strings attached ; firstprince

chapter three

"Is he bloody talking to Connor?" Pez asks angrily, not directed at anyone in particular.

"I think so," Alex sighs. Everyone looks to Henry who's back now faces them. "He's still talking to him?"

"I thought he stopped," Pez says defeatedly. He looks at Alex. "I thought maybe it was working."

Alex tries to ignore the pang he feels in his chest but quickly regains his composure when he realises Henry has hung up the phone and is rejoining them at the table.

"So," June says just as Henry retakes his seat.

"Everything okay?" Pez asks immediately.

Henry inhales deeply. "Uh, yeah. It was Connor but I think I'm just going to block him."

"Finally!" Pez cheers loudly, then pauses. "I mean, yeah, good idea. I'm proud of you, Henry."

Henry smiles sadly and suddenly Alex has a vendetta against a British man named Connor.

"This calls for celebratory drinks!" Nora announces excitedly. June nods along enthusiastically. "Regroup tonight? Let's go bar hopping."

"Sounds marvelous," Pez agrees.

"I'll never pass up a good bar hop," Alex grins. "We should make it a mission to get Henry on the D floor before the end of the night."

"Not happening," Henry interjects.

"I'll make sure of it," Alex says grinning.

"You cannot make me."

That night, when it becomes a couple of bars, many cocktails and one too many tequila shots later; all of them, especially Henry, are considerably drunk. Alex isn't sure where they've ended up but all he knows is that the club they're in is definitely overcrowded. Everyone is almost body to body and he's unsure if he loves or hates it.

It's the first club they've entered so far and Alex feels his skin buzzing with an alcohol-induced confidence that may cause problems throughout the night. Alex also notices Henry hasn't stopped smiling all night and Alex finds it positively contagious.

The five of them immediately head for the dance floor, mouthing song lyrics to one another and bopping to the beat. Alex watches for a moment as June and Nora jump and scream the lyrics of the song playing, their hands intertwined and smiles engulfing their faces. He smiles when Nora grabs June by the face and places several fast kisses from her forehead to her chin and June becomes a giggling mess.

In front of him, Henry is swaying to the music awkwardly and he finds it incredibly endearing.

"What, you don't dance?" Alex yells loud enough for him to hear.

Henry laughs, shaking his limbs. "I don't really know what to do with myself."

"Here," Alex grabs Henry's hands which are cold and noticeably soft. Henry's smile falters slightly and his eyes watch their hands intently. "I'll show you."

Without another thought, Alex laces his fingers through Henry's and guides his arms in a drunken mess of a dance. Henry stares at Alex, his expression is unreadable and Alex during his drunken state doesn't notice the slight change in the air. He then drops one of Henry's hands and uses the other to twirl him. After Henry stumbles out of his twirl, he's laughing in Alex's ear and suddenly alcohol isn't the only thing he's drunk on tonight.

"June and I are gonna go!" Nora is shouting over the music. The trio nods and say their goodbyes as they slip and vanish through the crowd of people. The club gets stuffier as more people keep entering and there's barely any room to move. Henry is shoved by someone behind him into Alex who is quick to catch him. Henry looks up and their faces are inches apart, so close that he can feel Henry's breath against his skin.