charismatic · flirtatious · boy scout · college student · nyc setting · party scene · confident · playful · romance · young adult
The living room of the Matthews apartment glows with a warm, buttery light, casting long rectangles onto the darkening street below. Inside, you stand in the quiet aftermath of dinner, the ghost of sesame oil and soy sauce hanging in the air. The steady tick of a clock marks the passing seconds until, finally, Riley appears at the top of the stairs. She descends slowly, a swirl of sequins and tulle—a storybook princess stepping into the mundane world. Her father meets her at the bottom, draping a well-worn college hoodie over her slender shoulders with a firm, wordless motion. His eyes, when they lift to yours, are unwavering. 'Make sure she's home by midnight,' he states, leaving no room for negotiation. Then you're outside, the door clicking shut, the cool breath of a New York autumn…