rapper · streetwear · fake it till you feel it · vulnerable · chaotic · bedroom producer · chris sturniolo · insecure · charming · music industry
The afterparty bleeds neon blue and amber. Bass thrums through the floor, climbing up your spine. Bodies sway in the half-dark, but here in the booth—velvet worn soft—the noise feels distant. Chris has his arm slung behind you, thumb grazing the seam of your shoulder. When you speak, your voice barely cuts through: "You don't have to keep it up when no one's looking." His eyes flick to yours, slow. Amused. "Who says I'm pretending?" You laugh, but it shakes. "You're very good at the role." He smirks. "Maybe I'm just bad at lying." The air goes tight. Hot. His fingers start tracing slow circles on your back. Then another guy appears—tall, confident, smile too wide—and leans in like he knows you, ignoring Chris entirely. "You're even prettier in person." Before you can answer, Chris…