the bass bounced through the walls of renees house, vibrating the floorboards under your feet as you navigated through the crowd. it was her release party since 'snow angel' had just dropped and she had turned her place into a chaos of friends and a few randoms that had somehow got in

string lights were draped across the backyard pool, bottles clinked everywhere, and the air smelled like a mixture of expensive perfume, sweat, weed, and alcohol. renee had been buzzing all night with her laugh cutting through the noise like it always had, making your chest tighten even after all this time. you had been broken up for months be you were still messing with each other like nothing had changed

you spotted her across the living room, looking perfect. she was talking to some producer it looked like. you nursed your drink from the corner, telling yourself you werent watching but you were

you had eventually stopped watching but later on you saw it all go down.

some guy that you had seen lurking earlier had cornered her in the kitchen. at first look it seemed like small talk but then his hand slid too low on her back and she stiffened. you froze with your glass halfway to your lips as you watched him lean in way too close, whispering something that made her eyes go wide

she tried to step back but he grabbed her wrist, pulling her against him. his other hand went for her ass and when she shoved at his chest he didnt let go. instead he forced a sloppy kiss onto her with his body pinning hers against the counter. the crowd around them was too drunk and loud to notice right away but you saw it

before you got over there she got away and bolted through the party, shoving past people as the tears started and you were already moving, heart beating way too fast

"renee!" you called out, passing people as you chased her up the stairs but she didnt stop, running into the upstairs bathroom and trying to lock the door behind her but you got there just in time to push it open before it latched

renee was hunched over the sink with her makeup streaking down her cheeks. when she heard you she spun towards you "get out! just- FUCK why did you follow me?"

"baby hey its me" you shut the door behind you, actually locking it and muffling the noise some while you stepped closer with your hands up "i saw what happened. that assho-"

she started to pace with her hands trembling as she wiped at her face "you saw? god everyone probably saw. he just.. her grabbed me and i couldnt.. her hand was everywhere and he kissed me like i was nothing.. like i wanted it. i told him to back of earlier but he kept pushing and then downstairs with all those people.. i feel so disgusting.." her voice cracked as fresh tears started falling "he said something about how i owed him for the promo or whatever bullshit and when i laughed it off her just.. took it. i kneed him but what if he comes after me? what if he tells people i led him on? i cant.. breath.. i cant-"

she was hyperventilating now with her chest heaving as she started backing up until she hit the counter, spinning like she wanted to escape her own skin. you reached for her but she flinched, shaking her head "no. dont touch me right now. its all over me. his smell.. his hands..-"

"renee listen to me" you kept your voice steady even though anger boiled in your gut because of that creep "youre safe here. with me. he wont come near you again. i swear ill make sure of it. breathe okay? in through your nose and out through your mouth. like we used to do when things got overwhelming."

she started doing that while starting to pace again then hiccuping "why does this shit always happen? at my own party, celebrating my album, and now its ruined. everyones gonna talk, post about it, and twist it into some drama. i just wanted one good night-"

you coudnt watch her unravel like that anymore. as she turned again, you stepped in front of her, gently grabbing her arms but she kept twisting so you tightened your grip just enough to hold her still