1974 || 5SOS

Chapter 8

Scarlett

The warehouse was alive, pulsing with the beat of music that thudded through my body and vibrated up through the soles of my platform shoes. Strands of colored lights were strung high above, casting shifting shades of red, blue, and gold that danced over the crowd. The air was thick with the earthy scent of marijuana, mingling with the sour tang of spilled beer and the faint aroma of incense that someone must have lit nearby. It was the kind of atmosphere that blurred the edges of reality, making everything feel a little freer, a little wilder.

The bass thrummed deep in my chest, every beat a low-pitched promise that ran through my veins like a secret. The crowd was a living thing, surging and shifting, and each body was both an obstacle and a cocoon. As we swayed in time to the music, flashes of neon reflected off sweat-slicked skin and heavy-lidded eyes that caught mine, electric, like they all knew the version of me I was becoming.

With Kitty's arm looped through mine, she led me deeper into the heart of the party, with Ashton and Calum close behind us. I could feel Ashton's gaze lingering, a silent thrill that seemed to follow me wherever I went. My pulse quickened under his attention, though I tried to keep my expression casual, taking in everything around me.

"Crazy, right?" Ashton's voice was low beside my ear, somehow reaching me through the wall of sound.

"Insane," I replied, striving to keep my voice steady, even as the rush of the moment made it hard to hide my excitement. It was like stepping into another world—one that felt boundless, electric.

Kitty grinned, giving my arm a little squeeze as she leaned in, her voice dripping with enthusiasm. "This is it, Scar! The real deal—no rules, no one to tell us what we can or can't do. Just us and the music."

I laughed, letting myself get swept up in her energy, feeling my body loosen as I moved in time with the beat. I was always careful, always in control, but here, now, I felt that last bit of restraint slip away, replaced by something wild and new. The freedom of it was intoxicating.

Ashton moved closer, his eyes meeting mine with that mischievous glint I was beginning to recognize. "You know," he murmured, "I think you're full of surprises."

"Maybe I am," I replied, feeling a playful spark ignite in my chest. I didn't care about holding back tonight; I was ready to embrace the thrill of the moment. For once, it felt good to throw caution to the wind.

Kitty nudged me with her shoulder, a knowing smile on her face. "Oh, I think tonight's going to be a night we won't forget."

Looking around at the faces, the lights, and the movement—a sea of strangers who all felt like friends for one night only—I knew I was exactly where I needed to be.

Kitty pulled me into the thrumming crowd toward the edge where a bar glowed with neon lights. "Let's get shots!" she yelled over the noise, her excitement infectious. I nodded, adrenaline coursing through me as I followed closely behind her. I could feel Ashton's hand gently brushing my waist, a soft but possessive touch that sent a thrill through me.

When we reached the bar, the bartender greeted us with a grin. Kitty leaned over the counter, her dirty blonde hair cascading like a waterfall. "Three tequila shots, please!" she shouted, her enthusiasm cutting through the music.

Ashton's voice was close, and when he spoke, it felt like a secret: "You're different tonight, you know that?"

I met his gaze, half-smiling. "Maybe this is who I really am."

He tilted his head, eyes narrowing as though trying to figure me out. "Then I want to know everything about her."

Before I could respond, the bartender slid three shot glasses filled with clear liquid our way. Kitty grinned, grabbing one and raising it in a toast. "To big parties! Because they're more intimate." She sent me a wink.