Chapter 1

Julian stepped out of the Uber, the sounds of the party inside growing louder as he strode towards the luxurious mansion that stood In Front of him. 

 He glanced down at his clothes, old and torn jeans that had seen too many days of wear, a faded graphic t-shirt with the logo peeling off, and a jacket that could barely keep him warm, let alone make him look presentable. His sneakers, though clean, were nothing compared to the polished dress shoes most of the other guests would be wearing at the birthday party tonight.

 He took a deep breath, trying to ignore the difference between his attire and the opulence of the house. The grandeur of the building stood before him, its large windows glowing with the warmth of the party inside, and the laughter and music coming out through the open door. With the way he was dressed he didn't look like someone who should be at this place.

 Julian knew that he didn't belong here, and he would get made fun of by everyone, however it was his girlfriend's birthday party and he had to attend it, so he pretty much had no choice.

 As Julian approached, he spotted a large banner hanging above the entrance of the mansion that read: Happy Birthday, Claire! The bold letters swayed gently in the evening breeze, welcoming guests to the celebration inside. 

 Claire was the name of his girlfriend and it was her 23rd birthday tonight.

 As he walked up the steps, he felt increasingly aware of how out of place he might look In Front of everyone. His jeans were a far cry from the tailored suits and elegant dresses that he imagined awaited him inside. The jacket, while functional, was clearly very old, and he pulled at it self consciously as he approached the entrance.

 With a final adjustment to his jacket, trying to appear as composed as possible, Julian took another deep breath and pushed open the door into the apartment, stepping into the house with a mix of nervousness and determination.

 He tightened his grip on the small, neatly wrapped gift in his hands, momentarily questioning how much it was worth. It was probably the cheapest present at the party, and the thought made him feel like a loser. Would Claire be embarrassed in front of her friends? As her boyfriend he should be the one giving her expensive gifts, something more extravagant, something that reflected her world.

But spending money on an expensive gift was not an option for Julian. He couldn’t even afford to spend more than a few hundred dollars on a gift for his girlfriend, and the thought made him feel angry at himself for being such a broke bum. 

Honestly, It felt like a cruel joke, showing up to this lavish party with a cheap gift, a reminder of just how little he had. He tried to get rid of the frustration and shame and make himself feel better, by telling himself, "It’s enough. She said she didn’t want anything fancy, it’s the thought that counts." 

But still, even as he told himself that, a familiar wave of insecurity washed over him. He knew Claire came from a different world, one filled with wealth and comfort, and she was used to luxurious things. Him, on the other hand? He was the opposite of her as he was a very poor person. He barely got by with what little he had, struggling to make ends meet, while she lived in a world he could only dream of.

Honestly even he was surprised that he had managed to date someone like her. Even he didn't understand what she saw in him as he had nothing to offer her. Her friends always looked down on him and made jokes about what a loser he was, and he didn't blame them. He was indeed a loser 

He had clawed his way through life, working two jobs just to stay afloat, but even with the two jobs, he could barely make enough. He scraped by with second-hand clothes and budget meals. He wasn’t ashamed of it though, as he’d worked very hard for the little things he had. 

But still, at this moment as he was standing here, in this world of polished floors and designer outfits, he knew he didn’t belong in her world, and deep down he wondered if she really saw that. If she ever truly understood just how different they were.

The laughter mixed with music spilled out into the night as Julian stood there, gripping the small gift tighter in his hands. His girlfriend had mentioned that her friends were throwing her this party, weeks ago and insisted that he should come as it was her birthday party, dropping hints that it would be a fun surprise.’ And although Julian would normally avoid such events, knowing full well he’d be the Joke of the party for his financial situation and his appearance, this was a special occasion: her birthday. So, he came.

But deep down he knew coming here was a bad decision because he was going to regret it later that night.