SneakyLink

Part 1

I look in the mirror and take two deep breaths to gather the courage to go out there and pretend to be happy again. I turn around and walk out at a fast pace not giving myself the chance to back out and the second I walk out of the bathroom I walk into someone.

"Oh shit, I'm so sorry." I say barely looking up, but searching for Lydia and Troy past him. I have been third wheeling all night and it feels like shit considering I'm alone on Valentine's day. I know that does not constitute a good reason to stand in the bathroom mirror mustering up the courage to fake smile, but this love shit really has a bitch feeling alone. Especially if you have feelings for the friend you happen to be third wheeling

"I'm sorry, too. I didn't see you, probably because you're so short" they guy says and I look up at the guy and notice how extremely fucking tall he is. 

"I'm surprised you didn't stomp on me you fucking giant" I say grinning and he gives me a charming smile back. We both start walking away before he calls me back, "I was actually looking for a partner in this game my friends are playing, would you like to join?" he asks and I pause for a second weighing my options. So, I either go third wheel my friend and her boyfriend further on Valentine's day, OR I follow this complete stranger blindly.

"I'm in" I say nodding and he does a silent "yes" to himself in victory, but I know he knows I can see him so I just smile at him and he leads me over to a table close by. I greet everyone awkwardly, but most of them seem to drunk to even notice as he explains what the game is.

"It's less of a game and more of a challenge. See, we went quite a bit overboard buying alcohol for tonight" his voice playful as he is pointing toward the table that's filled with bottles of liquor, and then under the table, where there just so happens to be more. I only nod in response. "Now, we, as a group decided to partner up to see who can make the best looking, and" he puts great emphasis on the and, "tasting cocktails using these ingredients you see before you." 

I nod again, "any chance I can make one by myself first to see if I can actually do this?" I ask and he gestures for me to ahead. I take one of the plastic cup and start mixing burning liquors with sweet liqueurs and finishing it off with some Sprite. I take a look at the blue drink in my hand and as I am about to take a sip I see a group close-by having tequila shots and steal a piece of lemon off their plate to garnish my cocktail with before showing it to my stranger.

He claps hands silently, seemingly impressed and we both sip from the cup. Weirdly enough, it wasn't that bad. We then start making a cocktail together which ends up being red, but he swears I set him up to lose because it doesn't look or taste as good as the one I did alone.

I laugh at him. "I don't like losing and I clearly am. Look at yours... and what about this one?" he says pointing to a really impressive looking cocktail that you could swear was done by a professional. "You know what? Never mind, let's just drink it and enter yours as ours" he says. I was about to laugh at how he talks as if this is an official competition, but when I turn to face him he looks so serious about it I decide it would be better not to and I agree.

He takes a sip off the glass and is about to hand it to me when I feel a tap on my shoulder. I turn around to see Lydia, "Troy and I are leaving, we're going to have some sushi." I look past her big bush of curly hair to see Troy lurking over her like a creep.

"okay" I say nodding plastering on a fake smile. I see Lydia look at the guy and she whispers, "be safe" not very softly and I was pretty sure he heard it but only nodded in response.

"Text me if you need anything." Lydia says again and I smile even brighter, "Yes! I'll be safe, I always am. Now go on your date and you better have fucking fun." I tell her in the most cheerful voice I can muster, which is very cheerful since she smiles back meaning she bought and starts walking off.