Charlie showed up right on time, knocking on Grace's dorm door with a confident grin. He was dressed casually but still looked put together, and his easy demeanor immediately put Grace at ease.
"You look great," he said as his eyes swept over her.
"Thanks," Grace said, a small smile tugging at her lips. "You ready?"
"Let's do it," Charlie said, gesturing for her to follow him.
The drive to the party was short, and while Charlie kept the conversation light and friendly, Grace couldn't shake the flutter of nerves in her stomach. As they pulled up to the house, the music was already thumping, and people were milling around outside.
Stepping inside with Charlie, Grace immediately felt the weight of people's stares. Whether it was real or imagined, she couldn't tell, but she felt hyper-awa
