Tipsy & Trembling

02. The party

The party.

Lights are flashing and blazing everywhere, bodies jumbled and moving around to the music while people cram more alcohol down their throats. Henry scans through the crowd, looking out for Alex. His agency has forced him to come to Alex's new years party. Even though he protested saying they were on better terms and there was no need it was not up for debate.

Henry wasn't sure how he was supposed to avoid Alex at his own party, but there were over a hundred people so he might just have a chance. That hope was short lived as their eyes lock from across the room. Two girls were dancing up on alex, and his stomach twisted with regret. He should've said he was sick or something. In all honesty he really hadn't done everything in his power to avoid this party, and now he wished he had. Alex waves at him, giving the girls brief apologies before twisting through the crowd and coming his way.

"I'm so glad you made it! I wasn't sure if you got the invite. You know with your phone broken and everything." Alex says, breath heaving still from all the dancing.

The smell of liquor was dripping from his words and Henry doesn't meet his eyes.

"Come on! Lets dance." He grabs henry and a bottle of booze, pulling him into the crowd before he can protest.

He was so worried Alex would see right through his excuses or even hate him for that night. He should've pulled away, but Alex seemed to have forgotten all about it. Confusing and nervousness settle in the pit of his stomach and he tries to drown it out with the liquor.

Alex grabs his hips moving them to the music. Henry makes a choked sound. "You're so stiff! Loosen up!" He teases, shouting over the music and laughing happily.

By the time the countdown came Henrys worries seemed to have faded away.

"3..2...1... HAPPY NEW YEAR!"

The crowd erupted with cheers and joyful sound and this random girl crushed her mouth against Alex's. Henry flinched, the sight ripping his heart from his chest and throwing it on the floor for everyone to stomp on. And again when a second girl pulls Alex into a sloppy kiss. He didn't even hesitate or pull away, only swayed slightly still a little tipsy.

Henry disappeared into the crowd and Alex tries to follow him but looses him. Half an hour later he finds Henry outside in the snow, underneath a tree.

"Why are you out here, it's freezing?" Alex calls out.

Henry doesn't turn around. "I needed some air." Henry's voice was thick again, the way it was at the shoot and Alex immediately knew something was wrong.

"Did I do something wrong?" He asks moving closer.

Henry huffs out a pained laugh. "No."

"Talk to me. We're friends right?" Alex moves closer, grabbing his shoulder and forcing him to face him.

"Christ alex!" He tries to pull away. "Don't look at me like that."

"Just talk to me and I'll leave you alone." Alex protests.

"Drop it. Please ale-"

"Henry stop being so di-"

They go back and forth until henry raises his voice. "My phone wasn't broken!"

Betrayal coats Alex's expression and Henry wonders what Alex would've said had he responded to his texts. Would he have told him how disgusting he was for being that close? Would he have asked him to forget? Fear is welling up in his chest now that Alex knows he saw the texts.

"You lied." Pain is oozing from Alex's tone. "Was it because of.." he can't even bring himself to say it outloud. How does one even say it? The intimate moment they shared. Eyes boring into each-others soul, gently cradling and clinging to one another body?