Chapter 73 Chapter Sixty-Nine
{A month later}
Omniscient Narrative
The house had never felt this loud.
Alex stood at the top of the stairs for a moment, listening to the noise drift upward, music humming low through the speakers, overlapping conversations with the guest, the clink of glasses, laughter rising and falling in waves.
His parents' idea of a small party had always been generous. Not crowded, exactly, but full enough that every room felt alive.
Graduation in a month, his mom kept saying, like she couldn't believe it.
Like she needed this moment to slow things down, to mark the end of something before it slipped past her.
Alex tugged at the collar of his shirt and exhaled slowly.
He'd agreed to this. He'd even helped set up earlier, string lights in the backyard, folding chairs arranged in loose clusters, tables covered with food no one would finish.
His parents wanted the people who mattered here.
Their friends, family and a couple of familiar faces.
And the person he wasn’t ready to be around, Demi,
Demi would be here.
The thought sat heavy in his chest, equal parts anticipation and dread.
"Alex," his mom called from downstairs. "Your girlfriend's here!"
Girlfriend.
The word still felt strange in his head, like a label he wore because it fit well enough, not because it belonged to him.
Claire stepped into the house a second later, smiling politely, dressed carefully like she always was around his family.
"Hey," she said, leaning in to kiss his cheek.
"Hey," he replied, forcing a smile.
She slipped her hand into his, warm and grounding, and for a second he let himself pretend this was easy.
That this night wouldn't matter more than it should.
Then he saw Demi.
He stood near the back of the living room with Chris and Kyle, one shoulder against the wall, drink untouched in his hand.
He looked good, too good. Relaxed in a way that made Alex's stomach twist, laughing quietly at something Kyle said.
Until his eyes lifted.
Demi saw them.
The shift was subtle but unmistakable.
His smile faltered just enough for Alex to catch it.
His gaze flicked to Claire's hand in Alex's, then back up, expression tightening like he'd swallowed something sharp.
Alex's chest clenched.
He hadn't meant to bring Claire to hurt Demi.
He told himself that immediately, defensively.
This was his family's party. She was his girlfriend, it was normal for her to attend.
Still, something in Demi's posture changed. His shoulders squared. His jaw set.
Chris noticed too. He leaned closer, murmuring something Alex couldn't hear. Demi nodded once, too sharply.
Claire followed Alex's line of sight.
"Oh," she said softly. "That's Demi, right?" A fake smile on her face, as she stared at her boyfriend’s ex best friend.
"Yeah." He gave a short answer.
She smiled, her smile never reaching her eyes. "Should we say hi?"
The idea made Alex tense. "Maybe later."
Demi looked away first.
The party continued around them, oblivious.
Alex's dad clapped him on the shoulder, grinning.
“I’m proud of this young man right here”
His father said as he gave his son a wide grin.
He watched as his father’s friends praised him. Some even compared him to his older brother but he thought nothing of it because if he could be like anyone, he would be proud to be just like his older brother.
His aunt asked about college plans.
“So sweetie, have you decided on which college you’ll be attending” she asked him, her smile bright and proud as she stared at her sister’s son.
“I have already picked a college and a team I would be playing for” he answered though he didn’t want to be there he didn’t want to be rude, especially to someone who had done nothing to him.
“Oh, that’s great sweetie, I’m so happy for you” she said sincerely, the curly haired boy said goodbye to her and started walking around the party absentmindedly.
Someone turned the music up slightly.
Laughter burst from the kitchen.
But Alex couldn't focus.
Every time he glanced across the room, Demi was there.
Watching.
Not watching.
Laughing too loudly.
Going quiet for too long.
Drinking more than usual.
Jealousy burned hot and irrational in Alex's chest.
He doesn't get to be like this, Alex thought bitterly.
‘He moved on’ he felt like puking.
Claire squeezed his hand again. "You okay?"
"Yeah," he lied. "Just need some air."
He stepped outside onto the back porch, the night cool against his skin.
For a moment, the distance helped.
The muffled sounds of the party felt far away, manageable.
Then the door opened behind him.
Demi stepped out.
They froze when they saw each other.
The space between them felt charged, brittle with everything neither of them had said in weeks.
"You've been acting weird all night," Alex said before he could stop himself.
Demi laughed, short and humorless. "Funny. I was thinking the same thing."
Alex folded his arms. "What's your problem with Claire?"
Demi's eyes flashed. "I don't have a problem with her."
"Really?" Alex shot back. "Because you're making it pretty obvious."
"That's not my intention," Demi said, voice tight. "But maybe don't bring your girlfriend and shove it in my face if you don't want reactions."
Alex bristled. "This is my house Demi. My family, I can do whatever I want and have whoever I want here." He immediately regretted it the second he said that but he couldn’t take it back now.
"And I'm supposed to just pretend it doesn't hurt?" Demi snapped, jealousy bleeding through before he could stop it.
Alex's temper flared. "Hurt? You're the one glued to Chris all night."
Demi's face went still.
That was the wrong thing to say.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Demi demanded.
"You know exactly what it means."
"No," Demi said, stepping closer. "Say it."
Alex hesitated, anger roaring louder than reason. "Everyone sees it. Whatever you and Chris are doing—"
Demi shoved him.
It wasn't hard. It wasn't meant to start anything.
But it did.
Alex stumbled back, shock morphing instantly into rage. He shoved Demi back, harder this time.
"Hey—!" someone shouted behind them.
Demi swung.
Alex didn't remember deciding to hit back. He just did.
Fists collided. Someone crashed into a chair.
A drink shattered against the ground. The porch erupted in chaos as the two of them lunged at each other, anger and jealousy and months of unspoken pain boiling over into something physical and ugly.
"Alex!" his mom screamed.
Chris and Kyle ran out at the same time.
"Stop!" Chris yelled, grabbing Demi around the shoulders. Kyle tackled Alex back, forcing space between them as both struggled, breathing hard, eyes wild.
The music cut abruptly.
The party fell silent.
Everyone stared.
No one understood.
Alex ripped free just long enough to shout, voice shaking with fury and something dangerously close to despair.
"I don’t want to ever see your stupid face ever Demi, Get out. You’re dead to me" he yelled out in anger
The words landed like a gunshot.
Demi froze.
Whatever fight he had left drained out of him instantly. His face crumpled, not angry now, just shattered.
He didn't argue.
He didn't say a word.
He turned and ran.
Through the yard. Through the gate. Down the street. Away from the house, the party, the people staring in stunned silence.
His parents' confused voices followed him.
Someone called his name.
Someone else asked what had happened.
No one had an answer.
Alex stood there, chest heaving, the weight of what he'd said crashing down on him all at once.
He hadn't meant it.
And it might already be too late.