"No Haiqa! that's too short!" I tried arguing with my best friend but I knew it was pointless, she was going to win in the end, she always did.
"But have you seen this dress? It was made for you. I'd always wear short dresses if I had your legs, not keep them hidden under jeans like you do. You're wearing this. It's final. No one argues with the birthday girl" she gave me the look which meant that this debate was officially over. But the dress really was too short for my liking.
"Ughhhh fine!" I threw my hands up in defeat. "Things I do for you" I paid for the dress while she smiled like an idiot. "I love you too" she made a kissy face at me earning an eye roll from me. It was Haiqa's 19th birthday and according to our ritual we had gone out shopping for new dresses which we would wear tonight while celebrating. She said that she had already made 'plans' for tonight which obviously meant that I had no clue what we were doing in the evening.
After getting dressed I looked at myself in the mirror. I wore my hair straight, in a high pony-tail, letting a few bangs fall in front. I didn't wear any jewellery, although I'm big on jewellery, I just wasn't in the mood. I sighed as I looked at the dress Haiqa had forced me to put on. It was a short black dress that was strapless, had a heart-shaped neckline and a zip at the back that made the cloth stick to my body like second skin. I had decent curves which were pretty emphasized. The dress was fitted down to my waist and then a bit frilly. I frowned as I looked at the length, the dress barely covered the upper part of my thighs, but the birthday girl insisted that I wear it. After carefully applying my mascara and pink lipstick I grabbed my favourite black heels and walked out the door where the red dressed birthday girl waited impatiently.
"You have got to be kidding me" I glared at my friend who was a little drunk. She held my hand, pulling me forward.
"Caymonnn! It's my 19th birthday! I deserve to have a little fun!" she whined. If she was sober I would definitely have argued with her definition of 'fun' but right now, it just seemed like a waste of energy.
"But this is a PUB" I raised my eyebrows at her, making sure she knew the meaning of the word. She rolled her eyes at me and pulled me inside "you don't have to drink if you don't want to" If you haven't already figured, I'm not big on the whole idea of 'alcohol' and 'pubs', I prefer being sober and clean. Taking risks wasn't something I found thrilling. And I was right. I regretted entering as soon as I did. Smoke filled my nostrils, making me cough and blink numerous times before I could adjust my gaze in the dark room with drunkards everywhere and blaring music. I didn't have a good feeling about this.
"One cocktail please" I screamed to the bartender over the blaring music, sitting down on the high-stool as I checked up on my friend who was busting her moves on the dance floor. I felt gazes on my body but I did my best to ignore them.
"Only you can order cocktail in a place like this" My head shot towards the direction the voice came from. He smiled at my reaction.
"Hi to you too love" he was clearly drunk and that frightened me a bit.
"Harry...hi" I was talking in my normal tone because he was sitting right next to me now. He looked into my eyes and gave me a smile...but for some reason, it looked sad. I couldn't take my eyes off his face while he looked straight ahead, taking a sip of his bottle. His lips turned into a smile again but his eyes remained sad.
"You know, it's not nice to stare" he kept his eyes infront but still had a smile on his face. I immediately looked away, causing him to sigh.
"I was joking...I love it when you look at me for a bit too long" I felt my throat dry up, I didn't know how to respond to that. I decided that it would be best to leave. I carefully got up, straightening my dress as my eyes landed on his face again and I saw him clench his jaw. I wish I hadn't seen that.
"My friend-"
"Save it" he snapped at me.
"Excuse me?" I narrowed my eyes at him. How dare he talk to me like that? What did I ever do to him? If anything, it was quite the opposite.
"You heard me" this time he got up and took a step towards me, digging his eyes into mine, his alcohol filled breath on my face. "You're such a tease" he hissed the words. I opened my mouth to answer but I didn't want to stoop down to his level so I just took a deep breath and turned around, headed towards my best friend. I nearly gasped when Harry wrapped his long fingers around my wrist and pulled me into him.
"Who do you think you are hunh? You give me this entire speech about your religion and not having physical contact and then spend the night cuddling with me, making me feel things I HATE feeling and have been running away from all my life. You know what I felt like that night?" his grip tightened on my wrist, pulling my closer, but I was too distracted by his words to pay any attention to the pain he was causing me. "I felt NICE. I FUCKING LIKED IT." his eyes dug into mine and that was when I saw that they were red from drinking. "I'M NOT the guy that cuddles and has long-term relationships, you get that? I'm the guy who fucks every girl he likes and then couldn't give a damn about them the next day. AND THEN YOU COME INTO MY LIFE AND RUIN EVERYTHING. YOU leave me the next morning and never look back. YOU leave images of your pretty eyes and damned smile roaming around my head for ten days after you walk out that door. YOU have me thinking about YOU for the past fucking 10 days" he chuckled miserably and then continued "And tonight you show up looking hot as fuck in that little black dress of yours and expect me to make 'little talk' with you before you can get up and leave me again. Well, guess what? That's NOT happening. You're NOT leaving me this time. I don't care if I can't feel you up tonight...I don't care if I can't kiss you"
"Harry...." was all I managed to whisper.
His eyes softened and I could see the green again "Please Khadija...I want you...and not just for tonight"
