I never compare movies to real life, but as I stood in this room, I was starting to believe that this party was a part of one. The place was crowded like the living room was packed. Some people were dancing, others were playing beer pong, and then you had the couples pair off making out. The house smelt like beer and sweat, and the light flashed like crazy. Is this what sensory overload felt like? I felt a tug on my sleeve and looked down, starting at Tia, pointing past the living room. I looked over and saw a nonflashing light, and I looked at her, and we started heading over there, Tia using Mason like a human shield. Once we walked into the fairly lit room, I realized it was the kitchen. There were a group of people here, but I didn't pay any mind when Tia started stretching.

 

"Oh god, it was so cramped in there," Tia said.

 

"Well, welcome to a high school party," Mason said.

 

"Are they always this cramped?" I asked.

 

"Yes. Yes, they are," I heard another voice chime in. I turned, and my heart did a backflip cause there he was, the man of the hour himself. Oh, how can he look so hot Cable was wearing a tight black v-neck shirt and some dark gray jogger pants. His hair was brushed back and slightly damp from sweat, but somehow that made him even hotter. I realize I was staring too long and making it weird, but thankfully Tia came to my aid.

 

"Hey, thanks for inviting us," Tia said.

 

"Yeah, no problem. Glad you can make it," Caleb said, giving him a warm smile.

 

"Hey man," Mason said leaning closer to Tia. Caleb looked at the man, and his smile never faded.

 

"Mason, I am surprised to find you here," Caleb said.

 

"Well yeah, but Tia and Steven invited me, so I don't mind coming out," Mason said.

 

"Oh yeah, I hope you don't mind," I said.

 

"Nah, I don't mind the more, the merrier," Caleb said.

 

"So what does one do at a party?" I asked, and Caleb began to laugh hard.

 

"Oh man, if you are thirsty, help yourself to anything here. If you are in the mood to dance, you know where to go, and if you are looking for some air, you can hang out in the back. Just be careful. Some of the guys are pushing people in the pool. I would hate for you to get wet," Caleb said.

 

"Thanks," I said.

 

"No problem," Suddenly, someone called out for Caleb, and he looked over and nodded before turning back to me. "Listen, I gotta go, but hey, if you are feeling a bit overwhelmed, come to find me," Caleb said, and he was gone. I stared at the doorway for a while before Tia elbowed me.

 

"Still think he was interested in me?" Tia said in a smug tone.

 

"W- what? He was being nice," I said.

 

"Steven, if we were dressed up in clown costumes, I don't think he would notice us," Mason said, and Tia nodded.

 

"Guys, he was just being nice," I said.

 

"Oh yea, he was being nice, alright. Come and find me if you are feeling overwhelmed," Tia said deeply, mocking Steven.

 

"Oh, shut up," I said.

 

"Okay, kids, let's go have some fun," Mason said, placing his hands on Tia's shoulder.

 

Tia smiled at him and grabbed his hand, pulling him back into the living room. Mason looked back, and I could tell from his eyes that he wanted me to be there to ensure he didn't say anything stupid. So I laughed and followed the two out into the living room.

 

You know, I thought I would be miserable going to a party full of popular kids. Still, I was actually having so much fun. I didn't know that when Caleb had parties, he didn't just invite our classmates. He invites kids from other schools to hang out. I met many people who probably won't remember my name the next day, and nobody was awkward about it. After my meet and greet with a stranger, I realized I was alone, and Tia was gone along with Mason. I started to move my way through the crowd of dancing teens to end up in the kitchen. I scanned the large kitchen, and I didn't see Tia anywhere. So I moved to the backyard, and once I stepped out, I spotted Tia. She was on the other side of the pool sitting on Mason's lap in a heavy make-out session. I cringed at how they held each other and their tongues down each other's throats. I spun around a rushed back inside, but I barely made it two steps when I crashed into someone.

 

"Hey, where's the fire," I heard. I looked up, locked eyes with Caleb, and I felt the heat rush to my face with how close we were. So I stepped back, clearing my throat as I smoothed down my shirt.

 

"S- sorry," I said, staring at my shoes.

 

"Hey, it's alright. Are you okay?" Caleb asked, and I scoffed.

 

"Well, define, alright," I said, rubbing the back of my neck. Caleb stared at me for a moment before placing his cup down.

 

"You wanna talk where it is quiet?" Caleb said.

 

"Uh, sure," I said, and he grabbed my hand and led me back into the living room.

 

We managed to move around the crowd, and he led me up some stairs that were roped off. He pushed the rope to the side, letting go of my hand and stepping to the side to let me go first. I began walking up the stairs and started to feel nervous because I had no idea what Caleb was planning. Once I got to the top, I was greeted by a dark hallway. I looked back, and Caleb was there, grabbing my hand again and leading me down the hall. At the end of the hall was a dark brown door. Caleb stopped in front of it and reached for the knob opening the door slowly. We stepped inside, and my heart stopped. This is Caleb's room I and inside of his room. Oh my god, I can die happily now. I looked around, and huge compared to my room. I looked around and saw his walls were decorated with posters of bands and pictures of him and his family. Besides that, the room was pretty simple. He had a corner desk with his computer sitting there. His bed was pressed onto the other side of the wall. There was a tv between the two with a grey couch in front of it.

 

"Cool room," I said, still in awe.

 

"Yeah, sure, I guess," Caleb said, closing the door and watching me look around.

 

"What do you mean your room is huge? It makes my room look like a  closet," I said, and Caleb laughed, moving to the couch. So I followed suit and sat down, creating some distance.

 

"So, do you want to tell me what spooked you?" Caleb said.

 

"Oh well, it is nothing, really I just saw Tia making out with Mason by the pool," I said.

 

"Oh, I see," Caleb said, and suddenly it hit me. Caleb, like Tia, I think I just crushed his dream because I just dropped this bomb on him.

 

"I- I am sorry," I said.

 

"For what," Caleb asked.

 

"Well, for opening my big mouth, I shouldn't have told you because you were trying to get closer to Tia, and now the chance you had with her is over," I said.

 

"Steven," Caleb started.

 

"But then again, I think she was going to reject you anyway because she liked Mason for a long time, and I mean LONG," I continued.

 

"Steven," Caleb said, placing a hand on my shoulder, causing me to stop.

 

"Yes," I said.

 

"I don't like Tia," Caleb said, and I blinked.

 

"What," I said.

 

"Well yeah, I like her but more as a friend," Caleb said.

 

"So why were you so adamant about having Tia come?" I asked.

 

"Simple I thought that it would make you comfortable with her here," Caleb said.

 

"Wait, what," I said.

 

"I wanted you to come, Steven," Caleb said, and I almost died.

 

Caleb Post wanted me to come to his party. Holy crap, what does that mean? How do you even respond to this? I faced Caleb, ready to ask him a question, but my phone went off before I could say anything. I internally groan. Pulling it out, I saw a text message from Tia asking me where I was because it was time to go.

 

"Sorry, It's Tia. She is looking for me. She is ready to go home," I said, and Caleb gave me a small smile.

 

"Okay, come on, I'll walk you down," Caleb said, and we got up walking toward his door.

 

"Thanks for inviting me. I had a great time," I said.

 

"Good, I am glad," Caleb opened the door and paused. "I hope we can hang out again without a party as an excuse," Caleb said.

 

"Yea, I like that," I said, and Caleb led me out the door closing it behind him.

 

I had a million thoughts going through my head. Why was Caleb so interested in making sure I came and was comfortable? Was he being nice or something else? Whatever it was, I knew that Caleb just made me rethink everything I thought about him.