Noah

The loud house party is in full swing when I spot my younger brother’s best friend in the middle of the crowd, clearly drunk and surrounded by strangers. Uneasy about the situation, I push through the dancers and pull her out of the chaos before things can get worse. Laughing weakly and barely steady on her feet, she slings an arm around my shoulders, and I lift her up and carry her to a quiet bedroom away from the noise. Inside the room, the music fades to a dull thump through the walls. I set her down on the bed and makes sure she’s safe.