*platonic piece created on 100+ layers and here we gooo...*

Sam shut the door of her room, blocking out the noise of the others visiting her small apartment. She felt socially exhausted, having spent the day at work pleasing customers with coffee then inviting some friends over to hang out and watch movies. She sighed, stretching out her back and rubbing her eyes in the dark room, her computer’s light like a comforting beacon, guiding her to the relaxing escape from reality at the end of the night. Hesitating, she looked back at the door, hearing the others still out in the living room having a good time, not really noticing her absence. Most of the time those thoughts didn’t really get to her, but sometimes they encroached, really making her think that she could just vanish and no one would really be affected.

She changed into some old pajamas, facing her bed and taking her time, just wanting to be out of her barista clothes at last. Almost the moment she finished slipping on her pants, she heard her bedroom door open and close quietly, the chair by her computer creaking with the weight of someone sitting in it. Not feeling too worried, Sam turned around to see none other than Ace sitting there, that cocky grin ever plastered on his face. It was a long story of how she had gotten to know him, one that she didn’t want to think of right now. Sporting a fake smile, she strode over to him, leaning on his shoulder and opening her browser tab.

Within a few moments, he reached out and grabbed her wrist, stopping her from looking at the online community. “Hey, uh, didn’t yous say you wanted to come back out and join us?”
That phony smile almost faltered, her eyes turning to him with hesitation. “Well, yeah, although you didn’t really give me much time to, you know, actually rejoin everyone.”

He raised an eyebrow. “In that get-up? You never wear that around any of us. You’re too proper.” He chuckled, pulling her down onto his knees. “If yous done for the night ya just need to say so sweetheart. I’ll get the others outta here for ya.” Ace’s eyes studied her for a moment more. “Unless, there’s something else botherin ya.”

She looked away from him, suddenly uncomfortable at the confrontation. Sam didn’t like how he could almost see through her, like her heart was just on her sleeve. “I don’t really mind everyone coming over and hanging out. It’s just, sometimes I feel like I am being used or lied to.” She laughed lightly. “Although that really seems ridiculous, especially since you seemed to take the time to come in here and check up on me.”

Ace grabbed her chin, his long nail hooking against her lip to try and get her to look at him. “Look ah… we ain’t the perfect bunch o people, and I’d never say that in front ah anybody else. Got it? Just the fact that you let us in here at all tells us quite a bit about you. Yous got a big heart, and a wicked sense of humor, and can make us the best Irish coffee on the face of his planet.” He snickered. “But someone like that? We ain’t never turn our backs on them. They’re part of the gang. So what you say, huh? Care to join us for the rest of the movie?”

Hesitatingly, she looked down at her outfit choice, unsure about going back out in front of the others in this get-up. However, she had seen the others sport things much worse for wear in the past, and she couldn’t afford to be too picky, especially in front of those that she called her friends. She nodded, a more genuine smile coming to her face, and Ace laughed, hefting her up into his arms and charging out the bedroom door, the cacophony of cheers and giggles a new blessing to her ears.