ILLICIT AFFAIRS | WLW

How You Get The Girl

TW: Abusive language.

The elevator doors slid open with a quiet hum, and Catherine stepped into the dimly lit hallway of her apartment building. She hadn't been in this situation before. Sure, she had taken Blair home to her own apartment once before. But Catherine had never brought one of her students back to her apartment. She wasn't too sure how to feel about it.

With one arm wrapped securely around Blair's waist, she half-carried, half-guided the younger woman into her apartment. Blair's head leaned against Catherine's shoulder, her body swaying unsteadily with every step, her feet stumbling over themselves as she fought to stay upright.

Catherine's heart thudded in her chest as she struggled to hold Blair's weight, her mind racing with a mixture of concern, frustration, and an emotion she wasn't quite ready to name. The night had taken a turn she hadn't expected, and now, here she was, guiding a drunken Blair into her apartment, feeling the heat of her body pressed against her side, her breath warm against Catherine's neck.

"Almost there," Catherine murmured, her voice low and soothing, though it was more for her own benefit than Blair's. She could feel the younger woman's arm slipping from around her shoulders, her body growing heavier with each step.

They reached her apartment door, and Catherine fumbled with the keys, the metallic clinking a stark contrast to the quiet of the hallway. Her hand shook slightly as she unlocked the door, pushing it open with her hip as she tried to manoeuvre Blair inside without letting her collapse completely.

Catherine led Blair toward her couch first, gently lowering her down onto the cushions so Blair could sit while she caught her breath. Blair's head lolled forward, her hair falling into her face as she muttered something incoherent, her voice a slurry of exhaustion and intoxication.

Kingsley let out a soft sigh as she crouched down in front of Blair, her hand reaching to brush a strand of hair behind Blair's ear. The girl was a mess—drunk, disoriented, and clearly too far gone to take care of herself. Yet, despite the situation, Catherine felt an unexpected tenderness swelling in her chest. She hadn't planned for any of this, hadn't anticipated the night taking such a sharp turn. But now that she was here, in her apartment, with Blair barely conscious in front of her, she felt a strange sense of responsibility.

"Blair, you need to drink some water," she said, her voice firm but gentle. She could see how pale Blair's skin had become, her eyes glassy and unfocused. It was clear that the alcohol had taken its toll on her, and Catherine wasn't about to leave her in this state without some care.

Blair didn't respond, her eyes half-closed as she leaned against the back of the sofa, barely holding herself up. Catherine hesitated for a moment, her gaze lingering on Blair's flushed face before she turned and headed toward the kitchen. She filled a glass of water, her mind racing with thoughts she didn't want to entertain. This wasn't how she had expected the night to end. She had imagined dropping Blair off, making sure she was safe, and then leaving—but fate, it seemed, had other plans.

When Catherine returned to the living room, Blair was in the same position, her body slumped forward, her head resting on the back of the couch. Catherine's heart softened, and without thinking, she knelt beside Blair, gently placing a hand on her chin to lift her head.

"Blair," she said quietly, her voice steady but soft. "Come on, darling."

Blair blinked sluggishly, her eyes struggling to focus as she looked at Catherine. Her lips parted in a soft sigh, and for a moment, Catherine wasn't sure if Blair had even heard her. But then, Blair's hand moved, weakly reaching for the glass.

"I can... I can do it," Blair mumbled, her voice thick with sleep and alcohol.

Catherine raised an eyebrow but didn't release her grip on the glass. "No, you can't. Just drink."