Outside Nate’s house, Lou was nervously shaking, the early morning sun casting long shadows on the pavement. He hadn’t slept much last night and had a mix of excitement and anxiety that made him toss and turn all night long. The presence of his recently acquired talent for cringing has resulted in some interesting albeit embarrassing experiences and he wondered how the Power of Cringe would fare in social situations like a birthday party. He took one final deep breath before approaching the front door with a neatly wrapped gift in hand.

He raised his hand to knock at the door but before it came into contact with it, the door swung open revealing a surprised Nate who was still in pajamas carrying garbage bags. “Lou? What are you doing here so early?”

A shy grin spread over Lou’s face as he shrugged. “I couldn’t sleep much. Too excited, I guess. Thought I’d come over early and we could head to the party together. And what about you walking to the trash bin? Did you forget how to teleport?”

Nate looked both amused and concerned as his eyes widened. “Dude, you are more nervous about this party than a cat surrounded by rocking chairs would be. Come on in, let’s get you some breakfast. I'm gonna go shopping real quick and be back in seconds. I don’t want to teleport with garbage in my hand. Done that before, it all spilled on me.”

While Lou stepped inside, Nate went to the trash bin and disappeared. The familiar smell of Nate’s house—a combination of freshly brewed coffee and pancakes emerging from an oven—helped to steady his nerves somewhat. He went to the kitchen where Aunt Mary busily prepared a substantial breakfast.

“Good morning, Lou!” She greeted him warmly. “You’re up early. Would you like some pancakes?”

Lou nodded, gratefully accepting the plate she handed him. As he sat down, Nate materialized beside him with shopping bags full of groceries.

Lou said "Show-off" under his breath.

“So, what’s the plan, Captain Cringe?” Nate teased, his eyes sparkling with mischief. “Are you going to unleash your power at the party?”

Lou groaned, rolling his eyes. “I don’t know, Nate. I just want to enjoy the party without making a fool of myself. But knowing my luck...”

Nate laughed, patting Lou on the back. “Don’t worry, man. We’ll figure it out. That Roxy girl looks really cool. You don't have to ruin your chances with her. You can always gain some levels here and there.”

Lou chuckled, a hint of nervousness in his voice. "Yeah, she seems pretty awesome. Maybe I'll just try to be... normal for once."

After breakfast, the two cousins headed upstairs to get ready. Nate changed into a casual yet stylish outfit, trying to strike a balance between looking good and feeling comfortable. Contrary to how he usually dresses, Lou had taken extra care of himself for the party this time. He hadn't even put in this much effort for his own birthday party.

With a final look in the mirror, Lou took a deep breath. “Alright, let’s do this.”

Nate grinned, placing a hand on Lou’s shoulder. “Hang on tight, buddy.”

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Realizing Nate was about to teleport them, Lou dodged his hand. "No, not this time cuz. I'm so stressed, how about we walk there?"

Looking clearly disappointed, Nate asked, "Are you sure?" However, Lou was insistent on his decision.

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As they walked along the sunny street, Nate's face turned paler. He started to feel scared. His usual confidence turned into nervousness. His eyes kept looking around, expecting something bad to happen.

“You know,” he said quietly, almost whispering, “I’m really not sure this party thing was such a good idea.”

Lou shrugged. "What's wrong, Nate? Afraid of a little social interaction?"

Nate shot him a withering look. "It's not just the social interaction I'm worried about, Lou. There is also the gaze of all those people. We're walking into a den of strangers, who knows what kind of social horrors await us?"

Lou chuckled, nudging Nate playfully. "Come on, don't worry. It's just a birthday party. Everybody is going to mind their own business. Besides, haven't we faced worse? It can't be worse than our family gatherings.”

Nate shuddered and made a face. "Don't remind me. The awkward questions, hugs, and kisses by elderly people... it was always a nightmare."

"Exactly," Lou said, his smirk widening. "And we survived all that, didn't we? So what's a birthday party compared to that? Besides, think of it this way: maybe you'll meet someone cool today."

Nate sighed but cracked a smile. "Meh, that’s highly unlikely. But seriously, Lou, I'm not sure I'm cut out for this whole socializing thing. I'd rather teleport into a black hole than make small talk with strangers."

Lou clapped a reassuring hand on Nate's shoulder. "Relax, cuz. I can assure you that no one will notice you if you just be yourself."

Nate punched Lou's shoulder in a joking way. "Hey, is this supposed to make me feel any better? Anyway...In the worst possible scenario, I can just teleport miles away."

Lou smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. “Yeeeah, that’s the spirit.”

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The beat of the music and the gust of laughter that had accompanied Lou and Nate from across the lawn enveloped them as they reached the house. The volume increased exponentially with every step they took. Nate, already as white as a sheet, was now bordering on green around the gills. His eyes were wide, and he held his breath.

“Remind me again, why exactly we are doing this? Why did I come here again?” he shouted, or at least he attempted to, his voice getting lost in the crescendo. “I think your ‘Power of Cringe’ might be infectious.”

Lou chuckled, a wicked grin spreading across his face at the sight of his cousin’s discomfort. “Chill, Nate. What’s the worst that could happen?”

Both Nate’s arms went wide, his eyes bulging with the effort. “I-have-no-idea, but I am certain it involves some combination of public embarrassment and an ample supply of memories I will be mortified to recall at any point in my future.”

Lou chuckled and nudged Nate toward the well lit house. "Come on, let's get this over with."

They stood at the front door and an awkward silence stretched between them. The boys stared at the door, each willing the other to knock.

"Okay, who's knocking," Nate whispered. "I'm not ready for this level of human interaction."

Lou rolled his eyes, but a hint of amusement danced in his eyes. "Seriously, Nate? You can teleport across dimensions, but you're afraid to knock on a door?"

"I'm not scared of talking to people, Lou. I'm worried about the awkwardness. We're going into a place full of strangers. Who knows what will happen?"

Lou chuckled, nudging Nate towards the door. "Man, are you serious? You've made me talk to random girls at the mall! Just be yourself. And if things get too awkward, well, that's where I come in." He winked, flexing his cringe muscles.

Before Nate could object, a voice came from behind them. "Well, well, well, look who finally decided to arrive! I was starting to worry."

They looked back to find Roxy standing on the porch, a wide smile on her face. Her long, fiery red hair hung down to her shoulders. Her face glowed with excitement for them to be there. “Boo!” she yelled and flung her arms around his neck.

Lou stumbled backward, his face a bright crimson. He wasn't accustomed to such public displays of affection, especially not from someone as hip and together as Roxy.

Nate, however, remained frozen in his spot, his eyes bulging from their sockets. "Did she just call you 'Boo'?" he whispered, his voice a hoarse croak.

Lou shrugged, a goofy smile spreading across his face. "Yeah... and whose fault is that?" he muttered, his heart thumping in his chest.

Roxy released Lou from her embrace, her smile unwavering. Then she tried to shake Nate's hand "You must be Boo's cousin. I'm Roxy, it's nice meeting you!"

Nate shook Roxy's hand, attempting to camouflage his anxiety. "I'm Nate, it is also nice to meet you."

"Come on in you two," she said, taking their hands and pulling them through the door. "Sarah's been eager to meet you."