Your eyes find your best friend. Or whatever Yugyeom is.

He has his back to you but you know it's him.

He towers over everyone.

His hair has been styled expertly and he's wearing a leather jacket with black trousers. The boots he's wearing compliment his outfit perfectly.

Yugyeom is talking to Jaebum and Mark, throwing his head back to laugh. A wolf whistle causes you to turn around and out of the lift comes BamBam and Youngjae and Jinyoung.

"Wow, you don't scrub too bad." BamBam appraises you and his eyes brush your body causing you to blush. Jackson notices your discomfort and butts in, saying, "We ready?"

"Yep." Youngjae answers before dramatically falling to one knee. "May I accompany the lady to the vehicle?" He presents a hand and you giggle.

Jinyoung grabs the ruff of Youngjae's collar and pulls him back to his feet before you can take his hand. "Idiot. Yugyeom would kill you."

You don't know what Jinyoung means by that and Youngjae only answers with, "That's why it's so fun," before winking at you and moving past you, followed by BamBam and Jinyoung.

You're left alone with Jackson.

"I'm actually quite excited. Thank you... for this." You admit quietly and his lips tilt up at one corner.

"My pleasure." The way he looks at you in this dress is... wow. 

You are so screwed.

So you turn only to stop again.

Yugyeom has noticed you.

His eyes run up and down your body, caressing your curves with his gaze before they travel up your neck and meet your stare.

Unable to move, you stand there like an idiot.

As Yugyeom strides towards you, you forget where you are.

He makes you feel like you're the centre of the universe.

A movement beside you distracts you and Jackson walks past Yugyeom, away from you.

A pang hits you in the heart, watching his back walk away from you but you don't have the time to care before Yugyeom is standing in front of you.

The two of you stand in silence and let the hustle of the lobby move around you.

Words aren't needed but eventually he speaks.

"You look beautiful." Yugyeom says softly, smiling shyly.

You don't know how to respond.

"I... I feel beautiful." You pour honesty and meaning into your words and gaze into his eyes.

"Come on you two!" 

"We can't stand here all night!"

"For god's sake get a room!"

These are all phrases hurled at the two of you by the other members and Yugyeom extends his hand.

"Shall we?"

You feel nervous, taking his hand in front of his friends. But what strikes you is the way Yugyeom swallows and his palms a slightly sweaty.

As you take his hand you say, "Don't be nervous.".

You start moving towards the door, following the others in high spirits.

"Is it that obvious?" Yugyeom laughs nervously.

His cautious is adorable as he holds the door open and lets you through.

You stop outside the hotel, the mild night air nipping at your bare arms.

"Don't worry Gyeom. It's just me. We're just two friends enjoying a night out." You regret the words as soon as they leave your mouth. Hurt flashes in Yugyeom's eyes. All you'd try to do was comfort him but you'd ended up hurting him. Just because you were confused of your feelings, didn't mean you had to hurt him in the mean time. He didn't deserve that. And you couldn't push him away. You needed him.

But Yugyeom just nods and stalks after his friends, heading towards the car park.

And so, for the second time that evening, you watch someone you care about walk away from you.

You follow Yugyeom and Mark opens the door to the van for you and you take seat next to Jaebum.

"Let's get the party started!" BamBam yells and it's impossible to not feel your spirits lift.

As the van drives away and the stereo is turned up, you watch the town move past your window as you drive. 

A tap on the shoulder makes you turn.

"You ok?" Jaebum asks.

All you do is nod shyly. It's not that you're scared of him but you used to have a crush on JB and he was always the leader, strong and brave.

He takes your nod.

"Good. We like having you with us." 

This causes you to look incredulously at him.

"Really? I feel like such a nuisance to you all."

"Don't. It's nice to have a girl we trust here to break up all the testosterone in this group." JB reassures you, smiling and you giggle.

As you do, a movement catches you eye and you look through the headrest to see Yugyeom take out his phone. He types a message and you watch him, watching how he plants a smile on his face despite the hurt you inflicted.

You need to make it up to him.

Jaebum carries on talking to you for the rest of the journey and Mark, Youngjae who sits on his other-side joins in. Their squabbling makes you laugh and you make fun of them, saying "2Jae" in a sing song voice at them.

"Guys, guys shhhh." BamBam hushes us all so the only sound in the van is the radio.

"...coming up are the MAMA awards with guests such as BTS, EXO, Twice, BLACKPINK, and GOT7! We look forward to performances from each of these and..." 

The DJ drones on as the guys in the van cheer. That poor driver. The noise he must have to put up with.

The car slows as you pull up to a curb and you turn to look out the window. Outside the lights of Fade pulse and you can hear the music from inside the van. Awestruck, you watch the slow trickle of guests filter from the long line into the club.

The driver stops the engine and hops out to open the doors. 

You all step out of the van and immediately are bombarded by photographers. The few staff with the group keep them at bay as you hurry to door. You notice the protective circle the guys have formed around you, whether to keep you from the masses or to hide the fact they're with a girl you do not know. Whatever reason it is, you're grateful.

The foyer is dimly lit as you hurry inside and it's only then you realise how cold the night has become. 

Your group is the only set of people inside. A set of double doors ahead of you, leaking with music and light, tempt you towards the fun.

Looking around the group, you ask, "is this what it's always like for you?"

Jinyoung is the one who answers, shrugging. "Sometimes."

Youngjae cuts in. "It's a good job we're here to protect you. Isn't that right, Yugyeom?" 

Your best friend only nods and looks down at the floor. You frown.

If anyone else notices Yugyeom's behaviour, they don't say anything.

Awkward silence takes over.

Um.

JB breaks the veil of quiet. "Alright!" He claps his hands together. "Let's go!"

And with that you walk towards the doors with a group of friends, some of whom may be more.

Yugyeom pushes through first, not bothering to look behind at you, followed by Jackson and BamBam. The sounds coming from inside are overwhelming and the quick glimpse into the club always you a look at bodies on the dance floor, the balcony with tables overlooking, filled with people.

You tell yourself you deserve this.

You deserve a night to have fun.

So you take a breath and push through the door, music and light momentarily engulfing you.

When you come back to your senses, a waiter is stood in front of you.

"Welcome to Fade."