The lights at the club flickered in sync with the pounding bass, casting a kaleidoscope of colors across the room. Poppy's album release party was in full swing, and the crowd was electric, buzzing with excitement. Members of War in the Hell filtered into the venue, their presence announced by Jeremy's booming laugh and Edward's animated gestures.

"Man, look at this place!" Jeremy said, eyes wide as he took in the room adorned with shimmering decor and posters of Poppy's album cover. "Poppy really knows how to throw a party."

Josh, who was dressed in a sharp black jacket and looking far more confident than usual, smirked. "Well, obviously. This whole thing's happening because of my charm and effect on Poppy, after all."

Edward slapped him on the back with a grin. "Your charm, huh? Just be glad you didn't call her 'dude' when she sent the invite."

The group burst into laughter, and even Nalani couldn't suppress a giggle. "Josh, you might be onto something. Maybe we should hire you out as a party magnet."

"Don't encourage him," Nicole chimed in, her eyes twinkling with amusement as she joined their circle. "The last thing we need is Josh trying to launch a side career as a party consultant."

Josh raised his hands in mock surrender. "Hey, I'm just saying, if this is what happens after one date, imagine what a second could do!"

"Please, let's not," Jeremy said, rolling his eyes playfully. "We're not ready for the universe to implode."

As they joked, a figure approached them through the crowd. Nick from Bad Omens stepped into view, a wide smile on his face. "Hey, look who made it!" He pulled Nalani into a friendly hug, and she returned it with a warm smile.

"Nick! You made it," Nalani said, her voice bright with excitement. "I was starting to think you'd be fashionably late."

Nick chuckled. "We're rockstars, Nalani. Fashionably late is in the job description."

Before anyone could respond, Noah entered the scene, his expression guarded and tense. He nodded at the group but remained silent as he lingered on the outskirts of the conversation. The rest of Bad Omens members, Jolly and Nicholas, followed, seamlessly joining the mingling with easy smiles.

Edward nudged Jeremy. "Looks like Noah's in his brooding phase again," he whispered, earning a smirk from Jeremy.

Nick, oblivious to the tension simmering near Noah, leaned against the wall beside Nalani. "So, how's the tattoo holding up?" he asked, eyes darting to her arm where fresh ink peeked out from beneath her sleeve.

"It's great, actually," Nalani said, glancing at it fondly. "No infection, no regrets."

"Good. First tattoos can be tricky," Nick said, giving her a genuine smile.

Noah's jaw tightened as he watched them. He wanted to say something, join the conversation in a natural way, but the moment he opened his mouth, the words came out harsher than intended. "It's a surprise you didn't pass out from the pain," he muttered, his tone laced with sarcasm.

The group fell silent for a beat, the tension tangible. Nick raised an eyebrow, glancing at Noah with a questioning look. Nalani's eyes narrowed slightly, but she chose not to respond directly to Noah's jab.

"Oh, come on, Noah," Josh said, breaking the silence with a smirk. "You're just mad you didn't get to be there for the 'I'm-too-tough-for-pain' speech she probably gave."

The tension splintered as laughter erupted, defusing the awkward moment. Nicole shot a playful glance at Noah. "Lighten up, would you? We're at a party, not a debate club."

Noah managed a stiff nod, his gaze lingering on Nalani longer than he intended. The war inside him was relentless, a tug-of-war between his heart and the barriers he'd built. He took a deep breath, willing himself to maintain his composure.

Meanwhile, Poppy herself swept into the circle, her radiant smile brightening the room. "Hey, I see you guys finally made it!" she said, her eyes locking with Josh's. "It's great to see you here."

Josh, flushed and grinning, nodded. "Wouldn't miss it for the world."

Poppy laughed, the sound infectious. "I'm glad. Now, everyone better be dancing later. No excuses."

"Oh, don't worry," Edward said, winking at Josh. "Josh is ready to show off his world-famous victory dance. You know, the one he did after you followed him on Instagram."

Josh groaned as the group burst into laughter again. "I swear, I'm going to get new bandmates."

"Not a chance," Jeremy said, patting him on the back. "You're stuck with us."

Noah stood slightly apart, arms crossed as he watched the scene unfold. Every time Nick leaned a little closer to Nalani or shared an easy laugh with her, a flicker of irritation sparked in his chest. But he masked it as best he could, settling into his detached, unreadable demeanor.

"Nice party, isn't it?" Jolly said, stepping beside Noah. He followed Noah's line of sight and gave a knowing smirk. "You know, it wouldn't kill you to be a little more...engaged."

Noah's jaw clenched. "I am engaged," he replied curtly, eyes fixed on the group ahead of him.

"Sure, but maybe not in the way you think," Jolly muttered, amusement dancing in his eyes.

The conversation swirled around them, full of laughter, inside jokes, and teasing. Nalani caught Noah's eye for a fleeting moment, and he looked away almost immediately, cursing himself for the heat that crept up his neck.

Nick's voice pulled him back into the moment as he wrapped up a story about their last show. "...and then, out of nowhere, the confetti cannon went off early. It was chaos."

Nalani laughed, the sound soft and contagious. Noah felt his guard slip, just for a second, before he snapped it back into place.

"Glad you all came," Poppy said, raising her glass. "Here's to new music, new friends, and unforgettable nights!"

The circle lifted their glasses, cheers ringing through the room. And while smiles and laughter surrounded him, Noah stood still, the turmoil inside raging silently as he cast a final glance at Nalani, who was now deep in conversation with Nick.

The dance floor was a sea of swaying bodies, laughter, and pulsing lights. The beat of the music seemed to control everyone's movements, from the casual head-bopping at the edges of the crowd to the full-body dancing in the center. Josh was among those who had fully surrendered to the rhythm, twirling Poppy around with a broad smile that lit up his entire face. She laughed, her long hair whipping around as she spun, and Josh caught her by the waist to pull her back into a close dance.

At the edge of the dance floor, War in the Hell bandmates were huddled together, watching Josh with wide, teasing grins.

"Look at him go," Edward said, barely containing a laugh. "He's one song away from proposing right on the dance floor."

Jeremy nodded, raising an eyebrow. "Yeah, I didn't know our Josh had those moves. I feel like I'm witnessing history."

Nicole leaned in, chuckling. "Imagine the headlines: 'Rock Pulse's New Heartthrob Stuns at Poppy's Album Release Party.'"

Josh glanced over his shoulder and caught his bandmates' exaggerated winks and gestures. He rolled his eyes but couldn't suppress the grin on his face. Poppy, noticing, turned to see what was going on and burst into laughter as she spotted the antics.

"Your friends?" she asked, eyes glinting with amusement.

Josh sighed with mock exasperation. "Yeah, unfortunately."

While the bandmates continued their teasing commentary, Nick approached Nalani, who was sipping a drink and watching the dance floor. "Care to join me for a dance?" he asked, extending a hand with a playful smile.

Nalani's eyes sparkled as she took his hand. "Why not?" she said, setting her drink aside.

They joined the fray on the dance floor, moving in sync as the music thrummed around them. Nick was lighthearted, twirling Nalani and laughing when she stumbled into him with a giggle. Edward and Jeremy stood on the side of the dance floor, arms crossed and mischievous smiles playing on their faces as they watched Nalani and Nick dance together. The two moved effortlessly, laughing as Nick spun her around, and the scene warmed the hearts of both men.

"Look at that, Ed," Jeremy said, elbowing Edward lightly. "Our ship is sailing beautifully."

Edward snickered. "I'd say it's practically flying at this point. We were right all along." He glanced at Jeremy with a knowing smirk. "Can't wait to rub this in Nicole's face."

Nicole, who had been standing just behind them with her arms crossed and eyes rolling, scoffed. "Oh, please. You two think you're so smart."

Jeremy turned to face her, raising an eyebrow with a teasing grin. "Well, we don't just think it, Nicole. Unlike your ship with Noah, ours actually has wind in its sails."

Edward joined in, nodding exaggeratedly. "Yeah, looks like your little 'Noah and Nalani' dream is slowly sinking."

Nicole rolled her eyes but couldn't help a smile tugging at her lips. "You two have no idea what you're talking about. Just wait, Noah's a slow burner."

Jeremy chuckled, giving her a playful nudge. "Yeah, a slow burner that might need an entire decade to warm up. Meanwhile, Nick's right here, getting all the good moments."

Nicole tried to keep a neutral face, but she sighed. "Okay, I'll admit, Nick has been a pretty supportive guy. But you know what? That doesn't mean Noah is out of the picture."

"Ha!" Edward leaned closer, whispering as if sharing a great secret. "You're grasping at straws, Nicole. I'll give you credit for holding onto hope, but Josh's ship with Poppy has a better chance at this point."

Jeremy cracked up at that. "True! Speaking of which, where's Josh? Probably dazzling Poppy with that 'charm' of his."

Nicole snickered. "If by 'charm' you mean his constant stuttering, then yes. He's got her captivated."

Edward laughed, raising an imaginary toast. "To the ships that sail, and the ones that go down like the Titanic."

They all shared a laugh, the teasing lightening the mood. Nicole glanced at Nalani and Nick again, a softer expression crossing her face. "Okay, fine. Maybe I'm happy for her," she admitted. "But mark my words, this story isn't over."

Jeremy winked at her. "Wouldn't have it any other way."

Across the dance floor, Josh could be seen twirling Poppy again, his grin so wide it was almost blinding. Nicole's eyes lit up mischievously. "Well, I'm just glad he didn't spill any details about his last date with Poppy during the interview."

Edward burst out laughing, catching Josh's eye as he glanced over. "Oh man, if he had, I'd never let him hear the end of it."

Jeremy, still chuckling, added, "Like that time he got so nervous he accidentally ordered three desserts for himself because he couldn't decide."

"Or when he tried to compliment her by saying she had 'nice... hair elbows' because he forgot the word for curls," Nicole said, eyes twinkling with amusement.

The trio dissolved into laughter, watching Josh's oblivious happiness on the dance floor and savoring the playful camaraderie. The night was young, the air electric with excitement, and every moment felt like a promise of more stories to come.

The easy chemistry between Nalani and Nick as they danced drew some attention, especially from Noah, who stood at the edge of the crowd with a drink in hand, his eyes narrowing as they moved together. A sharp pang of jealousy twisted in his chest, but he forced himself to stay still, teeth clenched.

Before he could react further, a voice called out behind him. "Noah? Is that really you?"

He turned to see Eloise, a photographer he'd met at a few festivals. Her auburn hair was pinned up in an effortless style, and she carried her camera bag slung over one shoulder. Her smile was genuine and warm, pulling Noah out of his glowering thoughts.

"Eloise, hey," he said, a rare smile tugging at his lips. He took a step toward her, grateful for the distraction.

"Fancy running into you here," she said, leaning in slightly to be heard over the music. "I didn't know you were friends with Poppy."

"I'm not," Noah said, a hint of his usual sarcasm returning. "I'm just here for the free drinks and to keep an eye on these idiots," he nodded toward Jolly and Nicholas, who were animatedly chatting with some of the other guests.

Eloise laughed, a sound that seemed to lift the tension from Noah's shoulders. "Typical," she teased. "Still the same old Noah, I see."

Noah relaxed a little, even managing to chuckle. "I guess some things never change."

From across the room, Nalani's eyes caught the scene. The way Noah leaned in to speak to Eloise, how he actually laughed — the first genuine, light-hearted laugh she'd seen from him in a long time — sent an unexpected pang through her. He never laughed around her, never spoke with anything other than cold detachment or irritation. The sight was like a twist of the knife, and she couldn't help but feel the sting of jealousy, which only made her more annoyed at herself.

Nick's voice brought her back to the moment. "Everything okay?" he asked, a hint of concern crossing his face.

Nalani blinked and forced a smile. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just... a little warm. I think I need some air."

Nick nodded, releasing her from their dance as she stepped back. "Want me to come with you?" he offered.

"No, it's okay. I'll be right back," she said, already moving toward the doors.

As she passed through the crowd, she cast one last glance at Noah. He was still deep in conversation with Eloise, his expression relaxed and open. The sight made her chest tighten, and she clenched her jaw, fighting the sudden urge to scream. Why was he always so cold to her when he clearly knew how to be kind and normal with others? The questions burned in her mind, and with frustration bubbling under her skin, she pushed open the exit door and stepped into the cool night air.

The distant thrum of the music was muffled by the closed doors behind her. Alone now, she sucked in a deep breath and exhaled slowly, trying to shake off the emotions roiling inside her. But even the crisp air did little to cool the simmering storm. She wasn't ready to admit why Noah's behavior affected her so much, but the truth sat just out of reach, waiting for the moment she could no longer ignore it.