His name is Alex. The guy I haven't stopped thinking about over the last two months. His name is Alex and he's okay. Despite him coming back to thank me for helping him, I always worry about the people who are in the darkest parts of their lives.

But seeing him in the flesh, looking fresher and brighter than he did the first time I met him. Deep down I'm proud of him for overcoming his dark feelings, for fighting and proving to himself that life is worth living.

I pray that he is truly happier now.

My hand presses down onto the handle as I walk into my apartment. All of my friends have already made themselves at home like they usually do. I have no idea why my place is a safe haven for all of them but I'd have it no other way.

"Who was that?" Demi asks as she walks to my fridge to grab a can of Coke.

"Oh," I scratch the back of my head. "His name's Alex. He just moved in. I was being friendly and saying hi."

There is no way I'd tell my friends how we really met. It's not fair to spread other people's misfortune, whether I know them or not. It's not gossip, it's real life and I'd like to think that someone would respect me the same way.

"Always making sure people are settled," Troy calls from across the room, he's stretched out over the sofa. Running a hand through his short dark hair, his wrist nudging his frameless glasses that sit on his nose. "You're such a saint, Riv. You should get a community medal."

I shrug at his words. "There is nothing wrong with being polite."

Troy sighs. "True, you're just a better person than I am."

Demi sits down next to her boyfriend and pushes her way into his body, attempting to make room for herself but Troy is six foot three and packed full of muscle. "Move over would you," she grumbles and Troy tuts.

I love seeing them together. They've been going out for three years, they met half way through our second year of university. Troy never saw himself as the boyfriend type but as soon as Demi walked through the door of that bar, his whole life changed. I've never seen a person backpedal as much as he did.

"Are we ordering food or what?" Mason says as he sits in the opposite chair with his arms on the rests. "I've been starving all day."

"Didn't you eat at work today?"

Mason turns to Demi with a look. "Some of us work extremely hard and don't have time for breaks."

Demi snorts to herself. "If you think I don't work extremely hard then you're mistaken."

"You work at a cafe."

"Excuse me," she recoils from his words. "If Luca were here he'd be beating your ass right now for saying that."

Mason passes a small chuckle but it's not a funny one. "Like he could take me on. Let's be real."

"The fuck is up your ass today," Troy comments, scowling at his friend. I can't help but agree. I've never seen him this uptight and snappy for no reason. "No need to be so damn rude."

I know he runs his own business and he's always under a lot of stress. He has his father to look up to for great success and he never wants to fail. He can't fail or everything he has worked for will go to shit and he'll have nothing. That's what he says.

Mason presses his hand into his face. "I'm just tired and hungry. Alright?"

"Then lets order," I pitch in before we start a match on who is more tired. "What do you want? We could order Thai again."

Demi hums in approval and then cuddles into Troy. "That sounds great."

"Mason?" I turn to him but his eyes are on the TV. He never watches TV. He must have had a bad day if he wants to drown everything out with pointless shows that he finds don't stimulate the brain.

"Yeah, sure," he agrees and I shrug.

Once food has been ordered I head to the fridge and retrieve three beers. I know that Demi doesn't drink, that's why she helps herself to Coke. When I stop by Mason and I notice his dark eyes are still focused on the screen, I drop the beer into his eyesight.

He turns to me and smiles. "Thanks man."

I slap him on the shoulder. "No problem."

We sit back, watch The Chase and munch down the Thai that came a few seconds ago. It's silent but in a good way. Everyone is enjoying their food, drinking their beers and chilling the hell out.

Hopefully after this everyone's emotions are a little more under control.

I can't stop thinking back to Alex. In the bottom of my heart I pray that he doesn't feel lonely tonight, moving in and staying in a new place for the first time by yourself really can take its toll on you.

I'm not even sure if he has any friends that live here. A part of me wants to invite him over but I know that'll come on far too strong, he might want some alone time. Moving is exciting and scary at the same time.

"Did you hear about that guy who was in that car crash?" Demi perches on her knees, tucking her curly hair behind her shoulder.

"Who?" Mason turns his attention towards her.

He already seems like he's in a better mood after eating and drinking an alcoholic drink.

Demi hums and taps away at her phone. "Liam something... he did loads in the community. I only just realised now. Riv, you probably know of him."

I take a sip of my beer, eyebrows creasing. From the back of my mind, I do remember working with someone called Liam at a youth event a couple of times. "Liam King?"

"Yeah," she confirms and locks her phone. "So sad, right? I didn't know him but it seems like he did so much for this town."

"We worked together a couple of times," I agree. "Is he alright?"

Her dark eyes widen at my question and she shakes her head. "No, he died. Didn't you see? I thought you might have known or been told."

I shuffle in my seat and sit straighter. "He died? Shit."

"Yeah."

"I don't really watch the news," I admit. It can make anyone depressed as fuck. Sometimes it's best to steer away for your own mental benefit but sometimes in cases like this, you're left in the dark without knowing. "Surprised no one at work said anything. Think some of them were close with him."

Troy flashes me a look. "Guess they're just a bit torn up about it."

"Did they say what happened in the crash?" Mason asks Demi.

"Not sure," she hums and goes back on her phone again. "Think he just collided with another car but the other person was okay. No one was arrested or anything. Think it was just human error which is crap. Bless him."

The room turns silent for a moment and I ponder the news Demi just told me. It's hard to hear when someone you've met before has passed, if anything it makes you feel guilty. But I'm not entirely sure what I feel guilty for.

Maybe it's because I didn't always agree with his decisions and now he's dead. It didn't really matter at the time. It's not like we didn't get on, we just had different opinions and that's okay.

"Where's Luca?" Mason swivels his head to Demi.

She narrows her eyes at him. "He's working hard, asshole."

Mason flips Demi off and she rolls her eyes in response. Ah good old friendly banter. "I have no idea why he doesn't just leave that place and find somewhere else to work."

"Because it's his mother's cafe," Troy says. "You know this, Mase. He can't just up and leave."

"Sure he can," he shrugs.

"We're not all made from money like you," Demi scowls, her voice growing louder. "And besides, Luca's family morals are amazing. He cares about his mother, the business. It makes her happy and that's why he works there so it can keep on living on. Not sure why you have to be such a debbie downer about everything."

I love how much she stands up for the cafe and Luca's wishes for his mother.

"Not being a debbie downer," he holds his hands up in defence. "I was just asking a question. Good for Luca if that makes him happy, it just could never be me."

"Well good thing you're not him, isn't it Mase?" I joke and he turns to me with a knowing glance.

He shuffles back into his seat. "Whatever."

"Let's hope tomorrow your attitude is better," Demi grumbles under her breath. "I hate Moody Mase."

Troy chuckles into Demi's temple and Mason turns to him sharply. "What the fuck is Moody Mase?"

"You," Demi shrugs unapologetically. "When you're in a mood like today."

"That rarely happens."

"Raise your hand if Moody Mase makes a regular appearance?"

The three of us, excluding Mason, raise our hand at the same time. He glances around the room and closes his eyes in defeat. "I rest my case," Demi drops her hand and falls back into Troy's side. "Catch you after work and you're moody. On the weekend you're absolutely fine."

Mason opens his eyes and leans back in the chair. "Work is just stress."

"That's all you have to say," Troy expresses. "We're here to help you relax and chill out. Not your personal punching bag. We're friends. Not enemies."

"I know," his voice drops. "I'm sorry. Things have just been a little crazy at the minute and I feel like I rarely have a chance to just do nothing. Instead I'm constantly thinking about work and it consumes my mind so much I give myself a headache and I end up frustrated."

Troy turns to me with a look and I find myself frowning. "We're here if you need to talk, man," I express to him but he refuses to look at me.

He's embarrassed and it hurts to understand. No one wants to be seen struggling.

But we all know what it's like to be swamped at work, such little time and so much to do. It's exhausting, day in day out and on your days off, it rarely feels like rest, it feels like torture because you're just thinking about everything you have to do when you go back.

"If it's anyone, River is your man." Troy says and I couldn't agree more.

Finally, Mason looks at me and I offer him a smile. "He's right."

"I know, I know," Mason nods.

"Just chill out tonight," I tell him. "Relax, drink your beer and watch the TV. You don't have to do anything else."

He stares at me, then he nods slowly. "Thanks."

I offer him a smile and watch as his head turns back to the TV. I give him the benefit of the doubt, we all have our down days. Days that we wish could be over so we can start fresh tomorrow, not everyone is happy all the time.

Mason never means any harm and I hate knowing that he's struggling with his stress. But he knows we're all here for him. We've been friends for years and we support each other no matter what.

❖ ❖ ❖

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Author's Note

Hey huns. What did we think of this chapter?👉🏼👉🏼👉🏼

Liam was well known in the town and everyone knows him but how will Alex react to it?😖

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Thank you for reading💘

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