Thomas~2

The night of the party had finally arrived, and as per usual, Tess was scrambling for something to wear. Her own closet had failed her (again), so she'd raided Michelle's instead—grabbing a pair of flares and a top with dramatic white panels that hung like ripped curtains. Hopefully Michelle was out tonight, or Tess was dead.

She grabbed an apple on her way out, calling a half-hearted, "I'm going out!" over her shoulder before slamming the door on her mum's tired sigh. Headphones in, volume up, she started the walk to Katie and Emily's.

Tess had a routine for walking alone at night—a persona she slipped into like a second skin. She moved with a mix of disinterest and low-level menace, her expression flat, unreadable. Like she was too tired or too psychotic to mess with. It worked. Most people didn't approach a girl who looked like she'd bite.

She knocked on the door, only to have it flung open by James, Katie and Emily's younger brother. He stood there, his face twisted into an expression of smug superiority. He was an irritating little brat

"What do you want?" he asked, already in full goblin mode.

"Nice to see you too, James," Tess said flatly, not in the mood for this

He crossed his arms. "You here to mooch off my sisters again?"

"Oh, piss off. Where's Katie?"

He stepped aside with an exaggerated sigh, like he was doing her a massive favour. "Upstairs. Not that I care."

"Thanks for the hospitality," she muttered, brushing past him.

Before she could hit the stairs, Mrs. Fitch's voice floated from the kitchen. "Tess, darling, is that you?"

Tess winced. "Hi, Mrs. Fitch," she called, already bracing.

The woman appeared with a warm smile. "How's your mum? And your sister? I haven't heard from her in ages. Is she still with... what was his name? Marcus?"

"Malcolm," Tess corrected, resisting the urge to cringe. "No, that was like... two husbands ago. It's Paul now."

Mrs. Fitch gave a nod of vague concern, the kind reserved for people on their fifth go at love. "Ah. Well, that's how life goes sometimes."

Luckily, Emily appeared at the top of the stairs looking slightly overwhelmed but relieved. "Tess! Come up—Katie's having a full-blown wardrobe meltdown."

Saved. "Thanks, Jenna." Tess said quickly, darting upstairs.

Once she reached the twins' room, Tess closed the door behind her, leaning against it with a sigh. Emily was fiddling with some makeup on the dresser.

"You alright?" Emily asked, catching Tess's reflection in the mirror.

"I just got interrogated by your mum and verbally assaulted by your little brother," Tess said, pulling her hair into a loose bun. "Standard visit."

Emily snorted. "Honestly, he's getting worse. Like, clinically worse."

Katie burst out of the wardrobe, holding up two tops. "Okay—crisis. Which one? This or this?"

Emily flopped onto the bed. "They're literally the same."

"They are not the same!" Katie snapped, chucking one at Tess. "And you're not helping me either!"

Tess caught the top, eyeing both options. "Darker blue one. I had to raid Michelle's closet for this, so I'm not exactly feeling great about my own life decisions."

Katie stopped her frantic pacing to eye Tess's outfit. "Ooh, actually, that's kinda hot. Maybe I should've raided Michelle's too."

"Too late," Tess said with a smirk. "I'm already getting murdered for one top."

"Sorted! Let's go." Katie finally made her choice, flinging the losing top onto the bed with a triumphant little yell. "Emily hurry up, we're late!"

Emily scoffed in disbelief as she put one last clip in her hair.

Tess let out a sigh, but deep down, there was a flicker of excitement. She wasn't sure what the night would bring, but after everything, maybe she did need a little bit of chaos. One night couldn't hurt, right?

--------

Tess, Katie, and Emily walked through the city streets, following the half-baked directions Cook had sent them. The air was sharp with cold, but Tess didn't mind—her cigarette warmed her fingers and gave her something to do as Katie launched into yet another Danny monologue.

"Honestly, he bought me this necklace—said it 'reminded him of me.' Cute, right?" Katie flipped her hair, admiring her reflection in a shop window.

"Soo cute," Tess replied, dry as ever, flicking her cigarette into the gutter.

As they crossed the street, Tess clocked two familiar silhouettes up ahead—Effy and Pandora, parked near a bus stop. Pandora was mid-ramble, hands flying, while Effy stood beside her with trademark indifference. A tall guy hovered awkwardly nearby. Tess squinted.

"Hey, Effy!" Katie called. "Pandora! What are you two doing here?"

Effy gave a small smile; Pandora beamed. "Hi! Just on our way to this thing, you know." She gave an unfortunate wink. "This is Thomas!" she added brightly, pointing to the tall boy. "He's selling weed tonight, and we're helping!"

Tess raised an eyebrow. So this was Bus Stop Boy.

"Wait—Thomas, huh? How'd you end up with this lot?"

Thomas, in his thick French accent, smiled sheepishly. "Pandora found me at the bus stop. I was...eating my doughnuts, and she started talking to me. Now I sell weed."

Pandora nodded like it was the most natural progression in the world. "Yeah! He's great. We're helping him sell tonight."

Tess smirked, exchanging a glance with Emily. "Figures. So you're the boy Panda was on about?"

Thomas chuckled. "I guess that's me."

"Cute." Tess grinned, giving Emily a little nudge.

The group continued on until they reached what could generously be called a 'venue'—a grimy, industrial lot lit by half-dead streetlights and surrounded by crumbling concrete and graffiti but no party in sight. In the center, Freddie, JJ, and Cook stood talking. Cook spotted them first.

"Girls!" he shouted, grinning. "We were just discussing breasts, and there you were."

Tess rolled her eyes but couldn't help a crooked smile. "Tosser."

Cook flicked his cigarette away. "Come on then," he said, waving them over. "You're just in time for the party to start properly."

Effy stepped beside him, introducing Thomas like she was ordering drinks. "This is Thomas," she said. "He's the guy you're helping out tonight."

Thomas offered a warm smile. "So glad to meet you,"

"Thomas has gotta get 300 quid by tomorrow, otherwise Johnny White's gonna make him eat—"

"Johnny White?!" Freddie cut in, alarmed.

Ignoring the tension, Effy continued, "He's got 13 ounces of weed in the bag," she said casually, brushing off Pandora's unfinished sentence.

Thomas held up the bag proudly. "It's excellent weed," he said with confidence, though Cook just laughed.

"Hi, everyone!" Naomi's voice cut in as she approached. Tess glanced at Emily, already feeling the shift in the air.

Katie groaned. "Oh Christ. Who invited her?"

"Katie, please," Emily muttered, sharp and low.

Naomi didn't flinch. "Sorry I'm late. Couldn't find a bus. Effy said someone needed a hand?"

"Yeah, you like giving hand, don't you?" Katie said coldly, a smug smile forming.

Naomi's face tightened as she began to walk away, but Tess couldn't hold back. "Katie! What the hell was that?" she said, her frustration clear as she glared at her friend. But before she could go on, Emily finally snapped.

"For fuck's sake, Katie!" Emily blurted. "She didn't kiss me, okay?"

Katie crossed her arms. "She practically jumped you."

"I kissed her, alright?" Emily stepped forward. "I was drunk, someone gave me MDMA, and I felt like fucking kissing someone! Satisfied?"

Silence dropped like a weight.

Then, Cook, of course: "I'm satisfied! Would be better if you could show us though."

Tess groaned. "Shut the fuck up, Cook."

The tension crackled, seconds away from imploding—until Effy cut through it like a scalpel.

"You promised me a party, Cook. Where is it?"

Cook grinned, eyes gleaming. "Can't you feel it, kids? It's the sound of the underground. Come on, you suckers. Let's go!"

With a dramatic flourish, he wrenched open a hatch in the ground.

One by one, they descended into the dark.

Tess lingered at the edge for a moment, the thud of bass vibrating through her shoes. Then she followed, the air changing as she dropped into the space below.

It was like falling into another world—underground and alive. A cave of bodies and noise. Sweat. Weed. Pulsing neon light. Music throbbed through the walls, heavy and relentless. The room was packed—faces flashing past, limbs tangling in time with the beat.

Effy passed out small bags of weed to the group, and Tess found herself being swept into the chaos of the party, selling the stash wherever she could. It wasn't hard—most of the people there were looking for something to take the edge off or fuel the night. She moved around the cave-like room, weaving through the bodies packed tight, neon lights flashing in sync with the heavy beat of the music.

After a while, the buzz wore off. Her feet were aching, her throat dry, and the air was too hot, too full of perfume and sweat and burnt weed. She slipped toward the edge of the chaos and spotted Freddie leaning against the wall, a cigarette resting between his fingers, watching the party unfold.

His gaze was distant, like he wasn't really part of what was happening. Tess approached him, glancing down at the mostly empty bag in her hand before leaning against the wall beside him.

"How much have you sold?" she asked, flicking the bag lightly.

Freddie didn't look at her. He took a drag, then let the smoke curl out slow. "Not much," he said. "Few bags. Couldn't really be arsed."

Tess gave a small nod. "Yeah. Same. People'll buy it either way. Effy'll be fine."

Freddie just hummed in response, eyes still on the crowd.

After a beat, Tess tilted her head, watching him more than the room now. "Thought you and Cook weren't speaking."

Freddie's jaw shifted slightly. He looked down at his cigarette. "We're not," he said. "Not really."

She waited, letting the silence stretch. Eventually, he spoke again, softer.

"It's just... different now. He's always been a dick, yeah, but this time it actually mattered."

Tess glanced toward the crowd, pretending to look for someone. "He probably doesn't even care about Effy like that. Not properly."

Freddie let out a dry laugh — not a real one. "He doesn't care about anyone. Not really. He just... burns through people, and were left to deal with the fallout." His eyes flicked briefly to Effy, "It's not JJ or anyone else, Tess. I care about her."

"I figured." Tess nodded slowly, then said, "He's a tit."

That made him snort — barely, but it was something. He looked at her properly for the first time, eyes clearer than she expected.

Tess twisted the empty bag between her fingers, her gaze low. "I used to be a bit like that," she said eventually. "Well kind of. Just... didn't think too much about it. Then last year happened."

Freddie glanced sideways, curious. "What happened?"

She shrugged one shoulder. "It ended badly. Whole thing blew up in my face. Since then I've just kept my head down, mostly."

Freddie was quiet for a moment, taking another drag from his cigarette before speaking. "Maybe you should stop keeping your head down, then. Might do you some good to... get out there again. Doesn't have to be like before."

"Maybe," she said. "I've been stuck in my own head for too long."

Freddie exhaled smoke and smiled faintly. "You and me both."

She smiled, feeling the tension lift a little. "I should probably stop overthinking it, maybe I should just do something different for once. Not too crazy though I'm not trying to end up like Cook."

Freddie smirked. "No one should end up like Cook."

They both laughed this time — low and genuine — and for the first time all night, Tess felt her shoulders drop. Lighter. Like she wasn't just floating through it.

-------

Tess had drifted back into the crowd, letting the music wash over her—loud, relentless, like it was trying to drown something out. Bodies pressed around her in waves, the air thick with heat and smoke and the sharp tang of sweat. She wasn't sure when Cook appeared, just that suddenly he was there, right in front of her—grinning, wild-eyed, and already moving like he'd never stopped.

He had this way of always being in the centre of things, pulling people into his orbit whether they liked it or not. Tess had resisted for as long as she could, but tonight, maybe it was the tension in the air or the way he was looking at her — she let him.

He leaned in close, catching her hand without asking, spinning her into him with a laugh that buzzed in her chest more than her ears. She met his eyes and there was something almost dangerous in them, something that made her stomach flip in a way that wasn't entirely unpleasant.

They danced—if it could even be called that. It was chaotic and close, their bodies bumping in time with the bass. His hands found her waist, fingers pressing lightly, then firmer, drawing her in. He smelled like smoke and something warm and sharp.

He was already kissing her neck from behind, slow and teasing, lips dragging up toward the curve just beneath her ear. Her breath caught, and for a beat, she let herself fall into it—the hum in her skin, the electricity building beneath her ribs, the stupid thrill of being wanted.

He leaned in, mouth near her ear "You're not gonna run away from me, are you?"

Then it hit.

The room felt smaller. Hotter. Her head spun—not from the music or the lights or Cook's mouth now brushing the side of her neck—but from the wave of panic clawing up her spine.

It was too much. Too familiar. That feeling of losing control.

"Cook—" she said, breathy at first, but he didn't hear her over the music. Or didn't want to.

She pulled back, placing a hand on his chest to steady herself, to make space. "I need to go."

He blinked, confused, still smiling—but she was already stepping away, heart racing like it was trying to break out of her ribcage.

She pushed through the crowd, her heart pounding, the walls closing in on her as she stumbled out of the main room.

She didn't stop moving until the music felt distant. Somewhere deeper in the tunnels, quieter now, she found Naomi—alone, looking just as lost as she felt.

"Hey," Tess said, voice tentative but not unfriendly.

Naomi glanced up, brows pulling together the moment she saw her. "Why are you talking to me?" Her tone was flat, guarded. "I thought you and Katie were besties."

Tess let out a dry half-laugh, dropping down beside her on the rough concrete. "We are," she said, brushing hair off her face, "but we're still... very different."

Naomi shot her a sidelong look, skeptical. "Different how?"

Tess shrugged, leaning back and running her hands through her hair. "Katie's... well, Katie. Other than the obvious reasons. She's got her shit figured out, I guess. Or at least she acts like she does. I'm still trying to work it out."

Naomi didn't respond right away, just picked at the fraying edge of her sleeve. "Yeah, well... I'm not exactly Miss Sorted either."

Tess studied her, sensing there was more behind those words than Naomi was letting on. "What's up with you then?"

Naomi shook her head with a dismissive huff. "Nothing."

Tess hesitated, then said softly, "Emily?"

Naomi didn't answer, just gave a small, barely-there nod.

Tess tried to ease the weight in the air. "Emily's great. Katie can be a bit harsh on her sometimes. Acts like she's still twelve."

That got the faintest twitch at the corner of Naomi's mouth, but it faded fast. She glanced sideways at Tess. "What about you? Why'd you bail on the party? You and Cook were in there... looked pretty close."

Tess exhaled slowly, folding forward to rest her elbows on her knees. "Yeah. It got a bit much."

Naomi raised a brow. "Too much Cook, or too much... everything?"

Tess gave a crooked smile, but it didn't quite reach her eyes. "Both, probably. He's intense. Sometimes it's fun. Sometimes... I dunno."

Naomi studied her quietly. "You like him?"

"I wouldn't go that far... Sometimes he makes me feel like I'm the only person in the room. Other times I feel like I'm just another distraction for him. And I've already done the whole reckless-love-wrecks-you thing. Don't really fancy the sequel."

"This an ex?" She asked

Tess nodded, barely. "Yeah. Let someone get close. He didn't care. Took pieces of me on the way out."

They were quiet for a beat, both letting that truth settle.

"Cook's not exactly the safe option is he?"

Tess gave a sad smile. "Definitely not."

After a minute, Naomi nodded toward the noise behind them. "You going back in?"

Tess looked toward the pulsing glow of the main room, the thrum of bass still shaking the floor beneath them. "Not yet. Might just... sit for a bit."

Naomi leaned back against the wall, folding her arms behind her head. "Smart move."

Tess glanced sideways, a small, genuine smile tugging at her lips. "You're not as scary as people think, you know."

Naomi smirked without looking at her. "Don't ruin my rep."

-----

As Tess and Naomi made their way back inside, the bass hit like a pulse—thick, insistent, pulling them back into the chaos. They pushed through the crush of bodies, shoulder to shoulder with strangers, the air hot and sticky with sweat and smoke.

When they finally reached the main room, Tess spotted their lot by the stage. She clocked Cook straight away—propped against the wall, drink in hand, talking to JJ like he hadn't just wrapped himself around her ten minutes ago. That maddening grin was still smeared across his face. Like nothing touched him.

She didn't look for long.

Naomi nudged her. "What the hell's going on up there?"

Tess followed her gaze—and blinked. "Is that... Thomas?"

Thomas was on stage, arms flailing, rapping in rapid French with some random duo who seemed equally hyped to be there. He looked like he'd just found his calling.

"Jesus Christ," Tess muttered, half-laughing. "He's actually good?"

Naomi couldn't help but laugh, her eyebrows raised. "This is unexpected"

Panda was front and centre, completely enthralled, hair swinging as she danced like her bones didn't matter. She looked at Thomas like he'd just split the sky open.

"Look at her," Tess said, shaking her head with a grin. "She's totally under his spell."

"Honestly, I think she might be in love," Naomi replied, smirking. "Can you blame her?"

As Thomas doubled down with some ridiculous flourish, the crowd clapped along, drawn in by the sheer audacity of it all. Tess felt herself loosening, her chest easing a little, a reluctant smile tugging at the corners of her mouth.

Then Cook was beside her.

"Can't believe you lot were just sitting in the corner," he said, voice low and amused. "You missed the best part."

Tess glanced at him, flatly. "Tragic."

He leaned in closer, his breath warm against her temple. "You alright now princess?"

She didn't answer straight away—just looked ahead, toward the stage, the lights, the noise. Then, quietly, "Getting there."

Cook didn't push it. He just bumped her shoulder lightly with his and nodded toward the madness. "Come on. Can't let Thomas be the most memorable one tonight."

Naomi grabbed Tess's hand before she could think of a reply. "Let's go. If we're gonna humiliate ourselves, now's the time."

Tess hesitated for just a moment, then allowed herself to be pulled into the crowd, joining the madness as they all laughed and danced, the earlier tensions fading away in the whirlwind of music, laughter, and Thomas's outrageous French rap.