The party was in full swing. The bass from the music vibrated through the walls, and the air was thick with the smell of alcohol and faint traces of marijuana. Olivia thrived in this kind of chaos, moving effortlessly through the crowd. Her fiery red hair and bold laughter caught everyone's attention, but she wasn't looking for admiration tonight—she was looking for something to distract her restless mind.
Alex, on the other hand, felt entirely out of place. He leaned against the counter near the drinks, nursing a soda instead of alcohol. He had seen his teammates indulge in every form of vice, but he always refrained. Not out of moral superiority, but because his discipline was his shield. Football demanded focus, and his family's future depended on his success.
Olivia spotted him from across the room. He was a mystery—a tall, striking man who somehow seemed disconnected from the environment around him. She decided to approach him, her curiosity outweighing the chaos of the party.
"Still standing by the drinks?" she teased, her voice carrying over the music as she leaned closer.
Alex looked at her, his blue eyes momentarily widening at her beauty. "Someone has to," he replied, his tone neutral but not unfriendly.
"Let me guess," Olivia said, smirking. "You're the designated responsible guy of the group. No drinking, no smoking, all about keeping things in check?"
"Something like that," he admitted, his lips curving into a small smile. "And you? Life of the party?"
She shrugged, sipping from a red cup. "Maybe. Or maybe I just like letting loose. You should try it sometime."
Alex tilted his head, studying her. "Does it work? Letting loose?"
"For me, it does," Olivia said, her eyes sparkling. "Sometimes you just need to forget everything. The expectations, the rules, the noise in your head."
Alex didn't respond immediately. He wasn't used to people like her—so free, so unapologetically alive. He envied that, in a way.
"Want to step outside?" Olivia asked suddenly. "It's loud in here."