1974 || 5SOS

Chapter 9

Scarlett

The energy in the warehouse party began to wane, the once-thumping bass fading to a dull thrum that struggled to compete with the laughter and the clinking of bottles. The air was thick with the mingled scents of sweat, spilled beer, and a hint of incense, wrapping us in a hazy cocoon that dulled the edges of reality. Kitty was still buzzing from the excitement, her vibrant outfit a riot of colors that caught the fading neon lights like a beacon. As I twirled next to her, I caught a glimpse of Ashton leaning against the wall, his gaze fixed on me, a half-smoked joint dangling lazily from his fingers, smoke curling around him like a lazy mist.

"Alright, party girls," Calum called out, clapping to get our attention. "Let's hit the bar and rescue Luke and Michael before they drown in closing time."

"Yes!" Kitty flipped her hair with a flourish. "Party's not over until we say it is."

In the thrill of the night, Luke had slipped my mind. But the reminder of him was like a gust of cold wind threading through the warmth Ashton's arm wrapping around me. Guilt churned low in my stomach, tangled with something else—something closer to exhilaration, the kind that only seemed to find me here, with these people. I'd always been a good girl; how easy it was to let that slip away.

"Let's go!" He grinned, an infectious energy radiating from him. Calum grabbed Kitty's hand, leading us along as we weaved through the thrumming crowd, our laughter rising above the fading music. The cool night air hit us like a splash of ice water as we stepped outside, a refreshing contrast to the stifling heat of the party.

As we stumbled outside, the distant strains of The Grateful Dead floated from a passing car radio, merging with the scent of the city—a mix of salt air, weed, and leftover rain on the pavement. I took a deep breath, letting it fill my lungs, as if breathing in San Francisco itself could somehow settle the storm inside me. I couldn't ignore the way my pulse jumped just thinking of Luke. But with Ashton's arm around me, my thoughts blurred and shifted, unable to settle. It was like standing on the edge of something, the feeling that whatever happened next would change things in ways I couldn't yet see.

I blew out a deep breath, and looked over at Kitty—blue eyes glittering in the city lights, her smile bright as if she was born for this. As if San Francisco itself had created her, Bridget Bardot and Farrah Fawcett rolled into one glowing being. I glanced down at myself, my emerald green crop top catching the streetlight, bell sleeves trailing over arms crossed against the cool air.

"Do you think they'll still be there?" I asked Kitty, glancing back at Ashton and Calum, who were deep in a playful debate, their voices rising in a friendly challenge.

"Of course!" Kitty laughed, conspiratorial. "They wouldn't miss the late-night crowd—or us."

As we rounded the corner, the streets of San Francisco were alive, but in the haze of the night, they felt a little dreamlike. Neon lights spilled across the pavement, shadows flickering like secrets. Everything felt vivid and blurred, as if I were walking through a city that knew me better than I knew myself.

Calum held open the door for us, I heard Luke's cheerful voice call out, "Well, if it isn't my favorite people!"

"We need shots!" Kitty exclaimed, her excitement bubbling over as she tugged me toward the practically empty bar. She hopped up on the counter, playfully batting her eyes at Luke, who immediately locked eyes with me and winked. My stomach twisted with a mix of excitement and unease.

"Anything for my favorite girls. Tequila, right?" Luke asked, pouring our shots, his gaze lingering on Kitty, but I could feel his smile directed at me, too. A knot formed in my chest, caught between the thrill of his attention and the faint flicker of guilt for leaving him behind so easily tonight.