As the conversation between Hayley and her friends went on, I sat there on the counter, finishing up my second coke. I decided to make the now somewhat perilous journey to the candy bowls. Hopping off the counter, I made my way into the crowded living room.

The music was somehow even louder in the living room. Katy Perry was blasting from Hayley's stereo. People were crowded together, pressed up against each other, dancing and drinking and kissing and laughing. All of the public displays of affection made me feel uncomfortable, and I tried to make my way through them as fast as I could.

That was the reason I always doubted whether or not I should go to parties.

I should have just stayed inside my house.

After I'd eventually gotten to the candy bowl, I just grabbed a handful. I'd wanted to pick out just my favorites, but swamped with this crowd, I felt anxious, and I wanted to get back to the relative safety of the kitchen as soon as I could.

I started to turn to make my way back, but somebody slammed into me. I stumbled back, bumping against the folding table as the stranger half fell on me.

It was a guy, probably around my age. He looked up at me, quickly scrambling up. I had assumed that the stranger was going to be heavily drunk, but his eyes were clear.

"I'm so sorry!" he exclaimed. "It's so crowded in here, I think I must have tripped over somebody's foot. Are you okay?"

The boy's apology seemed sincere, so I nodded. He held out his hand to help me up, and I took it, standing. "It's okay, it wasn't your fault. It is pretty crowded." With the boy in front of me, I studied his appearance. He was wearing a skull hoodie, strangely similar to mine, and black pants decorated with a pattern of tiny white bones, along with a pair of black sneakers. Black gloves adorned his hands, with white bones on them to mimic the hands of a skeleton. He wore a skull mask, pulled back to the top of his head to reveal his face. I wasn't sure, but I thought I saw bright red hair peeking out from under the mask.

"Hey, you're dressed as a skeleton too!" the boy said, mirroring what I was thinking.

"What a coincidence," I agreed, a smile creeping its way onto my face.

"So how do you know Hayley?" he asked, leaning against the table. A small, safe alcove had formed by the table, and I was no longer swamped by people.

"We've been best friends since middle school, and now we take classes at the same community college."

"Cool! I don't know her very well personally, but her friend Frank invited me." The boy grinned, and held out his hand for my to shake. "My name's Josh."

I shook his hand. "Tyler."

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Art credit to RainbowhoodGirl (pretty sure that's what it says)