Placebo Feelings

Chapter 3 Falling again, I need a pick-me-up

Music reverberated through the cramped living room, the walls amplifying the cacophony, creating an illusion of deafening volume. Bodies swayed to the rhythm in the centre, transforming the room into a sweaty, pulsating mess. Consumed by the enigmatic encounter with Kim earlier, Nate felt a growing unease in the stifling atmosphere.

He already had a few drinks, but now he craved more, the desire to numb his racing mind becoming irresistible. The dense, humid air made the walls feel like they were closing in on him. He needed space or perhaps another shot. Or both.

Pushing his way through the writhing crowd, Nate stumbled into the cramped kitchen, where an array of alcoholic beverages beckoned from the countertop. Tequila. Perfect. He poured himself a shot and downed it swiftly, wincing at the familiar burn. He needed to find Kim and ensure that she was safe. She had vanished into the party, mentioning needing to do something, and Nate was growing increasingly anxious about her absence.

Ascending the stairs, he began his search, checking the upper floor and venturing to the basement. But there was no sign of her. He was about to head outside to look for her there when he caught a glimpse of Ty. The two exchanged a complicated handshake, a blend of nostalgia and tension in the air.

"You here alone?" Ty inquired.

Nate shook his head, "No, just... Please stay away from her." Nate's voice was tinged with frustration. Dealing with Ty was becoming intolerable, and he questioned why he still considered him a friend.

Ty's demeanour shifted slightly as Kim was mentioned in the conversation. "Kim?"

"Yeah," Nate repeated, his irritation apparent.

Ty's lips curled into a sly grin. "Aw, come on, man, I didn't mean anything by what happened the other night. I'm sorry."

Nate, tired of the endless drama surrounding Ty, shook his head. "She doesn't need you all over her."

Ty's grin faded, replaced by a moment of contemplation. "You just want her all to yourself, don't you, Nate?" He teased, but there was a hint of truth in his words.

"I just want what's best for her. You are not what's best for her," Nate's voice was firm.

Ty's expression shifted to annoyance. "I see the way you look at her. You're clinging onto her like a desperate little bitch."

Nate's patience waned. "Fuck you, Ty. Did it ever occur to you that maybe I want a friend? One that isn't a total douchebag all the time. All you talk about is sex; there's no conversing with you about anything else."

"Fuck you! We've been best friends since the third grade; You signed up for this shit; I haven't changed since we met, brother."

"We were best friends, Ty. I really don't think we are anymore," Nate stated definitively. "And if you still think we are, then you're delusional. You changed, and I don't like the new you. So, I'm going to go. Unless you feel like punching me again?"

Surprisingly, Ty seemed to deflate after the exchange. "Alright, bro," he mumbled, then wandered off to join a group in the corner of the kitchen smoking weed.

Nate sighed, his chest deflating; that confrontation had gone better than expected. He had half-expected a physical altercation. He opened the sliding glass door to the patio, and the cool night air washed over him, blending with the scent of weed. He heard voices, one of which sounded like Kim's, and he started in that direction.

Just before he rounded the corner of the brick wall, he hesitated, registering a deep voice speaking to her. What he saw made his stomach sink. A man ran his hands up Kim's sides, pulling her close. An inexplicable pang of jealousy and anger surged within Nate. Why was he feeling this way? Kim wasn't his, and he shouldn't be reacting like this. He had to stop these thoughts. He shook his head to clear them, retreating into the house, leaving Kim behind.