THE ONE WHO NOTICED

ELEVEN

f**k this!

I grab my phone and scroll to Lacey's name. She works with me at the liquor store—one of the only people there I can actually stand. We haven't hung out in a while, but right now, I need to do something. Anything to blow off this steam before I completely lose it.

Hey, what are you doing tonight?

She responds almost immediately.

Hey girlie! What's up?

I type back quickly.

Wanna go out? Get drinks or something? I need to get out of my head.

The three dots appear right away.

YES! I've been dying to go out. Meet me at Murphy's at 8?

Murphy's. The bar downtown. I've only been there once or twice, but it's always busy on Friday nights.

Wait. Is it Friday?

I check the date. Yeah. Friday.

Sounds good. See you at 8.

---

I spend the next hour getting ready. Nothing too fancy—just jeans, a black top that shows a little cleavage, and my boots. I actually put on makeup this time. Do my hair. I look good.

I feel better just doing something for myself.

By 8:30, Lacey's pulling up outside. I grab my jacket and head out, locking the door behind me.

Before I get in her car, I pull out my phone and text Jayden.

Going out with my friend Lacey. Gonna have a few drinks with her. Text me when you can.

I wait a second, staring at the screen.

Nothing.

I shove my phone in my pocket and climb into Lacey's car.

"Hey, b***h!" She's grinning, all energy. "You look hot! What's the occasion?"

"Just needed to get out," I say, buckling in.

"Boy trouble?"

I give her a look.

"Say no more." She laughs and turns up the music.

---

We drive downtown, and she pulls into the parking lot at Murphy's. The place is packed—cars everywhere in the front lot, bikes lined up around back. Music is thumping so loud I can feel it in my chest from here.

"This place is always lit, girl! We haven't been here in forever. I'm glad you're getting back out. Feel like you been distant this last year." She looks over at me. "I know something's bothering you, but I just been waiting for you to tell me. So we'll drink tonight, get drunk, and you can tell me all about this man who's bringing my b***h back to life and pissing her off all in one."

I can't help but smile a little at that. She's not wrong.

We get out and start toward the entrance. There's a group of guys smoking outside—a few are wearing what looks like biker vests, all of them covered in tattoos. One of them nods at Lacey like he knows her.

I give her a questioning look.

She leans in and whispers, "We hooked up once. Greatest s*x of my life. Haven't seen him in a while though." She nudges me with her elbow, grinning. "Maybe I'll be getting lucky tonight."

I shake my head, smiling, and we walk in.

---

The place is loud. Dim lighting, pool tables in the back, a long bar packed with people. It smells like beer and cigarettes and sweat. Bodies everywhere.

"Let's get drinks!" Lacey yells over the music, pulling me toward the bar.

I follow her, weaving through the crowd.

We order our drinks at the bar—bourbon and coke for me, tequila shot and a beer for Lacey because apparently she's trying to get wasted fast—and find a spot next to one of the pool tables where we can actually hear each other.

I'm slightly uncomfortable. The crowd, the noise, the bodies pressed too close. But I tell myself to push through. Normal people go out with their friends and have a good time while drinking. This is what normal looks like.

But my normal on-edge is always ready to attack my mental with negative s**t.

I take a long drink and try to focus on what Lacey's saying. Something about her ex texting her last week, begging to come back. She's laughing about it, unbothered.

That's Lacey. Outgoing, pretty in that effortless way—dirty blonde hair, bright blue eyes, petite but tall enough to pull off any look. And she could care less what anyone says or thinks. Complete opposite of me.

She knows I'm socially awkward, but she's chill to hang with. Never pushes me too hard.

"Come on, let's dance!" She grabs my arm, nodding toward the crowded floor where bodies are moving to the heavy bass.

"Girl, I ain't drunk enough to get my ass on that floor," I say, shaking my head.

She laughs. "Fine, fine. But after this next drink, you're not getting out of it."

I smile despite myself and take another sip.

---

An hour or two goes by, and I'm actually enjoying myself.

Lacey drags me on and off the dance floor for different songs. I resist at first, but after another bourbon and coke, I stop caring. We're dancing, laughing, singing along to songs I don't even know the words to.

We drink. A lot.

I'm definitely getting drunk. Probably halfway there already, that warm, buzzy feeling spreading through my whole body. Everything feels lighter. Easier.

I feel like a new person right now.

Lacey finally lets me sit down while she goes to the bathroom, and I lean back against the wall, catching my breath. My cheeks hurt from smiling—when's the last time that happened?

I take another sip of my drink and let myself drift into my thoughts.

Maybe I am changing. Or at least trying to.

I came here pissed off at Jayden, ready to blow off steam. But now? I feel... different. Stronger, maybe. Like I can actually exist outside of him. Outside of waiting for his texts, worrying about where he is, constantly second-guessing everything.

Tonight, I'm just me. Drinking with my friend. Dancing. Living.

And it feels good.

I pull out my phone to check if he's texted back.

Nothing.

I stare at the screen for a second, and for once, that familiar panic doesn't hit. Instead, I just... shrug. Whatever. I'm having a good time without him.

I put my phone away and make my way to the bar to order another drink.

What I wasn't expecting was to see Jayden in the hallway near the bathrooms.

With some girl all over him.

I stop walking. Just... stop.

My brain tries to process what I'm seeing, but it's like everything's moving in slow motion.

She's tall. Blonde. The kind of pretty that turns heads—tight jeans, low-cut top, confident in a way I'll never be. Her hand is on his chest, fingers splayed like she's claiming territory. She's leaning into him, her mouth close to his ear, saying something that makes her smile.

And he's just... standing there.

Not pushing her away. Not stepping back.

Maybe it's nothing. Maybe she's just a friend. Maybe—

But then I see his hand. It's on her waist. Not high up like "we're just talking." Low. Familiar.

My stomach drops.

He said he had to work.

The thought hits me like ice water, sharp and cold, cutting through the alcohol buzz.

*He left me alone, again, because of "work." And he's here. With her.*

I'm not sure how long I'm standing there—seconds, minutes, I don't know—when he looks up.

Our eyes meet.

For a split second, the entire bar goes silent in my head. The music, the voices, all of it just... gone.

His face changes. Shock, then something else. Panic, maybe. Guilt.

He does a double take—looks at the girl, then back at me, like he's trying to figure out if this is real.

And that's when I know.

It's not a misunderstanding. It's not innocent.

I can see it in his eyes.

Something inside me just... shuts off. Like a switch flipping. All the warmth, all the hope, all the stupid, naive belief that he actually cared—gone.

I turn around. Fast.

My hands are shaking, but the rest of me feels numb. Disconnected. Like I'm watching this happen to someone else.

I hear him calling after me. "Kasin! Kasin, wait!"

But I don't stop. I can't.

I make my way through the crowd, weaving between bodies, my vision tunneling. I just need to get out. I need air. I need to not be here.

I find Lacey back at the table—she's already cozied up to the guy she was talking about earlier, laughing, her hand on his arm.

"Lace, I'm headed home. I'll call a cab. Have a good night."

She looks up at me, and her smile fades. "You good?"

"Yeah. I'm okay. I'll talk to you tomorrow."

I can see Jayden pushing through the crowd, trying to get to me.

I turn the opposite direction and head for the exit.

The night air hits me hard when I push through the door—cold, sharp, sobering. My chest is tight, and I realize I've been holding my breath.

I start walking. Anywhere. Just away from here.

The door opens behind me.

"Kasin, please stop! Let me explain!"

I shake my head, keep walking. My hands are trembling now, and my throat feels like it's closing up, but I don't cry. I won't.

"Kasin!" His footsteps are right behind me. His hand grabs my shoulder, stopping me. "Kasin, stop. Let me talk to you. It's not what you think—"

I yank my arm away, and when I finally turn to look at him, my voice comes out flat. Dead.

"I don't care." I don't even recognize the sound of my own voice. "I don't wanna hear it. Just leave me be, Jayden."

The door opens behind him, and the guy Lacey was talking to steps out.

"Jayden, what's up? Why you running out—"

"f**k off," Jayden snaps, not even looking at him. He keeps coming toward me.

I start walking again, but my legs aren't cooperating. The alcohol hits different now—everything feels heavy and unsteady. I stumble a little, catch myself, and stop to regain my balance.

I need to get out of here.

I grab my phone out of my pocket and pull up the Uber app with shaking hands. The screen's blurry. I blink hard, trying to focus.

Fuck it. I switch to my recent calls and hit the cab company number instead. Whichever can get here faster.

I spot a bench near the side of the building and make my way over, sitting down hard. The phone rings in my ear.

Jayden's right there, standing in front of me. "Kasin, please. Let me explain—"

I just throw my hand up at him. Stop. Don't.

The line keeps ringing.

"Kasin." His voice is desperate now. Pleading. "Let me give you a ride home. Just let me explain. Don't shut me out, please. Kasin—"

Someone finally picks up. "Murphy Cab Service."

"I need a cab," I say, my voice flat. "Corner of Fifth and Main. Outside Murphy's."

"No, she doesn't." Jayden's hand shoots out and grabs my phone right out of my hand.

"Jayden, what the hell—" I reach for it, but he holds it away from me.

"You're drunk. I'm not letting you get in a cab like this."

"Give me my phone back—"

But before I can even finish, he leans down, and suddenly his arms are under me, lifting me up off the bench.

"Put me down!" I push against his chest, but he's already walking, carrying me like I weigh nothing.

"Stop fighting me, Kasin. I'm taking you home."

"I said put me down!" My voice comes out louder now, sharper, but he doesn't stop. He's heading around the side of the building toward the back lot where the bikes are parked.

Where his Jeep is.

"Jayden, I'm not going anywhere with you—"

"Yes, you are." His voice is firm. Final. "We're gonna talk, and you're gonna listen."

My heart is pounding now, and it's not from the alcohol. It's anger. And something else—something that feels a lot like fear.

He reaches his Jeep, parked right next to a row of motorcycles, and sets me down just long enough to open the passenger door.

"Get in."

I just stare at him. "No."

His jaw clenches, and for a second, I think he's going to physically put me in the Jeep. But then his voice softens.

"Kasin, just get in the car. Please." He's looking at me like he's desperate. "You don't even have to talk to me. Just listen."

I want to tell him to f**k off. I want to grab my phone and run. I want to scream at him.

But I'm so tired.

And drunk.

And my legs still feel unsteady.

And some pathetic part of me—the part that's been making excuses for him for months—actually wants to hear what he has to say.

Even though I know it's just going to be more lies.

I climb into the Jeep.

He closes the door behind me, and I hear him let out a breath. Like he's relieved.

He walks around to the driver's side and gets in. For a moment, he just sits there, hands on the steering wheel, staring straight ahead.

I don't look at him. I stare out the window, my arms crossed over my chest.

"Kasin—"

"I don't wanna hear it right now." My voice comes out quiet. Flat. "Just take me home."

He's quiet for a second, then reaches over and hands me my phone back.

I take it without looking at him and shove it in my pocket.

He starts the Jeep, and we pull out of the parking lot.

I stare out the window, watching the streetlights blur past. My head feels heavy, and the alcohol is making everything feel surreal. Like this is happening to someone else.