Sai

His voice booms over the music, a wide grin on his face, his hand on his shoulder still, “Erik! Strange to see you here!”

Erik chuckles, the easy grin coming easily to his face despite the prickle of frustration at being stalled, “It really is; it makes sense that you’re here.” Erik replies.

Sai laughs, his childhood best friend always an easy source of ease, “Did you pay to get in?” He roars.

Erik nods.

“Bruuuuh. You should’ve told me! I could get you in for free! I know Brad!”

Erik shrugs, “It’s fine. It slipped my mind, to be fair.” He grins at his bald friend, “Figures, though; you frequent these events, don’t you”

Sai grins in response, grabbing Erik’s cup and filling it up with a fresh drink.

Erik peers across the crowd; the sea of dark clothing makes it impossible to find her in the crowd. Her darker-coloured hair camouflages easily with the backdrop; anxiety floods his veins, his heart tight in his chest.

“You come alone?” Sai asks, stepping beside him and putting an arm on his shoulder, playfully leaning on his friend.

“N-No. I came with Vi and Ari.” He slides his shoulder out and takes a step. A half step towards the crowd, hoping his friend will catch the hint,

“OOooH. Ari? Shit. She’s here?”

Erik, intrigued, finally gives Sai his full attention, “You’re still into her?”

Sai nods, “Yeah… DMing her heaps but like… It’s going slow.” He turns, “You gotta help me, man! she’s your girlfriend, best friend, no? We’re bros, man, come on.” He’s almost begging.

Erik grimaces, “Are you taking it slow? Or is it going slow?”

Sai responds, “I am. I like. Kinda really like her; I don’t want her to think it’s a hookup. Can’t you ask Vi to put in a good word?”

Erik thinks, “I can… But, honestly, man. From what I know of her, she’ll like the bold approach more. Trust me. Go find her.”

Sai grins, slapping Erik on the back, “You’re the fucking best man. Oh did I tell you about…”

Sai launches into another story, the five minutes prior quickly becoming 10, then 15, and then 20. Erik does his best to tear himself away, nervously sipping his drink, desperately trying to find Vi from here, desperate to see what she’s gotten up to. She hadn’t come back looking for him; she hadn’t called or texted or anything; she’s probably fine… He’s sure… She probably just gave up when Erik didn’t show up, right? Probably just with Ari….

Right?

“Uh yeah! Speaking of!” Erik interrupts, seeing the lull in Sai’s rambling, “I should go find them; she’s been gone for a bit, y’know?”

Erik grabs his cup off the sticky bench and another, “I was supposed to bring this to her.” He chuckles nervously.

Sai nods, leaning back, “Oh yeah, no stress, man! I’ll come find ya in a bit; maybe you can help me out with Ari.”

“Sounds like a plan!” Erik says, already several steps away, ditching the cup on a random table as he tries to circle the crowd. His shoulder bunched into others as he made the plunge, trying to manoeuvre his way through.

Panic itches at his skin; it’s been too long. Did she go somewhere? Is this how far she’s pushing it?…

‘Would that be so bad?’

Erik groans, completely passing through the middle of the crowd to the other side, Vi nowhere to be found, the living room deceptively big; how do so many damn people fit in a living room like this anyway??

He turns and, as if by a gift from God, the body parts slightly, and the colour drains from his face as he makes eye contact with his flushed, sweaty girlfriend