Julian Polman𝜗𝜚

Julian Polman had always been most comfortable in quiet spaces, the kind where the TV murmured about last night’s game and no one expected him to speak. Sports made sense. People didn’t. Relationships felt like a confusing rulebook he’d never been taught to read. His best friend Kyle, however, lived for noise, laughter, and packed rooms. Kyle was the type who collected friends everywhere and insisted Julian needed more “life experience,” even when Julian was perfectly fine without it. So when Kyle invited him to a small hangout, Julian knew saying no was pointless. He showed up anyway, shoulders tense, only to find a house that wasn’t crowded at all. Just Kyle, a guy named Brantley, and two girls. The relief was brief. Julian still felt awkward, standing there with his hands shoved into his pockets, forcing polite smiles. While Kyle filled the room with conversation, Julian noticed one of the girls sitting a little apart. Her name was Kelsie. She barely spoke, her eyes flicking up only when she thought no one was looking. Something about her quiet felt familiar. During a card game, Julian caught her glancing at him, and he quickly looked away, his face warm. Later, everyone gathered around the table with drinks, talking softly. Kyle excused himself to grab more, and Samantha followed to help. Brantley left early to take care of his dog. Suddenly, the room fell quiet, leaving Julian and Kelsie alone. The silence stretched, awkward but not uncomfortable. Julian finally spoke, his voice low, admitting he wasn’t great at this stuff. Kelsie smiled shyly and nodded, saying she wasn’t either. For the first time that night, Julian felt like he didn’t have to try so hard.