As We Lost the Light

III.

Mike was standing with his back against the wall, an e-cigarette between his lips, his face buried in his phone. I walked over to him, kicking his shoe with mine and his head shot up.

"No fucking way!" He hollered, his teeth bared as he smiled. His arms reached out, wrapping around my waist and pulling me in for a tight hug. He lifted my feet off the ground, spinning me in circles, and I squealed.

"It's good to see you too, Mike," I said, giggling as he placed me back on my feet.

"What're you-" Mike began, but was cut off as another voice rang out from down the hall.

"Sadie." It was Vic. "You actually came." His voice was laced with a mix of surprise and excitement. He approached as if he was going to pull me in for an embrace, but he changed his mind, keeping some distance between us.

I cleared my throat, my brow furrowing. "Of course I came, Vic," I began. "You asked me to." Silence settled around us, tension weighing heavily in the air. I looked up in time to see Mike give Vic a disapproving glare, and I had to fight the urge to turn the other way and walk out the door.

"Well," Vic said finally after what felt like hours. "C'mon, Sadie, I'll get you a drink." He motioned toward the green room and I walked with him, my steps in time with his, Mike following close behind. "Have a seat," he said, flashing me a soft smile.

Tony looked up from his guitar, giving me a confused grin. "Sadie? Hey." He didn't press on or question why I was here ,for which I was thankful because frankly I didn't have an answer.

"Hey, Tony," I said with a wave as I took a seat on the vacant couch that sat on the opposite side of the room.

"What would you like, Sade?" Vic asked, and my heart seemed to skip a beat at the sound of my nickname, just like it used to when those four letters would fall sweetly from his plump lips.

"Um, water is fine," I replied sheepishly, and I heard Jaime laugh as he sauntered in the door.

"Typical Sadie!" He exclaimed, making his way over to where I was seated. He placed his hand atop my head, messing up my hair, and I swatted it away, glaring up at him - just like old times.

Vic handed me a bottle of water and I thanked him under my breath. Jaime wandered over to Tony, and I watched as they directed their focus to the guitar that was on Tony's lap. I tried to force myself to relax. Mike coughed, nodding his head toward the corner of the room, not far from where I was seated, Vic following him, his lips pursed in confusion.

"Vic, what the fuck are you doing?" Mike asked angrily, and though his voice was just a whisper I could still make out what was being said.

"What do you mean?" Vic spat back.

"Why did you invite her here?" Mike tilted his head in my direction, motioning toward me, and I looked down, pretending to focus in on my phone.

"I don't see what the problem is. I thought you liked her?" Vic questioned and I heard Mike groan.

"You know damn well I do; she was the best thing that ever happened to you." My face flushed. "But you treated her like shit. And if you brought her here to try to east your guilt, I swear to God."

I caught a glimpse of Vic in my periphery, his eyes appeared heavy with sorrow. But maybe that was just my imagination.

"That's not what this is about," he finally replied.

"Even so, man. You know as well as I do that this isn't right." Mike patted Vic on the shoulder and made his way over to me, Vic ducking into the adjoining bathroom. Mike collapsed on the couch, his knee knocking against mine to get my attention. Mike and I fell into conversation; shortly after Vic emerged and the three of us made small talk the best we could despite their shared words hanging between us, whether they knew it or not.

I hadn't really thought about Vic's intentions when he invited me yesterday; I guess I never felt like they were anything other than friendly. But after hearing his conversation with his brother I couldn't help but wonder why he actually invited me. The more I thought about it, however, the more I realized that it didn't really matter; we would have dinner, say our goodbyes, and be gone from each other's lives once again.

And honestly that was probably for the best.

"You coming, Sade?" I looked up from my lap, and it was then that I realized that everyone had cleared out of the room and were headed toward the stage. Vic stood in the doorway, a small smile playing at his lips, his arm outstretched, beckoning me to join him.

"Of course," I answered softly, pushing myself up on to my feet, shuffling toward where he was waiting. I glanced down at his hand, unsure of whether or not I wanted to accept the gesture.

But before I could really think it through my palm met his, our hands folding together as if a puzzle had found its missing piece.