𝐀𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐓𝐨𝐨 𝐋𝐚𝐭𝐞

Chapter Nine

Five slowly wakes up, his head resting on a table. As he sits up, a sharp pain pounds through his head, revealing the aftermath of an afternoon filled with too much alcohol. He notices the table cluttered with empty vodka bottles and groans as he tries to piece together the events of the afternoon. "What the hell happened?" he mutters, rubbing his temples in an attempt to alleviate the headache.

A voice from behind answers his question, "Well, you drank way too much, and then you passed out." Five turns around in his chair, squinting at the figure before him. It's Diego, standing with his arms crossed, a mix of concern and annoyance on his face. The revelation of his drunken escapade makes Five's groans louder, realizing the consequences of his actions.

Diego, still eyeing Five, says, "You really need to get your act together, Five. Luther's wedding is tomorrow, and you can't afford to be a mess."

Five groans, attempting to downplay the situation, "I'm fine. I'm just—" but Diego interrupts, his frustration evident, "You're just what? Coping?" Diego's words strike a chord with Five, who hesitates before finally nodding, admitting to his struggle.

Diego, not holding back, expresses his concern and frustration, "Five, this isn't okay! You're letting yourself go, all because of a woman that treated you like shit left you?!" He challenges Five, highlighting the destructive impact Y/N has had on him. Five clenches his jaw, attempting to respond, but Diego cuts him off, emphasizing, "This is pissing me off that you let her get to you and ruin you this much."

Five, unable to ignore Diego's accusations, scoffs and rises from his chair, fully facing Diego. He vehemently denies Y/N's influence, declaring, "She didn't ruin me. She doesn't affect me. I could care less about the bitch." However, Diego points out the evidence of the contrary, gesturing to the empty vodka bottles scattered across the table.

Diego continues to challenge Five, emphasizing the presence of the empty vodka bottles, "Why don't you tell that to those vodka bottles, hmm?" Five glances at the evidence of his afternoon of drinking and then back at Diego, his frustration evident. In response, Five vehemently states, "I'm telling the truth. Those bottles have nothing to do with Y/N."

Diego chuckles, dismissing Five's denial, "That's such bullshit." The tension between them grows as Five furrows his brows and grinds his teeth. Diego adds, "You know, I used to think you were too smart to do something dumb like this. I thought that you had this big bubble around you, and that you would never let your guard down for anyone." Confusion and irritation mark Five's expression as he questions Diego, "What the hell are you talking about?" Diego chuckles once more and explains, "I'm talking about how you, the too-good-for-anyone, don't-want-to-break-my-ego, bastard that I used to know, finally let a bitch break him."

Five's lashes flutter with a mix of frustration and anger as he clenches his jaw. The tense atmosphere reaches its peak when he finally snaps, vehemently denying, "SHE DIDN'T BREAK ME!!!" The force of his shout echoes through the lobby, silencing everyone. Feeling the collective gaze of onlookers, Five glances around and mutters a quick apology, prompting people to avert their eyes and resume their activities.

Five turns back to Diego, still seething with fury. He warns Diego, "You better shut the hell up about Y/N or else I'll shove one of those bottles so far down your throat, you'll have it coming out your ass." The intensity of Five's glare is palpable, and Diego, despite chuckling earlier, raises his brows in acknowledgment. Diego concedes with a smirk, "Fine. But this better not happen at the wedding." He points at the bottles of vodka on the table behind Five. Five looks at the bottles and grudgingly agrees, "Fine."

With Y/N and Faith

Y/N and Faith step into the clothing store, Gimbel Brothers, and are greeted by a friendly employee. The employee approaches them with a warm smile, asking, "Hello, welcome to Gimbel Brothers! Are you guys looking for anything specific or just browsing?" Y/N and Faith exchange smiles, and Faith responds, "We are looking for dresses to wear to my friend's wedding. Can you point us to the aisle?" Y/N nods in agreement with Faith's request. The employee smiles and says, "Of course! All of the dresses are in aisle 9 and 10. Have fun shopping!" Y/N and Faith express their gratitude before making their way toward the dress aisles.

As they walk away from the employee, Y/N turns to the employee and says, "Thank you." The two friends head toward aisles 9 and 10, eager to explore the variety of dresses available for the upcoming wedding.

As Y/N and Faith venture into aisle 9, they are greeted by a plethora of dresses in various styles, colors, and designs. Y/N's face lights up with excitement at the sight of the beautiful array of garments. Faith, sharing in her enthusiasm, turns to Y/N with a broad smile and exclaims, "Let's start looking!"

The two friends giggle as they delve into the selection of dresses, their eyes scanning through the options. Y/N's attention is captivated by a particular dress that stands out from the rest. It features a thigh-high cut with a daring slit just below the waist, spaghetti straps, and a tight, form-fitting design. Y/N smirks, drawn to the mysterious allure of the dress, especially with its dark purple color. She nods approvingly to herself, then turns to Faith, holding the dress against her.

Y/N queries, "How do you think this would look on me? Do you think it's too sexy for a wedding?" Faith's eyes widen at the sight of the dress, taking in its sultry yet elegant details.

Faith's smile widens as she encourages Y/N to try on the alluring dress. "Everyone likes sexy, and you should try it on so we can see how you look in it!" Faith suggests. Y/N returns the smile, feeling a rush of excitement, and quickly makes her way to the dressing rooms. Finding an unoccupied stall, she closes and locks the door behind her.

Inside the dressing room, Y/N begins to undress, leaving only her bra and underwear. She carefully takes the dark purple dress off the hook and slips it on, zipping up the back to secure the fit. As she gazes into the mirror, Y/N is pleasantly surprised at how well the dress accentuates her curves and complements her body. A smirk crosses her face, and she can't help but comment, "Damn, I look pretty sexy."

Eager to share her discovery with Faith, Y/N opens the dressing room door, revealing the stunning transformation. Spotting Faith in an aisle, Y/N waves and motions for her to come over. Faith, intrigued, rushes to join her, and upon seeing Y/N in the dress, her jaw drops. "Damn, girl! You really pull off that dress!" Faith exclaims. Y/N giggles and asks, "You think?" Faith nods in approval, declaring, "Yes, you should totally wear that to the wedding!" Y/N agrees with a nod, "Okay!"

Excitement fills Y/N's eyes as she asks Faith, "Did you find a dress yet?" Faith grins and nods, presenting a stunning dark blue dress with long sleeves. Y/N gasps at the beauty of the dress alone and encourages Faith, "Well, go try it on!" They both giggle, and Faith heads into an empty stall, locking the door behind her.

While waiting, Y/N quickly changes back into her regular clothes. After a few minutes, Faith walks out of the stall, wearing the dress. Y/N's eyes widen, and a smile forms on her face. Faith, seeking validation, asks, "How do I look?" Y/N doesn't hesitate to respond, "Absolutely gorgeous!" Faith smiles and chuckles at the compliment. Y/N encourages her further, "You should get it!" Faith nods and heads back into the stall to change back into her normal clothing.

Word count: 1363