Ted and I waltz up to the apartment hand in hand, me pressed close to him. I'm still bubbling with nervousness, but it's not even close to the magnitude it was before. He knocks for us, and Carson answers the door.

He steps aside to let us in while he greets, "Hey, guys."

Ted says a brief "Hi", leading me inside. When we enter into the living room, I immediately take in the messy place. Noah and Charlie are spread out on the couch watching something on the TV, and Travis is on the floor with a bag of popcorn.

Carson walks past us and down the hall when Ted decides, "Looks like the only place to sit is the recliner. Shall we share?"

I look up at him and his goofy grin, nodding eagerly. So Ted pulls me over, falling down in the chair and pulling me down on top. Just like at the party. Except this time, I fall sideways onto him and stay like that, head on his chest. Ted's heavy hand rests on the side of my head, and I start to feel his heartbeat as he swings the other arm around me.

Charlie's eyeing us from across the room with a smile, but I couldn't care less. All I want right now is to be held, which Ted is the actual best at. After a couple minutes, Carson and Cooper emerge from the back of the apartment just in time to answer the knock at the door.

I watch the door instead of the TV all of the boys have their eyes glued to. Carson answers it again, this time leading in Schlatt.

"Hey, guys," he announces. "The star of the party has arrived."

Noah snorts before retorting, "The star of the party, which is the last one to show up."

"Shut up," Schlatt simply says. "I'm not late, you are."

"I live here!" Noah laughs, making everyone else chuckle lightly.

Little conversations break out among the group as Schlatt takes a seat on the couch between the other two, Cooper and Carson opting for either side of Travis on the floor.  Ted and I are silent, and I feel him begin to rock slightly in the recliner.  I feel so warm and comfortable, my nerves seeming to calm a little more.  Even in a room full of people I'm afraid of messing things up around, I'm safe.

For now.

The calmness lasts for a little while, but not long enough.  I want to sit here and just rock forever, or at least until I fall asleep on top of Ted.  I have to rub my eyes to keep myself awake and sane.  I'm clearly getting too comfortable.  As if the universe has just noticed this and wants to stop it immediately, Cooper stands from the floor and walks over to us. 

My heart picks up, and my entire body is alert in an instant.  I'm trying to prepare myself for whatever he has to say, even though the logical part of my brain is saying that it can't be bad.

"Uh, can we talk for a minute, Y/n?"

Oh God, it can be bad.  It's worse that bad.  Cooper wants to talk to me all alone about God knows what, and maybe I'm panicking over nothing, but what if-  Stop.  I have to stop.  I have to breathe before I explode again.

"Okay."

I peel myself away from Ted, as much as I don't want to, and follow Cooper as he leads me down the hall.  And he takes me into a room, shutting the door.  Now I really can't breathe.  It's serious, isn't it?  I'm about to get chewed out or something if he's pulling me into his fucking bedroom.

"Hey," he exhales, looking into my eyes with what I think is genuine concern.  "Are you okay?  You're shaking."

Forcing my hands forward, I look down to inspect them.  Flipping them over and over, palm to back as if it will some how get rid of what I'm seeing.  Why am I shaking?  This is ridiculous.  I'm being ridiculous.

"Listen," Cooper demands grimly, "I just want to check on you, and you can go back to Ted.  You don't have to worry, I promise.  Please just listen for a minute."

I have to close my eyes, block out what I'm seeing to get my head together.  Breathe.  In, out.. in, out.  Cooper's so sincere.  He's just trying to help, and he even knows I want to just get back to Ted.  Everything's okay.  This is safe, too.

"Okay," I sigh, letting my eyes open again. 

Cooper releases a sigh of his own before beginning, "I saw your eyes were red when you first got here.  I wanted to see if you were feeling okay or whatever, and now I know, you're clearly not."

"Yeah," I admit, feeling hot.  I didn't think about the fact it would be noticeable I was crying just a couple minutes before going inside.  And Cooper's just staring through me, able to see every piece of me on edge.  It was nice that he could do that when we were a thing, but right now, it's making me feel pretty stupid.  I'm at a loss of what to say.

"Y/n, you can talk to me.  I know you have Ted, but I want to help if I can."

"Well," I huff, already feeling bad about what I haven't said yet, "You can.  It's just- every time I've hung around you guys, it's been a big problem.  Schlatt says something or other, and you get upset about it."  Cooper's watching me, and I can see his patience thinning.  I can't hold eye contact with him anymore.  "I know you're trying to protect me, Coop.  I know you have the best intentions, but it's not helping.  Just- please, try not to get mad over little things like that, okay?"

A long silence stretches out the awkwardness.  I look up, fearful of what he's going to say back.  Cooper blinks a couple times before answering softly, "Okay.  I get it.  I'll try my best to not stress you out, just as long as you tell Schlatt to back the fuck off, alright?"

I'm kind of stunned at his gentle reaction but grateful nonetheless.  "Yes, I will," I breathe back, feeling some of the tension melt away.  Things actually might be okay.

"Okay, good."  Cooper stares at me, into my eyes, for a moment too long.  But I can't look away, either.  "Come on, we can go back out to Ted and everyone."

I only nod, following Cooper back out the way we came.  When we get back to the living room, everything's the same.  Safe.  I instantly collapse back on top of Ted, this time latching on with my arms around his neck.  He reciprocates around my waist, holding me there against him.  I can't imagine a better feeling.

Everyone's talking around us, and Ted only mumbles in my ear, "Everything alright?"

"Yeah," I breathe into him.  "We talked a little.  I just have to talk to Schlatt, and hopefully things will be cleared up."

"Oh, good!" Ted answers, squeezing me tighter.  "I'm glad."

"Me too."

Conversation picks up more and more in the tiny space, the boys getting louder as they joke together. Being tired and comfortable, I decide to listen in on their conversation to keep me awake. My eyes flick back and forth between them as they speak, trying to keep up as best I can.

"No, definitely," Noah's saying, "It was good, just took some warming up for you losers."

Charlie laughs back, "You know what, Noah, you don't have to point out how much some of us lack a social life."

"Hey," Schlatt jumps in, "Don't try to take down other people with you when they're all just fine in social situations. You're the loser, Charlie," he smirks.

"Oh, whatever," Charlie huffs over everyone laughing. His eyes light up and he points at me, making my heart stop as he speaks, "What about Y/n? She never goes out, and she's not a loser!"

Schlatt shrugs, deciding, "It's debatable."

"Hey!" I laugh, surprised with myself.

Everyone's laughing along, but Cooper catches my eye. He's sitting there all quiet, biting his lip. It makes me feel this weird mixture of happy and sad to see that he's doing what I asked but isn't laughing with everyone.

After that round of chuckling dies down, Cooper speaks up, "I'm gonna go get some edibles. Anyone want any?"

"Me," Noah and Travis answer at the same time.

Schlatt responds after, "I'm good on that, but if you're getting up, could you get me some wine or something?"

Cooper only nods before disappearing into the kitchen.