When Hearts Tug

Prologue

       Why the hell did I show up? I can't help but allow my thoughts to wander as I make my way through the constantly moving crowd. I push my way out of the kitchen where I had been eating some pizza and make my way to the living room, finding the density of the crowd was no better. Jeez, a cafe sounds pretty good right now, coffee a good book...

       The roaring bass, the shaking floor, all the screaming, keeping me from escaping into my thoughts with everything keeping my attention firmly focused on how shitty this party was. I couldn't take the party anymore, everyone is an idiot, I needed some air. I was drowning in the humidity, the smell of sweat and liquor mingling in the air and assaulting my nostrils. I went out to the balcony where only a single person sat, passed out drunk and laying against the corner of the railing.

       "Lightweight." I muttered softly, moving the rail of the balcony. The only way out of this party unnoticed stood before me, I could climb down the rails and down the side of the house to safely land on the hedges below, at the expense of an expensive suit coat and slacks anyway.

       Or I could bear this party and go home with a skull splitting headache and probably somebody to deal with tomorrow. That's who I know I was, I'll end up waking up in a house I don't know and I don't want that anymore, at least, not tonight. Of course I don't want to let anybody know that I'm leaving either, they'll bog me down with drinks and such. I'm envious of those people who could be so melancholy. Maybe if I was like that to begin with I wouldn't have so many problems...

       "Hey, Taylor, why'd you disappear on me?" At the sound of my name I turned around to face my friend and my burden, the reason I'm not cold hearted. Her name was Lily, and she forever hooked me to her leash, not that I had a problem with that. I don't understand why she needed me attached to her side, but it never panned out well for me. At least her brown, mid-length hair made her look a little innocent.

       "Just grabbing some fresh air, it's hot in there." I called back, looking into her crystal green eyes, her head slightly tilted like a puppy.

       "I see, well we should head home soon, I think I heard someone break a few things and it'll only be a matter of time before this party gets shut down anyway." Lily said softly, wiping her tired eyes. "There's a lot of Vape smoke anyway, I think it's going to make me sick."

       "You just want to go to bed because you were partying all last night too." I accused jokingly, but she nodded her head, clearly fed up with all the noise too.

       "Yeah, you're right, I'm getting tired of these parties, I'm not going to another one." Lily said, looking at me with a surprisingly honest look.

       "You always say that, but I guarantee you'll be looking for more parties next week when you get bored of not going to parties." I say, taking her arm and leading her through the party.

       "Yeah, yeah I know, you're just having fun teasing me and everything, but I'm really going to be sick. Why don't we just go home already, I'm not looking forward to waking up tomorrow." Lily said, letting me lead her through the crowd and to the front door.

       Nobody questions me as I make my way through, they probably think I'll be taking her home for 'personal reasons' and to an extent they aren't wrong. I do take her home to make myself feel better, but that's because tucking her in, taking care of her, cooking and everything makes me feel much better about myself.

       I lead her to the car door, the car contrasting heavily with the white snow falling from the sky. I navigate the snow ridden sidewalk and biting wind with Lily's warm hand in mine to open the crimson red door for her to set in, then I walk around to the driver's side and start the car. I probably shouldn't be driving, but I don't quite care at the moment, I just want to get home. The roaring music seems to have permanently left the tempo in my head with a pulsing headache.

       Surprisingly the drive goes by swiftly, we both get to my house (Which is where she ends up normally, even on days we don't see each other) and we both walk inside, the burst of warm air from opening the door making the walk much more enticing. Lily makes her way to my couch and I just go upstairs and go to bed, taking some aspirin before dropping onto the bed and passing out, the tempo still going but gradually dulling through the night.