The Attachment

Chapter 3

A/N: this chapter contains mentions and descriptions of anxiety, domestic violence, blood, etc. it you feel this may be triggering to you please stop. I'll put deep descriptions in italics so you can probably skip over those parts if you wish. Read responsibly.

"Come on! Come party with us it'll be fun. I promise!" Jc was already on the way to being tipsy. His face went out of frame of the FaceTime call, and then popped back in just as quickly, "It's like three minutes from you apartment. Come have a drink with us. We're leaving for Montana tomorrow. You'll miss me when I'm gone." I give in like I usually do when he asks and I get ready and leave, taking an Uber to the club.

When I get there the music is thumping, there are sweaty bodies rubbing against one another and the atmosphere is hot and clammy. I make my way to where my friends said they'll be and I'm greeted to hugs and cheers and a lot of drunken slurs.

I was sitting on the booth sofa listening to Will slur about how he could fight Dyl. "You're a fucking twig bro, there's no way you can pack a punch on Dyl." Kian laughs. Oscar is chatting up some chick in the corner and Nezza and Crawford are on the dance floor getting a bit hot and steamy. Kevin and I are laughing until we can't breathe at the way Will is convinced he could take any of them on in a fight. "Dude you can't even take Reggie on in a fight," Tara laughs loudly. I'd never met her before this night but she seemed like a really cool girl and she had impeccable style.

I look at the collection of alcohol on the little table and realise that all that'd been ordered is Vodka so I get up telling the group I'm going to get some tequila at the bar. A few offered to come with me but I say I'm fine. I weave my way through the crowd thanking the heavens that being as short as I was it wasn't a difficult task.

When I get to the bar it's very busy so I lean against the varnished countertop and wait my turn. I feel someone come up close behind me and grab my upper arm harshly turning me around. "Is this what you do now? Party like a fucking slut?"

When I hear his voice and see his face it all goes black. I suddenly forget how to breathe and my heart feels like it's crawling up my chest. "Did you think you could fucking hide from me so long? I told you I'll find you, I told you watch your fucking back." His nails dig into my arm and his other hand grips my other wrist. "You got nothing to say?"

Suddenly he's being knocked away and a tall person is slipping in between him and I, "Get the fuck off her." A low deep voice rumbles.

"Who the fuck are you?"

"It doesn't matter. You don't put your hands on her every again, or you're a dead man." Security shows up at that point and escorts the ghost of my past away. My blurred vision begins to focus and suddenly the hot air becomes boiling. I need to simply get the fuck out of there. I push pass the stranger and bolt for the door. I just need fresh air. I just need to feel some breeze on my skin. The outside air hits me like a freight train and I almost fall over. I lean against the side of the building with my eyes closed as I try to slow my breathing. I haven't seen him in six months. Not after what he did. Not after how he left me. My heart slowly comes back to its normal pace and my chest unclenches. "Are you okay?"

My eyes flutter open at the sound of the stranger who came to my rescue's voice. And it's him. With his bright blue eyes. "Colby." His name leaves my lips as nothing but a whisper.

I rub my temples as I regain my balance. "Thank you."

"Are you okay?" He asks again.

I shrug and fish my phone from my purse.

You: too many people. Think I'm heading home. Not feeling it tonight.
Jc: are you okay? Do you want me to come with?
You: no worries, we'll talk tomorrow. Have fun