New Ways

TWENTY-FIVE

Amery

"Sorry, magical creature that doesn't exist. I'm driving," Sigrid declined my offer. I respected her decision and took the shot for her.

"Okay now you can stay," Gwen said to Sigrid, grinning. She excused herself to go put the gift she just got inside her room.

"You look pretty today," I finally said it. I finally complimented her beauty out loud. That girl must have had felt her pride swelling in joy.

Sigrid stared at me and finally opened her mouth. "You look... like a unicorn."

That's it? That was it?! I told you you looked pretty and that was the best thing you could come up with in return? Really now, Sigrid Sharma?

I had to deal with my own disappointment when Jean-Pierre came and pulled Sigrid away. They skipped over to where all the food was, on the buffet table near the kitchen. I plopped down on the couch beside Derek as I watched him play cards with some dudes from school.

The sun went down shortly after Sigrid arrived and the moon graced the night sky. Everyone was practically drunk already. Some had left, some were hooking up in the rooms and there were a bunch of us just watching TV and smoking some joints. Derek and Jean-Pierre had offered me some but I refused, explaining that I would only go as far as consuming alcohol.

My head was spinning and I wanted to leave. As I clumsily made my way to Gwen's room to inform her that I was going to call it a day, I saw my best friend's arms wrapped around a girl's neck as they locked lips ferociously against the wall along the hallway.

"Hey!!!" I yelled and yanked Gwen off Sigrid. The girl lost her balance and almost fell but Sigrid caught her arm just in time. "You can't kiss her. She has a girlfriend!"

"She doesn't mind," Gwen replied casually. This girl was too drunk to know what she was doing. She approached Sigrid to kiss the latter again but I stopped her.

"My head is spinning. I'm going home," I informed Gwen. She shrugged and was about to kiss Sigrid again when the girl spoke up.

"I'll drive you home," Sigrid gripped my wrist.

"No need for that. I have Alfred. I'll call him."

Sigrid waited while I tried to find my phone. Damn, I thought, it must be with Derek or Jean-Pierre. And I was too tipsy to actually search for it. Forget it, I'll ask them for it tomorrow or something.

"What are you waiting for?" I looked up at Sigrid. Gwen felt the urge to throw up so she charged at the bathroom. I felt bad that I was too drunk myself to take care of her.

I fell asleep in Sigrid's car as she drove me home. When I felt the car not moving for a very long time, I fought to push my heavy eyelids open and saw Sigrid just staring at me. I scanned the surroundings and recognised that this was the neighbourhood I stayed in.

"Why didn't you wake me?"

"Oh you don't think I've tried?" She laughed.

"I'm sorry," I cleared my throat and unbuckled my seatbelt, then slowly sat upright in my seat. I saw the whole world spinning but only Sigrid was stationary. The moonlight shone on her face and she looked so beautiful. Apart from my own reflection, I've never really had such a stunning face staring right back at me.

"Am? Are you ok-"

Just like that, I crashed my lips against hers. She kissed me back softly but I guess I was still too drunk so I raided her tongue with mine hungrily. I've never kissed anybody before and this one felt so right, so good and I felt as if a void that I never knew I had in my heart was filled. The kiss felt familiar, her lips felt like home. I was losing myself in Sigrid when she pulled away suddenly.

"You're drunk," she whispered and gently stroked my cheek with her thumb. "And I have a girlfriend."

"She doesn't mind," I smirked.

"Derek really likes you," she reminded.

"I like him too," I only realised what I just said came out the wrong way when Sigrid frowned and turned away.

I wanted to tell her I didn't mean it like that, when her phone lit up with Kate's name on the screen.