Henry and I were waiting for Jude to get out of the changing rooms, we were sat on the floor, our backs against the wall and I was showing him the scars on my fingers.

I don't know why.

We just found ourselves in this conversation.

"This one is from when we had a cat, he was my best friend but like I wasn't his? He didn't like me very much."

Henry laughs and runs his fingertip along the little line.

He turns my hand in his and we look at the state of my fingers. Like the skin. I frown and pull my hand away. It's a little cracked where I pick at them. It was a gross habit.

"You'd talk to me right?" He says.

I nod.

"No. Like I've asked twice today for more information on what's upsetting you Emersyn and you've avoided it both attempts. Which is...ok. But I want you to know you can talk to me."

I just nudge his shoulder and admittedly turn my hand around and show him the scar I had on my palm. "That was when Rayne and I were tossing water bombs to each other right, and one burst in my hand and it cut me."

"How." Henry says, pulling a face and I shrug.

"I have no idea. I wailed. It was very dramatic."

He laughs lightly and he turns his face to look at me. "Lunch still?"

I guess so. I nod. "Where do you wanna go?"

"It's your choice." He says.

I frown. "That's annoying."

He frowns immediately and I pause. "I was joking."

He nods slowly. "You want me to pick a place?"

I shake my head. "No it's fine. You usually get lunch with Jude today right?"

"Mhm."

"So are you sure it is ok if I come along?"

"Yeah it's fine."

"Okay." I say gently. "Let's just get Judy to choose."

Henry nods and then Jude pushes open the doors of the he trails out with a few other guys.

He smiles at us, bidding them a goodbye and Henry gets up.

"Hey." He says and Jude looks at me. "I saw you up there watching."

I grinned. "We're your number one fans."

He smiles back. "Good."

Henry offers his hands for me to get up and I take them, getting pulled to my feet and I grin at him, I liked that it seemed so easy.

"Emersyn is coming with us to lunch." Henry says.

"Where we going?" Jude asks as we walk over to this stand, he fills out some things, I have no idea what he's doing honestly, and I play with my lip as we wait.

I am trying not to pick it, I am.

I pull my hands away from it.

"Wherever you want, just as long as they have alternatives for Emersyn."

I smiled at that and my eyes scan the room. I find August putting some things in a locker and he grabs out what I am assuming are his books. He then checks the time and rubs his face as if he's tired.

I look back to Henry and Jude. "I am not fussy, there's always vegetarian options wherever."

Jude smiles and then nods back to August. "He did well today."

I turn around and I smile when he meets our eyes. I look at Jude quickly. "Was it his first day back?"

He nods.

I smile and Jude looks between Henry and I. "Is it alright if I invite him to lunch?"

I nod immediately, because it was alright, I look up at Henry and he nods too. "Sure."

Jude leaves us and meets August, he had just began to head away from the locker and towards the exit. August pauses, listening to Jude and blinking at him.

He looks at me.

I don't think he's even listening to Jude, he's just searching my face, eyes.

I look back confused.

And then my eyes widened when he raised a hand and beckoned me over.

I looked at Henry and as I did that, August must have replied to Jude and so as Henry hadn't even noticed the exchange between August and I, Jude was walking back towards us.

August nods for me to come over and I just mumble to Henry that I'd be right back.

"I am not a dog." Was the first thing I said when I stepped to him. I dunno why... like he beckoned me with his hand.

"What's wrong with your face?" Was the first thing he said.

I pulled a face at that. "You."

He snorts. "Seriously."

"I don't know what you mean." I say. "How was training? Jude said you did well. I am sorry I laughed, it was just-"

He cuts me off. "Have you been crying?"

My words die and I just stare up at him. Confused.

"I- I had like therapy today. I just got a bit upset."

He nods but his hazel eyes attach to mine and I honestly feel like every time he does this, the intensity is going to drain the colour out of mine and replace the pigment with his own. And then everyone would be able to see how I feel after talking to him.

"Why? What's going on?"

I cross my arms over myself and I literally feel the fact he observes that action.

"Nothing." I whisper. "She was asking me these questions and they were hitting a little close to home and so I panicked and got upset. Like about hypomania I guess, I don't really know. She's working on a diagnosis but she's not telling me anything."

He nods. "Are you okay now?"

I just nod a little.

He watches me. "You wanna go have lunch?"

The surprise I feel.

"What?"

"At home." He says.

I slowly shake my head. "I have plans sorry. But um, Jude was inviting you to-"

August looks over my shoulder at the guys and he looks at me. "No. As long as you're going for food."

I nod. "I am."

"Good."

I nod a little and go to take a step back but then I pause. "August come to lunch?"

"I'm going to go home and probably sleep for a bit honestly Emersyn. I just wanted to check in."

"How are you-"

"Better." He says.

We look at each other.

"Better than before." August clears up.

I smile a little. "Still proud of you, by the way."

His lips tug up and my small smile, grows into a grin at that.

He nods to Henry and Jude. "Your people await."

I smile and turn to look at them, they're just talking between them.

I look back at August. "We're going out tonight." I say. "Like T and Lue are coming, I think Cal might be as well, but Rayne's coming, Jude, Henry... Would you-"

"I don't think so Emersyn."

I just nod. "I just want you to know you're wanted there."

He nods once. "Alright. Go eat."

I take a step back, tossing him another smile and August looks behind me and raises his hand a little, almost awkwardly and I try not to laugh at that, then he heads away from us and I just turn back to Henry and Jude.

"Busy?" Henry asks.

I nod. "Yep. Can we please go for food now?"

He chuckles at me and nods. "Yes, come on."

....

Henry's hand was on the small of my back, and I knew it wasn't anything other than helping guide me through the crowd but well- I don't know, I had pre drinks with Luella and Trev and well I was tipsy and I was probably imagining the different vibe between us tonight... but well yeah, that's what I was trying to say.

That there was a vibe.

Or well there was a hand.

On my back.

My bare back.

And it's the week before my period and well I am a little hot and bothered and Henry, innocent, sweet Henry is firmly pressing his hand on my skin.

I shouldn't drink any more.

We walk through the crowds, an amused smile on my face. Amused at myself. I was wearing just some dark jeans and a black long sleeved top, it was pretty high necked and was open from just under my shoulder blades, a thin bow tied round the middle of my back.

I also had my hair up in a ponytail, wanting my back not to be covered, this shirt was cute.

"Emersyn this is Cassidy and this is Zoe." Henry introduces as we make it to the table. He had met me outside, T and Luella were still outside. I think they were having a moment. I was glad to leave them.

I smile at the two girls, slightly surprised, I assumed that the friends he'd introduce me to would be males.

There are males here.

I look up and Henry nods to the other unknown person. "And that's Logan."

I smiled at that. "Hi."

Cassidy looks up, her hair was dark auburn colour, and she smiled a little at me. "It's nice to meet you. Sit down."

I smile and then my eyes attach to Rayne's and he gives me a look that says hello and help and thank you for coming and I laugh, walking over to the free chair besides him and Henry sits down next to Zoe, me next to him and then Rayne.

"Zoe and Cass are on my course, Zoe and I went to school together and Logan is Cass's boyfriend." Henry says to me and I nod, even though I am highly amused as to why Rayne was sat here with these people who I am pretty sure are strangers to him.

I look at Logan and give him a smile. "You study at the uni?"

He nods. "Yeah I do Economics."

I smile at that and Rayne whispers under his breath. "Trev, August and Lue."

I turn around to where he's looking and see them at the bar.

He came.

I look at Henry who meets my gaze and I smile. "It's busy tonight."

It was so busy, like unbelievably busy and I sort of liked it. It was hot though. I am happy I chose to just risk the no jacket.

It wasn't a far walk and well I was pretty tipsy so alcohol was warming my blood enough to deal. Now too hot as I felt my cheeks flushed a little.

"It is, you good?"

I nod. "Shouldn't I be asking you that, I thought you didn't like crowds."

He smiles and he takes a sip of his drink. I watch.

"I'll manage." He says to me softly and I give him a small grin, looking up and I see both Zoe and Cassidy watching us intensely. Zoe looks away immediately. Cassidy not so subtle.

I nod to his friends, and Hen turns to them. I finally get to turn to Rayne and he immediately leans in to whisper to me.

"Well I came here with Jude and I am singing soon and so I was like sure I'll sit with you and your friends babe and then he just starts his shift and so I am stuck here with Jude's friends and that's fine but I was so alone and awkward and I swear all my charm has been taken by my gayness."

I splutter, laughing loudly into Rayne's shoulder and he groans.

I sit back up and look at him utterly amused. "You good? Got it out?"

He nods and takes a deep breath. "And also I invited August. He came."

"Yeah I saw." I say surprised and they were still stood at the bar. I watch as Claire and Brit and Cal walk up to Luella and Trev and they all go off to find another table.

I frown at that. Like I mean, yeah, there's no room here but also... they didn't even look for me.

I pout.

Then I feel my phone go off and I laugh, knowing I was being a dick.

I look to Rayne and his eyes take me in. "You look fit tonight."

I smile and before I can return the compliment he ruins it.

"What are you after?" He smirks.

I lift my hand to hit him playfully and he chuckles shaking his head at me and throwing my hand away. I almost knock over my glass and Henry's hand shoots out to steady it.

I grin at him. "Usually that's the other way around."

"No, you bring the chaotic energy most of the time."

"I meant the clumsiness." I say and he scrunches his nose up at me and nods to say, you good, calm...?

I just shrug.

"How'd you two know each other?" Cassidy asks.

Cassidy had big eyes, that is what I notice about her. Zoe was different, shyer, she had really pretty brown eyes and short shoulder length brown hair. She just watched Henry and I curiously, not as bold as her friend.

I wonder what they're thinking.

"Um, Em and Rayne are close friends, so we just met through them two." He tells them.

I smiled at that. I was going to say blind date. But that makes a lot more sense.

"You two together?" Cassidy asks and Zoe whacks her shoulder, her eyes wide as she tells her friend to shh.

I just watch sort of confused.

"No." Henry says easily. "Just friends."

He said it so easily, with no subtext, no looks to anyone to insinuate more. It made me smile at his side profile.

"Oh?" Cassidy says looking at me.

I nod and then my eyes flicker over to Rayne. "When do you go up?"

"Now." He says and stands. "It was so nice meeting you guys." Rayne says and they all smile back at him.

And he practically scurries away and I laugh after him, shaking my head and turning my attention back to Henry.

His attention was on me. He was wearing a simple jumper, I wondered if he was warm. He looked freshly showered, shaved, just like August had this morning. I forgot to mention that, that August had had a haircut, and had shaved. He looked like him again.

"You can go and see your friends." Henry says quietly. "If you wanna."

I shake my head. "I am good here."

He nods slowly and looks over my shoulder to where I presume Luella and T are. And the others.

"There are people who were at the party here."

I nod slowly. "Yeah it's the usual group."

"And you don't wanna go over-"

"No." I say softly. "I don't really want to be too involved with that crowd anymore."

He raises an eyebrow at me. "You live with Luella, you adore that T person. You spent the week staying at-"

"Not them." I laugh. I take a sip. "I- last time I partied with the rest of them I accidently drank a drink with um pills mixed in and I ended up on a table, dancing and my top was off and then I was so ill and I just-"

He looks so surprised.

Like so surprised.

"Wait what happened?" He says quietly, moving his head closer.

"No no. It was fine. I put it badly. I was having fun at the time. I have just moved past that version of fun I think."

Henry nods at me, his eyes still a little concerned and I just give him a smile.

"So that's why you're here and not there, because you're not comfortable?"

I pull a face, sort of. "No I am here because I wanna be here with you."

"Okay." He says gently then we separate from our little whispering vest and he nods to Zoe's drink.

"What ya drinking Zo?"

"Same as you." She smiles.

"Jack and coke?" He asks and she nods.

"With a dash of lime of course."

He grins at her. "Have you done the essay yet?"

They fall into conversation, Henry talking easy to the girl with a cute round face and I just bite the inside of my cheek, wondering about the two girls a little. I take a sip of my um, uncoordinated drink and smile into it.

I was amusing myself.

Was I jealous?

How can I be jealous when I don't even want him to want me like that?

Damn it Em. I have zero experience with boys.

August doesn't count. The boys from my early teens do not count. I am clueless.

Rayne's voice floods the bar and I grin because he is so upbeat, his voice can do easy lyrical stuff but damn it also does the loud dancy songs so well as well.

He needs to do this properly.

I will add this to my list of things to sort out.

My list in my brain, the jumbled mess. But as long as it's on there, I can worry about it at night with all the other things I wanna/have to do.

Rayne's voice is loud and as he finishes and leads onto the next song, I watch as more people move from the seats and onto the dance floor. A few guys drunk and unashamed to be the first ones up.

And well after the first ones are up, we all know it's not long before people follow.

The girls order a round of shots to the table, offering me one and I smile, accepting the effort and we all count down the shot, wincing when it in fact burns my throat.

Henry looks at me and he nods to our drinks. "You want another?"

The girls start to whisper and I just feel a little uncomfortable.

I don't know why.

I just wonder what they are saying.

Then they look back at the table and Cass leans over to Logan and presses her hand on his face. "You wanna dance? Zoe and me are going up."

Logan nods, smiling at the two girls and they look at us.

"You two?"

Henry shakes his head before I can say anything and I just give them a smile and they smile back, walking away.

"Okay they aren't usually so tense." Henry says immediately. "I'm sorry-"

I was shocked. But I just smile. "You had to put up with my dad. I can deal with some protective friends."

He smiles at me and then he finishes his drink and I am encouraged to do the same.

"I need a smoke Em."

Oh.

I nod.

"I'll get you a drink? It's just Lue and that at the table now so I could meet you back there."

I nod and I look around out of curiosity for Jude. He's behind the bar, smiling at some girls who are trying to flirty with him. He looks amused. I don't blame them, he is pretty hot.

Henry and I stand, and as he heads out towards the smoking area I just turn around and head towards Luella and Trev.

Nobody else was at the table anymore and I cleared my throat dramatically as I walk up to them.

Luella just rolls her eyes and pats the chair next to hers and I slide into it.

"Hey blue." Trev says. "Why the long face?"

I look around.

"Henry's friends don't like me. And it's making me sad because I feel like I am likeable."

Luella frowns. "You're over sensitive. I am sure they do."

I just send her a look saying I am serious.

I don't know, I just have picked up on a vibe. "Where are the others?"

"There's nothing not to love about you Em." T says seriously and I smile at him a little lazily. "And August is getting a round in and Brit and that went up to dance to Rayne."

I nod slowly and look between them. "You knew August was coming?"

They look at each other. They nod slowly.

"Why didn't you say earlier?"

"We had a difference of opinion." Trever says moodily and my eyebrows raise.

"I like Henry. I want Henersyn. But Trev wants... the other possible ship which we shall not name and he then said he didn't want to push you two together and stuff so we just chose to pretend not to know."

I just have a scrunched nose, giving them both unimpressed looks and struggling not to turn all my attention on him when August comes back over cradling four drinks.

He places them down on the table and then hands them out. He places one infront of me and I look at him surprised.

"I saw you'd joined."

"Thank you." I say.

"It's just vodka and lemonade."

I smile and nod and he sits down. He shouldn't really be drinking, for like stability and his medication. So I stare a little at his drink and I just decide not to be that person tonight. He's out. He's socialising. His head is above the water for now, let's not push it under.

"Where did your friends go?" Luella says to me and I look at her.

I shrug. "Henry went to smoke and the others went to dance."

"You wanna dance?" Luella asks and I shake my head a little.

"Nah not yet." I take a gulp of the drink and I meet Luella's eyes. "I'm going to pee and then maybe?"

"Okay, you want me to come with?"