The Magic Makers

Chapter 12

"Hey, Kath! Wanna have a drink?" Ariana asked Katherine who was sitting all alone. Matt had gone somewhere. Ariana excused herself from where Phillip, Luke and Elsa were chatting animatedly. Phillip looked like he was listening intently but his eyes were following Ariana all over the terrace. Behave normal.. Matt's advice rang in Katherine's head. "Of course, Ari!" She said enthusiastically and they both walked over to the bar. The bartender flashed them a toothy smile. "What would the pretty ladies like to have?" He asked in a Spanish accent. "Two Tequila shots, please." Ariana requested, smiling. She could feel Phillip's frown from across the terrace. What's she doing? Phillip thought, frowning at her. "To the best of times, Kath!" Ariana cheered, clanking her tiny glass against Kath's and downing the whole thing in one go without grimacing.

It was plain sailing after that. The bartender got tired of handing them the shots. To him, they weren't 'the pretty ladies' anymore. Pretty drunk ladies, yeah. Or rather, pretty drunk lady. Because Katherine was as sober as she was before her first shot of tequila. Ariana wasn't, though. She lolled over the table and said random weird things. Right now, she was singing 'Row, row, row your boat' in a drunk sailor's voice. Katherine sat straight on a chair, drinking her tequila and watching Ariana make a complete fool of herself. A large crowd had gathered around them, cheering them on. Phillip walked up to them just as Matt entered the terrace. "Kath?" He called and then noticed the crowd near the bar. Phillip was already there. "How could you let her to this?!" He shouted at Katherine above the cheerings as he steadied Ariana. Elsa and Luke were at the back, the mad crowd not letting them go any further. Katherine simply shrugged. "She invited me." She said. "You could've stopped her." Phillip growled as he tried to prevent Ariana from throwing up all over the counter. Katherine annoyingly shrugged again. Phillip's eyes narrowed dangerously. "What's going on?!" Matt called as he elbowed his way through the increasing crowd. It was easy for him. He was big. Phillip turned to him. "Ask your girl to look up the meaning of friendship in a dictionary." He spat. The crowed sensed a fight and the cheerings became more insistent. "Oh really?" Matt asked with an evil smirk. "Well, ask your girl to take it easy next time." Matt retorted as he moved threateningly close to Ariana. Phillip growled and lunged for him, who was at least three inches taller than him. "No, Phillip!" Elsa called, but it was too late. Phillip and Matt wrestled around, knocking glasses and bowls off the shelves. The crowd had made a huge circle around them, realising it was wiser to give the two fighters, who were raging like mad bulls, a wide berth. "Phillip! Stop it, man!" Luke called urgently, pushing through the crowd. He ran to the pantry and got a jug of water. He emptied it's contents on the two fighters, making them spring miles apart instantly. Phillip had a cut lip and Matt had a black eye. They both were panting heavily. Ariana was still singing and Katherine had started on red wine, gazing admirably at Matt. "Stop it, man." Luke restrained Phillip as Elsa ran to Ariana. "Ari!" She cried, shaking a drunk Ariana. "Don't do that. She might throw up." Phillip warned, still panting. The crowd had melted away after booing enthusiastically at Luke for ruining their fun. Elsa scowled at Katherine, who was walking away with Matt. I don't know this girl.. she realised.

                        ~♢~

The first thing Ariana noticed when she woke up was that she wasn't in her room. She got up hastily, making her already throbbing head hurt more. She was still in her gown, she noticed thankfully. Where am I? She wondered as she looked around. Oh yeah, I'm in Phillip's room. Wait, what? What was she doing in his room? She looked around for him. He was sleeping on the couch, obviously uncomfortable. Ariana leaned on her elbows and gazed at him. One of his arm was folded under his head as a pillow, the other on his stomach. One leg was draped over the seat of the couch. Ariana looked at his face. His hair were messed up totally, falling all over his eyes. His lip was cut, dried blood still on the wound. Ariana frowned. What has he done to himself? Phillip stirred and opened his eyes. He looked at the bed hastily, as if he expected her to have dissapeared. "Hey." Ariana said, smiling at him. Phillip smiled back despite the cut. It wasn't everyday he woke up to a beautiful smiling Ariana. "Hey. You okay?" He asked, turning around to face her, grimacing from the stiffness."Yeah. Kinda. What exactly happened last night?" She asked him, patting the empty space beside her. Phillip smiled in delight and sat down beside her, telling her everything. "Oh, so that's how you injured your lip?" Ariana asked him. " Yeah. It's alrigh-" He stopped suddenly. Ariana was touching his cut gingerly, sending shivers down his spine. Phillip stared at her and she withdrew her hand, clearing her throat in embarrassment. "Sorry.. I just.. ahem.." Why did she do that again? "No it was.. nice.." Phillip said, dazed. "Thank you, Phillip." Ariana said finally. Phillip grinned. "That's all I get for saving you?" He asked her playfully. "Okay. What do you want?" Ariana asked, playing along. "You know Rivers, I'm still waiting for you to let me kiss you." Phillip trailed off, expecting her to make a face at him. He was pleasently surprised. "Okay." Was all Ariana said as she tucked her hair behind her ear, exposing her cheek.
Phillip gulped and leaned in, pressing his lips to her soft cheek. Her eyes fluttered shut. His lips were the perfect amount of softness, rough where he had just got hurt. She didn't want him to stop. He didn't want to stop either.
He drew back after what seemed like ages, but not before brushing his nose softly against her cheek, leaving her skin burning just where he kissed her. Ariana looked at him, smiling softly. Phillip was still a little dazed. He wanted to talk to her, not let her go, but she got up. "I've gotta go. Class in fifteen minutes." She said and walked to the door. "Bye." She walked out smiling, leaving Phillip to think over what just happened. I like her. He decided. I shouldn't, but I can't help it. I do.