Stay Peachy

Chapter Ten - Nights Out

Mr Blanchet had called Sierra and I into his office. Where we currently stood in front of his desk waiting for him to finish up a phone call. He pulls the phone away, pressing the disconnect button and places the smart phone face down on his desk. He intertwines his hands and rests them on his lap as he leaned back with a smile.

"Ah, you two," his smile never left his face as he leaned forward again and looked at a few things on his monitor before his eyes met ours. "Can you both represent me at a meeting? It's in two days." We both look at each other then back to him and nod. "Ah, perfect. You can go and enjoy your night out."

We both thank him and head out.

Other than the fact there's still an awkward tension between Sierra and I, everything's been pretty good... kinda. After that night in my apartment, she's been distant. I want nothing more than to reach out and tell her I want her, all of her. Even just as a friend, I'll take that. It's better than nothing.

I look over at her. She refuses to look at me.

"Sierra, can I talk to you?" Why did I say that? I have nothing to say.

My heart twists as her head perks up and she looks at me with a hidden pained expression. "Yes, of course."

I nod and we head towards the balcony on the left hallway of the elevator. It was private, no one could hear you and they wouldn't be able to see you unless you can see them.

"What did you want to say?" She fidgets with her hands, this was completely different to the confident girl I met.

I watch carefully as she pulls out a cigarette and lights it. "We need to talk about what happened the other night." She tenses up and I roll my eyes. "We can't keep tiptoeing around it, Sierra."

"Oh but we can," she says, her voice cold. "I made a mistake, I shouldn't have done that."

"Why not?"

"Because you're still a taken woman."

The words knock me sick. "Not anymore and I haven't been for a while."

She breathes out and leans against the metal railing. "You have no idea how much control you have over me, American."

"I don't want to hurt you." My breathing grew shallow, my eyes settling on her lips watching the tendrils of smoke pass through them, dance into the blue sky before disappearing. There was a prickle my skin.

"And how would you do that?" she chuckles and I shut my eyes.

I shrug, "I bite sometimes." Humour can't make this less suffocating.

She looks at me, standing up straight and moving towards me. I look back up at her, trying not to let her know she intimidates me so much.

Sierra lifts a hand and caresses my cheek with the back of her hand. I let my eyes flutter shut as her breath warms my lips. I tilt my face upwards, her lips grazing against mines and she pulls back abruptly, running her free hand through her hair.

"That's answer enough Eden,"

•

The plan was; food, then drinks, then karaoke. We had went to grab mcdonald's before we were at a bar that also doubled as karaoke. Sierra had kept her hand on me whenever she could get away with it. Lingering touches so that no one noticed, her hand on my thigh whenever no one was watching.

A fire had grown in my stomach and it burned deeply. Julia and Sam would be my scapegoat for as long as I could resist temptation. I could not let myself want to love her. It's just passion.

Zack carefully walked over, he had a tray of small shot glasses with a red liquid in it. "Sourz!" he squeals and we all grab a shot. I clink my glass with Sierra's before knocking it back, the sweetness trailed down my throat. I could drink these forever.

Holland groans and places a hand on mine, "Dance with me!" He shouts over the music and I follow with a smile. Holland was handsome, with strong, handsome features that anyone would find attractive.

We pressed against each other and danced the night away. After about fifteen minutes, a burning sensation takes over my feet, as if they were on fire. I'm not as athletic as I used to be.

We returned to the rest, my eyes trail over to Sierra, her brows slightly raised and her mouth had opened.

We spent another two hours drinking in the bar, karaoke lost on us as we laughed and danced and drank.

It was the most fun I've had in a while. The only true friend I've ever had was Audrey and probably Diego. One of which is still in my life.

Tears prick at my eyes as I think about it, I've not had a life. I've barely lived. Since my dad got ill I had been put in a box, a box of not wanting to live too much so I could drop everything for my father if I needed to.

And as if something clicked in place when I stared at Sierra, I realised I need to live.

So, there I stood outside of the bar waiting with Sierra as everyone else was still inside. She wanted to smoke and I wanted to be with her. The floaty feeling I got made me feel invincible. She looked at my with a raised eyebrow as she takes a puff.

"What's up?"

"I'm very attracted to you." This was the best idea of my life I think. I smile as Sierra's eyebrows raise. "I've wanted you to kiss me for a while now..." hell I'd let her do a hell of a lot more.

She stiffens and mutters, "You're just drunk."

"Nooooo, I'm perfectly fine." I am. I feel great. "Oof, maybe not." I say as a roll of sickness washes over me. Sierra's panicked expression fills me with laughter, which makes the sickness worse. "I'm going over to that alley to throw up, can you come with?" She furrows her brows but follows anyways.

Alleys still make me feel nervous. As we walk over it felt like my body was on fire but cold at the same time. I gulped down air as saliva gathered in my mouth.

I am never drinking again.

Never again is all I think of as I empty the contents of my stomach in the dark. A hand connects with my back and I scramble away, panic settling in my body. Everything in me froze, all I could feel was the scrapes on my legs and I could barely breathe. Sierra still held a hand out to my wide eyed and raggedy breathing state.

"Did I make you uncomfortable?"

"No!" I say a bit to loudly and clear my throat, "No, it's just..." I shudder slightly at the memory and goosebumps coat my skin as I stare down the dark alleyway. For some reason I trust Sierra, so with a deep breath I try to start. This is just the drunkenness talking. "I was assaulted by a man in an alleyway. He tried kidnapping me and I put up a fight so he..." I take a deep breath in trying not to let tears spill out. When did I become such a crybaby? "He kicked me in the ribs. I still have scars from the glass."

Sierra cringed and she sat down next to me. She searched her leather jacket pocket for something and hands it towards me. I chuckle as a pack of gum enters my sight.

"Thank you." my voice was a whisper. She places a kiss on my temple.

"Is it alright if I stay over at yours tonight? Just to look after you?" her voice was so gentle. I look up at her with a lopsided smile.

"Okay."

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I have two more resits and then I'm done college, how exciting. I've got my own flat with my best friend! we're getting the keys next week.