Ft. Tahjun - Blog Posts
lila laughed before she could stop herself – too sharp, too sudden, but honest. it didn't reach her eyes, not all the way, but it cracked something open in her chest just the same. she hadn't expected tahj to joke, not after everything. she'd braced for cold shoulders and unfinished sentences, maybe even that easy charm turned against her like a blade. instead, he met her somewhere in the middle, and that – hurt more than if he'd just walked away. “four drinks?” she repeated, arching a brow as she tilted her head, feigning consideration. “that's a tall order, tahj. especially since i still don't know what you drink. you could be setting me up for the worst tab of my life.” there was a flicker of something softer in her expression, something tentative. she shifted her weight from one foot to the other, thumb hooking into the waistband of her jeans – nervous habit, always had been. it grounded her when her nerves threatened to crackle to the surface like live wire. and being here, being in front of him, brought back more than just guilt. it brought warmth. familiarity. memories she hadn't had the guts to revisit in weeks. “i don't expect you to just… let it go,” she said, her voice quieter now, as if the bass had somehow receded for her to be honest. “i know i bailed on something important. i know what that night meant. to you. to both of us.” her fingers toyed with the edge of her chain as she spoke, twisting the cool metal like it might anchor her in this moment. “and i hate that i turned it into something it wasn't supposed to be. i hate that i didn't show up for you.” she hesitated, eyes tracing the lines of his face – still so familiar, even after weeks of silence. still kind, even when he looked like he wanted to be mad. “but if you let me,” she added softly, “i'd like to start making it up to you,” a beat. “let me get you that drink, bleeding heart and all,” she mused, her smile crooked again – but this time gentler, not hiding behind it. “first round's on me. you can decide if the second's worth sticking around for.”
Tahjun was almost always at the Prism if time allowed it, something about letting go to the music, to the hum of the crowd, the smell of alcohol, sweat, and perfume. It felt as if only a filled club like this could truly embracr all his senses and make him for a moment forget people and places and things. It silenced the mind, enough that he didn’t think about how to shake his own spirit. But his content smile soon faltered when the bodies around him parted and Lila appeared.
He considered Lila a friend, not just a friend by association - as most people were - but someone he'd actually make plans with, someone he wouldn't so quickly try to trick of his own amusement - unless it was so easy, then it would be a flaw to let the opportunity pass. Being ghosted was painful, and he would've hated it no matter the party, but being ghosted at the party, the one that was the last place he'd seen Lizzie. That was more than just bad taste, and no amount of liquids could wash it away.
He made a face as Lila spoke, trying to find it in his heart not to forgive her. He wanted to stay mad at her.
He crossed his arms. "You should've." Narrowing his eyes slightly, he found he'd rather speak with her than continue being mad, too much had happened. "One drink? Four at least to stop my bleeding heart!"
