Gage's POV

Although I'd known she was expecting me to say, and I'd run through the words more times than I'd like to admit, having her full attention was an odd sensation. Her eyeliner was slightly smudged, and she kept worrying her lower lip, as if although her eyes were on me, her mind kept drifting. She held herself with the same quiet confidence that was always there, but unlike the last time we'd been here, she seemed more relaxed, body, leaning against the counter in a way that almost seemed practiced.

She didn't startle when the bartender, Jon, set the two glasses on the counter, contents slushing close to the edge, threatening to spill. I jumped, inching back slightly, and I could swear he gave me a sly smile as he noticed my discomfort. I was expecting him to move on to the other customers, but instead he only shifted just enough to angle himself behind Kaylah, as if shielding her, giving me a stare, he probably hoped to be menacing. In fact, he only managed to look like my ex-football coach whenever Mason, the clumsy goalkeeper, failed to block a goal; slightly constipated and infinitely annoyed.

But despite this, I would be lying if I said it wasn't working. Not as if I'd be dumb enough to try something here, out of all places; and she knows it. I swallowed once, twice, struggling to hold Jon's stare, until I saw Kaylah roll her eyes and turn around to face him, hands crossed against her chest.

"You do understand the meaning of a friendly conversation, don't you?" when he didn't budge, she tried again, "C'mon, it's not like I'm completely defenceless here," at that she cut me a quick glance, eyes lighting up "And I'm also pretty positive he isn't stupid enough to try anything anyway, so I'd gladly appreciate some privacy."

Fair enough. But although I'd expected Jon to at least crack a smile at that, he didn't seem impressed in the slightest, but nodded and started to move away slowly.

"Alssssoo," Kaylah took on a slightly teasing tone, "I think Quinn over there would very much appreciate your presence," at that, Jon did look up, only to quickly look away as if ashamed, pinning Kay with a confused but hopeful stare. She nudged his arm playfully "Go get some" she winked.

I looked behind me, and I could see the older of the two men I'd spotted earlier sharing the table right next to the exit promptly stand up and leave, giving his younger counterpart two thumbs up, and affectionately mussing his hair. The younger one, to his credit, didn't reprimand him, but absently tried to tame his cowlick, goldish white hair sticking up in an unflattering manner. Kaylah seemed to be intently watching him, and when he met her stare, he gave her a small smile, which she returned with a wink.

I watched as Jon made his way towards the now vacant seat, sitting down gingerly and giving the blonde a shy smile, which I never in a million years would've imagined the burly guy give someone. For someone who towered over almost everyone else, he looked uncharacteristically small just then, and, was that a blush? Blondie made a show of taking his hand and placing a delicate kiss on his wrist. I was probably gaping, but right then, I didn't care.

"Somebody looks intrigued," at some point she'd turned her eyes back on me, but again she seemed somehow far away, as if she was worrying about something else entirely. Still, she smiled indulgently "Since you don't seem disgusted, I take it you're no homophobe, which definitely wins you a point in my book,"

I chuckled in surprise and gave her a look which prompted her to continue. "That's Quinn over there. He's been pinning over Jon for ages while our dear oblivious Jon loves to lament over not having a love life. So, his brother Jacks and I thought we'd give them a push in the right direction. That's the guy that left," for a moment, she looked pleased with herself, her eyes lighting up, the worry gone.

I'd never really noticed how pretty she looked when she wasn't scowling. I mean, I knew she was pretty, since I had a perfectly good pair of eyes. But her eyes shined with this childish amusement I had never seen before, and they caught the light differently than Ari's did. While Ari's shone with flecks of gold, hers seemed to absorb the light, turning the brown of dark chocolate.

Although I knew I couldn't drag this on much longer, and she had to be home in less than two hours, I didn't want to watch that light fade, and let her finish sipping her latte before I spoke again. "Have you met Gage?" and just like that, the light went out. She nodded and gave me my undivided attention. And so, I told her everything.

I told her about Nathan when we were children, and our fallout in high school. I told him about how he came to meet Ari, my stupid plan to keep tabs on her, because I know that that's what it really was. At that part, her eyes narrowed to slits, but despite how rigid her body went, taut with rage, she stayed silent, and let me go on. And finally, I told her about the pills. I hesitated, my voice faltering, and I stumbled over the words, leaving blanks that probably made no sense, but Kaylah's eyes had gone wide and pleading, filled with so much fear I couldn't stop.

"Kay?" if it were any other day, she probably would've threatened to knee me in the crotch for that. Instead, she simply kept staring at me, or rather through me, looking disoriented and afraid. I think I prefer the threat.

"Kaylah?" despite the fact that she looked more preoccupied by what I'd told her than whatever nickname I used, I didn't want to risk it. I reached the hand across the space between us, and this time, she didn't pull back. Instead, she took my hand in hers and squeezed.

"It's a neuroleptic," her voice was so low I might've missed it if I wasn't leaning in. She seemed to notice I was, and she pulled away, cradling her head in her arms. "Of course it's a neuroleptic," she shook her head. Then slowly, lifted it, meeting my eyes again "I could tell something was off the moment I talked to him this morning. But I didn't think it was that bad," she looked at me pitifully, and in that moment, I would've given anything to take my words back.

"I have a plan," I hadn't been certain before, but I was now. Ari would never believe us without proof. So, all we had to do was find some.

"Tell me," she leaned back, took another sip of her now probably cold latte, and gestured for me to go ahead. So, I did.

xxxx

Ari's POV

I had given up trying to make conversation, and had taken the lid off my drink, staring at the gentle swirls of liquid as I stirred my hot chocolate. I kept running through what I'd seen, and each reason I came up with for Kaylah getting into Gage's car was more disturbing than the next.

Suddenly, there was a warm hand resting on my upper arm. I was about to tell Nate I didn't feel like talking, but then realised how sweaty the person's palm was. Nathan's hands were never sweaty. When I looked up, I saw Matteo, giving me an apprehensive smile. I'd seen him and Kaylah talk earlier, so I was instantly intrigued. His hand retracted, and began moving spasmodically, which I interpreted as his attempt at saying Let's talk outside.

I glanced at Nate who he seemed to be enjoying himself, laughing along with the guys and making small talk with the girls, who really seemed to be taking a liking to him. He saw me leave and gave me an easy smile. Of course, he did. I hadn't even realised how much I had been expecting him to narrow his eyes at me until I felt myself relax. Gage wouldn't have been so calm if I was suddenly going to talk in private with my ex-boyfriend. I sighed.

"Ari, are you sure about this Nate guy? I mean, he seems cool and all, but Kay and I have our doubts; well, Kay mostly, but I- "

"Oh, so that's what you and Kaylah talked about? You were dissing Nate after knowing him for what, five minutes?" I snorted, "Get a life," I pushed past him, meaning to go back inside. Matteo caught my arm, rooting me into place.

"I didn't mean it like that-"I let out a short, mocking laugh. "Oh I think you do. Both of you," I took a second to consider, "You know what I really think? That you're just too prideful to admit I'm actually dating a decent guy for once. You're much too jealous to be happy for me," I stormed back inside, and sat back down next to Nathan, grabbing his hand under the table.

I should probably text her to clear this mess up. I should probably just ask her why the hell she was even talking to that asshole. But maybe knowing would hurt me more, because until she doesn't say it, I still have my best friend. The only friend I really care about losing.

The room is spinning and I don't know how to breathe. As if Gage's hands are around my neck again, trying to finish the job. I turned my phone back on silent, leaned more closely into Nate's side, and closed my eyes. After a while, after my heart had stopped trying to break through my ribcage, I asked him to take me home.

He nodded, "I'll only be a second," the, more loudly for our audience "I'll need a quick bathroom break. Anna, get the check will you dear?" he took out his wallet, and there was a slight tremor in his hands, which I didn't understand. Maybe he'd had too much caffeine. "Here. It's on me," there was a choir of half-hearted objections, and Nate waved dismissively, not looking behind him. He seemed somehow wobbly on his legs, walking slower than he normally would, almost carefully. I didn't know what to make of it.

"Oh my gooood, will you stop staring at his ass and look at us for once?" Skylar was waving a hand in front of my face, smiling dumbly. Anna tried to imitate her, but her smile was more of a grimace than anything else.

I rolled my eyes "Wasn't staring at his ass, but you definitely were"

Skylar let that slide, and instead gave me a weak excuse of a hug and another one of her smiles. All teeth, and not at all reassuring.

"You know I'd never hit on him, right? You're like, one of my closest friends?" I felt like crawling out of my skin, but I smiled back and nodded, and she went back to talking to Seth and Malik, who were currently drooling over Zariah's skimpy clothing in some post. I could've screamed, but instead I bit my tongue, and pretended I didn't notice, or didn't care. I'm not sure it worked. And I wasn't sure if I had any friends anymore either.

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**There we go! A bit of a filler, but next chapter I think I'll get the action going. Thanks for reaidng! ;)**