The party was already in full swing by the time you arrived. Music thumped through the speakers, vibrating the walls of the modest off-campus house, and the air smelled like cheap cologne and pizza. Groups of students crowded the living room, laughing and chatting over solo cups. You hadn’t planned on coming—it wasn’t really your scene—but some friends had convinced you to show up for a little while. Now, leaning against the wall near the snack table, you took in the chaos, sipping your drink and trying to stay out of the whirlwind of beer pong and loud, exaggerated stories. That’s when you noticed her—Chloe Harper. You’d seen her before in class, her quiet presence hard to miss. She always sat near the back, her round glasses slipping down her nose as she diligently took notes. Her soft, nervous laugh had caught your attention more than once, and you’d found yourself stealing glances at her more often than you’d admit. Tonight, she stood by the edge of the room, fidgeting with something in her hands. Her long, chestnut hair framed her face, and her oversized sweater made her look even smaller than usual. She glanced around, her hazel eyes darting nervously until they landed on you. Her cheeks turned a deep shade of pink. For a moment, you thought she might look away, but instead, she took a deep breath and started walking toward you. Her movements were hesitant, like she wasn’t sure her legs would carry her the whole way, and her hands trembled slightly as she clutched a small deck of colorful, handwritten cards. When she finally reached you, she pushed her glasses up the bridge of her nose and looked up at you, her blush deepening. “H-Hi…” she stammered, her voice barely audible over the music. “Um, I… I made these cards… for tonight. They’re, um, kind of like… a game? Or an activity? I-I thought it might be fun…” She held the cards out in front of her, but her hands were shaking so much that a couple of them nearly slipped from the deck. She gave a nervous laugh, quickly catching them and tucking them back into place. “S-So, um…” she continued, her words tumbling over each other. “You, uh, you pick one… and… and we’ll do whatever it says!”

Chloe's heart leaps into her throat as you take one of the cards from her quivering hands. Her fingers curl into tiny fists, and she presses them against her legs to keep from shaking as much. The card in your hand reads: "Hug for 10 seconds." She looks up at you nervously, uncertain if that's what you meant. Was it too forward? Too... intense? She bites her lip, waiting for you to make the first move.

Chloe bites her lower lip in nervous anticipation, looking up at you with hopeful eyes. "O-Okay," she whispers, tilting her head to the side slightly, offering a tiny, tentative smile. She takes a small step closer, allowing herself to feel the warmth of your body as you stand within reaching distance. Then, slowly but surely, she raises her arms and encircles you in a gentle hug. Her cheeks flush even deeper with color as she leans into you, breathing in the faint scent of aftershave or soap that clings to your sweater. In that moment, it's like everything else fades away, leaving only the two of them standing together, sharing a quiet, intimate moment amidst the chaos around them.

Her hands rest lightly on your back as she hugs you tighter, taking comfort in the solidness and warmth of your form

The feel of his arms wrapped around her sends shivers down her spine and a flush creeps up her neck. She takes a deep breath, relishing in the contact, hoping this small gesture is enough to show him how much she likes him. Inhaling his unique scent, she presses herself closer, wanting more of his warmth, more of his presence. As the seconds tick by, she begins to relax slightly, feeling increasingly confident and less awkward in his embrace.

When the hug reaches its tenth second, she hesitates for a moment before reluctantly pulling away, worried that it might seem too much or like she's overstepping bounds. As her arms fall to her sides once more, their bodies no longer touching, she finds herself wishing she could stay connected just a little bit longer. She looks up at him shyly through her lashes, searching for some sign of what he

Chloe blushes even harder when she sees which card you've picked, trying not to let her nerves show too much. She bites her lip and forces herself to meet your gaze as you read the card aloud: "Kiss for 15 seconds." Taking a deep breath, she hopes that this doesn't make things awkward between them. With trembling hands, she reaches up to brush a few strands of hair behind your ear, trying to find a way to create some distance even as they stand so close together.

As their lips inch closer, her heart races faster, and she can feel the blood rushing to her face. It only takes a tiny nudge from you for them to connect, softly at first but growing in intensity as you lean in further. The kiss is nothing like what she imagined it would be; instead of feeling awkward or forced, it's sweet and gentle,

Her heart races and her body trembles with each gentle press of your lips against hers. It's an entirely different sensation than she expected, leaving her wanting more, even as the kiss reaches its 15th second mark and finally comes to an end. She opens her eyes, feeling dazed and a little disoriented from the intense connection they just shared.

Her hands hover nervously at her sides until one finds its way up to your shoulder, giving it a reassuring squeeze before falling away again. As she pulls back further, looking into your eyes, she tries to find words to describe what just happened between you but can only manage a tiny, shaky whisper: "Th-That was..." Her cheeks flush even deeper as she realizes how inadequate her attempt at expressing herself sounds.

She blushes even deeper as she tries to find words to describe what just happened between you but can only manage a tiny, shaky whisper, "Th-That was... nice." Her heart flutters wildly in her chest, and she looks up at you with wide, hopeful eyes. Maybe this means something more? Or maybe it's just a silly kiss between friends at a party? Either way, the feeling is exhilarating and confusing all at once.