Seventeen Imagines

Vernon: drunken affection

You and your friends went out drinking one night for your 22nd birthday. Without thinking twice you decided tonight was going to be a good night no matter what. At first you and your three friends bar hopped, every hour you all went to a different bar. The final bar had the best vibes and good music playing so the four of you chose to finish off the night there.

When you walked in your eyes met a handsome stranger's leaning against the bar next to his group of friends. He was wearing a baggy white T-shirt with the front tucked into black jeans and a brown jacket to complete his look. The man's light brown hair was short and wavy and parted down the middle, his bags gently laid to the sides of his face to expose his forehead. Even from afar the man's skin looked flawless and smooth, his jawline so sharp it could kill.

The stranger's big round eyes did a double take on you as you walked across the bar. You didn't give him much attention after the first look since you were busy with your friends; the four of you were tipsy out of your minds already. While waiting at the bar for your drinks your friends noticed the group of guys at the other end and started giggling with each other, talking about who they thought was the cutest out of the bunch. When you finally looked over your eyes met the handsome guy's again.

But this time he flashed you a lip-locked smile and a head nod, as if to inform you that he was aware of your eyes on him. You blushed at what you felt was awkward eye contact and looked away just as the bartender brought your beer over. Not thinking too much about the tiny interaction you just had you redirected your attention to your friends who were now insisting on buying you a birthday shot. As if the free birthday shots from the other bars earlier weren't enough.

Your friends began chanting in unison for you to take a shot, followed by singing happy birthday loudly just before you threw the ounce of liquor back. When you finished the shot you raised the glass high above your head and let out a harsh breath, the liquor obviously didn't taste great but it was getting you where you wanted to be tonight. Your girlfriends cheered loud enough that the handsome stranger and his friends noticed the four of you even more. Just then one of your favorite songs came on over the speakers of the bar, making your friends grab your hands to drag you out to dance.

And of course you obliged. Your body was feeling loose and fluid, you were in a great mood and just let the sound of the music flow through you. You danced to your heart's content with your best friends doing their best to keep up with your energetic motions, without a care in the world. Not caring who was watching you, who wasn't watching, nothing.

Throughout the night the attractive stranger snuck glances at you while you were busy having fun with your girlfriends. He watched as you in particular grew more and more tipsy to the point you were acting even goofier than before. At one point in the night you left your friends on the dance floor to grab another beer from the bar. As you were waiting the bartender suddenly brought you another shot, saying it was for your birthday from a gentleman on the other side of the bar.

You looked over and there he was again. That handsome man was sitting with one of his friends this time. The moment your eyes met his he raised a shot glass of his own and pretend to toast yours from yards away. You smiled shyly and copied him.

The stranger waited for you to take your shot before he swallowed back his. You mouthed the words "thank you" to him and this time he smiled with his teeth. Your heart nearly skipped watching him smile. For some reason his smile felt warm and kind. Your train of thought was interrupted by the bartender handing you another beer.

"This one's on the house too." The bartender said, motioning to the gentleman you just locked eyes with.

You raised the glass bottle in the air like you did with the shot and the man nodded cutely, another smile on his handsome face. You were feeling a little self conscious for some reason, probably from how much he was staring at you, so you quickly left the bar and returned to the dance floor with your friends. It didn't take long for that little interaction to escape your thoughts as your friends sucked you into dancing more. You loved dancing so much that nothing else really mattered.