Present day - October 2018

Dropping down onto Ricky's sofa I let out a huge sigh , my first week at Brooks Inc. had been nothing short of exhausting but I'd made it to the end of the week and now it was time to relax. "Luce!" Ricky screams from somewhere on the second floor "we're all going out tonight , you in?"

"I wanted an early night." I whined "I'm exhausted" the house went silent for a few moments before rick made his way down the stairs and burst into the living room.

"You've got to be kidding me?" He began "is The Lucia Price refusing to go on a night out?"

"She is , seeing as she's just finished her first week at work and I'm more than sure if I went out I'd end up falling asleep standing up." I laughed "but if you and the girls want to go out tonight that's totally fine , don't let me stop you."

"Not happening sweetie." He replied , I could tell by his voice he meant business and I'd always found it so hard to say no to him. "It's not just me and the girls out tonight."

"What do you mean?" I asked , slightly confused.

"Hayden's coming too. And before you say anything I saw how cosy you two were when you went to see him. Have you spoken to him since?"

"No." I murmur , slightly embarrassed. I still hadn't fully gotten my head around how I felt about him , the old feelings I'd suppressed from when I was younger were starting to make their way to the surface and that's what scared me the most. "I know that face" Ricky said as he sat down next to me "you still like him , don't you?"

"Ugh , I don't know." I groaned "honestly I don't think the feelings I had for him ever went away. Seeing him after all this time just made me realize that they were still there."

"But?" He asked "I know there's a but in there somewhere."

"I couldn't be with him then and I can't be with him now, rick and that's what hurts the most. I may have feelings for him but unless he sorts himself out and gets clean I can't be with him. I can sit here and imagine the both of us together and starting a family but none of that could ever happen while he's still an addict , I couldn't do that to myself or to a child if god forbid that ever happened."

"I understand. I wouldn't want that for either of you , even though I always thought you'd be great for each other I'd hate to see you in that situation."

Both of us sat in silence for a while reflecting on the conversation. It was all well and good us talking about Hayden and I being in a relationship but none of us knew how he felt about me and I don't think I could face being rejected by him , it'd be too damn painful for me to cope with not after everything we've been through. In a perfect world I'd love for Hayden and I to be in a relationship , our own house and maybe even a family but in reality that wasn't the case or even a possibility at this moment in time. I made a promise to myself if he ever got clean I'd try to pursue a relationship with him but for now friendship was the only option as depressing as it seemed I knew it was for the best.

"Rick?" I said finally breaking the silence

"Mhh?"

"On second thoughts I think I'll join you and the girls tonight. I could use a drink." I knew part of the reason I'd changed my mind was that Hayden was going to be there but the other part of me was feeling quite nostalgic about the whole thing, despite the exhaustion. This was going to be the first time myself and the others would legally be out having a drink with one another , even though I was 21 and had been out clubbing numerous times before something about this made me feel all giddy inside.

2 hours later Ricky and I were stood outside the club waiting for the girls. "I can't believe were actually doing this." I giggled

"Doing what?" Ricky asked

"Stood out here , waiting to get into a night club. This is our first night out since I've been home , it only seems like yesterday we were sneaking off to house parties every weekend."

"I didn't think of it like that." He laughed "oh look , the girls are here."

I couldn't help it but as soon as I turned to see them my face immediately lit up , it was as if everything had done a full circle and we were all back where we belonged , together.

"Oh my gosh you look amazing , Luce !" Kiara cooed as she and Poppy made their way over to where Ricky and I were stood. "So do you" I replied "you both look amazing. I don't think I've ever been this excited for a night out before. It's just like the good old days minus all the slightly illegal stuff." They all laughed but it was true , we'd all come so far since then but I was excited to see what this night out had in store for us.

The bass from the speakers was almost deafening , we'd been Inside the club for almost an hour and despite my efforts to distract myself I couldn't stop thinking about Hayden. I shot Ricky a look and he shrugged his shoulders he was clearly as confused as I was , I couldn't help but feel that familiar surge of anxiety wash over me. Calm down , Luce. Everything's fine.I chanted this to myself a number of times but I knew I wouldn't be able to stop myself from worrying until I saw him with my own eyes , until then I was going to try my best to enjoy the night.

The dancefloor was tightly packed with sweaty bodies grinding together to the beat pumping from the speakers. I found myself dancing with what I could only describe as Adonis himself , deep forest green eyes , thick curly blonde hair , full kissable lips and from what I could tell from being pressed so tightly against him a body to die for. Our bodies swayed together like they were perfectly in tune with one another witch was remarkable since I wasn't even sure what his name was , I'm sure It was Kyle or maybe it was Tom , whatever his name was he sure knew how to dance.

"I'm going to get us some drinks." He purred in my ear , dropping a kiss on my neck he disappeared Into the crowd towards the bar. I tried to keep an eye on him but the sheer number of people in here made it difficult. My whole body felt like a live wire , I wasn't sure if it was from the alcohol or from being in such close proximity to such an attractive man.

A few minutes later I felt a pair of strong arms pull me into them , my back colliding with what felt like a brick wall. The arms moved to my waist securing me in place , the action immediately setting my blood on fire. "I've been looking for you everywhere." Came the voice but I immediately knew it didn't belong to the boy I was dancing with earlier , this voice belonged to Hayden.

"Where did you come from?" I asked

"I got here a while ago , I saw Ricky by the bar and asked where you were. I've been trying to find you ever since but this place is packed." I could hear the words he was saying but they weren't registering , my brain was still fixated on the fact that I was still pressed up against his stomach with his arms draped around my waist. "You look beautiful tonight." He shouted over the music "want me to buy you a drink?"

"I've kind of got one on the way but thanks anyway." I replied "who'd you come with?"

"A couple of guys I know , I think you'd remember some of them if you saw their faces."

I shuddered at the thought , the only boys I could remember were the ones who got him into the mess he was in now , I just hoped to god he'd cut them off and come here with a decent crowd.

Out of the corner of my eye I could see the boy who I'd been dancing with earlier making his way back to where Hayden and I were stood , without thinking I separated myself from Hayden but I immediately regretted it as I missed his warmth immediately. "Here's your drink , gorgeous." He said handing me a cup filled with bright red liquid. Hayden was still stood with us , a confused expression on his face. "Is this guy bothering you?" the boy asked gesturing towards Hayden. "No!" I blurted "he's a friend. He only came over to say hi."

"Cool. I'm Harry." Finally , the walking Adonis had a name. He held out his hand for Hayden to shake but he didn't budge. "Ignore him , Harry." I laughed awkwardly "he's not the most sociable of people." Hayden just glared at him , if looks could kill Harry would be in big trouble. "I'll catch up with you later , I promise." I say turning to face Hayden. Suddenly my body jerks forward and I found myself in his arms again , that familiar scent I loved all those years ago enveloping my senses. "Be safe." He murmurs , placing a kiss on the top of my head he releases me and I watch as he stalks off into the crowed.

I had no idea what time it was but I could feel my body starting to get heavy , despite the deafening music I was sure I was starting to fall asleep. "Come back with me." Harry murmured "I've never met someone like you before , you take my breath away." In any normal circumstance I would've laughed if someone had said this to me but something about Harry felt different. He'd stayed by my side all night and not once had I seen him even look at another girl and for added bonus points he refused to let me buy my own drinks all night. I knew I didn't have long to make my mind up , so in one split second I made my decision.

"Yes." I whispered "I'll go home with you." Harry smiling was such a beautiful sight and I was glad I was the reason behind it , even though it was because I'd just inadvertently agreed to have sex with him. "meet me by the bar in 5 minutes , I need to tell my friends that I'm leaving. I don't want them to worry." I scurried off into the crowed in an attempt to find either the girls or Ricky.

Thankfully I found Ricky first , who happened to be stood with an equally attractive man. I couldn't help myself , somethings never change. "Rick , can I talk to you for a moment?" I asked , feeling slightly guilty for dragging him away from his 'friend'. "Is everything okay?" he asked "oh and did you find Hayden after? He was looking for you."

"Yeah , he found me. Listen , I'm going to go home with this boy called Harry. Before you say anything he's supper nice and I've been dancing with him all night , he's absolutely gorgeous and for once I want to do something a little reckless without having to think of the consequences."

"well as long as you know what you're doing , sweetie. Make sure you text me his address and I'll come and pick you up in the morning when you're awake , or ready to come home." He winked at me and the both of us burst into a fit of laughter , but it didn't last very long.

Out of the corner of my eye I saw two of the clubs bouncers dragging a boy towards the door , despite their size they were struggling to remove the boy from the building. Moments later another two bouncers appeared this time dragging out a boy who looked very much like Harry. I immediately took off in the direction of where the bouncers were taking the two boys , thankfully when I looked over my shoulder I realized that Ricky had been following me , I had such an overwhelming feeling of dread I the pit of my stomach. I just hoped this was all one big misunderstanding.

It took us getting outside to catch up with the bouncers and the sight before me made my heart sink. I was right in assuming the second boy they'd dragged out was Harry but I hadn't seen the face of the first boy , but I could see it now and even though I'd subconsciously guessed it was Hayden but I pushed the thought to the back of my mind but seeing him stood outside the club made it a reality.

"What the actual fuck is going on." I shouted , everyone turned around and the minute Hayden saw me he dropped his gaze to the floor. "one of you better start talking in the next 5 seconds or I'm going to get really pissed off." I was surprised when Hayden was the one who started to speak first. "Luce , please just hear me out , okay?" he began "it's not what it looks like , we were in the bathroom when he started telling me what he was going to do to you when he got you home. I didn't mean to hit him I swear but I just saw red and couldn't stop."

"You're forgetting the most important part though ,Hayden. Do you want to tell her or shall I ?" The look Hayden sent Harry was one full of pure malice and utter hatred and I knew I wouldn't like what I was going told next.

"Seeing as you've gone awfully quiet Hayden , I'll tell her. Your little friend here was in the toilets getting a fix with his junkie friends , not so perfect now are you , Hayden?" The phrase I'm not angry , just disappointed fit the situation perfectly. If what Hayden had told me was true and that Harry had provoked him then fair enough but the only reason it'd got to him so much was because he'd been using coke for what I presumed was most of the night. "Go back to your trashy little friends , Hayden. Lucia , the taxi's waiting for us I don't want to be around this filth any longer."

Now that struck a nerve , I could handle people insulting me quite well but when people start insulting those closest to me now that gets right under my skin. "You know what , on second thoughts I think I'm going to stay here. Harry I've just realised that you're a little bit of a dickhead and no one and I mean no one gets to speak to my friends like that , now fuck off will you."

With that I walked over to Hayden and wrapped my arms around him , his body was shaking slightly probably a mixture between sheer anger and the cocaine. "Thank you for sticking up for me." I whispered into his chest.

"I'd do anything for you know that. No one gets to talk about you like that , ever." He let out a large sigh "I'm sorry I ruined your night."

"Don't be silly you haven't ruined anything." I replied and gave him a small squeeze.

"Fancy getting a pizza and crashing out on the sofa back at mine? It'll be just like the good old days."

"I couldn't think of anything else I'd rather do." I replied. It was as if the world was giving me this perfect moment in the middle of all the chaos and for that I was extremely thankful.

A/N

Apologies for the late update. University has been super busy and I've been revising for my first exam which is in 2 days but I thought I'd take a break and get this chapter out !

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