The thump of bass vibrated through Y/N's bones, a rhythm that matched the frantic pounding of her heart. Every sip of tequila brought a fleeting sense of freedom, a temporary escape from the constant ache in her chest, the one that bloomed whenever Theo's name crossed her mind. Tonight, she'd drowned herself in the anonymity of the crowded club, the flashing lights blurring the line between reality and a temporary, manufactured euphoria.
Theo. The name was a whisper in her drunken haze, a ghost haunting her every thought. His older brother, her best friend's confidante, a constant presence in her life, his presence an ever-present reminder of everything she couldn't have.
Suddenly, the music faded, replaced by the relentless ache in her head. The world seemed to spin, the club floor tilting precariously beneath her feet. She needed to get out, to escape the suffocating weight of her own emotions.
She stumbled out into the cool night air, the city lights blurring into an impressionist painting. Her legs wouldn't quite cooperate, each step a clumsy dance with the pavement. It was then, amidst the hazy, drunken fog, that she realized she had no idea where she was. All she knew was that she needed to get home, to the familiar comfort of her own bed.
A flash of intuition, fueled by her desperate desire for solace, led her to Theo's apartment building. It was a subconscious act, born from years of knowing his address, of being privy to the intricacies of his life.
She stood at his door, the familiar green paint a beacon in the darkness. Her hand, shaky and unsteady, reached out, rapping on the wood with a muffled, disjointed rhythm. The sound echoed in the quiet hallway, each knock a plea for salvation.
Theo opened the door, his surprise evident in his wide eyes. He saw the telltale signs of her condition – the flushed cheeks, the unsteady gait, the scent of tequila clinging to her like a second skin. His first instinct was to usher her inside, to shield her from the harshness of the night. But he knew, in the quiet depths of his heart, her presence was a dangerous temptation he couldn't resist.
'Y/N,' he breathed, his voice a mixture of concern and something else, something he couldn't quite name.
'Theo,' she murmured, her voice thick with sleepiness.
He stood back, allowing her to stumble past him into the cool, dimly lit apartment. He watched her, a silent observer, as she stumbled towards his bedroom.
She didn't even bother with the lights. She threw herself onto his bed, the soft mattress swallowing her whole.
'Just for a minute,' she mumbled, as if to an invisible companion.
He hesitated, his hands itching to reach out, to pull her closer, to cradle her in his arms and hold her until the morning. But the thought of her vulnerability, the vulnerability he knew he could exploit, filled him with guilt.
He gently pulled the blanket over her, the warmth of the fabric enveloping her small frame, the scent of her soft linen sheets filling his senses. He could feel his heart pounding in his chest, an erratic beat that echoed the chaos in his head. He wanted more than anything to lay down next to her, to feel her warmth against his skin, but the weight of his feelings, a weight he hadn't dared to acknowledge, held him back.
He leaned down, kissing her head, a soft, chaste touch that spoke volumes of the emotions he couldn't express.
'I'm just going to the couch,' he said, his voice a strained whisper,
He turned, making his way to the sofa, his steps heavy with unspoken longing. He couldn't bear to watch her sleep, to feel the ache of his desire grow with every passing moment.
