Ryder's head began pounding ages ago. Snippets of inane conversation floated by, insipid yet insistent music throbbed and neon lights seizured and twitched. He couldn't focus on any one irritating element, but in a way they were a nice change of pace from the typical crippling social anxiety he would have in this situation. Not that it wasn't there as well.
   "All I have to do is find the love of my life and then I can go home forever..." he thought rolling his eyes, then nearly slipping on some inscrutable fluid that he'd rather have not thought about.

     "You don't look very mellow," the handsome stranger said with a not-quite smile, "were you smoking something I'm unfamiliar with?"
     "Um no?"
     "So why are you encroaching on our precious smoking area?"
     "Uh, s-sorry...!" Ryder stuttered out, instantly regretting taking the phrase seriously, "I mean... I just needed to get out of there."
The pale stranger nodded disinterestedly, and looked distracted. Ryder found that a relief, he'd rather not go on about how terrible his friends were. That was always the kind of mistake he made when talking to men.
     "Probably just didn't have a lighter handy and is trying to not look awkward.. I mean, I don't think he would like me.. Come on. Unless he has some weird fetish. Oh god, what would that even be? Stop thinking about this..!!!"