𝐀𝐝𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝

Chapter 14 - Stay

"We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars."
― Oscar Wilde, Lady Windermere's Fan

Alice

    – Perhaps you should walk Alice home, Orion.

    My brother's voice awakens me, making me open my eyes at the same time as Orion raises his head, looking at Alexander who's standing in front of us. I frown, because even though I'm half asleep, I still find it very weird of him to ask his friend to walk me home. Can't he do it ? I mean, I'm his sister.

    – Why ? You're not going home ? Orion asks, reflecting my thoughts.

    His hands are wrapped tightly around me, holding me against him while I was sleeping, probably to keep me from falling.

    – I am, my brother answers, but I can't stand her right now. I'm mad at her for letting you guys make me believe she was kidnapped. In fact, I'm mad at all of you.

    Orion straightens against me, his hold on me somehow getting tighter. I can feel the tension between them - I know my brother isn't liking how close I am to his friend, and still, he's asking me to go home with him. Orion seems pissed, and he doesn't try to hide it, but I'm too drunk to care about their problems. I just want to go home... or stay here, in his arms.

    – Don't say shit like that, I hear Orion saying, she's your sister and it was the guys' idea, she just went on with it. Don't be mad at her for someone else's ideas. She's drunk, tired and I'm pretty sure she can't walk. You're really going to leave her like that ?

    – She's in good hands.

    My brother shrugs, starting to walk away, as if he didn't care, and something tells me that, in good hands or not, for once, my brother would've left me. Is he really that mad at me ? I turn to his best friend, confused.

    – I'm sorry. I'll walk home alone, I want you to enjoy the rest of the night. I'll just... go...

    I try to stand up, get out of his grip, but the room starts spinning around me, making me unsteady. Orion immediately takes my hand, making me sit again, frowning. He always seems mad, somehow.

    – No way. I'm walking you home, don't you even think I'd be able to enjoy this party if I know you're not safe.

    I raise my head towards him to find his worried gaze already on me, making me shiver. He's never looked at me like that before, and I can feel that something has shifted between us in the past week. It's not the same as it was.

    – So I'm safe with you ? I ask.

    – You'll always be safe with me.

    I nod slowly, trying to hide the fact that I'm blushing at his words, because how could he say this so casually ? Or is it that I'm too drunk and imagining things ? Something is telling me that's not the case, though.

    – Come on, let's go.

    I don't have the time to answer nor stand up, simply because, as soon as he stands up, I find myself lifted in the air, clinging to him, letting out a little cry.

    – Hold on, put me down, I can walk !

    – And I can carry you, so why don't you just enjoy the ride ?

    I frown but don't protest any further, simply because I know it won't be of any use, Orion's way too stubborn for that. So I just rest my head on his chest, wrapping my arms around his neck as he heads downstairs, his walk certain and confident, while I'm wondering how someone who has drunk that much could walk so straight.