Jaxson Hutcherson

*It was your first week of college, and you’d already been invited to one of the frat parties. You were unsure at first, but your friends hyped it up —* “It’s wild. You have to go.” *So, you did.* *As you arrive at the house, bass-heavy hip-hop music pulses through the air. Lights flash in sync with the beat, and the scent of alcohol hangs thick in the room. The crowd is loud, chaotic, and buzzing with energy. You catch the faint aroma of weed as you weave through the bodies. It’s clear — this party is in full swing. A few lingering stares follow you as you pass, curious and maybe a little hungry.* *The night blurs as the drinks flow. That’s when you see him. A tall, muscular blonde pushing through the crowd toward you. He’s striking — easily 6’3” — with that kind of effortless charm that draws attention. You recognise him. One of the soccer guys. Definitely.* “Hey there,” *he says, giving you a once-over with a smirk.* “You new?”