Believe in Me

7

After he made his way to the bar to order a drink, we found a table to sit at. It was a quiet booth, one hidden away. They called it a "Hole" which kind of fit its purposes perfectly. The front had a heavy drape that slid closed, and the booth circled around the round table. I could still hear the music outside, but it wasn't nearly as loud. 

Felix looked over at me, a playful glint in his eye. "So, what did you tell your friend?" His tone was playful.

I felt my face heat up and I looked away. "Just that I met a stranger at a bar briefly and he left." I left out the "handsome" part, nervous of how he would react. 

He eyed me for a moment, before he faked a pout. "Just a stranger? Nothing more?" He leaned towards me, and added in a sultry voice, "That's not how you made it seem with that guy out there."

I felt my face heat up even more. Why was he doing this to me? 

Knowing I had nothing else to say, he leaned back and chuckled at my reaction. "Victoria, right?" He asked, having remembered what Michael had said earlier. "I never caught your name last night. That wasn't exactly fair, since you knew my name."

I fidgeted with my hands under the table sheepishly. "Sorry, I hadn't realized I'd be seeing you again."

"Did you not want to?"

His question sounded almost hurt. I looked up at him to gauge his reaction, but I couldn't tell based on his facial expression if it was genuine sadness. I bit my lip, debating. 

"I honestly don't know," I decided on. 

He nodded, seemingly understanding. "I guess I can't expect much, but I'm glad I did run into you. I'll be honest,  I was hoping to see you again."

I met his eyes again, and this time I could tell he genuinely meant it. He wanted to see me again? I wonder why. It wasn't like we did anything special last night. 

He seemed to read my mind, because he answered my thoughts aloud. "You allured me last night, and I couldn't stop thinking about you. I know how creepy that might sound, but it's true. I don't know what you did, but you bewitched me, Victoria." 

He was right, that did sound creepy. But somehow, coming from him, it was almost romantic. I shifted uncomfortably in my seat. Why was he saying such things to me? I thought back to what Julia had said. She made it seem like he wasn't that good a guy. If Danielle were here, she'd be my voice of reason, telling me this man is extremely creepy, no matter how attractive he is. 

I looked away, unable to say anything. 

He cleared his throat and sat back. "Sorry, that was really weird. Maybe it's the alcohol."

I looked at him. "You've only had one drink," I say to him before looking at the glass in front of him. Only, there wasn't just one glass. He had four glasses in front of him, and the one he was sipping on was the only one with alcohol in it. How had I not noticed someone bringing him more drinks? I hadn't even drank tonight.

He looked at me, confused. "You waited here each time I got another one, don't you remember?" 

I blinked, clearly not having remembered. I thought we had only been here a few minutes together. What the hell was happening?

Felix looked concerned about me. "Victoria, are you sure you're alright? You don't look well."

I shook my head, still utterly confused about the whole thing. What the hell was going on with me? There's no way I have short-term memory, right? We were definitely only here for a few minutes. He just got the one drink. Right?

I scooted out of the booth. "Um, I guess I'm not. I think I need to find my friend and head home."

"The black girl in the silver dress? She left earlier, don't you remember? When you got your drink, she found you at the bar and told you she and that other boy were heading home." 

Now I was lost. When did I see Danielle last? When she embarrassed me earlier in front of Felix. I hadn't even ordered a drink. However, when I looked at the table where I was sitting, there was a half-empty drink on the table. 

Felix slid out of the booth, looking fully concerned about me. "Victoria, do you need a ride? You don't look well, and I know we don't know each other that well, but I'd hate for a pretty girl like you to get in a wreck going home."

I rubbed my forehead, still trying to wrap around how I had missed so much time. I pulled out my phone, and confirmed that it had, in fact, been several hours since I had arrived at the club. 

I looked at Felix, his eyes full of worry. I shook my head. "Um, I appreciate the concern, but I think I'll be fine. I drove myself home with no problems last night." My words held a bit more venom in there than I intended, and I flinched at my own words.

Felix reacted the same way I did, and looked away. "Sorry for asking," he muttered.

I felt bad for reacting that way, but I couldn't apologize to him right now. My mind was swirling, trying to recall what I had forgotten this entire time. If I couldn't remember Danielle telling me she was leaving, or me ordering a drink, then what else had I not remembered?

"At least let me walk you to your car," he offered, and I wasn't going to turn him down. Despite my knack for forgetting time, I felt comfortable around him. I allowed him to escort me out to my car, and once I got inside, I rolled the window down.

"Sorry, Felix, I don't want you to think I'm upset with you. I just.. I don't know, I guess I tend to be careless when I'm around you, and I don't feel comfortable with that." I hadn't realized I'd say all of those things to him, but they just spurted out. 

He nodded in understanding. "I'm sorry I make you feel that way." After a pause, he added, "Message me when you get home, ok?"

I agreed with him, and headed home. I could see him watching me in my rearview. My entire drive was me trying to understand why I lost so much time, and could only remember a small chunk of our conversation. 

I had parked my car, pulled off my heels, locked my front door, and gotten changed and into bed before I had registered what he had asked. Message him? I never got his number.

I pulled my phone out, and checked my contacts. When had I gotten Felix's number? I did as I promised and messaged him. I'm home.

I got a response almost instantly. Glad to hear that. Sorry you felt you had to leave in such a rush. I hope next time you won't feel so uncomfortable around me.

I looked down at his message, unable to help my thoughts. If there is a next time.

I put my phone on the charger and turned off my lamp, getting comfortably cocooned into my blanket. My head was hurting from trying to figure out what I had missed from tonight, but just like last night, I couldn't remember anything else. Soon sleep took over, and I welcomed it with open arms.