by the time paige showed up everything was already unraveling. it was past midnight. the front yard of taylors house was still littered with red solo cups and forgotten shoes with the sound of muffled bass thudding from behind the walls. you had barely made it out to the porch before collapsing back onto a wooden bench, tipsy and lightheaded. you clutched your phone like it was a lifeline, squinting at the last text you sent

y/n: hey. can u come get me pls. i shouldn’t be here.

you hadnt meant to text paige or maybe deep down you had

the driveway was only lit but the harsh white of streetlights but when paige pulled up, you recognized her car immediately. she got out, wearing her grey beanie and an expression that was already halfway between concern and regret. she looked tired like she hadnt wanted to come but couldnt say no either

inside the house was still buzzing. paige hesitated at the door then stepped in without knocking. her eyes scanned the crowd, looking for you

instead they landed on taylor. taylor was leaning against the hallway wall with a solo cup in her hand and that smug smile she always wore when she felt like she had the upper hand. her eyes flicked up and down paige before her voice sliced through the air

“well look who crawled out of the past”

paige didnt flinch “im just here for y/n”

taylor crossed her arms “you think she wants you here? she came with me. funny how that works huh?”

people were starting to turn towards them now, sensing something brewing in the tension between them

paige stepped closed with her jaw clenched “she texted me. i dont come here to argue with you taylor.”

“oh like you ever need a reason to butt into her life”

thats when you stumbled in from the kitchen, catching the last part of the exchange “guys stop.”

both of them turned to you. taylors expression hardened with possessiveness while paiges softened with relief. maybe even love but buried deep under laying of everything that went wrong

you looked between them with your heart racing and head spinning “taylor i shouldnt have come. paige.. i didnt know who else to text”

taylor stepped back like your words had slapped her. paige stepped forward with her keys still clutched in her hand “lets go.”

you nodded, letting her loop an arm around you. as she helped you out the door, taylor called out one last thing “shes always gonna run to you isnt she?”

neither if you answered and outside as paige guided you to the car, the silence was heavier than the fight. you leaned against the passenger seat before getting in and whispering “thanks for coming”

paige looked at you with tired but gentle eyes “always.”