Chapter 2: Saturday Night – The Party (Rick's POV)
The house was already buzzing when Rick stepped inside, the music thumping through every wall, making the floor vibrate beneath his feet. He paused just inside the doorway, taking in the crowded living room full of laughter, movement, and unfamiliar faces. Parties like this weren't exactly his comfort zone—the mix of loud music, overlapping conversations, and clinking glasses always left him feeling slightly out of place. But he'd come because Elias had insisted, and part of him didn't want to spend the evening alone, either.
Rick scanned the room, searching for something familiar, a tether to ground himself amidst the chaos. That's when he saw her. Ana was standing near the far wall, looking just as out of place as he felt, her gaze sweeping over the crowd with a thoughtful expression. She looked calm, yet detached, as if she was seeing things from a distance, which somehow made her presence even more intriguing.
Just as he took a step in her direction, he felt a hand clap on his shoulder. He turned to see Elias grinning at him, eyes twinkling with his usual mischievous energy.
"Whoa there, big brother," Elias teased, giving him a light nudge. "You're actually going to talk to her?"
Rick rolled his eyes, trying to brush off the flush creeping up his neck. "Why wouldn't I?"
Elias chuckled, crossing his arms. "I don't know, you just usually keep to the background at these things. But hey, maybe you do have it in you." He shot him a playful smirk. "Just remember, you've got to play it cool. Or, you know, as cool as you get."
Rick shook his head, feeling both exasperated and slightly amused. "Thanks for the advice, Elias. I think I'll manage."
Elias gave him a thumbs-up, his grin widening. "Go get 'em, tiger. Just… don't embarrass yourself."
With one last look of encouragement—and maybe a hint of teasing—Elias gave Rick a gentle shove in Ana's direction before disappearing back into the crowd, his laughter mingling with the party's din. Rick took a steadying breath, brushing off Elias's words and focusing on Ana. He felt a spark of confidence as he made his way over, hoping he could keep that calm as he approached her.
Rick took a deep breath, gathering his nerves as he approached Ana. She turned just as he came up beside her, a small smile crossing her lips when she recognized him.
"Hey, Rick," she greeted, her voice soft but warm.
"Hey, Ana," he replied, feeling his own smile form, a little more relaxed than he'd expected. "Not really your scene either, huh?"
She chuckled, glancing around at the bustling room. "Not exactly. I feel like I'm just… hovering in the corner, observing everything without actually being part of it."
"Yeah, I get that," Rick replied, his voice understanding. "It's like watching a movie where everyone else knows their lines, and you're just… waiting to figure out yours."
Ana laughed, nodding in agreement. "Exactly! Honestly, I came with some friends, but I think they've all disappeared into the crowd." She tilted her head towards the door that led to the backyard. "Do you, uh, want to get some fresh air? It's a little overwhelming in here."
Rick felt a surge of relief. "I was just about to suggest the same thing. Let's go."
They navigated through the crowd together, slipping out through the back door and onto the deck.
The cool air was a welcome contrast to the crowded, warm house. Outside, the night was calm, and the stars were scattered across the sky, their light faint but steady, adding a gentle glow to the backyard. Rick leaned against the railing, his gaze sweeping over the quiet scene before glancing back at Ana. Out here, away from the music and the crowd, he felt like he could finally breathe.
They slipped through the door and onto the deck, the cool air a welcome contrast to the crowded, warm house. Outside, the night was calm, and the stars were scattered across the sky, their light faint but steady, adding a gentle glow to the backyard. Rick leaned against the railing, his gaze sweeping over the quiet scene before glancing back at Ana. Out here, away from the music and the crowd, he felt like he could finally breathe.
Ana took a deep breath, tilting her head back to look at the stars. "It's so much better out here," she said softly, her voice almost lost in the quiet hum of the distant party.
Rick nodded, sharing her relief. "I was starting to think I was the only one who felt that way."
She smiled, her eyes still on the sky. "It's strange, isn't it? Everyone in there seems so... at ease with the noise and the people. But sometimes, I think I'd rather be anywhere else."
Rick chuckled, recognizing the same feeling. "I get it. Sometimes, it's like everyone's playing a part, and I can't quite figure out what mine's supposed to be."
Ana turned to him; her expression thoughtful. "Maybe that's because you don't need one," she said simply. "Maybe you're just... you."
The words caught him off guard, leaving him silent for a moment. It was such a simple observation, but it carried a weight he hadn't expected. Rick had always felt like he needed to be something more—to match Elias's confidence, or to fit into the social circles that came naturally to his family. But here, with Ana, he felt like he could just exist.
He glanced down, almost shy. "You make it sound so easy."
She shrugged, giving him a gentle smile. "Maybe it is. Or maybe we just overthink it."
They both laughed, a quiet, shared laugh that felt like it bridged the gap between them. As their laughter faded, they found themselves standing side by side, gazing out over the yard, comfortable in the silence they shared. It was the kind of silence that didn't feel empty; it felt meaningful, filled with a sense of mutual understanding.
"So," she said after a while, turning to him with a curious look. "What do you do when you're not... pretending to enjoy parties?"
Rick chuckled, scratching the back of his neck. "Well, I read a lot. Mostly history books. I guess I'm kind of a nerd like that. And music—I'll listen to just about anything."
"History and music," Ana mused, tilting her head thoughtfully. "You're full of surprises, aren't you?"
He shrugged, feeling a bit self-conscious but also strangely proud. "I guess. Most people just see me as the quiet twin."
Ana smiled, her gaze steady on him. "Maybe that's because they're not really looking."
There was a pause, a moment that stretched between them, thick with something unspoken. Rick felt his heart skip, a warmth settling over him as he met her eyes. In this brief exchange, he felt seen in a way he hadn't expected, like she understood something about him he couldn't quite put into words.
They talked for a while longer, letting the conversation flow from topic to topic. She told him about her love for photography, how she could lose hours capturing little moments that no one else noticed. He shared his fascination with stories from the past, how he loved the way history seemed to connect everything, even the smallest details. It was effortless, each word pulling him further into a sense of ease he rarely felt around new people.
After a while, Ana looked up at the sky, her gaze distant. "Do you ever think about how big the world is? All the places we haven't seen, all the things we haven't done yet..."
Rick looked at her, feeling the weight of her words settle around them. "Yeah," he replied quietly. "Sometimes I think that's what scares me—and what excites me too."
She turned to him, her eyes meeting his with an intensity that made his heart skip. "I like that. It's... honest."
For a second, he felt like time had stopped, that the rest of the world had faded away and it was just them, standing together under the stars. Here was someone who understood him, who seemed to see things the way he did. He didn't need to explain himself or pretend. He could just... be.
Inside, the faint sound of laughter and music drifted through the open door, and he thought he heard Elias's voice, loud and carefree. Rick glanced back, catching a glimpse of his brother surrounded by friends, his energy filling the room with ease. For a moment, he felt a pang of admiration, maybe even envy. Elias moved through life so effortlessly, while he was here, caught up in questions he didn't even fully understand.
But then he looked back at Ana, and the feeling faded. He realized that maybe he didn't need to have everything figured out, not tonight. This connection, this quiet understanding they shared—it was enough.
They stood in silence for a while longer, the sounds of the party drifting away as they sank into the night. In the stillness, Rick felt a sense of peace he hadn't expected, a clarity about what he wanted, not just from tonight, but from life. He didn't need the noise or the thrill. He needed connection, the kind that grew in small, quiet moments.
As they leaned against the railing, watching the stars, he knew one thing for certain: he was exactly where he was meant to be.