blood red // sal fisher x reader

always, i'll care

I'll be better than I was before
Despite every text of yours ignored
Will you call me still, just to hear my voice?
I swear, always, I'll care

The moment you saw him, it was like everything stopped. It didn't feel like things were moving in slow motion, but rather like they weren't moving at all. Your tongue felt heavy in your mouth, lips parting and closing over and over as you failed to get a word out.

"James?" You found your voice at last. It left you in a whisper, body unmoving as you watched his silhouette approach your group quickly.

Your brain screamed at you to react, to untangle yourself from Sal's embrace, to detach your fingers that were so tightly clasped around his. But you were frozen. James wasn't supposed to show up until Monday, that still gave you two more days to deal with your situation. But it was long overdue now, there was no running or hiding from it anymore.

You shouldn't have been surprised that he had come earlier at all, he had always been one for big love gestures, like showing up at your school in his brand new car to pick you up and take you out on a date without a heads up. You used to love it back then, but now it was just an inconvenience.

The look on his face, though, was something you couldn't say you were accustomed to. In your two years of relationship, you had never seen James look so angry as he did just now. Actually, you had never seen him angry at all. His face had a furious expression to it and if looks could kill, Sal would most definitely be dead.

From a distance you could already notice his clenched jaw, the fear within you growing stronger at each step he took in your direction. You weren't afraid of him per se, but the consequences of your previous acts; That was enough of an encouragement as you finally came to, ripping Sal's arms off your waist and running off to another area so you wouldn't drag anyone else into the messy fight that was bound to happen. You knew James would follow you, and hoped Sal wouldn't.

When he tried to run after you, a hand on his chest stopped him on his tracks and he followed said hand with his eyes until they were met with an upset-looking Ash, shaking her head no. "Don't."

"Who is that!? Why did she run!?" Sal looked around, trying to find you only to notice those mere seconds had been enough to lose sight of you. He sighed, turning to Ash again. "Well? Are you going to say something?"

"Just listen to me, Sal." Ash sighed too, her hand finally left his chest but grabbed onto his arm instead. "Please, don't go looking for her."

He ripped her hand off his arm, regretting his manners as soon as he saw the hurt in her eyes, but too worked up to care. Something was clearly going on and Ash obviously knew what it was, and the fact that she was refusing to tell him made Sal angry beyond belief. "Give me one good reason. I swear to God, Ashley, if you keep–"

"His name's James." Larry finally spoke, overpowering Ash's voice before she could give another half answer. "Y/N's boyfriend."

The following seconds were agonizing as both Larry and Ash waited for a reaction. They waited for Sal to scream, ask if he'd heard them wrong, if they were fucking with him, maybe even throw his drink. But nothing. He just stood there, unblinking, looking absolutely unbothered. Larry was sure he wasn't even breathing.

"Sally," He patted his friend on the shoulder. "You okay, buddy?"

That little pat was all it took for Sal to snap out of his numbness, the realization of what he'd just learned finally hit him after a few seconds in denial and he took off running after you, dropping his beer bottle as he went.

It shattered on the floor, one of the large shards missing Ash's bare leg by centimeters. She squealed, holding tightly onto Larry's arm, looking at him with panic written all over her teary eyes. She searched his face for any indication of what they should do next.