Rendezvous

twenty-seven | defeat

Part II - Defeat

As my leg shaking habit washed over me, I glanced at the shot glass in front of me for a few seconds. I snatched it from the table and poured it down my throat sharply.

With the alcohol coursing through my systems, I sprung from my seat and dashed past the waiters, into the same corridor Lana had fled down.

Last year, I followed her straight to the restroom, not knowing what awaited me behind the door. Yet, I couldn't help the cold fear spiraling through me because I knew what awaited me behind the door.

Some people cross your path and change your whole direction, because the things you run from, you'll end up chasing.

When I pulled open the restroom door, it appeared to be empty. As I entered the restroom, the door closed behind me, greeting me with her intoxicating aroma and solitude. My stilettos resonated throughout the restroom as I headed toward the stalls.

All the stall doors were open except the one in the middle. I approached it, pressing my hands against the door and leaning my forehead against it.

I say softly against the door, "I should stop following you into public restrooms." I smiled as I heard her give out a gentle laugh with a sniff.

"Would you let me in?" After a few seconds of silence, I inquire.

After a few moments, she unlocks the door, and I take a step back before joining her inside the fairly spacious stall and locking it behind me.

"How do you manage to look so beautiful when you cry?" As I stare into her eyes, I ask sincerely. Lana scoffs and smiles softly as she moves her gaze away from my eyes.

"Look at me," I say as I move closer to her, leading her to raise her head. "It kills me seeing you cry," I raise my hands and brush away her tear remnants and smudged mascara before lowering my hands.

"Alina," she sighs softly, "We can't be just friends."

"We were never friends," I chuckle, but her expression remained unchanged, confused even. "Wait, why?" I ask immediately.

"Because," she adds as she looks down before returning her gaze to mine. "I don't want to be friends with you."

I take a step closer, our faces inches apart, before cupping the side of her face with my right hand. Her lips were slightly open, so I brushed across them with my thumb. I lean in slightly and use my thumb to gently lower her bottom lip.

We were silent, the only sound audible was our heavy breathing, "Then let's not be friends," I whisper, our lips extremely close.

As I continued to brush across Lana's lower lip, she closed her eyes. I then felt her chilly hand on my elbow, gently drawing it down, prompting me to leave grip of her bottom lip and gaze down at her hands, then up at her eyes.

"I don't want that either," she says with a completely unrecognizable expression.

"What do you want?" I ask as I remove her hands away from my elbow and take a step back.

"I just-" Lana sighs. "I need space."

"Space?" I ask, perplexed.

"I can't keep pretending I don't want to kiss you every time you lay your eyes on me," she says. "I just need a break," she sighs. "From you."

"Are you serious?" I ask, befuddled and perplexed.

"Does it look like I'm joking?" Lana inquires, her voice irritated.

"Fine," I scoff unbelievably before turning around to unlock the door, "It's all a game to you anyway," I continue before she pressed her hand against it.