I was on my back, staring at the stars.

I wondered if somewhere out in the darkness above me, there was another planet. It'd be just like ours, with oceans and forests and deserts. And there'd be another teenage boy that'd just graduated high school. At a party. And as of that moment, he was free. He could do whatever he wanted. But his mind was stuck on this one thing.

This one boy.

I felt my head spin as it often did when I thought about space. I closed my eyes, trying to push the thoughts of the empty unknown out of my mind.

This only amplified my thoughts of Rowan. There was a mystery there, and my gut was telling me to leave it be, but my heart ached to find out what was hidden behind his cryptic guise.

"Evan!" My stomach lurched as someone jumped on the trampoline I was laying on. I sat up straight and looked around. I was dizzy but through blurred vision, I made out Madison and Alex. Madison gave me a mischievous smile.

"How high are you? I got that weed from Portland, it's strong." I made eye contact with her for a minute doing my best to feign concern, before I lost my composure and burst out laughing.

"I'm guessing he's pretty high." Alex jabbed in with a fat smirk on his face. I wildly kicked at his legs and he lost balance, falling back on the trampoline. I rushed to my feet to start jumping before he could get back up, but Madison leapt on my back and took me down with him.

"Judas!" I hissed at her, she was out of breath laughing. I lay back down and gave up while they taunted me.

"Guys!" Lucy stepped up to the trampoline with her hands on her hips, appearing out of nowhere. I blinked at her. She stayed silent for a few seconds before breaking out a large grin. "Last one standing gets to pick which club we go to!" She started jumping. Madison and Alex scrambled to their feet and joined.

"Don't you mean last one jumping?" I asked, struggling to get up. I was still dizzy.

Lucy jumped closer to me and sent me sprawling back to where I was before.

"Oops!"

I sent her a glare and lay back down, accepting defeat. A few minutes later, Lucy stood victorious over the rest of us and we reluctantly got off of the trampoline.

"So what'll it be?" Alex asked. Lucy grinned.

"The Max." Alex groaned and Madison giggled. I shrugged. I'd never heard of it.

"No Evan trust me, you don't wanna—"

"—Excuse me Alex, but he can decide for himself. Anyway I won, so I say we're going." Lucy snipped at him, whipping her phone out. He rolled his eyes.

We started making our way through the crowds of people saying our goodbyes, some of Lucy's friends telling her they'd join us at the club later. Someone handed me a drink on my way out and I took it. It was punch.

This is my last drink at a high school party.

It was a bittersweet moment. Not that thought alone, but the realization that my life was about to completely change forever.

We made it out of the house and back into the cool air.

Lucy had ordered us an Uber and soon we saw a grey Prius pulling up on the street. I piled in the back with Lucy and Madison while Alex reluctantly sat in the passenger seat.

"You're headed to..." the driver paused while his directions loaded. His tone became stiff, "The Max?"

"That's right." Lucy said cheerfully. I saw him shake his head slightly as he pulled away and I gave Lucy a questioning look. She shrugged but failed to hide the glimmer of amusement in her eyes. I turned to look at Madison but her face was planted in her phone.

I let it go and put my head back against the headrest and closed my eyes. I was buzzed, but not drunk.

I found my thoughts drifting back to him.

'You've got a nice smile...' I tried to stop the corners of my mouth from lifting at the memory from just hours prior. Rowan Williams not only knew of my existence, but remembered me...

It was a new feeling for me. A strange one.

Snap out of it. It was just a few words.

The car came to an abrupt halt.

"We're here." The driver said coldly. We got out and Lucy thanked him despite his rudeness. He sped away.

"What was his deal?" I asked, looking around my surroundings. The club was directly to our right— it was a long, boxy building painted all in black, with bass blasting from the inside and neon lighting flashing different colors.

"He was weird," Lucy said while Madison hid a smile. "Let's go in!" Alex let out a groan but reluctantly followed.

"You're paying my cover charge Lucy, and Evan and I are leaving in twenty minutes to four-one-five." It was a bar a few blocks from where we were.

"Shut up, and I'll get your cover." We walked to the bouncer and handed him our fake IDs that said we were all from Colorado. He barely glanced at them before handing them back and stamping our hands, giving Alex and I a lingering look as we walked in. I glanced at Alex, he was staying very close to Madison.

Neon lights consumed us. I followed Lucy to a table next to the bar and sat down, taking in my surroundings.

The dance floor was massive and flooded with people. There was an outdoor patio that was also lit up and crowded. There were two bars within my sight and I could see a distant room with pool tables and another dance floor. We sat down, Lucy and Madison looking ecstatic while Alex seemed uncomfortable.

"I'm gonna get a drink. Anyone else?" I asked. Alex shook his head,

"I'll wait until four-one-five."

"I'll get one in a minute, I'm gonna hit the bathroom first," Madison said. Lucy followed her and I made my way to the bar, leaving a pouty Alex to save our table.

I glanced at their happy hour menu before the bartender came. He wore a baggy tank top with rips along the sides that I assumed were intentional. All of his visible skin was covered in a shiny layer of sweat and he had a black nose piercing. We made eye contact and he gave me a sly grin.

"What can I get ya?" He asked, provocatively looking me up and down. I fidgeted uncomfortably.

"I, uh— just a Long Island Iced Tea, thanks." I replied, slightly flustered at his forwardness. He winked at me and started making the drink. My eyes wandered upwards and something caught my eye.

Oh.

It was a pride flag hanging above the bar.

Right.

I quickly pulled out my wallet and handed the bartender a twenty. He shook his head.

"This ones on me hun." He slid over the drink. I smiled at him nervously,

"Thanks," I handed him a five for tip. He winked again. My face was getting hotter and hotter as I walked back to our table.

"So this is a gay club right? That's why they were acting weird." I said to Alex, he looked at me and nodded glumly. I returned his nod and sipped my drink.

The more I looked around, the more I saw it. There were about seventy percent men and thirty percent women in the club. There were gay couples dancing everywhere and male dancers on the stage. I wasn't sure why it took me so long to realize.

Lucy and Madison came back.

"You guys tricked me!" I whisper-shouted at them. Lucy rolled her eyes.

"Puh-lease, I told you exactly where we were going, it's not my fault you didn't know! Besides, who knows, maybe you two could meet someone?" She said jokingly, looking between me and Alex.

"Oh shut up Lucy," Alex said, both her and Madison were laughing at us.

Alex was definitely straight. And I, well... was pretty sure I was straight too. As of a few hours earlier there was... uncertainty when it came down to a certain someone. I convinced myself it was my drunk self thinking and brushed the thoughts aside.

"Sorry boys, it's hard to find a place to go without creeps hitting on you all the time." Lucy retorted. She was clearly very proud of herself for tricking me.

"We just wanna dance in peace!" Madison added on and grabbed Alex's hand, dragging him to the dance floor.

"Come on, Evan." Lucy pulled me to the dance floor with her and led me deep into the crowd. There was electronic music playing, bodies were everywhere surrounding me, dancing. Lucy was holding my hands and was dancing freely.

It was crowded. Even more so the longer I was there. I was beginning to feel claustrophobic and my body temperature was rising.

My head was starting to hurt. I stayed with Lucy for a few minutes before telling her I needed water. She stuck with Madison and Alex after I assured her I'd be back in a few minutes.

I pushed my way through the crowd. The music was blaring and every beat resulted in a painful throb in my head.

I finally found my way to the bar, but there was a large crowd of people waiting for the bartender's attention. I was getting lightheaded. I needed fresh air.

You're gonna faint.

My eyes spotted the exit and I quickly walked in that direction. Someone grabbed my wrist and I spun around. A guy a few years older than me with blonde hair was asking me something. He looked concerned. My vision started to blur.

"I just need some air," I mumbled and walked away from him. He said something else but I was too far, and it was too loud to hear him. I finally arrived at the entrance and made it outside.

Fresh air showered my face and I took a deep breath and the throbbing reduced by a bit. My eyes were closed and I stayed that way, letting my mind clear for a few minutes before I opened them again.

I needed water but I didn't want to go back to stand in the crowd and wait. I looked through my maps and saw a sushi place nearby.

They'll have water.

I sent a quick text to Lucy, Alex and Madison through our group chat letting them know I'd be back soon. It was just a few minutes walk away.

The further I got from the club, the quieter it got. I crossed my arms as the cold air blew against my exposed skin. Occasionally, I thought I heard footsteps behind me sending chills through my body, but every time I turned there was nobody there. I pulled out my phone and studied the directions. Holding it gave me a small sense of comfort and warmth. A minute passed and the silence was getting uncomfortable.

I heard a voice behind me and whipped around, jumping back. There was a thirty-something year old man watching me. His face was blotched red, as if out of drunken anger. I let out a nervous laugh,

"You scared me, sorry." I said, backing away from him with a small smile.

"Good." I blinked at him, momentarily lost for words. He was walking towards me at the same pace as I was walking back.

"Sorry, what?" I replied, hating that my voice had a slight quiver. The pain in my head was coming back as I got more nervous.

"I said, good." He said, coldly.

"Uh, sorry, I think you're confusing me with someone else..." He gave me a dark grin. I saw another man come out from the shadows over his shoulder.

"No," He countered. I didn't respond and quickened my pace. He continued. "You're a fag right?" My mouth opened, but nothing came out.

"You just left the gay club." I let out an uneasy laugh.

"Oh, yeah I didn't know it was—" wham. His fist connected with my left cheekbone and I stumbled backwards, my hands flying out in front of me to regain my balance.

"I don't know why gay boys wanna come out in these parts so often," the second voice said ominously. "As if we haven't been makin' ourselves clear."

I felt my heart beating quickly and I thought I heard more footsteps behind me. The second man raised his fist and swung it at me. I took a step back but his ring still caught my skin, gashing the area where I'd just been hit. I lost balance again and stumbled backwards into the chest of a third man, who caught me. My stomach dropped.

Of course...

...But the hands that caught me were gentle. The faces in front of me fell. The one who caught me took a step forward, letting me go. My heart jumped as I recognized him...

The second man turned and ran while the first one stumbled backwards, as I had done moments before.

"Now, I don't want any trouble with you," my attacker said to him,

"—Oh really?" Rowan responded. Before the man could say anything else, he swung his fist and the man dropped down, unconscious. The second one had already disappeared.

Rowan turned back to me. My legs felt like jelly and I stumbled against the wall and leaned back on it, catching my breath. He came closer to me and I could feel my heartbeat quicken. Letting out a shaky breath, I laughed softly,

"I see why they call you a local hero."

I internally kicked myself for thinking of the stupidest possible thing to say in that situation and looked at the ground. Luckily, he didn't acknowledge that I'd spoken.

I felt soft fingers graze the bottom of my chin and gently tilt my face up. His touch tingled through my skin and I mentally shook it off. I could feel my face reddening as our last interaction came to mind. I looked up at him.

"Does it hurt?" He asked me quietly, his other hand was on my right temple. My hand grabbed his wrist instinctively but he didn't move. He moved my head slightly to look at my cheek in the light.

"Uh, not really," I lied. He frowned and examined it for a bit longer before he let go. His hand found my shoulder.

"Let me clean that up a bit," he said, and nudged me to start walking with him.

"O-okay, where to?" I asked, hoping he wouldn't read my surprise.

"Just follow me."