when worlds collide [george russell]

Chapter 5

He grabbed his tennis racket from the wall it was leaning against and signed with his hand for Willow to go first as he opened the door to the street for her.

„I know a pub a few blocks down in Soho." he said as they walked side by side on the boardwalk.

Little did he know Willow knew every single pub in Soho and had a fixed opinion about every single one. She was curious as to which one he would bring her to so she just said, „Sure, let's go there. You lead the way."

They walked a few meters in silence until George opened his mouth again, „You really play extraordinarily good!"

„Well, thank you!" Willow said, feeling her cheeks get heated again. „You aren't bad yourself, eh? Wasn't easy beating you."

George let out a chuckle and nudged his shoulder against hers in a playful way.
„Oh, stop it! You're miles better than me. I'm better at other sports". The moment he mentioned „other sports" he regretted it immediately. It's not like he wanted to lie to her about his occupation but it seemed like she had no idea who he was and he wanted to keep it that way for some time. He rarely had the opportunity to get to know someone without them already knowing who he was and what he did for a living.

„Like what sports?" Willow asked the obvious question.
George was at luck, they were right in front of the pub he planned to go to. Now he just had to avoid the question and change the subject.
„Like,....table tennis" he answered with a smirk on his face and she rolled her eyes in response to his bad joke.

„Anyway, we've arrived" he said pointing at the pub.

Willow had to laugh. They were standing right in front of her favorite pub. She couldn't give him the satisfaction of knowing he had just brought them to the place she loved to be at most besides Italy and her family home, at least not yet.

„Interesting choice" was the only thing she said holding back another laugh.

„Let's head in then." He once again opened the door for her „Mylady"

Willow entered with George following close behind. She had been here in all sorts of attires, like the one time she came in in a neon pink full body suit in celebration of her friends first kiss at 20, but never had she come her totally sweaty in her tennis clothes with the racket still in hand.

Her cover blew the moment Joey the bartender saw her.
„Willowwwwwww! What a pleasure to see you here! I reckon you've been here just yesterday"

They hugged and as Willow returned to George's side he lowered his mouth to her ear and whispered, „Seems like you've been here before"

She just gave him a knowing smile and confidently grabbed his hand pulling him towards the bar where they sat down on two bar chairs. The atmosphere in this pub was enough to make her feel tipsy and she could already feel the alcohol-confidence kicking in without having had a sip. The familiar environment made it a lot easier for her to get loose.

„Make us two Vodka Soda, Joey, please" she shouted over the music before looking at George with a questioning look on her face if he even liked Vodka Sodas, to which he gave an agreeing nod.

About four drinks in Willow wondered if George maybe wasn't interested in her. At least not romantically. They had great conversation and had laughed so much Willows face muscles hurt from it. But he had always kept a tiny distance, never actually touching her.

Usually, after like three drink, Willow expected a small knee touch or an arm around the shoulder and it wasn't like she didn't invite George to it. She herself had once gathered the courage to touch his leg when both were laughing about a joke he made.

To keep it totally truthful, Willow longed for his touch. She had now proceeded to stare at his hands from time to time, wishing they would stroke her thigh or hold her face.

After 2 vodka soda and 2 gin tonic, Willow entered the next level of her confidence.  She decided it was time for a location change.

„Joey, can we pay?" she asked, then turning towards George, „up for a little walk around Soho?"

He grabbed his glas, finished his last sip and said „Anytime!". The way he looked at her let her doubts disappear. His eyes locked on her, watching her every move, studying her like he was trying to remember every feature of her forever.

George handed Joey some money and gestured with his hand that he should keep the rest. Willow watched the interaction between the two, waved Joey goodbye and proceeded to grab George's hand to pull him out of the pub.

As they entered the night, she let go of his hand and looked around deciding which direction to head first. If they were to go right they would pass her flat in about 200 meters so Willow decided on the other direction.

George was quick to be next to her again, while the both struggle to go in straight lines, bumping into each other from time to time.

„Where is she leading us?" George asked an imaginary third person. No one answered his question as Willow was now picking up pace, skipping up and down in front of him.

Another left turn later they found themselves in a small alley with no one else around besides their two drunk minds.

Willow was now leaning with her back agains a tree, exhausted from the skipping.

George who was walking behind her, now made his way over to her and eventually stopped standing right in front of her, their Bodys only separated by about ten centimeters of thin air.

George was about 15 centimeters taller than her so she had to look up while he lowered his chin so they were both looking at each other's faces.

Willow was breathing heavily, from the skipping and from the intense tension building up between them as George stared into her eyes.

„Kiss me" she said under her breath, barely getting out the words. She stared back at him, waiting for him to finally make a move.
When he didn't, she spoke again „Please"

A smile now formed on his lips. He let his racket fall down to the floor, right next to where Willow had let hers fall a minute before, he grabbed her head with both hands and bent down a little to let's his lips crash into hers forming a passionate kiss, releasing all the sexual tension that had built up between them.