Arthur had a horrible feeling about the party from the start.
He didn't want to go—he had an early class the next morning, and Nick had already expressed wanting to enjoy a quiet night together. But Tyler wouldn't let up.
"Come on, it'll be fun," Tyler said, slinging an arm over Arthur's shoulder as they left class that afternoon. "You've been working so hard lately. You deserve to let loose a little."
Arthur hesitated. "I don't know, Tyler. I promised Nick—"
"Oh, come on," Tyler cut him off, rolling his eyes. "You're not attached at the hip. One night won't kill him."
Arthur frowned. "It's not about that."
Tyler sighed dramatically. "Look, if you don't want to come, I won't force you. But I just thought you could genuinely enjoy yourself for once." And celebrate my winnings.
Arthur wavered. He had been overburdened with responsibilities lately, and he couldn't remember the last time he'd gone out with pals.
Nick definitely wouldn't be thrilled about it, but it wasn't like he was doing anything wrong. He decided to inform Nick. He called Nick that night, but Nick didn't pick up his phone.
"…Fine," Arthur surrendered. "But I'm not staying late."
Tyler grinned. "That's the spirit."
The party was in a high-rise apartment downtown, the kind of place Arthur typically avoided—loud music, gloomy lights, and an unpleasant mix of drink and cigarette smoke in the air.
As soon as they arrived, Tyler slipped into the crowd, leaving Arthur alone with a drink in his hand.
Arthur sighed, glancing at his phone. There was a message from Nick.
"I missed your call."
Nick: Home soon?
Arthur stopped before typing back.
Arthur: At a party with Tyler. It won't be long.
A few minutes passed before Nick replied.
Nick: Tyler again?
Arthur felt a twinge of frustration. He could already imagine Nick's annoyed grimace.
Arthur: It's just a party. I will be home before you know it.
Nick didn't reply after that.
Arthur exhaled, running a hand through his hair. Maybe he should've just stayed home.
"You look like you need another drink," a voice said alongside him.
Arthur turned to find a guy—tall, dark-haired, with an easy smirk—holding out a shot glass.
Arthur shook his head. "I'm good, thanks."
"Come on," the guy begged. "One drink won't kill you."
Arthur sighed and then decided one more wouldn't hurt.
Hours passed in a flurry of music, flashing lights, and too many drinks.
Arthur wasn't even sure when Tyler had departed, or if he was still somewhere here, but at some point, the guy—his drinking friend for the night—had stayed by his side, laughing and matching him shot for shot.
"I have a boyfriend," Arthur had stated at one point, slurring his words.
The guy had just grinned. "Cool. We can just be drinking friends then."
That had seemed sensible enough at the time.
But now, when Arthur's head ached, and the morning light poured through foreign drapes, nothing looked reasonable at all.
His breath hitched as he took in his surroundings: an odd room, clothes spread across the floor, and a body beside him, half-covered by a thin sheet.
No, no, no.
Arthur sat up too fast, the movement sending a shock of nausea through him. His heart hammered as he scrambled to inspect himself—his top was gone, but he still had his pants on. He didn't feel sore or—
He pressed his eyes shut, trying to recall. But his head was a cloud of liquor and flashing lights, and—
His phone buzzed.
Arthur took it from the nightstand, his hands quivering as he recognized Nick's name.
Nick: We're done. I warned you about your company with that guy Tyler, but you wouldn't listen; now you have betrayed me. Don't ever show me your face, and I don't need any explanation from you because I warned you from the beginning, but you seem not to value us. We are done
Arthur's stomach wrenched violently.
His breath came in quick, irregular rushes as he went through the letters.
Then he spotted them.
Photos of him with the guy from last night leaning in too close laughing, and the guy's hand on his waist. And then a final one, the worst one—Arthur passed out in the bed, with the stranger beside him. Naked
Arthur's entire body went chilly.
"No, no, no," he murmured, squeezing the phone so fiercely his knuckles became white. "This isn't real. This isn't what it looks like."
He tried contacting Nick, but it went straight to voicemail.
Arthur felt like he was going to get sick.
He shoved the covers off, getting to his feet. The guy in the bed stirred, looking up at him with a sleepy smile.
"Morning," he murmured.
Arthur's stomach turned. "What happened last night? And how did I get here?
The guy stretched, yawning. "Relax, nothing happened. You passed out before anything could."
Arthur breathed sharply, relief and fear combining in his chest.
"Then why am I here? Arthur demanded, his voice shaking.
The guy shrugged. "You were drunk. Someone said to bring you here. You didn't protest."
Arthur's heart pounded. "Who?
The guy frowned. "Don't know, some guy at the party; he seemed real interested in making sure you were 'taken care of.'"
Where is the guy I came here with yesterday? Did you see him? I don't know any guy you came with. I'll meet you alone at the bar, remember?
Arthur's stomach twisted.
He had no idea who had led him here. Do you have any idea how those photos were shot?
But the most important thing is that Nick saw those photos, and now? Nick was gone.
Arthur grabbed his phone again, typing rapidly.
Arthur: Nick, please. I don't know what happened. I promise I didn't—
The message wouldn't be sent.
Arthur's breath hitched as he realized—Nick had blocked him.
A strained noise came from his throat as he tried calling again, but it was pointless.
Tears obscured his vision as he stumbled into the street, the weight of everything coming down on him.
Who had done this to him?
And how was he expected to solve it?
A call came in; in all happiness, he thought it was Nick, but no, it was Tyler.
Tyler and Arthur, where are you? I searched everywhere for you last night but couldn't find you. Are you ok? Yes, I am, Arthur said. Last night you disappeared, Tyler answered. Yes, I was drunk and found myself at the men's room this morning. Ok, I will call you later. Arthur hung up.