"𝐈'𝐯𝐞 𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐯𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐢𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐦𝐚𝐩 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐲𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟." ˖ ݁♬⋆˚𝄞‧₊ ♪˚⊹ 𝙆𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙢𝙤𝙩 is a symphony of hollow bones and piano chords, starving herself until there's nothing left to break. She wants 𝙋𝙖𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙘𝙠 𝙁𝙚𝙚𝙡𝙮 with a desperation that makes her lungs ache, but she's terrified of the crash. She sees the boy drowning in a bottle and the hollow warmth of too many girls. To Katie, loving a drunk feels like a slow way to die, and she's already halfway there. So, she runs straight into the arms of 𝙃𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙞𝙚 𝘽𝙞𝙜𝙜𝙨, Patrick's best friend. Hugh is safe but shallow; he likes her company and the distraction, however his heart doesn't beat for her. But 𝙋𝙖𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙘𝙠 is a storm that no amount of alcohol can drown out. He's a wreck of nicotine and cheap whiskey, forced to watch the girl he'd burn the world for settle for a boy who doesn't even know she's shattering. He loves Hugh like a brother, but he loves Katie with his entire being. Every time he sees them together, it's a fresh cut to a soul that's already scarred over. He hides his shaking hands in his pockets and his heart behind meaningless flings, too cowardly to admit that his fear of commitment is just a fear of being the reason she finally breaks. He's the boy who wants her but can't reach her, trapped in a silence where the only thing more addictive than the drink is the sight of her loving someone else. It's the devastating math of three hearts that don't add up: a girl too scared to be loved, a boy too drunk to be chosen, and a friend caught in the middle who doesn't realize he's holding the only thing that could save them both. ✮ Timeline: 2003-2007

⋆⁺₊⋆ ━━━━⊱༒︎ • ༒︎⊰━━━━ ⋆⁺₊⋆ Katie Wilmot Quiet, observant, and deeply introspective, Katie has spent much of her life learning to hide parts of herself. The absence of her parents left her in the care of her Nan and Grandpa, providing stability but never fully erasing the hollowness she carries. Katie struggles with an eating disorder, a symptom of her need for control in a life that often feels chaotic and unfair. She is fiercely loyal to her friends, like Casey and Aoife, and deeply sensitive to the emotional undercurrents around her. Though she initially appears reserved and cautious, Katie is capable of impulsive emotion - moments where desire, anger, or hurt break through her careful exterior, all emotions caused by the one person who unknowingly haunts and consumes all of her thoughts. Patrick Feely Confident, magnetic, and often impulsive, Patrick struggles with alcohol and self-destructive tendencies that mask his emotional vulnerabilities. He is protective of his friends and fiercely loyal, especially toward Hughie, but often pushes boundaries in ways that hurt those around him - intentionally or not. He did not always act with thought, like a drunken kiss or reckless, intoxicated decisions that he will regret every single day of his life. He screwed up royally, and now he would pick up the pieces again not knowing that repairing a broken heart is a lot harder than tuning a guitar. Patrick carried a bottle like a secret companion. Katie carried hunger like armor. Neither of them asked for help. ∘₊✧─────✧₊∘ Softer, harder, in between. You know just how to get to me. He is stable. You are deep. ⸝⸝ ⟡ Trigger warnings within the book. This is a work of fiction. All rights of storyline and characters belong to Chloe Walsh <3