Where We Met

Chapter Three Ingénue

Chapter Three

Defintion

Ingénue: An innocent or unsophisticated young woman, especially in a play or film.

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Alaska

'How come I have never seen this dress on you?' Jasmin asked, eyeing my body like she had never seen me before. The dress covered my body like a second skin and my hair fell down to my elbows.
'You look incredible,' Sarah added.  she was the one who told me I should buy this dress a few months ago.
'Thanks,' I mumbled as I sipped on my pina colada.
As soon as I stepped inside, the flashing lights and loud music immediately overwhelmed me, I could not tell what had possessed me to agree to this. My friends persuaded me to go out with them, most of the times I would have told them that I am busy and can't come but even I noticed that staying at home and staring at a blank screen wouldn't have changed a thing. So I put on a tight red dress; far too tight, too red, too short and too attention seeking for my liking. But in the end, I reminded myself it was just a dress. A way of becoming someone else. A way of finding a new voice, hopefully. I took another sip and realised much to my concern that my cocktail was almost empty.

'Can you get me some beer' Sarah asked me as I told her that I was heading to the bar. I nodded deciding that if I wanted to survive this night I needed something stronger than beer and cocktails. I took a seat near the counter, waiting so I could get the bartender's attention-which could take a while, considering how crowded the club was that night. I didn't mind. I was in no hurry. As the bar cleared I told the bartender what I wanted he gave me a warm smile and asked after my well-being. Before I could give him the money a guy appeared.
'It's on me, ' he said before I could even protest he already paid- leaving me with a confused look on my face.
'Thank you ' I answered and picked up the drinks. I took the drinks and followed him. Not sure what to say but it was better than nothing.
'You're welcome.' I can't remember what I said but he made a joke and suddenly I had the urge to laugh.
'Do you want to dance?'he shouted, trying to fight against the loud music.
'Give me a second 'I answered deciding to just go along with it. I walked over my friends who were all swaying to the sound of the music. Explaining the situation I gave Sarah her beer. 'Have fun, Allie.'she gave me a wink and I chugged down half of my gin tonic I walked over to the handsome boy. Maybe Sarah was right. Maybe he could be my muse I thought as I made my way through the crowd. At least for the rest of the evening. I felt his eyes on me as I walked over to him.

I felt his muscular arms around my middle as I started moving to the of the beat of the music. I felt his breath hitching as I pressed myself closer to him. I felt his hand wandering down to my hips and my heart started beating out of my chest. Someone came around with a tray of tequila shots and I swiftly grabbed one for myself and another for the boy. We clinked our glasses together messily, liquid spilling over the side, before tipping them back. The hot burn slid down my throat like fire, settling in my stomach pleasantly and burning my previous worries away. I hated tequila. I loved cocktails I liked it when you could not taste the alcohol. Somehow I ended up with another tequila shot in my hand and suddenly we were twirling and spinning around the floor, laughing like kids.

His lips felt good; the feeling he left on my skin felt good slowly getting more passionately.

Should we go somewhere else?' I proposed, my voice nearly cracked. 'I live not far from here', the attractive stranger whispered.

'What is your name?' I blurred out knowing that I can just go home with someone I have absolutely no information about. 'It's Ben. Ben Baker.'
'Nice to meet you. I am Allie Westfield. Give me just one second.' After I talked to my friends what I was about to do and promsing that I will text them the address. It was something we always did when one of us decided to go home with a stranger. Telling each other the name and texting the address. After that, I decided to stop thinking and just have fun.

'Ready?' The handsome boy asked me lifting one eyebrow as I reached for his hand. The walk to his flat was short. Still long enough to think about what was going to happen. But before I could even push away my thoughts in the darkest corner of my brain I felt his lips on my neck. He pushed the door open and lead me to his room. It was clean, everything had its own little space. Not like I imagined a boys room. I couldn't take much in but I remembered not seeing a bookshelf- not even a single book before I was pressed onto the bed. As soon as I felt his touch on my thighs bringing me back to the present I stopped thinking. Reaching over, I cupped my fingers under his chin and lifted his face up to me.

His energy was kinetic; there was something insanely electric about this boy. Before my thought could finish, she was crossing the small space between us and has wrapped his hands around me, resting them behind my neck. His lips are warm and her kiss is unforgiving as he slides his tongue over mine. I fight the urge to push him away and let the kiss soak into me. My fingers slid under his t-shirt pressing against his lower abdomen. I look at him for permission and he nods pressing both hands against his chest softly and he closes his eyes. Suddenly I couldn't breathe. 'Could you tell where the bathroom is?' I whispered trying to calm down. 'Sure it's next door on the right' He answered breathlessly. I stand up feeling a bit dizzy and everything started to swirl felt. I close the door behind me and lock it as well before I slide against the door. It was something I only ever saw in films but I just had the feeling like my body was too heavy for my feet. Not even 5 minutes I felt amazing and now I couldn't breathe right. Maybe this was a mistake the tears welling up in my eyes as I stood up and looked into the mirror. My makeup was a bit smudged and my hair started to curl caused by the sweat. I looked in the mirror again. That wasn't me. Maybe it looked like me but it wasn't me.
'No that's not me!' I wasn't ready to continue what Ben and I were about to do.
'I just had to tell him that I couldn't. He had to understand.' I muttered, now trying to smile - it looked terrifying. I took a deep breath before I opened the door.

'Hey. Listen I don't think it was a good idea,' I whispered keeping my eyes on the ground -not being able to look him in the eyes. This here was a mistake thinking I could forget who I was – even if it was just for one evening. I wanted to find myself a muse, a new way of seeing the world, a new way of finding my old passion to write so I could finish my story. But not like that. It ended up with me wearing a dress that made me feel uncomfortable. Instead of showing me a new perspective it got me into trouble. It got me into the bedroom of a stranger, it showed me a new perspective and maybe that was exactly what I didn't need. I waited anxiously for his answer.

'Are you alright? Please look at me, ' Ben begged. I breathed in and opened my eyes.

'We don't have to do this. If you want, I can drive you home, no screw that- I had a few bears. Or what about we can watch a movie and call someone who can pick you up?' , he added giving me an exhausted look. I looked at him in surprise that was definitely not the answer I expected

'Wait you are not mad?' Somehow I imagined every answer besides this.

'Mad? No, maybe a bit jazzed but it was good that you stopped it.' He reached for my handbag that was on the floor.'Call someone.' With shaking hands, I took my phone and scrolled through my contacts. I couldn't ask my parents, I didn't want them to see me like this. Who else? My finger lingered over one name after a few seconds of hesitating I finally called.

'Allie is there anything and I mean truly anything you can do alone,' asked my sister exhausted as we finally sat in the car of our parents. I had to call her to pick me up because all of my other friends had something to drink and I didn't really want them to figure out what happened. 'Thanks for getting me, Beth. I didn't know who to call.' I sniffed and took a big sip of the water she gave me.
'Of course but you need to take better take care of you.' No one of us mentioned another word so we just remained silent because deep down I knew she was right.