#&interactions.

    Theo walked around the party, hands in his pocket with his camera hanging around his neck. He wasn’t much of a party guy, but he was asked by the local news paper if he could take some pictures of the lovers bash for an article tomorrow. it always surprised him how quickly they could develop the photos, but that’s technology for you. He smiled at the scene happening around him, trying to stay out of everyone’s way while he took random snapshots here and there. Suddenly, as he was walking to the bathroom for a little pick me up, he saw a moment that would be perfect to take a picture. So he raised his camera to his face, looking through the viewfinder and clicked on the shutter button to take a picture. At that exact moment, someone stepped into the frame and as a result ended up also in the shot, “oh, um, s-sorry about that, i-it seems I got you in the shot.” He said a little nervously, hoping he hadn’t unintentionally upset the other,  pulling the picture up and showing them, “I can delete it if you want.”

   liam arrived at the lover's bash with little, no exceptions of knowing anyone there. even though he had been living in town for about two years, he really didn't go out as often he probably should. he usually spent his nights wrapped up in blankets, binge-watching something on netflix. by now, he had been roaming the diamond lounge for a little over an hour, on his second official drink, and plenty of shots in to keep him cozy. as he was trying to maneuver through the crowd of dancing people, someone ended up pulling him in, and soon he found himself lost in the sea of people. laughter and chatter filled the air around him, and it was only when he turned to look beyond the bobbing bodies that he noticed the sight of a familiar face. an instant grin appears on his lips as he sees stefan wasting no time in dancing his way out of the crowd; suddenly, the night seems to brighten up a bit more. even if the two weren't exactly friends, more like acquaintances, with a face like stefan's, it was hard not to be excited every time they ran into each other. "stefan, am i right?" he offers a friendly, bright smile, coming up next to the other. "fancy running into you here. i gotta admit, i think you just managed to make my night a whole lot better. how’s are you? still looking as amazing as always, i see."

   kylan had come out to the bash to have meaningless conversations with people and meet people he probably would never speak to again. if he weren’t such a sucker for a good time, he would’ve honestly been at home tonight, for once, smoking and catching up on some netflix. but here he was. and who knew how long he had been sitting at the bar for because honestly, he was so caught up in his own thoughts that he had kind of forgotten he was here. he was, after all, slightly under the influence already, thanks to the pre-gaming routine he usually did before going out anywhere. hen he finally did look to his side, ky noticed a familiar figure at the far end of the bar. ophelia. is chest tightened a little at the sight of his ex, his jawline tightening a bit, he couldn’t help but look at her for a little too long. as much as he hated to admit it, his heart still held a soft spot for her, he knew he would always hold a special place for ophelia. their breakup had always been something he knew was his fault. e just couldn’t commit the way she wanted, but not because he didn’t want to because he was terrified to get heartbroken all over again. the moment he saw things with ophelia could go in a good direction because she showed him a side of life he never knew; she showed him happiness again; kylan couldn’t bare the thought of it all falling apart once he got fully committed. o he did everything he could think of, besides cheat, to piss ophelia off until it finally came to the point that they were better off as friends. r as close to friends as the two could be, and even if he would never admit it out loud, he did regret the way things ended between them. tonight, however, he wanted to offer a peace offering. e turned to the bartender to order four shots, asking to deliver them to where ophelia was standing. then he made his way over to her, trying to ignore how his heart began to race a little more as he got closer to her. hey,” he casually greets, offering her a small, friendly smile, “i come in peace.   promise.” and just as if it were a cue, the small tray of shots is placed next to them, “see? ou look gorgeous, by the way, i hope you don’t mind me saying that.”

     kylan had already had a couple of shots, plus pre-gamed a bit, and a joint, so needless to say he was feeling good. whenever someone came along and asked if he wanted to dance ky didn’t hesitate to join them on the dance floor, hands wandering over every body that pressed against him, losing himself entirely in the beat of the music, not a care in the world. but after a couple of songs even kylan needed to take a break from the dance floor, so he excused himself to get a refill at the bar. as he approached the bar his eyes caught sight of a familiar face, alexei, the tattoo artist who had given him what was now officially his favorite tattoo. his lips instantly curled into an amused grin, making his way over to the other, he couldn’t help but go back to what little he could remember from that night. like, those eyes. he wanted to capture them in his gaze again, desperately, because they really never left his mind after that moment. “well, well, well. if it isn’t my favorite tattoo artist,” he lightly chuckled, coming to slide up next to the other, “squiggling anymore lines on new york’s finest, hm?” he couldn’t help the light tease, playfully winking at the other. “it’s my favorite tattoo now, i hope you know. anyway, what brings you out tonight?”

   “i’ll grab the other wine bottle. don’t stop telling your story! so, this guy, he likes to flirt with you...is it a total cutie or just a dud?” lexi asked with a light giggle,  practically jumping off the couch, making her way towards the kitchen for another bottle of wine. by this point they finished off one bottle and were heading into their second. it was an unofficial girls night at lexi’s house except it was just nat and lexi without the other five ladies that normally hung around them. she liked it when it was just them two because there were sides of her that only nat got to see, and there were sides of her that were purposely brought out when they were around their other friends. tonight she just felt like being lexi hartwood, she even called off sick from her secret night job, it was a rare moment when the universe allowed her to be just lexi. “here we go, babes,” she says, coming back into the living room with an opened bottle of red wine, reaching out to refill nat’s glass. sitting back down, with her glass now refilled as well, she brings the rim of her wine glass to her cherry lips, “is this flirty strangers going to be a regular at our little night outs? does this mean i have to find a flirty stranger now, too?”

    the food trucks were lined up, illuminating the night streets of the city of dreams. lexi hartwood stepped out of her apartment today dressed in her casual best wear, slightly faded jeans with a pink sweater crop top, and her light white winter coat. she was on her way to meet some friends at a nightclub not too far from the food trucks she was passing by. the different scents of savory meats, fried foods, homemade seasonings were heavenly. she was about to enter central park to take the small detour to the club but ended up pausing in her steps when the CHURRO food truck came into view. “well,” she whispered out loud, softly sighing, smiling to herself, “what could it hurt?” she began walking towards the churro truck, walking up to a person who seemed to be debating something, “having difficulties deciding on a churro or food truck?” she lightly teases, chuckling a little.