BANALITY : Draco Malfoy

16

It took some coaxing, two more shots and another drink, but eventually, I got Draco to dance. His body was stiff at first, rigid even, but he seems to be more relaxed now. The music is loud, nearly deafening. My brain is getting foggy. Draco and I haven't been drunk together in some time, three weeks to the day, actually. Our last time at Vanish. I feel different now. At least, I'm more prepared to be this close to him.

In the dim light, his eyes look darker. From here, one can hardly tell that they are grey. They are glossy. Maybe he's drunker than I think he is. Eventually, Ali breaks from her snog fest with the one bloke and drags Amanda and me to the lavatory. Ali tries to straighten my hair, which has become all staticky. I won't let her touch it, so she decides to fluff her own mass of curls instead. I sit on the counter, next to the sink, so my back is to the mirror.

"Steven is actually so fun," Ali giggles, "like, I'm enjoying my time with him. You having fun with John, Amanda?"

"Yep," Amanda pops the p. She's adjusting her lip gloss in the mirror. I do not believe a word she says, not even for half a second. She seems more irritated tonight than when Ali was grinding all over John, to be completely honest.

"Well, I might go back to Steven's house tonight," Ali points out.

"What about our chat?" Amanda's voice is sharp. "We always talk after the bar."

Ali's hands recoil from her hair as she turns to face Amanda, "what's your fucking problem?"

"Nothing," Amanda shakes her head.

"You wanted John, so I gave you John, I don't see the problem."

Amanda throws her lip gloss into her purse, and storms out. She knocks her shoulder into Ali, who makes a sound that I can only describe as pure frustration steaming out of her mouth. She races after Amanda. I close my eyes and shake my head.

Fucking ridiculous honestly.

When I exit the bathroom, they are long gone. I'd have thought that with their heels and levels of intoxication, they wouldn't have made it far. Eventually, I make it up to the bar, where I find Draco. He tries to smile when he sees me but doesn't quite.

"I hate this place," he mutters, shaking his head.

"Yeah," I can't help but agree. I'd ask why he bothered to bring Blaise here last time, but he did so for the same reason that I came with Ali and Amanda when I didn't want to come. The same reason he finally looked put together once Blaise rolled into town, and the same reason he switched hotels when Blaise was here.

"I wish this was over," he says. The bartender hands him a shot of something clear, and he taps it once on the table before bringing it to his lips and throwing his head back.

"Most people who drink to be happy usually become less miserable when they drink," it should be a joke, but it's more of an observation.

"What did you say, last time?" he straightens his back. "Something about numbing being easier?"

I order a shot. The bartender knows to put it on his tab. Once it's ready, I pound it back too. The room spins, from moving my head so abruptly rather than the drink. Draco moves to hold me up as I sway. I take steps deeper into the crowd while he tries to prevent me from falling. If I tip over, they will kick me out of Vanish, and then Ali and Amanda will be done being angry with each other and redirect to me.

"You're going to fall over," his voice is harsh.

"Dizzy," it's all I manage to say. Once we are far enough that I'm sure the bartender can't see, I stop walking. My heels feel too tall. I lean my head against his chest. He stiffens. This is perhaps the most I've touched him since that night. I swallow the panic.