In My Veins

There's A Little Bit More That Has To Be Said

Alana wakes up in a daze. Her neck is stiff as a board partially due to the position she fell asleep in. Through the curtains, she can see the sun starting to set in between the various buildings surrounding the hotel. Both of her older sisters are passed out next to her, Este’s phone clutched tightly in her hand. It makes Alana giggle.

She carefully slips out of bed and wanders into the bathroom, almost flinching at her reflection in the mirror. It doesn’t look like her at all. She sighs and decides to take a quick shower in hopes that will get rid of all the filth from Ricky’s fingers off her. She doesn’t even look at her body and braids her hair down the left side of her shoulder to make herself a little more unrecognizable in case she goes out later.

Danielle and Este are still asleep when she returns to the room nearly forty-five minutes later. Alana pulls at the sleeve of her sweatshirt and swipes Danielle’s phone off the bedside table. She finds Owen’s missed call in red and types his number into her phone.

Hey! It’s Alana (the chick you saved). Do you want to grab a drink at the hotel? My treat. After all, you did kick some dude’s ass for me.

Alana slips her phone into her back pocket and flips through the TV in the living room, glancing at her phone every 30 seconds or so.

It dings about ten minutes later.

I’d love to! Cya in 15?

She can’t stop the big, stupid grin forming on her face. She sends the thumbs up emojii and rushes to the bathroom to make herself look like a functioning human being. It’s not the best she’s ever looked, but it will do.

Dom can’t help but look at Alana oddly when she strolls into the bar, looking all around like she’s trying to find someone.

“Hi!” she greets with a big smile, like nothing’s happened at all. She slides into the barstool in the corner and looks at him expectantly. “Can I have a drink?”

Dom grumbles something under his breath and pours Alana a glass of water from the tap. He practically slams it on the bar. “There.”

“What the hell, dude?” Alana complains, pushing the water toward him. “I want some alcohol, yo.”

“Your sisters really let you out of the room unsupervised?”

Alana flinches at the tone in Dom’s voice. It’s dark and cold; nothing like she’s ever heard before. “They’re sleeping,” she says sharply. “I’m fine.”

Dom doesn’t say anything and makes Alana’s vodka cranberry. She mutters a “thank you” and takes a big gulp. Her eyes shut when she realizes he’s used the cheap vodka. But instead of fighting, she keeps the drink and peers all around for Owen.

Owen shows up wearing a white t-shirt, leather jacket and a pair of white sneakers. His brown hair is spiked meticulously to the side but Alana can’t help but swoon. She stands up a little and waves at him frantically to get his attention.

“You look a lot better than you did earlier,” Owen teases, carefully leaning  down to hug Alana.

Alana just giggles and takes another gulp of her drink. Normally she doesn’t need the liquid courage but her game’s been off the last couple of times. Owen is by far the most attractive one she’s ever interacted with.

“What’s your poison?”

Owen mulls over the question for a bit. “What’s your poison?”

“I’m easy,” Alana grins. By now, her first vodka cranberry is down.

Dom can’t help but snort as he nonchalantly eavesdrops. He contemplates texting Danielle but since her outburst earlier he doesn’t want to anger her anymore.