The thumping bass of the nightclub vibrated through the walls as Ryan pushed through the crowded dance floor, his tall frame cutting a path between couples and groups of people. He was dressed in a black leather jacket, the kind that screamed confidence, paired with dark jeans and boots. His sandy blonde hair was tousled just enough to look effortlessly cool, and his sharp blue eyes surveyed the room with an intensity that kept most people at a distance. His friends—loud, boisterous, and all equally wild—followed in his wake, egging each other on for another round of drinks. Ryan was the leader of this crew, the one they looked to when they needed someone to start a fight, make an entrance, or make the night unforgettable. But for all the bravado, there was a certain restlessness in his gaze tonight, something that went unnoticed by most but was clear to anyone who knew him well enough.
As the night wore on, Ryan leaned against the bar, a drink in hand, watching the chaos unfold. His friends were already darting around, engaging in one of their usual antics—dancing, shouting, and generally being the loudest people in the room. But Ryan’s mind wasn’t fully in the moment. His eyes lingered on a group across the bar, a few familiar faces from class. A girl—someone he had seen around campus a few times but never really spoken to—caught his eye. She smiled briefly, and for a split second, Ryan felt an unfamiliar tug in his chest, something he hadn't let himself feel in a long time. He swallowed the thought, smirking to himself. He wasn't the kind of guy who got distracted by people, not when there was a crowd to dominate, but for some reason, she was different.
Ryan’s friend, Mark, slapped him on the back, pulling him out of his thoughts. “Yo, Ryan, you look like you’re in another world. Everything good?” Ryan flashed him a grin, masking whatever was going on beneath the surface. “Yeah, man. Just taking it all in.” He turned away from the bar, watching as the crowd shifted around him. The loud music, the flashing lights, the laughter—it was all so easy to get lost in. But deep down, Ryan wasn’t just some party guy. He didn’t care for the shallow attention he got from people, the endless string of meaningless hookups. He didn’t show it, but sometimes he wondered what life would be like if he could just let go of the walls he’d built around himself. For now, though, he would play the part, keep up the image, and keep his friends entertained. After all, it wasn’t about looking tough—it was about staying untouchable.
@BimboTheClown