Outside to find Julia

Lukas finished off his drink, the warmth of the alcohol settling into his veins. As he set the empty cup aside, he reached into the fridge and grabbed a cold beer, cracking it open with a satisfying hiss. He took a sip, the coolness of the beer a welcome contrast to the heat of the party.

He glanced toward the living room where the music was thumping, but his thoughts drifted back to Julia. The last time he had seen her, she was stumbling out the front door, clearly needing some air. He figured it wouldn't hurt to check on her, just to make sure she was alright. With the beer in hand, he made his way through the kitchen, heading for the side door that led out to the porch.

The cold night air hit him as soon as he stepped outside, a refreshing change from the warmth inside. He could feel the beat of the music from behind him. The porch light cast a dim glow over the space, revealing Julia sitting on the steps, her back to him. She was hugging her knees, her head resting on them as if lost in her thoughts.

"Hey," Lukas called out softly, not wanting to startle her. Julia lifted her head, turning slightly to look at him. Her eyes were a little glassy, a clear sign that the drinks had hit her hard, but she gave him a wide smile.

"Heyyy, you," she said, her voice a loud but warm. "Needed a break from all that in there?"

"More like I was worried about you," Lukas replied, taking a few steps closer before sitting down beside her on the steps. "Saw you come out here earlier. Figured I'd check on you."

Julia let out a soft laugh, glancing down at her feet. "You're sweet," she muttered, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "I just needed some air, you know? It gets... intense in there sometimes."

"Yeah, I get that," he nodded, taking another sip of his beer. "Olivia does know how to throw a party, that's for sure."

Julia chuckled again, this time a bit more genuinely. "She definitely does." There was a brief silence, not awkward, but comfortable, like they were both just taking a moment to breathe.

Lukas glanced at her, noticing the slight shiver that ran through her frame.

"Here," he said, shrugging off his jacket and draping it over her shoulders. "You look like you could use this more than I do."

Julia looked at him, her eyes softening as she pulled the jacket around herself. "Thanks, Lukas," she said quietly.