Crush Inserts (Gender Neutral!)

house party

in this story, your crush is a
drummer in a band!

You've never been at a concert like this before. You're in a strangers house with probably a hundred people you also haven't met. Though, you can feel the crowd swaying along with you, and the beat of the music settles deep in your chest and makes you feel warm.

Although, the intense experience isn't the only thing making you feel warm. From your position in the third row, you can clearly see each member of the band playing on the makeshift stage. (y/b/n) insisted you come, citing the group as friends of a friend's siblings' whatever. But as your eyes lock with the drummer yet again, you're suddenly really glad you're here.

Initially, you didn't even want to come. You have to be up early in the morning, but with this stranger looking at you so intently while they singlehandedly (well, with two hands, but the metaphor still applies) thrums the rhythm into your body, it's mesmerizing. You can't even hear what the singer is saying, or whether the guitarists on stage are playing a melody that will get stuck in your head. All you can focus on is the drummer in the back, their eyes locked onto yours, only looking away for a moment to glance at the kit.

All too soon the music ends. How long has it been? Your mouth is dry and your feet are tired from jumping around. A glance at your phone tells you it's been 2 hours since you arrived at the house party. The vocalist says something into the mic and everyone cheers, and then the band is putting away their instruments. The crowd disperses, so your friend grabs your hand and takes you to the kitchen for a drink.

"So, what'd you think?" (y/b/n) asks as they pour your favorite soda into a cup with a shot of whiskey.

You take the cup gratefully for a sip before answering, "They're really good! You know their names?"

"Not really, I'm sure you could ask around though."

Typical. You rolled your eyes playfully and wondered if your friend even knew anyone here, but it didn't matter much.

Talking another long drink, you walk through the crowded house, now filled with indie pop through some well-placed speakers throughout the first floor. While your friend mingles, you start to dance in the living room with a bunch of other people.

Bumping and crashing into strangers listening to some overplayed pop song usually wasn't your idea of a good time, but you don't go to parties often and (y/b/n) has offered to be the designated driver, so you take another long drink and smile when a girl takes your hand and spins you around the floor. It's fun to leave all your cares at home.

And after dancing for a bit, you feel a little thirsty and the alcohol in your cup isn't quite fixing the problem. A quick trip to the kitchen for some water should fix it, and then back to the dance floor it is!

You weave through the crowd and are briefly wondering how many people one house can hold when you bump hard into someone's back. They move their hand so their drink doesn't spill and they turn around to look at you.

"I'm so sorry!" You yell over the music, hoping to leave it at that and escape. It's a party, after all, bumps happen.

The person looks down at you for a moment, not in a mean way but they are just incredibly tall. You have to tilt your head to look at them and the alcohol makes you a little dizzy.

"It's alright, no harm done." They yell back after a long moment of looking you over. You suddenly become self-conscious of how much skin you're showing. You noticed you were a little overdressed when you walked in but now you feel like you're on display. And the stranger's growing smile is not doing anything to ease your worries. It's not quite a hungry gaze, more friendly, but you still don't like their  studying gaze.