Burning Touch

Chapter 4

Emilie's POV

After I take off my shoes, I pull my socks over my heel.

"Okay, I'm ready" I say to El and Nati before we go upstairs.

When we enter the living room, I see that there are many empty beer tins on the table. In addition, there are some half-full bottles that contains drink such as whiskey. We go to the sofa and sit down. I sit in between El and Nati. Next to El on the right side are Zayn and Louis, while next to Nati on the left side are Niall. Suddenly, "The Greatest Show" from The Greatest Showman starts to play at full volume.

"WOOAAAAAAAAHHH! Ladies and gents, this is the moment you've been waiting for" Liam shouts as he enters the living room.

Everyone starts laughing.

"WOOAAAAAAAAHHH! Been searching in the dark, your sweat soaking through the floor" he continues.

Liam comes over to the sofa and gives a fist bump to Zayn, before giving a hug to El. Harry turns off the music and Liam sits down.

"Do you also want glasses?" asks Niall.

I'm looking at the girls. El and Nati say yes, so I do the same. Niall goes to get glasses, while El talks to Zayn and I to Nati. When Niall returns with three glasses, he puts them down on the table in front of us. Zayn and Niall each take a bottle of alcohol in hand.

"Do you want this one or the one Ni holds?" asks Zayn.

"What is the difference?" Elisa asks back.

"This is Captain Morgan, while the other is whiskey" Zayn replies.

I don't know what to choose, so I let the others decide first.

"I can take that Captain thing" says El.

"I can have the whiskey" says Nati.

Shit. I don't know who to choose. I look back and forth at the different bottles while I hold my nail between my teeth.

"Which one do you want, Emilie?" asks Niall.

"Erm, I can take Captain too" I say nervously.

I hold out my glass so Zayn can pour the drink up. He fills up a few centimetres before I take the glass back to me. Nati has already drunk what she got in her glass. I'm looking at El.

"Are you ready? Cheers" I say softly to her.

We toast before I pour the drink into me. I can feel it running down inside my body. It's strong. I feel it in my nose, just like you do when you drink soda.

El picks up the bottle of whiskey and pours it into her glass. I don't think it was that good, but still I liked it in a way.

"Can you pour some for me too?" I ask El.

She does as I ask, but fills up half the glass. I know you should not take so much at once, but I do it anyway.

We continue to take more shots in a few minutes. Nati ends up taking around 6, while El and I take around 10.

"You drink a hell of a lot" Harry says.

"But I can't feel anything" replies El.

"No, not me either" I add.

"Just wait. It takes about half an hour before you feel it" says Liam.

To be honest, it starts to sting a little in the eyes. The time is a little over 12 AM, so I don't know if it's because I'm tired, or if it's because of all the shots with alcohol.

"I'll go get the Gin" Louis says, getting up from the sofa.

"Do you feel any effects from the alcohol?" I whisper to El.

"No nothing. Do you?" she asks back.

"I don't know" I reply.

I gather my hair in my hands and make a ponytail. Louis returns with a bottle of Gin and asks if we want some.

"Erm, I don't know completely" says El.

"Come on" Louis and Zayn say. "It's only 10% alcohol percentage"

El and I look at each other.

"Don't push them, lads" Niall says.

"No, but just try one shot" says Liam.

We do as they say and take another shot. It didn't really taste that much.

"Do you feel anything?" asks Niall.

"I don't know if it is from the alcohol, but it stings a little in my eyes" I reply.

"Well, it's coming soon. Good luck!" says Harry, laughing.

I had no idea that it was going to take so long before my body reacted to it.

"Emilie, try to stand up" Niall says, looking me in the eye.

I chew on the inside of my cheek nervously, while my heart stutters beneath my ribs. I look at Nati while I put my hands on the sofa and push myself up. All eyes are on me. I take a step forward and I feel lighter than ever.

"Are you okay or ...?" asks Niall.

"It feels like I'm walking in space," I say as I walk back and forth.

"Have you been in space?" Harry asks.

"No, but you know what I mean"

"El, can you come with me to the bathroom?" I ask.

"Yes of course"

I look at Nati and give her a look that asks her if she wants to join. She smiles and gently shakes her head. I turn and go into the bathroom while El follows and closes and locks the door behind her. I put my hands on the basin and stare my reflection in the eyes.
When both El and I are done on the toilet, we stand against each other. I shake my body.

"Are you starting to feel it too?" I ask.

"Yes, but it's fine, Em. We are not drunk and we will not be either. We're just a little fizzy now" she replies as she puts her hands on my cheeks.

"You're right, El. Now we have to sharpen up" I say, raising my hand to her face to slap her in the face.

But since I don't have the heart to do it hard, it's just a gentle stroke over her cheek. But El is not like me. She dares to do it hard. Before I know it, she slaps me hard in the face so I fall with a bang on the hard tile floor.