Toronto, 2000 — The Party

The music was pounding, your cup was never empty, and your laughter was getting louder every time one of your friends egged you on. You weren’t drunk yet, but you were on your way — and you knew it.

And Hayden knew it too.

He’d been watching from across the room all night, blue eyes locked on you while you very deliberately avoided his gaze. You hadn’t spoken since the fight before the party — about Australia, about him leaving, about how unfair it felt.

So instead of crying, you drank.

When you started pouring yourself another round, Hayden finally moved. His tall frame cut through the crowd, jaw tight, eyes sharp. Before you even realized it, his hand wrapped around your wrist, steady but firm.

“Enough,” he said.

You yanked your arm back, frowning. “What’s your problem?”

“You. Acting like this.”

“I’m fine,” you snapped, tossing back the rest of your drink in defiance. The burn in your throat almost made you wince, but you held his gaze with stubborn fire. “See? Totally fine.”

Hayden’s jaw flexed. Without another word, he took the cup from your hand and set it on the counter, ignoring your protest. Then he leaned down close, voice low. “We’re talking. Now.”

Before you could argue, he guided you through the crowd, his hand warm on your lower back. You resisted at first, muttering under your breath, but the seriousness in his eyes kept you moving.

He pushed open a door at the end of the hall, revealing a quiet den with the lights off, and closed it behind you. The muffled bass thudded faintly through the walls, but in here, it was just the two of you.

You crossed your arms, glaring. “You can’t just drag me around like that.”

“Maybe not,” he said, running a hand through his hair. “But I’m not gonna stand there watching you drink yourself stupid just because you’re mad at me.”

Your chest tightened, but you rolled your eyes. “I’m not mad. I’m celebrating. With my friends. Something you won’t be here for, so—excuse me if I don’t feel like babysitting your feelings tonight.”

The words stung more than you intended, but you didn’t take them back.

Hayden stared at you, hurt flashing in his eyes. He took a breath, trying to steady himself. “You think this doesn’t kill me too? Leaving you? You think I don’t wanna just forget the whole thing and stay?”

You looked away, stubbornness faltering. “Then why don’t you?”

“Because this is everything I’ve worked for. And because… because I want a future with you that’s bigger than this town, this party, this—” He gestured around, frustration spilling out. “But if you keep shutting me out, I don’t know if we’ll even have a future.”