If you only knew...

11.Too many glasses

Xavier's POV

As we step out of the cab, Ana practically skips towards the bar, her energy seemingly boundless. I, on the other hand, feel completely drained. But for her sake, I decide to indulge in her guilty pleasure for a little while.

"Quick, before they close!" she urges eagerly.

Seated at a small table, she orders two glasses of red wine with a look of both excitement and relief. I remain silent, still trying to piece together the events of the evening at the ballroom. My mind is clouded with thoughts of her behavior.

I admire her wild spirit, and her ability to find joy in any situation and maintain a positive vibe. She is undeniably endearing, but what was wrong with her last night on the dance floor?

None of her jokes seems to land. I can't quite discern her intentions – was she toying with me for her own amusement, or did she derive some sort of satisfaction from putting me in uncomfortable situations just to see how I'd react? In either case, her actions leave me feeling uneasy and bewildered.

"Are you mad at me for earlier?" she suddenly asks, with a visible worry in her voice.

"Uhm.. I am not even sure what to say." I reply. "Did you enjoy that?" I hesitantly ask in a low voice.

"Oh, sure I did! Sorry if I've gone too far," she answers with a smile while she takes a sip from her wine glass.

I look at her with delight, she's nice and funny, even if she scares me sometimes with her teasing games.
"I may forgive you.." I reply in a calm voice.

.........................................

"You don't drink? I was hoping we both could get a bit relaxed now. Tomorrow we will have to return to the Black Veil and that's no more fun." she says while finishing her first glass.

"No sorry, I am not in the mood for that," I answer avoiding her eyes.

"What's troubling you, Xavier? It's not that bad to get tipsy sometimes," she says as she just keeps drinking from the second glass now.

"Well, alcohol brings me bad memories about someone, I usually avoid it," I state with a small sadness in my voice. "Are you going to keep drinking more?" I continue as I notice that she orders a third glass before even finishing her second.

"I don't think so, the third will be the last. I feel tipsy already." she slowly rubs her eyes. A few hairlocks playfully tickle her nose. She seems so clumsy and innocent, but I know that she's nothing like that.

I watch her enjoying herself as she empties the third glass and even forth before I hurry to help her stand up.

"Ana, we should really go home! You're not looking well." I whisper to her while I try to lead her steps outside.
She doesn't say a word but follows my advice.
We go outside but there's no cab around.

"It's almost 5 am, I hope we can get some sleep before our departure." I quietly say in the deep silence of the city.

"It's so chilly, can I hug you?" she demands with an obvious problem in her balance.

I don't have a jacket to offer her, only my dress shirt, but her request still feels inappropriate to me. Before I can respond, she wraps her hands tightly around my waist, resting her head on my chest and closing her eyes as if she wants to fall asleep right here, right now.

Her fingers desperately fumble with the buttons of my shirt, as if their sole purpose is to touch my skin. I attempt to remove her hand from my waist, but her touch becomes more insistent and forceful, her fingers now digging into my skin through the small gaps in the fabric, making me feel incredibly uncomfortable.