Page 15 of Only When We Fall

Landon laughs from ahead of us. “Let’s compromise. Everyotherbar gets a shot.”

“Deal,” Zara says, already pulling out the small stack of printed resumes she stuffed into her tote bag. “Let’s start with that cute little cocktail place by the library. I saw a help wanted sign in the window.”

The three of us make our way across campus. The sun’s out and casting everything in that golden, back-to-school kind of glow. Students are sprawled across benches and grass, laughing, sharing coffee, headphones, and lingering glances. It’s easy to forget we’re all technically meant to be here for the academics.

We walk into the first bar, and I suddenly feel very aware of my surroundings. The music, the subtle lighting, the way the bartender leans on the counter as he chats to a table of girls. This placefeelslike uni. Young and new and free.

I hand over my resume with a smile, and to my surprise, the manager asks if I can come back for a trial shift next week.

Landon whistles low as we leave. “Look at you, already charming the locals.”

“I said four words,” I laugh.

“Powerful words,” Zara teases, nudging me.

By the third place, a noisy pub just off campus with worn leather booths and a jukebox in the corner, we’re buzzing. Zara’s had her shot. Landon’s flirting with the bartender in the hopes of skipping the queue. And I’m leaning against the bar, watching the room pulse with people.

It hits me again, how different this is from everything I knew back home. HowfreeI feel. And how much I want to keep it that way.

Zara returns from the loo and slips her arm through mine. “I say we do one more bar. Then food. Then Netflix and death.”

I laugh. “I like your plan.”

“You’re not leaving, are you?” Noah steps in front of us. “I just got here.”

“We have plans with Netflix,” says Zara, going to step around him.

“Come on,” he groans. “Just have a couple.”

I can already see Zara wavering, and then Landon throws his arm around my shoulder. “A couple won’t hurt.”

I sigh, but I’m smiling. “You guys are a nightmare.”

“No,” Zara says, linking her arm through mine. “We’re the best thing that ever happened to you.”

Noah raises a brow. “I’ll take that as a yes, then.”

Before I can argue, Landon is steering us back inside. The pub is louder now, a new crowd filtering in, the music turned up a notch. Someone’s dragging chairs into a circle near the back, and I recognise a few faces from campus, already half a pint in and well on their way.

“I feel like we’re alwaysjust staying for one,” I mutter to Zara as we squeeze through a narrow gap between tables.

“That’s because we are,” she replies, grinning. “Every single time.”

I take a seat near the edge of the group, Zara and Landon claiming the spots beside me. Noah disappears for drinks and returns with shots we definitely didn’t ask for.

“To flat friendships and bad decisions,” he says, raising his glass.

I clink mine against his reluctantly. “You’re going to kill us.”

He winks. “But we’ll die happy.”

We shoot them, and my eyes water instantly. Whatever it was, it’s strong enough to wipe out every plan we had for an early night.

The conversation flows and we soon relax into teasing chatter whilst laughing until our faces ache.

Landon leans over and murmurs, “You good?”

I nod. “Actually, yeah. Weirdly good.”

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