A World Alone - D.R.

four

Strong arms wrapped around Jade, her ankle randomly gave out. It was the shoes. She could kill Amy for basically causing this by insisting Jade wore much too high heels for the night. "Oh my god," she said to her, the only person standing between her and death by embarrassment.

"Are you okay?" he asked her. His voice had a bit of an accent but her mind was a bit too clouded to think of where it could come from. She gripped onto the counter, in addition to him, and stabilised herself on her own feet.

"Yeah, I think so," she said. "Shit," she muttered, noticing her phone on the floor. Daniel leaned down to pick it up for her and passed it to her. She turned it over and the screen lit up to showcase a looping video of a close-up of her face as she fell into Daniel. The pair of them collapsed into laughter at the video. Jade almost fell over again but Dan's hands steadied her on her waist.

She looked at him properly for the first time since coming over to the bar and tipped her head to the side, recognising his face but not really sure where from. Daniel expected her to say something about who he was then but was very pleasantly surprised when she turned back to the bar and handed the money over to the bartender.

"Are you in town for the F1?" she asked him.

Daniel chuckled: "Yeah, actually. I'll be there tomorrow."

"That's cool!" she said, a bit jealous of him now. "I grew up watching F1 but I've never been to a race," she told him.

"How come?" he asked.

Jade shrugged.

"Stuff just happens," she said dismissively, not really wanting to get into it. "What are you guys doing for the rest of the night?" she asked as some of her friends came over, wanting to know why their drinks were taking so long.

"Jade, for god's sake, if you want to chat up cute guys at the bar, just say so! Don't hold our drinks hostage, though," Amy said. The blonde girl came over to Jade, her hand gripping onto her boyfriend Seb's arm.

Daniel smiled at the blonde girl's remark and Jade just sighed.

"Take your bloody drinks and go," she said, handing Amy a glass of pink beverage. Seb laughed and grabbed the bottles of beer as well as one of the pitchers resting on the countertop.

"Hurry back with the other pitcher," Seb reminded Jade. "It's not all for you."

Jade responded by drinking out the top of the pitcher. She licked her lips. "Get your own, Seb."

Daniel laughed at her. Seb looked at him and opened his mouth in recognition but closed it when Daniel caught the look on his face and shook his head gently. Seb nodded and guided Amy back to their friends at the table.

"So?" Jade pressed because Daniel still hadn't answered her question.

"I think we're just staying here," he replied.

Jade huffed, "So boring, oh my god," she said. "Come with us!" she insisted.

Joe, who had been stood next to Daniel, cut in. "We really can't," he said firmly, knowing that if Dan had it his way, he'd agree to go with her in a heartbeat.

Jade rolled her eyes at him and Daniel laughed as they shared a look. She hopped up onto a barstool beside him and picked a straw from the holder on the countertop. She unwrapped it and placed in the shimmering purple liquid. She gave it a little mix, took a sip, and offered it to Daniel who shook his head.

Amy and Seb were sat back at the table, watching Jade and her new friend at the bar.

"They look quite cute," Amy said to Seb in her native German. He nodded in agreement. She rested her head on his shoulder and intertwined their hands together on his lap. "I don't mind being ditched by her for that," she said softly.

Seb looked down at his girlfriend and pecked her quickly on the lips. The group on the table finished their drinks and they left the bar, leaving Jade with Daniel at the bar.

As Jade's friends left, the bar suddenly got very quiet but neither Daniel or Jade noticed, both too caught up in their conversation to care.