Unseen | Ghost x Soap

Chapter 37: Sarah

Ghost's POV:

Soap's laughter echoed across the room, and I couldn't help but smile despite myself. He had that effect on people, his joy infectious. Sarah leaned in closer, saying something that made him throw his head back and laugh even harder. My jaw tightened involuntarily.

I took a deep breath, focusing on the floor beneath my feet. The patterns in the worn wood seemed suddenly fascinating, and I let my mind drift, the noise of the bar fading into the background. My thoughts wandered to the past few weeks, the unspoken tension between Soap and me. His touch, his words, the way he looked at me—all of it played on a loop in my mind. I was losing focus, the weight of my own thoughts pulling me under.

When I finally looked up, Soap and Sarah were gone. Panic surged through me. I scanned the bar quickly, my heart pounding. They couldn't have gone far, but in their state, anything could happen.

I pushed off the wall and made my way through the crowd, searching for any sign of them. My chest tightened with each passing second, my mind racing with possibilities.

I found the rest of the team near the bar, their laughter and conversation a stark contrast to the anxiety gripping me. "Hey, have you seen Soap and Sarah?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.

They looked around, shrugging. "Nope," Gaz said, shaking his head. "Haven't seen them in a bit."

Roach looked at me, concern flickering in his eyes. "You think something's up?"

"I don't know," I admitted, my mind racing. "They were here a minute ago."

I spent the next ten minutes sitting at the edge of the booth, my eyes darting around the bar. Each passing second felt like an eternity. I couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong.

Finally, I saw Soap emerge from the bathroom, his steps unsteady. His face was flushed, his eyes wide and a little unfocused. He looked shocked, like he had seen something he couldn't quite process.

I was on my feet in an instant, crossing the room to reach him. "Johnny," I said, my voice low and urgent. "Where were you? Are you okay?"

He blinked at me, his expression dazed. "Yeah, yeah, I'm... I'm fine," he stammered, though his words were slurred.

"What happened?" I pressed, guiding him to a quieter corner of the bar. "You look like you've seen a ghost."

He laughed weakly at that, leaning heavily against the wall. "Sarah... she, uh, tried to... you know."

My stomach clenched. "What do you mean?"

He took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. "She tried to come onto me. Really strong. It was... a lot."

I felt a surge of anger and protectiveness. "Did she hurt you?"

He shook his head, his movements slow and uncoordinated. "No, no. Just... caught me off guard."

"We need to get you out of here," I said, my voice firm. "You need to sleep this off."

He nodded, looking relieved. I turned to the rest of the team, who were now watching us with curious expressions. "I'm taking Soap back to base," I announced. "He's had enough for tonight."

Gaz nodded, a knowing smile on his face. "Take care of him, Ghost."

I led Soap out of the bar, his arm slung over my shoulder for support. He stumbled slightly, his steps unsteady. The cool night air hit us as we stepped outside, a welcome contrast to the stuffy warmth of the bar.

"Come on, let's get you to the car," I said, guiding him towards the parking lot.

In the car, Soap leaned back against the seat, his eyes half-closed. "Thanks, Ghost," he murmured, his voice barely audible.

"Don't mention it," I replied, starting the engine. "Just rest. We'll be back soon."

As I drove, the silence between us was comfortable, the hum of the engine and the occasional bump in the road the only sounds. After a few minutes, Soap stirred, his eyes opening slightly.

"Ghost," he said hesitantly. "About what happened..."

I glanced at him, my grip on the steering wheel tightening. "Yeah?"

He took a deep breath, his words slow and deliberate. "Sarah... she tried to kiss me. Said she wanted more than just being friends."

"And what did you say?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.

He hesitated, his gaze fixed on the passing scenery outside the window. "I told her I had someone else."

My heart skipped a beat. "Someone else?"

He nodded, a small smile playing at his lips. "Yeah. Didn't tell her who, though."

I grinned, a mix of relief and something warmer spreading through me. "Should I be jealous?"

He laughed, the sound light and a little shaky. "Maybe. Guess you'll just have to find out."

We fell into a comfortable silence again, the tension easing as we drove through the quiet streets. Despite the chaos of the night, it felt like we were in our own little world, the connection between us stronger than ever.

"So," I said after a while, my tone playful. "Did you actually tell her off, or did you just run away?"

He groaned, running a hand through his hair. "Don't remind me. I think I just mumbled something and stumbled to the bathroom."

I chuckled, shaking my head. "Smooth, Johnny. Real smooth."

He punched my arm lightly, his cheeks flushing. "Shut up, Ghost."

We spent the rest of the drive teasing each other, the banter flowing easily. But beneath the surface, there was a seriousness, an unspoken understanding that things had changed between us. The line between teasing and something more had blurred, and neither of us seemed eager to redraw it.

Eventually, the base came into view, the familiar sight bringing a sense of comfort and relief. As I parked the car, I turned to Soap, a grin tugging at my lips. "You ready to sleep this off?"