only acting → ON HOLD

77🌶🌶

the flashing lights slowly start to dim. the electronic music starts to fade and an all too familiar tune replaces it. the dj says something about taking it slow, especially now that the wee hours were fast approaching.

oh.

realisation hits her like a brick. it's their song. her heart, heavy with sadness, starts to sink as she moves out of the crowd and into a corner. a bitter laugh escapes her mouth.

she'd come to the club to escape matt champion and whatever feelings he brought her and yet here they were again. it was like she couldn't escape.

she fishes her pockets for her phone.

---

gabby: i cant drown my demons they know how to swim.

misha: ??? gabby????
misha: i thought u were drunk

gabby: well im sober now 😃✌🏻
gabby: theyre playing our song hahaha fml

misha: gabby :((((((((((
misha: wheres jerm?

---

where is jerm indeed? she knew this was all too much for the poor boy. she'd been so reliant on him these past few days. she was sure she was taking up all his time.

but she couldn't help it now, could she? sometimes, you just need someone to lean on; and for her, that someone was jerm.

she makes her way to the bar and orders even stronger drinks than before.

let's shape the road and leave this madness far behind.

the memory of matt and her slow dancing the night before he'd gone away for the tour materialises in her mind. his laugh sends shivers down her spine.

she frowns and downs the whole bottle of alcohol in her hand. for some reason she can hear matt's voice.

hey slow down, babe. we have all night.

for some reason, she can feel herself cry. she chokes trying to hold her tears back.

her phone rings.

she picks it up.

gabby?

oh, it's just misha.

she spits out an all too drunken hello.

gabby where are you? jerm says you disappeared.

she sounds worried, but her drunken state doesn't register the worry.

hey, do you think i'll forget matt if i kiss jerm?

she doesn't understand what she's saying anymore. the song-their song was long gone. the dj went back to playing that shitty edm everyone bounced and ground to.

gabby stop.
anger fills her best friend's voice.
stop right there.
you don't know what you're doing.

come on, what's the worst that could happen, right?
i mean, jerm's just jerm.
he's always been there and he'll continue being there.
he shouldn't mind.

no reply comes after that. it was almost as if her best friend was holding something back.

i swear to god, you better not do anything foolish.
go home and get some rest.
i'll talk to you when you wake up.

the line dies, but it's too late; she didn't take in anything misha said, for she'd already spotted the most familiar looking shaved head in the room.

she weaves between the crowd of drunk teenagers and adults with difficulty.

she calls out his name and she doesn't even need to say anything more. with enough ease, he manages to pull her towards him and steady themselves.

she smiles.
hi.

his smile is tight lipped.
hello.

she doesn't remember what happens next.