Dylan O'Brien Imagines

Colin- THE ROOFTOP

READER'S POV:

t was one of those nights in New York City where the air buzzed with a peculiar kind of magic. The streets were alive, yet there was an odd stillness in your heart. You had been dragged to a rooftop party by your roommate, who swore it would be a life-changing experience. As far as you were concerned, it was just another excuse for influencers to gather, sip overpriced drinks, and take selfies.

You stood by the edge of the rooftop, nursing a lukewarm vodka soda. The skyline glittered, a sea of light and motion that should have been comforting, but it only made you feel small. That was when you saw him.

Colin.

He was lounging near the DJ booth, effortlessly cool in a leather jacket and a smirk that could melt glaciers. A cigarette dangled from his fingers as he leaned in to say something to a girl with neon pink hair. She laughed too loudly, but his attention was already drifting elsewhere. And then, as if by fate, his gaze locked onto yours.

Your stomach flipped. It wasn't that you didn't know who he was. Everyone knew Colin. The bad boy influencer with an arsenal of witty captions and a devil-may-care attitude. He was a walking Instagram reel, the kind of guy who could make drinking iced coffee look like an act of rebellion. And now, he was walking straight toward you.

"Hey," he said, his voice low and smooth. "You look like you're having as much fun as a cat at a dog park."

You blinked, caught off guard. "That obvious, huh?"

He chuckled, taking a drag from his cigarette. "Just a little. You're not here for the vibe, are you?"

"I'm here because my roommate thinks I need to 'network.'" You made air quotes, rolling your eyes for good measure.

"Networking," he repeated, smirking. "Sounds like a fancy way of saying 'torturing yourself.'"

You laughed despite yourself. "Pretty much."

Colin tilted his head, studying you like you were some kind of enigma. "You're different."

"Different how?"

"Not trying too hard. Most people here are practically screaming for attention. You're just... existing."

"Is that a compliment?"

"It is if you want it to be."

There was something magnetic about him, a pull you couldn't quite resist. Before you knew it, the two of you were trading sarcastic quips and laughing like old friends. He told you about his love-hate relationship with social media and how he sometimes wished he could just disappear into the background. You told him about your dream of becoming a writer, even though you hadn't written a single thing worth sharing in months.

"You should write about tonight," he said, flicking the ash from his cigarette. "You know, two strangers meeting on a rooftop, sharing a moment. Sounds like the beginning of a great story."

You smiled, feeling a warmth you hadn't felt in a long time. "Maybe I will."

The night stretched on, the city below becoming a blur of lights and noise. At some point, the party faded into the background, and it was just you and Colin, sitting on the edge of the rooftop, legs dangling into the void. He looked at you, his expression softening.

"You know," he said, "you're not like anyone I've ever met."

"Is that a line you use on all your conquests?" you teased, though your heart fluttered at his words.

"No," he said, his voice suddenly serious. "Just you."

And in that moment, you believed him. Because for the first time in a long time, you didn't feel small. You felt seen.

Maybe it was the city, or the alcohol, or the way Colin's eyes seemed to hold galaxies. Whatever it was, you leaned in, and he met you halfway. The kiss was electric, a spark that ignited something deep within you.

When you finally pulled away, he grinned. "So, about that story you're gonna write. Think you'll include this part?"

You laughed, shaking your head. "Maybe. But only if you promise not to steal my thunder by posting about it first."

"Deal," he said, holding out his pinky for a promise.

And as ridiculous as it was, you linked your pinky with his, sealing the night in a way that felt just right.

The city hummed around you, oblivious to the tiny universe that had formed on that rooftop. And for the first time in a long time, you felt like the main character in your own story.