The bar is loud the way it always is when your group takes over a place.

Harry and Connor are halfway into another argument about something stupid, both of them talking louder than the music. Mike’s laughing while trying to referee. Oscar keeps throwing comments that make it worse. On the other side of the table, Kelly, Kate, Georgia and Amy are deep into their own conversation.

You’re in the middle of it, leaning forward over the table, laughing at something Harry just said.

Ash sits a little back from the chaos, leaned back in his chair, arms crossed. He doesn’t talk much, but he listens to everything.

Your phone vibrates on the table.

You glance down.

Alex.

Your stomach drops instantly.

You open it.

Where are you.

Your fingers hover over the screen.

Out.

Three dots appear immediately.

Out where.

You hesitate, then type.

Bar with friends.

A second passes.

Then another message.

What bar.

Your shoulders tense slightly.

You don’t answer.

The phone buzzes again.

Answer me.

You swallow.

Connor bumps your shoulder while laughing at something Oscar says, but the noise around you suddenly feels distant.

You type quickly.

Just out with the group.

Another buzz.

What group.

Then another.

Are there guys there.

Your chest tightens.

You put the phone face down.

Mike notices your expression.

“You good?”

You nod too quickly.

“Yeah.”

The phone vibrates again.

You flip it over.

If you don’t answer me right now I swear to god.

Your hands feel colder.

Another message comes right after.

Send me a picture.

You don’t move.

The typing bubble appears again.

Then the next text arrives.

I swear you don’t wanna play that game with me.

Your breathing becomes a little shorter.

The phone vibrates again.

You look.

And your stomach drops harder.

If you’re lying to me I’m going to make you regret it.

Another buzz.

You know exactly what happens when you lie.

Your fingers start trembling.

You type.

I’m not lying.

Three dots appear instantly.

Then:

Then prove it.

Another message.

Or I’ll come there.

Your chest tightens painfully.

Another buzz.

And if I find out you’re there with guys, I swear I’ll drag you out of that place myself.

You stop breathing for a second.

Another message.

You think I won’t?

Your throat closes.

You lock the phone and set it down quickly.

Your voice feels tight.

“I need some air.”

Kelly frowns.

“You okay?”

“Yeah. Just hot.”

You stand up too fast, grabbing your jacket, and push through the crowd toward the door.

The cold air outside hits your face.

You walk past the smokers near the entrance, past the lights, until you reach the darker side of the building where the music becomes muffled through the wall.

Your phone vibrates again.

You don’t want to look.

But you do.

You have 2 minutes to answer me.

Your chest tightens.

Another buzz.

Or I’m coming.

Your breathing speeds up.

You lean your back against the wall.

Another vibration.

And if you embarrass me like this I promise you you’ll wish you hadn’t.

Your vision starts blurring.

Your fingers shake harder.

Your lungs suddenly feel too small.

You try to breathe in.

It doesn’t work.

Your chest stutters.

Air catches halfway in.

You slide slightly down the wall, pressing your hand to your chest.

“Fuck…”

Your phone buzzes again.

You drop it on the ground.

Your breathing breaks into short, shaky gasps.

Your hands tremble uncontrollably.

Your chest feels like it’s closing in on itself.

You try to slow it down.

You can’t.

Another minute passes like that.

Maybe two.

Then the back door of the bar opens.

Footsteps. Heavy, familiar ones.

They stop.

Ash.

He takes in the scene in one glance.

You against the wall. Shoulders shaking. Phone on the ground.

He closes the door behind him, muting the noise from the bar.

He doesn’t rush. Just walks over slowly. He crouches down in front of you, one forearm resting on his knee.

His eyes flick briefly to the phone on the ground, the screen still lighting up with another incoming message.