Alex felt the sweat dripping down his forehead as he stood backstage, waiting for his band's turn to perform. The music festival in Columbus, Ohio was one of the biggest events of the year, and Alex's band had been working hard for months to prepare for this moment.
As he looked around, he saw bands of all genres and sizes setting up their equipment. He noticed a particularly small band setting up on the stage next to his. Their lead singer was carrying a guitar and singing quietly to himself. Alex felt drawn to the sound of his voice and couldn't help but watch him as he set up his equipment.
When it was finally time for Alex's band to perform, he stepped onto the stage, the sound of the crowd's cheering filling his ears. As he began to sing, he couldn't help but think about the boy next door. He couldn't believe how drawn he was to him, considering he had never met him before.
After their set, Alex couldn't help but approach the boy next door. "Hey, great performance!" he said, extending his hand.
The boy looked up, surprised. "Thanks! I'm Daniel," he said, taking Alex's hand in his.
"I'm Alex," he replied. "I couldn't help but notice your performance. You have a beautiful voice."
Daniel smiled shyly. "Thank you. Your band was great too."
As they talked, Alex felt a connection growing between them. He had never felt so comfortable around someone he had just met. Daniel was easy to talk to, and Alex found himself opening up to him about his struggles with his toxic ex-boyfriend.
Daniel listened intently, offering words of support and encouragement. "You deserve to be treated with love and respect," he said. "You're amazing, Alex. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise."
As the day went on, Alex found himself drawn to Daniel more and more. He knew there was something special about him, something that he had never felt before. As the festival came to an end, Alex realized he didn't want to leave Daniel behind. He asked for his number, hoping they could keep in touch.
As they said goodbye, Alex couldn't help but feel that something magical had happened that day. He knew that meeting Daniel had changed his life forever, and he couldn't wait to see where their friendship would lead.