Case Closed

• Ten •

At 9 o'clock, waiters emerged from the walls with stronger drinks, nibbles and canapés. Outside, the night was dark and foggy, but inside the lights had dimmed and the music become louder. Lucy had found herself alone with another champagne near the doors, watching increasingly drunk dancers stumble around the floor. It had been almost two hours since the Prof had gone, and she was beginning to worry about him. When was the Prof alone with someone ever a good idea. Well... she abruptly stopped that line of thought.
As if he had heard her thoughts, Placid Prof appeared behind her.

Offering his arm, he said, "Would you care to dance?"

Lucy giggled and place her arm over his. "I don't think I'm allowed to say no."

"I agree," he smiled, and for the first time in ages, it seemed genuine.

The music slowed to a steady waltz as they moved towards the centre of the room. Most of the dancers had cleared away for more drinks, leaving only a few swaying couples. The Prof put his arms around her waist, and she put hers around his neck. The close contact, reminding her of how it last played out, made her stiffen for a second. His eyes filled with concern. "Are you ok?" he whispered.

This time, it was her turn to smile, "Yeah."

She sighed and relaxed her body. They began to sway in with the music, not quite dancing but enough to make her heart race. It was as if the whole world had stood still, and they were beyond space or time, just being. She snapped herself out of it. They were here as friends. Friends. Not a couple. Just as she had wanted - a relationship would make work so... awkward.

But the dim lights and the gentle music begged her to forget this. It seemed to have the same affect on him too, as they steadily moved closer together, their arms wrapped just a bit more tightly around each other. Song after song passed in this way, until almost everyone had headed out to the veranda or called it a night and gone home.

"Hey, do you want to get out of here?" Potty Prof mumbled.

"Um- yeah. Yeah, ok."

She looped her arm through his as they casually departed, back to Alfendi's car.

"Well, thanks for the night," she said as they climbed in.

"Oh, we're not done yet." His mischievous grin was enough to make her cringe away from him.

"What?"

"There's somewhere I... want to take you." The expression on his face unsettled her.

"NO," she cried, pushing the car door open again. "No, no, no, no, no!"

Placid Prof sounded confused "Well then. I must say, I did not expect that kind of reaction from you."

"Wh- what reaction would you like from a girl who's just been asked to go ho-"

"NO LUCY."

"TH- THAT'S WHAT I JUST SAID!"

"I DIDN'T MEAN THAT, YOU STUPID GIRL."

"Oh- um." Luckily, she no longer took his insults to heart.

"Yes oh. Please shut the door."

They sat in awkward silence as the car started and Alfendi pulled out of the venue's excessively long drive.

"So, er, where are you taking me?"

"Somewhere."

"Well, thanks for the detail," she said sarcastically.

"It's a surprise."

"I can't wait."

"Good." He rolled his eyes. "You don't like surprises then?"