You Belong With Me

Too Drunk

Lana POV

The club pulsed around us, the bass reverberating through my chest as I swayed with my friends, our laughter mingling with the upbeat music. We were in our own little world, and for the first time in a while, I felt like I could breathe, like the weight of expectations had lifted, even if just a little."Hey, Lana!" Sarah shouted over the noise, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Remember when you had that huge crush on Wes? You said if you ever got a record deal, you'd tell him!"I felt the blood rush to my face, and before I could stop myself, I choked on my drink. "What? No! I don't remember that!" I sputtered, trying to sound nonchalant, but inside, my heart raced at the sudden rush of memories. That crush had been real, deep, and tangled with so many emotions I'd tried to bury."Oh, come on!" Jen laughed, nudging me with her elbow. "You had the biggest crush on him! You used to write songs about him, and now that you're famous, you could totally slide into his DMs!""Right?" Sarah added, her grin stretching wide. "Like, you could tell him how you felt back then! What's stopping you?"I gulped down more of my drink, hoping it would wash away the embarrassment creeping up my neck. "I have a boyfriend, guys," I replied, trying to inject some confidence into my tone. "And we're happy. Totally happy." The words felt heavy on my tongue, the truth behind them tugging at my heart."Happy?" Jen exclaimed, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Girl, you look miserable when you talk about him! We've all seen you two together. It's like you're stuck in a comfort zone that's making you totally bland!""Bland!" Sarah echoed, throwing her hands up dramatically. "You deserve someone who makes you feel alive, Lana! Not someone who keeps you on a leash."I rolled my eyes, but the truth hung in the air like a weight I couldn't ignore. They weren't wrong. My relationship felt more like a safety net than a passionate connection, and the thought of Wes flickered in the back of my mind like an old film reel.As the night wore on, fueled by laughter and too many drinks, I felt myself spiraling into a warm haze. My thoughts danced erratically, and the world around me blurred. I leaned against the bar, my head spinning slightly as I caught glimpses of my friends chatting and giggling, their joy contagious. "Let's go back to your place!" Sarah suggested, her voice a melody in the chaos of the club. "We can keep the party going! We'll make terrible life choices and laugh about them!"I grinned, unable to resist their energy. "Sure! Let's go!" I felt like a tornado of excitement, swirling through the crowd as we stumbled out of the club, the cool night air refreshing against my flushed skin. When we reached my penthouse, the atmosphere shifted. The laughter became more subdued, more intimate. I led the way inside, and my friends flopped onto the couch, giggling and sharing stories. I poured us more drinks, the alcohol numbing the thoughts that had begun to creep in."Lana, you should call Wes!" Jen urged, her eyes wide with mischief. "Just text him! What's the worst that could happen?""Or go knock on his door!" Sarah chimed in, her laughter echoing through the room. "Tell him how you felt back in the day!""Yeah, right!" I laughed, but a part of me was already considering it, the alcohol loosening the restraints I'd placed on my feelings. "He wouldn't care about some silly crush I had in high school!""Why not?" Jen pressed. "You're famous now! You have a right to tell him!"I bit my lip, the thrill of the idea igniting something reckless inside me. "You really think I should?" I asked, the thought swirling in my hazy mind like a bright light in the dark."Absolutely! You're Lana freaking Evans!" Sarah cheered, raising her glass in a toast. "Go get him, girl!"In that moment, emboldened by liquid courage and the warmth of my friends' encouragement, I made up my mind. "Okay, I'm doing it!" I declared, swaying slightly on my feet. "I'm gonna tell him!"My friends erupted in cheers, and I stumbled toward the door, my heart racing. I felt like a teenager again, driven by pure impulse and a need to escape the confines of my current reality. The night air was cool against my flushed skin as I made my way down the hall to Wes's apartment.As I approached his door, my heart thudded in my chest. What was I even going to say? Would I tell him about the crush I had? About how I still felt that pull toward him, even now? My thoughts spiraled as I raised my hand and knocked.The sound echoed in the quiet hallway, and I held my breath, the anticipation buzzing through me. After a moment, the door swung open, and there stood Wes, looking surprised but undeniably handsome. "Lana?" he asked, his voice laced with confusion. "What are you doing here?"I blinked, trying to piece together my thoughts, but the alcohol fogging my brain made it difficult. "I... I wanted to tell you something," I stammered, my mouth suddenly dry."What is it?" He stepped aside, gesturing for me to come in. I stumbled slightly, catching myself as I crossed the threshold. The warmth of his apartment enveloped me, and I felt a rush of familiarity wash over me."I, um, liked you," I blurted out, the words tumbling out before I could stop them. "I mean, I liked you a lot back in the day. Like, really liked you."Wes's expression shifted, surprise morphing into something softer. "You liked me?" he asked, the disbelief clear in his voice. "I thought that was just a rumor.""Rumor? No!" I laughed, the sound slightly manic as I leaned against the wall for support. "I was obsessed! I used to write songs about you, Wes! You were my muse! I wanted to tell you if I ever got a record deal."He took a step closer, his eyes narrowing slightly as he searched my face. "Why didn't you ever tell me?"I shrugged, the weight of my confession settling in the air between us. "I was scared, I guess? And then you went off to play football, and I... I didn't think you'd care. I thought I'd just be the girl who was too scared to say anything."He chuckled softly, and the sound sent a thrill through me. "I care, Lana. I always have." I felt a warmth spread through my chest, but the alcohol clouded my thoughts, making it hard to fully process his words. "But now... I have a boyfriend, you know? And he's fine, but..." My words trailed off as I waved my hand dismissively. "It's complicated.""Complicated how?" Wes pressed, leaning in as if he were trying to understand. "Just... he's not you!" I blurted, feeling bold and reckless. "You make me feel things, Wes. And right now, I don't know what to do with that."Wes's expression softened, and I could see the flicker of something in his eyes—hope? Desire? I couldn't tell. My heart raced as I leaned in, the distance between us shrinking. "I don't want to mess up what we have, but I feel so lost," I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. "I don't want to forget how it felt to be me—how it felt to be with you."As the reality of my words sank in, I realized I might be crossing a line I couldn't uncross. But right now, all I could think about was how much I wanted to bridge the gap between us, to chase away the shadows of doubt that had lingered for so long.