He was dead set on leaving the party immediately. He only wished he didn't come at all, maybe he would have saved himself from this embarrassment."God I'm so stupid".

Of course she has a boyfriend. She's hot and who else would be a perfect match for her than the most popular guy in school. He just wanted go home and escape from all this .

At least he hadn't taken any alcohol so getting back home should be easy. He checked his phone. "It's already past ten". He sighed.

He knew his sister wouldn't be able to cover for him anymore and it was only a matter of time till his mom starts freaking out and calls each of his friends parent, that would be so embarrassing if people were to find out that he still abide to his mom's curfew.

Just as he was about to make his desperate retreat, he heard a familiar voice calling out behind him, he turned around to see Ceaser's familiar face in the crowd.

His friend's eyes bore a mix of concern and understanding, as if he could sense the turmoil raging within. With a gentle touch on his shoulder, his best friend steered him away from the exit, urging him to reconsider his decision.

"Dude I haven't seen you since , I have been looking for you everywhere. Did something happen?"Ceaser asked.

Noah could see the unwavering support and compassion reflected in his friend's gaze.

Reluctantly, "I'm just tired, that's it, and I really wanna go home and rest up".

Ceaser smirked while nudging his arm playfully "Are you annoyed that you couldn't talk to May. I don't blame you though, I forgot to tell you she has a boyfriend."

Noah stayed quiet, only if his best friend knew what had transpired moments ago. He glanced subtly at the corner and he could visibly see Raphael and May making out like they was no one here but them.

Noah felt his stomach tighten with anger , and he slowly cursed beneath his breath.

"Don't worry dude , you still have your best friend by your side, who needs a girl when you got bros, am I right?" He winked at Noah who couldn't help but smile a little.

Ceaser was a good guy and was only looking out for his friend, making sure he would have a great time .

At last listened to his best friend's persuasive words, reminding him of the importance of embracing the present, even in the face of embarrassment.

Summoning every ounce of courage, Noah took a deep breath and followed his best friend back into the heart of the party.

As he reentered the lively atmosphere, he was astonished to discover that his friends had rallied around him, not exactly his friends to say but friends of Ceaser, but hey, they were nice to him too so he didn't really mind.

They enveloped him in a warm embrace, some greeting Noah which made him feel slightly better and welcomed, their laughter and camaraderie acting as a shield against the embarrassment that had threatened to consume him.

Together, they embarked on a journey of revelry and merriment, weaving through the crowd, dancing, and sharing stories that brought tears of laughter to their eyes.

Noah , urged by everyone was forced to chug down a lot of alcohol, they cheered anytime he finished a glass. They knew he wasn't used to any of this so this a fresh sight to them.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

In the company of his best friend and their mutual friends, not sure if it was genuine feeling or because of the the amount of drinks he had, but Noah felt a sense of belonging and acceptance that he had yearned for throughout the night.

The initial embarrassment that had plagued him seemed to lose its power in the face of their unwavering night of fun.

As the night wore on, Noah was getting more and more under the influence , with his vision blurry not able to differentiate the facial features of the people around him.

He was going to hate himself in the morning. Little by little all the people who were having fun with Noah began to leave, each heading back to their various homes. Noah was left at the table with only Ceaser who was not as wasted as Noah , but he was still tipsy all the same.

Noah laid his head in the table in state of complete and utter intoxication, with Ceaser equally lost in the haze of the night, next to him slightly sipping his drink.

Through the smoky haze and pulsating beats, someone walked up to their table and sat down opposite them.

Noah grunted while raising his head to see who it was, but upon squinting his eyes to make out who it was , he saw it was none other than May,the one who had always held a special place in his thoughts, sitting opposite him with a warm smile. It was a surprising moment of clarity amidst the dizzying festivities, as their eyes locked and a connection sparked between them.

With genuine sincerity, "Noah, I'm so sorry for how my boyfriend treated you, he can sometimes be a jerk but don't let it get to you".

Noah with only a bit of reasoning left nodded his head before laying his head back on the table.

"I know I should have told you but I was having such a good time that it escaped my mind". She continued, touching his arm gently.

Recognizing the importance of this moment, she kindly requested from Ceaser that they be granted a moment of privacy to talk.

Her words hung in the air, filled with a mix of vulnerability and curiosity. Ceaser, witnessing the significance of the situation, hesitantly agreed to give them the space they needed.

He knew how much Noah would have wanted this but he couldn't help but feel slightly worried about his friend considering the state he was in, he could say something stupid and he would have no idea.

With a nod and a bittersweet smile, he left them behind.

As Ceaser friend retreated into the background, Noah and his crush found themselves alone, surrounded by the slowly declining energy of the party but in a world of their own.

Time seemed to stand still, Noah couldn't utter a word of reason as the alcohol only made him spurt out nonsense.

In that fleeting moment, Noah realized that despite what happened earlier this night, he still couldn't bring himself to be angry with her.

His heart raced with anticipation and a sense of wonder, as he allowed himself to be vulnerable in the presence of someone who truly saw him for who he was

The party continued around them, " I always wanted to know, how long have you had a crush on me?". She asked with a bit of curiosity in her eyes.

Noah smiled, if only she knew how crazy in love he was with her.

As the night wore on, Noah and his crush forged a bond that went beyond the confines of the party. They discovered a shared understanding and a connection that was undeniable. It was a night of revelations and possibilities, where the intoxication of the moment transcended the haze of alcohol.

But something strange happened that made Noah stare at her. He heard those words clearly but he never expected it from her.

"Do you trust me?".She asked not averting her gaze .

He was lost of words, he heard those words clearly, but he wasn't sure why but he knew how much she meant to him , of course he trust her.

"I know you don't really know me , aside from watching me from afar and we have never really had any conversation besides now but I just want you to be completely honest with me. Do...... you.....trust me?".

He nodded, which she smiled. She leaned back and smiled, "I know you're wondering why I asked that question?".

Yes he was, it was obvious, the question really didn't concern their conversation so he couldn't help but wonder why she asked that question.

His eyes widened in realization as he thought to himself. What if she felt the same way and she was trying to confess but she didn't know how to. But she has a boyfriend, there was no way she could tell him even if she did have feelings for him.

She continued "It's just no one has never really understood me like you do, I honestly wished we could have much time to talk".

Why was she talking like she was going to leave town and never come back.

"When my brother died, it threw my family in a utter confusion and it made my mom almost killed herself. But somehow we managed to pull through but, sometimes when I remember him I can't help but cry inside. I know this isn't really important to you and you'll probably be thinking, why is she even telling me this?"

Noah indeed wondered why she was opening up to him and it really caught him off guard but he wasn't uncomfortable with it. It was just unexpected. He had no idea she had gone through something this painful, she always looked perfect to him and she always seemed out of reach but tonight, he felt like he was getting closer to her than he could ever imagine.

"I wouldn't tell you all this if I didn't trust you, you remind me so much of my brother".

He could see a tear already forming at the side of her right eye. He felt heartbroken, so she only saw him as a brother, there was no way she could fall for him now ,seeing this was how she really felt about him.

She noticed his sudden change in his facial expressions, there was a sudden silence as neither of them said anything anymore.

Noah took out his phone and looked at the time. Only few minutes to midnight. Mom was going to kill him when he got back.

He turned his head around, his gaze searching for Ceaser so they could start heading home.

Without warning, May leaned in and kisses Noah softly on the lips, "I trust you Noah, I hope we talk more". She said before standing up to leave.

Noah stared into space, lost of words and reasoning. "What just happened ?" He thought.

Just as she was about to leave , he banged his hand on the table making May look back

"May!....". He was panting now , this was going to take every bit of courage for him to say it but he wanted to know she can count in him if she needed anything.

"I trust you May!".

She smiled and waved him goodbye before stepping out of the party.

Then Noah heard Ceaser usual teasing tone behi

nd him.

He saw everything that had just happened

"What was that about?". Looking at Noah with a sly grin.