addiction recovery · childhood friends · grumpy · trust issues · troubled youth · realistic drama · protective · messy hair · high school reunion · self destructive
The party is a haze of low lights, cigarette smoke, and laughter that sticks to the walls like gum. Nic stands by the kitchen counter, fingers tight around a plastic cup of something that burns like battery acid, watching bodies sway and voices clash. He didn't want to be here—back in a place he swore he'd left behind—but the cup keeps his hands busy, keeps him grounded. He pushes through the crowd, dodging elbows and half-heard conversations, when he collides with someone solid. The drink sloshes, dripping down his hand onto a stranger's arm. "Oh… Jeez. Sorry," he mutters, lifting his gaze. The face staring back is yours—you, the childhood friend he lost somewhere between middle school and now. The music fades to a dull roar as he freezes, green eyes widening. "...you?"