Farah Dowling WRITOBER 2O22

Drunk enough to say I love you? [INTO MY ARMS #3]

You hadn't been able to restrain yourself. You could not say yourself why you did it.

It was not like you expected it to have an effect: weeks and weeks had gone by, and the Headmistress had made abundantly clear that she wanted nothing to do with you.

Even during classes she avoided looking at you or speaking to you in any way. So it was not like you thought that wearing the dress she had bought for you – the dress you had worn the night you had sex with her - would cause any reaction.

It was a mind-blowing dress, you told yourself, and there was simply no reason why you should not wear it.

A classmate had asked you to the traditional Alfea formal party held at the end of October and you had grudgingly decided to accept the invitation. The only one you wanted you could not have, and he was very handsome – you might as well try to know him better and have some fun.

He came to get you at your suite right on time, more than dressed for the occasion. Another reason to be glad to have worn the best dress you owned.

"You look stunning" he said in an awed voice, offering his arm.

When you arrived at the party you immediately noticed the teachers gathered together in a corner. The Headmistress' back was turned, but even from behind you could see that, not having branch-arm problems anymore, she had chosen a golden gown that wrapped her body as a second skin. You quickly looked away.

"Something to drink? Whisky?" your date asked, gesturing towards the refreshment table.

You smiled bitterly, remembering the Headmistress sardonic voice offering you linfean wine. "No, thank you. Maybe just some wine, please?"

He flashed a smile in your direction, replying "I'll be right back."

While he went for drinks you glanced over at the teachers. Professor Harvey was staring at you. He seemed worried. He said something to excuse himself and took a few steps towards you. You tried to move through the crowd to go to him, but before you could reach him you heard you date's voice merrily saying "Oh, there you are!"

You turned to him and he handed you a glass of red wine.

"Thank you" you answered before turning again to search for professor Harvey. You could not see him anymore. Maybe it had just been an impression and he hadn't been looking at you?

You drank your wine and tried to make pleasant conversation with your date.

After a few glasses of wine he asked you to dance. You had no desire to do so, but you thought it wouldn't be polite to refuse. You had accepted to come here with him, after all.

He took your hand and led you in the hall. When you started dancing he grinned: he had noticed your surprise. He was a great dancer. "I have taken dance lessons all my life. It's kind of an obsession" he confessed as he made you twirl. Now you were really having fun.

"You should have told me sooner!" you laughed.

"I wanted to save my best card for last" he smiled, lowering his hands on your hips and lifting you up in the air for a moment. You laughed again, and when you told him "Smooth!" he smiled, winking at you.

Meanwhile professor Harvey had just solved a minor Terra crisis and was coming back to the main hall. When he joined Saul and the other teachers he was not surprised to see Farah wearing a murderous gaze. He sighed. He had tried to come talk to you and tell you... what? He had no idea what, but something, anything that could have prevented one of his best friend spending the night watching you in that dress flirting with a boy. You had all rights to do so, he knew, but... for the love of the gods, it was such a complicated situation. Anyway – he had seen Terra crying on the other side of the hall and everything else had been forgotten... and now it was too late.