Under the Grit

Tears Dry On Their Own

The bathroom door creaked as Evangeline pulled it open, the sound almost drowned by the rhythmic pulse of music and low chatter spilling in from the bar. She stepped into the dimly lit hallway, smoothing down her dress—a soft, black velvet that hugged her frame in all the right places—feeling the slight weight of the night settle over her. Her fingers instinctively went to the necklace Ben had given her, tracing its familiar contours, a small anchor in the sea of her swirling thoughts.

The evening had gone better than she'd expected, much better in fact. After their brief but tense moment at the bar, Ben had softened. They'd talked, his jealousy simmering down to something manageable, though not entirely gone. He had wrapped his arms around her later that night on the dance floor, pulling her close to him in a way that reminded her of all the reasons they worked so well together. His hand had rested low on her back, their bodies moving in sync to the beat of a slower song that had come on after the band's high-energy set.

She'd felt safe in his arms again, the tension between them finally starting to ebb. As they danced, Ben had pressed a kiss to her temple, murmuring something about how he hadn't meant to let his insecurities get the better of him. In that moment, Evangeline had smiled, her cheek brushing against his chest as she leaned into him, their silent reconciliation sealed in the gentle sway of their movements.

But there was still a lingering energy in the air, one that Evangeline couldn't quite shake. Ben had loosened up—he'd even laughed with her and her friends after another drink—but the earlier tension had left an imprint, faint but present. It was in the way his eyes had flickered over to the stage every so often, as if checking to see where Arthur was, and in the slight tightening of his grip whenever someone looked her way for too long.

Still, she was grateful. They had made up, and the night had returned to something resembling fun. Evangeline had felt the knot of anxiety in her chest loosen as she and Ben danced together, their connection reaffirmed, if not entirely mended. The music had filled the space between them, and for a little while, everything had felt right.

Now, as she stepped out of the bathroom, Evangeline took a deep breath, letting the familiar sounds of the bar wash over her. The muted bass of the next song vibrated through the floor beneath her heels, and she could hear her friends laughing somewhere nearby. She adjusted her dress one last time, feeling its soft fabric slide beneath her fingers, and shifted her necklace back into place—a tiny, subtle reminder of the man waiting for her just beyond the hallway.

As Evangeline stepped fully into the dimly lit hallway, the cool air from the bar brushed against her skin, a sharp contrast to the warmth of the crowded dance floor. She felt a sense of relief wash over her, eager to rejoin her friends and Ben, hoping the rest of the night would be smooth. She ran a hand through her hair, adjusting a stray strand that had fallen loose, her fingers grazing the smooth fabric of her emerald dress. It was a modest but elegant choice, one that had made her feel confident throughout the evening. Her heels clicked lightly on the floor as she started forward, her green eyes scanning the room for her group.

Just as she rounded the corner from the bathroom, she collided with someone.

"Sorry!" she blurted out instinctively, her heart lurching as she took a step back.

The girl she had bumped into looked equally startled, she had bumped into had soft brown hair that fell in loose, effortless waves around her shoulders, catching the dim light of the hallway. Her brown eyes were warm but sharp, a glint of surprise flashing in them as she met Evangeline's gaze. Her tan skin was smooth, save for a small, distinctive beauty mark on her cheek that gave her face a striking character. Dressed in a fitted black leather jacket and dark jeans, she had an understated confidence about her, the kind that made her blend in and stand out at the same time. Her name was on the tip of her tongue, but she couldn't seem to find it.