A group of guys are already shotgunning beers in the corner, a cluster of girls are laughing by the kitchen, and people I don't recognize are sprawled across the furniture like they live here. The air is thick with humidity, and the longer I stand here, the more I feel like I shouldn't be.

"Come on," Natalie says, tugging my wrist. "Let's get a drink."

I hesitate, scanning the crowd, suddenly very aware that I don't know anybody here. Kayce is off with his teammates. Natalie is bouncing with excitement beside me. And me?

I feel out of place, that familiar feeling being something I don't want to have anymore. Like I don't belong. Like this is the exact place where people like me get noticed for the wrong reasons.