THE AWAKENING
ROIBEN
/Isn't that.... No it can't be/. I stared, puzzled. /What is she doing here?/
"You OK?" Asked Abigail, talking out loud over the music.
"What?"
"I said, are you all right?"
"Oh. Yes." I responded, unfocused.
"Do you want to keep dancing, or are you just going to stand there gawking at her?"
"What are you talking about?"
"Well, you have been staring at that chick since she arrived," she looked at her. "Do you know her? Who is she?"
"No one. Want to get a drink?"
"What's the matter with you, we've just started dancing." She looked at me with a confused smile.
I didn't reply, but kept gazing, bewildered, over to the bar where she was standing... /Is that a drink on her hand?/
"I'm going to look for the guys." She chuckled. "You go ahead and get yourself a drink."
"Sure." I replied, as if she was the one suggesting it.
"Vittoria?"
She was sitting facing the bartender, her back to me. She did not turn so I dropped to the sit beside her and stared to the sideway of her face.
She turns, confused, locking her hazer-eyes on mine, but did not reply.
"Oh, sorry, are you alright?" Her eyes were red. /Has she'd been crying?/
"My name's Vicky," she says with a flirting smile on her face and handing her mug-free hand for me to shake. "Do I know you?"
"What?" I said in surprise. /What's she up to? I mean... this is her... She even has the same dress from this morning./ "Are you waiting for someone?"
"No. What's your name?" She asked, then turned to Lucas, the bartender and asked for another drink.
/Has she lost her mind/ "What ..." I started, but before I could say anything else Aaron came appeared, stood by my side and directing himself to her, said, "Hi, nice meeting you, my name is Aaron," and offered his hand to her.
"I'm Vicky."
They shook hands. Then Aaron turned his head to face me, although unable to unlock his eyes from hers said, "We're taking off to Tälo's Pub, are you coming?"
"Yes!" She said ecstatic, as if the invite had been made to her, and gulped what drink she had left.
"Don't choke yourself!" Said Aaron, astonished.
Then she took out some money from her purse, placed it under her mug, and stood up ready to go.
I looked at her, stunned by her reaction; /why's she acting like this?/
"You should be going back to your apartment."
"What are you talking about?" She asked confused.
"You are not being yourself," he ogled her eyes, "and you are drunk".
"I've only had three drinks."
"You should take a look at yourself."
"So what, are you my guardian now?" She snapped at him.
"Roy, she's right, let her be." Aaron retorted.
He was taken aback. /They're right. What am I doing? She's not my problem./
