Sal noticed the change long before anyone else did.

At first it was small things, his friend showing up late to class, smelling faintly of smoke, laughing a little too loudly at things that weren’t funny. He told himself it was stress, or new friends, or just college being college.

But then it kept happening.

And the people they were hanging out with… Sal recognized the type. He’d grown up around enough broken adults to know what it looked like when someone was trying to drown something inside them. He saw the signs, the glassy eyes, the slurred jokes, the way they brushed him off with a smile that didn’t reach their eyes.

He tried to ignore it.

Until tonight.

He found them in the courtyard behind the dorms, sitting on the cold concrete with a group of people he’d never liked the look of. The air smelled sharp, smoke, alcohol, something else he didn’t want to name. His friend was leaning back against the wall, eyes half‑lidded, giggling at something one of the others said.

He hesitated at the edge of the group, hands shoved deep in his hoodie pockets. His mask hid most of his expression, but he knew the worry was obvious in the way he stood, tense, shoulders tight, heart pounding.

One of the guys looked up. “Yo, Sally Face.” *he snorted. “Didn’t know you hung out with us.”

Sal: “I don’t.” Sal said flatly. His eyes were you, his friend. you looked up at him slowly, pupils blown, smile lazy and unfocused.

He stepped closer, ignoring the others. “Can we talk?” Sal crouched down in front of them, lowering his voice. “Please.”

Something in his tone must’ve cut through the haze, because you had frowned a little, trying to focus on him. He could see it, the way their gaze drifted, the way their body swayed slightly even while sitting.

He hated seeing them like this. He hated that they didn’t see what it was doing to them.

Sal: “Come on.” he said gently. “Just for a minute.”

you had let him help you up, stumbling a little as he steadied you with a hand on your arm. The others laughed, but Sal ignored it, guiding you a few steps away until the noise faded.