The Christmas concert was a huge success. The crowd had been electric, their energy infectious as Austin and Ally performed with everything they had. The sound of applause still echoed in Austin's ears as he stepped off the stage, his heart racing with the thrill of their performance.
Ally, still buzzing from the joy of sharing the stage with Austin, grinned at him. "That was perfect," she said, her voice full of excitement.
Austin smiled back. "Yeah, it was awesome. I think everyone's having a blast."
As the crowd continued to disperse, Dez and Trish were already off to the side, chatting animatedly about the show. Dez had, as always, found a way to make things fun, even in the chaos of wrapping up a concert. His loud voice carried over to where Austin and Ally were standing, laughing at some ridiculous joke he had made.
But then, out of nowhere, Dez collided with someone.
"Oh! Sorry!" Dez exclaimed, looking up at the person he'd accidentally bumped into.
Austin looked over to see a tall, familiar figure: Jenna, Dez's ex-girlfriend. They hadn't dated for long, but the relationship had ended on a somewhat awkward note, with both of them moving on without much fanfare. Jenna had always been the kind of girl who was effortlessly cool and confident, and even though she and Dez had broken up, there was no real animosity between them.
"Dez?" Jenna said, her voice a mix of surprise and amusement. "Well, if it isn't my favorite spaz."
Dez grinned widely, not at all offended by the nickname. "Jenna! It's been forever!"
Ally and Austin exchanged glances, sensing the sudden shift in the air. Jenna's presence had an immediate effect on Dez, who started chatting with her excitedly, as if they had picked up right where they left off. The conversation quickly grew more animated, the two of them reminiscing about old times.
Trish, who had been standing nearby with her arms crossed, narrowed her eyes at the sight of Dez and Jenna talking so easily. She could feel the knot of jealousy tighten in her stomach. The way Dez was laughing and talking with Jenna felt different than the way he talked to her. Trish couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. She knew Jenna had been a part of Dez's life for a while before they started dating, and the way Dez seemed to light up around her made Trish's insecurities rise to the surface.
"Are they seriously still talking?" Trish muttered under her breath.
Ally, who had been observing the situation as well, raised an eyebrow. "Seems like it."
Trish shifted uncomfortably. "I don't know. It's just… I don't like how he's acting. He's acting like he hasn't seen her in years."
Austin, sensing his friend's frustration, glanced over at Dez and Jenna. "They probably just have a lot of catching up to do," he said, trying to be reassuring. "I'm sure it's harmless."
"I guess," Trish said, though her voice lacked conviction. "But it doesn't look harmless to me."
Ally shot her a sympathetic look. "Trish, Dez cares about you. I know it's hard, but you have to trust him. He's not going to just forget about you."
Trish sighed, running a hand through her hair. "I know, but… why do I feel like I'm not enough? Every time I see him with someone else, I start doubting myself."
Austin put a hand on Trish's shoulder. "Hey, don't say that. You're more than enough. Dez is lucky to have you."
Trish appreciated Austin's support, but she still couldn't shake the unease gnawing at her. It wasn't that she didn't trust Dez—it was that she felt like maybe she was competing for his attention, and right now, he was giving all his energy to someone who had been a big part of his life before her.
As she watched them from across the room, Dez's laughter echoed in her ears. She hated feeling this way, but it was hard to ignore the pang of jealousy tightening in her chest.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Dez and Jenna's conversation slowed down. Dez glanced around the room and noticed Trish standing at a distance, arms still crossed, looking more than a little uncomfortable.
"Uh, Jenna, I should go check in with Trish," Dez said, a sudden realization hitting him. "She's probably wondering where I went."
Jenna gave him a knowing look. "Yeah, I can tell. You should go."
Dez quickly made his way over to Trish, but the moment he reached her, he could tell something was off. Trish's arms were still crossed, and her posture was stiff. He stepped closer, trying to gauge her mood.
"Hey, you okay?" Dez asked, a hint of concern in his voice.
Trish tried to smile, but it was clear she wasn't feeling it. "Yeah, I'm fine," she said quickly. "Just... tired, I guess. It's been a long night."
Dez wasn't fooled. He could see right through her but knowing how she was decided to let it go for now.