The Aristocrat

They call it drunk friends and confident talk (pt. 2)

Thursday 15th. 

I was extremely conscious of Ash's piercing stare the whole way to the bar. We'd been in an uneasy silence ever since the restaurant and the lack of conversation was causing my head to throb dangerously. I wondered what he'd think of my friends, what Ivy would say when she saw him. All the possible ways the night could go wrong were making me question why I'd even allowed him to come.

Ash followed me mutely as I walked into the building. He strayed a few steps behind me. The elevator ride lasted a minute. I made sure to keep my head ducked down, hidden behind my hair.

At the top the rooftop was alive, every couch and table taken. Spotting my friends in their usual seat, I strutted over to them if anything relieved to see them. Chester, Victoria, Hugo and Fleur all sat round the table hunched over in fits of laughter. I shrugged my coat off down my arms and chucked it onto the arm of the nearest chair. My head tilted over my shoulder to check Ash was still behind me. His stare was trained on my lunatic friends, a cautious expression in his face.

Hugo, beside Victoria was doing an impression of someone, his movements large and exaggerated. He looked extremely funny with his arms swinging around in a diva-like manor. He also looked completely insane.

"And I'm the crazy one," I greeted them with an amused smirk. My brows were raised questioningly at Hugo. He simply shrugged, not caring to bless me with a reason for his awful acting.

When Victoria saw me, an animal-like squeak left her lips, "Andra baby, where you been?"

"Dinner with parents," I grunted, falling down dramatically on the cushioned sofa next to Chester. His large arms wrapped around my frame and he kissed me softly on the head.

"Sounds painful," Chester empathized, reaching for his drink on the table. He took a large gulp like a thirsty pup after a long walk and then passed the drink to me. I took the biggest mouthful and cringed as the fiery liquid trickled down my throat.

"Tell me about it."

Victoria squinted, her eyes resting behind me, "who's the hottie with you?

I twisted in my seat, facing an expressionless Ash. He watched us, his hands shoved in his jean pockets as usual. I had completely forgotten he was there.

"This is Ash," I pointed at him, then gestured for him to take a seat. He gave me a small nod and took the single armchair slightly away from the rest of us. His hands fell out of his pockets and rested on the arms.

"Hey sweetie," Victoria waggled her fingers at him, her eyelashes batting at the same time. Ash raised one of his brown brows and threw me a questionable look.

Hugo coughed and squared Asher up for a second. He was joking, Asher didn't know that though. Hugo's hand wrapped over Victoria's thigh and he leant into her ear, "Careful Vic or you might not be coming home with me tonight."

"Oh hush, I'm just playing. Welcome Ash," Victoria laughed tauntingly and laid back into Hugo's chest. A small sigh of content rolled out of her mouth as she found comfort in Hugo's space.

"I'm Chester," Chester leant up, taking me with him and extended his hand across me for Ash to shake "that's Hugo, Victoria and Fleur."

Ash gripped onto Chester's hand shook it with respect. It lasted a couple of seconds before he said hey, tipped his head down and then let go.

Noticing something was missing, I frowned, "where's Ivy?"

"On a date with Leo from Prague. He apparently wanted to surprise her with something," Victoria filled me in, amusement dancing in her eyes.