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[right]Interactions: Vicky [@Atrophy]
[code]Warehouse [/code][/right][hr]
[color=9777bd][i]Deep breath. Smile. You can get through this.[/i][/color]

Tuyen didn’t want to be here. There were too many people, too much noise, and too many eyes on her. She’d rather be at home, even if it meant being alone with her thoughts. But she wasn’t at home. She was here. And she had to pretend she was enjoying herself, because otherwise Vicky would get upset at her. Then she’d have no friends. That would be worse. 

Maybe it wouldn’t matter, since she couldn’t even do a simple thing like get drinks for them quickly. 

“–So I thought, why not come back too? Since Chef did it ain’t weird, is it?” 

Tuyen's smile wavered as she realised he was waiting for an answer. Her eyes focused on the guy in front of her rather than over his shoulder. John Miller, her ex-boyfriend, who’d trapped her into a corner as she tried to skirt around the walls to get to the drinks table. It had seemed like the safer option, avoiding the increasingly busier dance floor. She regretted it now. She never could make the right decision, even for something as simple as this. 

[color=9777bd]”It isn’t.”[/color] She said quietly, barely audible above the music. She didn’t understand why he was talking to her. He’d broken up with her after only a month, and that had been long before the summer holidays even started. Was he hoping to get close to Vicky, who was the real reason he’d even dated Tuyen in the first place? 

“Right, exactly. See, you always got me Tuyen. So I was thinking, maybe we could try again?”

Oh. What? Why? 

She didn’t want to. She’d only dated him in the first place because it was normal, and she was trying to be more normal. Nobody else would ever ask her out anyway. She assumed that she’d develop some kind of normal feelings. But she hadn’t. She was left with the realisation that there was just something deeply wrong with her. It wouldn’t be any different a second time, would it? No, she’d only hate herself more at the end of it. If that was even possible… 

But how did she reject someone? She tilted herself to one side slightly to look past him. Lupe was off her chair now, and the heaving mass of teens blocking the drinks table seemed to be easing off. At least they weren’t so tightly massed that she couldn’t see a way through. She had to get Vicky’s drink. That was more important than this. 

[color=9777bd]”I’m sorry. I told my Aunt I’d concentrate on my studies this year. I’m really sorry, John. You’ll find someone-” better- “else soon who understands you. You’re so lovely… But I can’t. I’m so sorry.”[/color] Tuyen managed to get out. The disappointment was clear on his face, something she really didn’t understand- unless it was disappointment in her. It must be that. He was disappointed about how ungrateful she was being, rejecting someone kind enough to want to date someone like [i]her[/i]. 

But it would be worse if she said yes. She didn’t have a crush on him, and never would. Not like she did– 

Tuyen felt sick. She shouldn’t feel that way, and she shouldn’t think about it. 

“Fine, I was just tryna do something nice- whatever,” John grumbled, stepping back enough that Tuyen could easily slip away with another mumbled sorry. 

Not making the same mistake again, she weaved through the crowd as best she could. It was made difficult as a loud, pink haired girl- Ella from the year below, Tuyen remembered- pushed her way through, which had a chain reaction through the crowd. Tuyen narrowly avoided people falling into her- someone she didn’t recognise wasn’t so lucky, nor was poor Daniel for falling into said stranger. She managed to make herself as small as possible, weaving between people rather than shoving through like Ella had. At least she was good at blending in. It made it easier to get through. 

She finally reached the makeshift bar, taking a deep breath to try and ease the anxiety crawling underneath her skin. She’d apologise for taking so long. Vicky had forgiven her for worse. What drink had she wanted? She’d just said something strong, hadn’t she? Which meant the same for Gwen, then the same for Tuyen herself… At least she’d avoided being dragged into the beer pong. 

She reached for a half empty rum bottle, pouring generously into two red plastic cups and a bit less into another. Where was the mixer- 

[color=32cd32]"God, you’re such a fucking idiot.”[/color]

Tuyen stiffened, breath catching in her throat. She was a fucking idiot. Of course she was. Had Vicky got sick of waiting for her, and decided to follow? She couldn’t blame her. But the words that followed didn’t make sense. She was surprised to turn and find that her friend wasn’t looking at her, or even that close to her. She was at the other end of the bar… She was talking to someone else, though Tuyen couldn’t figure out who. 

Of course. There’s no way Vicky would feel strongly enough about her for those feelings to turn into hate. 

Did she still need to make their drinks? Vicky had got her own now. What did she do… And what had happened? Did she check up on her? Act like everything was normal, and just go over with the drinks she had to finish mixing?

The uncertainty that trapped her burned away as Vicky suddenly stormed off, shoulders shaking like she was about to cry. 

[color=9777bd]”Vicky.”[/color] Tuyen tried to call out, but it was smothered by all the noise. She abandoned their rum only drinks to follow. For all that Vicky was clearly drunk and stumbling, she was fast. Like she didn’t want anyone to catch her. But Tuyen couldn’t just leave her like that, someone had clearly happened, someone had to make sure she was alright- was it just the alcohol? Had she lost beer pong? Had Gwen said something? [i]Her boyfriend[/i]? Tuyen hadn’t seen him yet, but she knew he was here.

She hated herself for the stab of jealousy she felt in her gut, and sickening hope the worse had happened there. God, she was disgusting. 

[color=9777bd]”Vicky?”[/color] Tuyen only caught up as Vicky reached the bathroom, following her inside. It meant she was finally loud enough to be heard, the door thudding behind her muffling the sounds of music and shouting. 

She only realised that maybe Vicky hadn’t wanted anyone to follow her. The anxiety was back and stronger, trying to claw its way out of her throat. She swallowed it back down. She had to pretend to be fine and happy. She’d support her friend, even if that support meant any upset turning towards her. Surely that would be better, anyway?

[color=9777bd]”Are you alright?”[/color] Tuyen continued, shuffling closer without invading her friend’s personal space. She still spoke softly, as if someone might somehow overhear in the thankfully empty (and barely functional) bathroom. She bit down the reactive apology for taking too long. That would just be making this about herself. [color=9777bd]”Did something happen after I left?”[/color] 

She managed an apologetic smile- matched with a gentle, concerned expression that screamed someone who meant no harm and could be easily walked over. As much as she felt she’d deserve Vicky turning around and getting upset at her, the thought of it also scared her. She couldn’t handle being disliked like that, even though it was inevitable. So she was trying to walk the fine line of being there without seeming intrusive. 

[color=9777bd]”Can I help with anything? Or- Or is it just the alcohol?”[/color]