Closed starter for @imperfectox ft. Sean based off plot in the source
She stood near the edge of the party, half-heartedly nursing a drink as laughter and music swirled around her. Her parents had gone all out—twinkling lights strung across the backyard, catered hors d'oeuvres, a playlist curated for maximum nostalgia. But none of it registered. Her thoughts were elsewhere, tangled in the realization that had been creeping up on her for weeks. Her mom’s voice echoed in her head, teasing and smug: “One day you two are going to fall in love, just watch.” It had been a running joke since they were toddlers—shared playdates, matching Halloween costumes, side-by-side school photos. She’d spent years rolling her eyes at it, scoffing, insisting he was nothing more than a jerk with a smug grin and a talent for getting under her skin.
And yet… here she was. Watching him from across the yard, heart pounding like it had something to say she wasn’t ready to hear. He was laughing with someone near the grill, head tilted back, that same stupid grin lighting up his face. And for the first time, she saw it differently—not as arrogance, but as warmth. Familiar. Magnetic. She barely noticed him walking toward her until he was close enough to smell the smoke on his hoodie. Her pulse jumped. “Hey, loser,” she said, defaulting to the nickname she’d used since middle school. “Enjoying the party?” She tried to keep her tone light, teasing, like always.
