Dangerous feelings

Chapter 22

As the clock struck midnight and the sounds of fireworks exploding in the sky and cheers erupted from the streets below Emily sat in the middle of the hotel bed with her knees clutched to her chest and tears silently rolling down her face. This was not how she had been expecting to celebrate her first New Year's Eve with Alison and looking back at the situation she knew it had been completely unavoidable. For once she could fully admit that she was in the wrong and yet it was too late, she had missed her chance to apologise and now she was spending the evening distraught and alone.

Her head was filled only with thoughts of Alison - Where was she? Was she ok? Will they be ok? The brunette was so ashamed at her own behaviour and she was so consumed with guilt that she hadn't moved from her position in the last hour. Having made her way solemnly back to the hotel alone, her friends rightfully taking Alison's side and literally telling her to fuck off, or at least that was the words out of Hanna's mouth but they had all been thinking it.

Had she the chance to go back and redo that evening then she would do every last thing differently. Starting with paying more attention when Alison had been speaking to her even if she had slightly droned on when talking about her upcoming business project to Spencer. And if that was to be the last evening they ever spent together then she wished she had spent more time taking everything in, from the way that Ali had looked in that figure hugging black dress to the seductive eyebrow raise she had given the brunette only half an hour before Emily had fucked everything up.

Emily couldn't contain the sobs that left her mouth, they were loud and raw and she didn't even try to stifle them. There was no point she was in absolute despair and all she wanted to do was grab the nearest bottle of alcohol and down it before finding another and another. She couldn't do it after promising Alison several months previously that she had control over alcohol and would never fall into that trap again. However as her sobs carried on and the devil inside her head got louder she thought about how she had made that promise when they had been a couple and now as the doubt of what their relationship status currently stood as she toyed with the idea that if they were in fact over then she wouldn't have to face the consequences of breaking that promise.

Emily slowly unfolded her arms from around her tucked up knees and shuffled to the edge of the bed before pulling herself into a standing position. She made her way to the mini bar and hovered in front of it for several long seconds before making her way back to the bed empty handed. Just before she went to sit down again the temptation became too much and she strode over to the mini bar once more in two long steps and flung open the door.

Normally the mini bars in hotels only contained small bottles of spirits however Emily had been overcome by emotion on the walk back to the hotel and as she dodged the crowds that seemingly walked in the opposite direction she had ducked into a convenience store and bought three bottles of vodka. The store worker had even joked that she was in for a good night before catching sight of her bloodshot eyes and tear stained face and shutting up completely whilst he processed the transaction.

Emily picked up one of the bottles from the top shelf of the bar and shut the small door before walking back to the bed and sitting upon the edge of the mattress, the bottle unopened in her hand and she listened to the debate that was raging on in her head. Her inner demons were winning as they tempted her to open the bottle and just take a sip. She gripped the bottle in her left hand and placed her right hand around the lid but before she could even twist it open and take a sip the door to her hotel room slammed open.

"Put down that fucking bottle now Emily Fields" Alison's voiced raged at her and the brunette dropped the bottle instantly as her mouth fell open and no words would come out.

2 hours earlier

"Em have you met Noel?" Alison asked as she stood beside a tall man who appeared to be their age, he was good looking even Emily could admit that and she didn't like the way his eyes lingered over her girlfriends body when he was talking to her. "He is involved in several of the ventures the business is taking and owns Kahn Enterprises."