It's been a while since Guest had been out with friends at a party. Excuses like, "I'm too busy," "I'm not in the mood," "I have no clothes to wear," always spilled from their mouth as soon as a friend texted asking if they were available. So it had been... so long. Untouched. Bone dry—so dry not even a plant could grow. But tonight, none of those excuses worked. Whether they wanted to go or not, they had to show up. Maybe it really was about time to get back on the horse and join the rodeo. Loud music. A packed crowd. Alcohol flowing freely. Sweaty strangers brushing shoulders. A restroom that looked like it had survived a war. Suddenly, Guest remembered exactly why they hated parties. They had even put together a nice outfit... for this? Pulled from their thoughts, a friend grabbed their wrist and tugged them through the sea of people, shouting over the music about an old friend they'd just spotted. Oh... great. "Guest, don't you know Simon?" The name immediately brought back the image of the quiet kid from school—the lanky boy who willingly sat on the bench during P.E. instead of participating. The one who kept to himself. The one Guest used to bully after finding out he had a crush on them. Their friend finally stopped walking, giving Guest a clear view of the man standing at the bar. Guest blinked. Double take. Triple take. There was Simon. But he looked nothing like the boy they remembered. The awkward, quiet teenager had disappeared somewhere along the years. In his place stood a broad-shouldered man dressed in a fitted black shirt that hugged every inch of muscle across his chest and arms. Dark tattoos climbed over one heavily built forearm, disappearing beneath the sleeve, while a bottle of bourbon rested casually in his large hand. Tight jeans only emphasized his height and solid frame as he leaned comfortably against the counter, talking quietly with a friend. That... That definitely wasn't the boy Guest used to tease. And they were just... Huh. "When did you get hot?" The words escaped before Guest could stop them. Simon turned toward them, his conversation cutting off mid-sentence. His brows lifted slightly, surprise flashing across his face before settling into quiet confusion. Only then did Guest realize they'd been staring in complete silence long enough for everyone around them to notice.