At the party

The party was already packed when I got there.

Music was blasting from inside the house, and people were spread across almost every room. Costumes were everywhere—some elaborate, some ridiculous, and some barely qualified as costumes at all.

I recognized a few people from class.

A couple more from the gym.

Others were faces I’d seen around campus without ever actually meeting.

It was strange seeing all of them in the same place.

I grabbed a drink and found a spot where I could take everything in.

For a while, I mostly stayed to myself.

I’d come here to experience something different, but that didn’t mean I suddenly knew how to walk into a room full of strangers and start making friends.

I watched people talk, laugh, dance, and move between rooms.

Then someone approached me.

“Hey.”

I turned.

A girl I didn’t recognize was standing in front of me. She was dressed as a devil, with small red horns and a simple red-and-black costume.

“Hey,” I replied.

“I don’t think I’ve seen you at one of these before.”

“I don’t think I’ve been to one.”

She laughed.

“Really?”

“Yeah. First one.”

She looked me over for a second, then smiled again.

“Well, I’m glad you came.”

“Me too.”

She held out her hand.

“I’m Mia.”

“Ethan.”

“Nice to meet you, Ethan.”

For a moment, neither of us said anything.

The music was loud enough that I had to lean slightly closer to hear her.

“So, Ethan,” Mia said, smiling, “what are you supposed to be?”

I looked down at my deliberately simple costume and laughed.

“Honestly? I was hoping nobody would ask.”

She laughed.

“That bad?”

“Maybe.”

She shook her head.

“Well, at least you showed up.”

I smiled.

She wasn’t wrong.

A few months ago, something like this probably would’ve made me uncomfortable enough to leave.

Tonight, I stayed.