strings attached ; firstprince

chapter three

Alex leans forward and whispers into Henry's ear. "Should we get out of here?"

"Please," Henry says hoarsely as Alex pulls back to look at him. Alex nods and taps Pez, he nods towards the exit and Pez instantly understands. The three of them push through the crowd and eventually stumble outside into the cool air.

"Now what?" Pez asks, Henry looks at Alex expectantly.

"Bar?" Alex offers.

"Anything but that," Henry agrees.

They end up at a bar only a 2-minute walk away. Pez and Henry take a seat in a booth and Alex volunteers to get a round of drinks. It's quieter than the club but still busy enough. Alex leans against the bar, waiting for his turn to be served.

"What are you doing on your own?" A feminine voice asks beside him. Alex looks beside him to see there's an undeniably beautiful woman, she cocks her hip and places a hand on his bicep. Alex looks back to the booth where Pez and Henry are both busy in conversation. Henry's head falls back in a laugh and Alex feels a smile creep up on him.

"I'm not," Alex says, still smiling when he looks back at her.

"Oh, not with a girl I hope?" She asks, her eyelashes fluttering against her cheeks.

"No girl," He gestures to the booth. "I'm with some friends."

"Ah," she hums, moving closer. Alex stiffens. "Do you wanna get out of here?"

Alex looks back to Henry, who is already watching him but immediately blushes and looks away when their eyes meet. Alex smiles to himself.

"Sorry, not tonight," Alex tells her, still watching Henry and subconsciously pulling his arm away from her grip. She stands silently while Alex turns back around and finally orders their drinks.

"Well, let me know if you change your mind," She flashes a smile as she walks away. Alex watches her for a moment as she joins a group of girls across the bar.

Alex carries their drinks over to their booth and places them on the table.

"Why'd you turn her down?" Henry asks, smiling as he takes his drink. Alex slides into the booth, sitting across from Pez and Henry.

"Not interested," Alex shrugs. He leans in and smirks. "Why? You jealous?"

Henry rolls his eyes, he goes to take a sip of his drink. "You wish."

"I do actually," Alex grins, leaning back casually.

Henry puts his glass back down and coughs loudly.

"Guys, I'm knackered," Pez says suddenly. Alex notices he's already finished his drink.

"I can wait with Henry if you want to go now? You look exhausted," Alex offers. Pez thinks about it for a moment.

"If you don't mind," Pez smiles gratefully as he gets up from the booth. "See you at home, Henry?"

Henry nods and Pez waves at them as he turns away and walks out of the bar.

"So," Alex says, breaking the short silence that settled between them. "How are you feeling about it so far?"

"Connor?" Henry asks. Alex nods. "I mean, it's okay. I've definitely been checked out of that relationship way before I ended so cutting contact was overdue."

"Really?"

"Yeah, he wasn't the best boyfriend," Henry says, smiling sheepishly.

"I've heard," Alex says, smiling as well. "Pez definitely wasn't his biggest fan."