So Say We All

Wishful Drinking

"You're not drunk if you can lie on the floor without holding on."
~ Dean Martin

⊱ ────── {.⋅ ✯ ⋅.} ────── ⊰

After the mystery man was done chewing Kaden out, he left his side and turned to Katheryn, giving her an apologetic smile.

"Are you okay?" he asked, giving her a hand. When she took it and stood up, she swayed unsteadily, making him rush to support her. He awkwardly brushed the fluff of hair on his head. "I'm sorry 'bout my pal. He's usually not this out of control. I hope you didn't take anything he said personally."

Katheryn only brushed off with a dismissive wave, her tail nervously twitching.

"Oh don't worry 'bout it. I'll admit, some of his words did hurt a bit, but I really appreciate the apology."

With a broad grin, he stuck his hand out towards her in formal greeting.

"My name's Alister," he said, to which Katheryn returned the handshake with a firm hold. "Alister Azimuth."

"Nice to meet ya, Alister," she stated, trying to hide her shame and incoming frown. "I'm Katheryn Parallax."

His grip still on her hand, he gently guided her to the bench in the hallway, sitting closely next to her. When someone brought them some drinks, they both happily accepted them.

"Thanks for, y'know, stepping in when you did," she admitted, as she fiddled with the cup in her hands. "I honestly didn't know how much more I could've taken before I completely lost it."

"No problem. I've known Kaden pretty much my whole life, so I kinda knew he would act out tonight. I had to stop him before he did something stupid."

Katheryn only nodded slowly as she looked into her cup, having no intention of drinking whatever "it" was. It looked like a harmless fruit punch, but the smell proved it otherwise.

"If you're worried about gettin' drugged, then don't."

It was like Alister could hear her inner thoughts.

"Drugs aren't really our idea of a good time, so there's like zero chance of it being laced with somethin'" he explained, rubbing his (sharp!) jawline thoughtfully. "You don't seem like the kind of girl to sneak in drugs, though. You're too good for that."

"How would you know that?" Katheryn firmly asked, not unkindly. She placed her cup onto the table and kept an eye on it as she turned to face Alister. "You don't know anything about me."

"True, but I can see it in your eyes, Kate. Is it okay that I call ya that?"

"Y-yeah. That's actually more than okay. No one's given me a nickname before."

She felt her heart pounding as he gave her a soft smile. His amber eyes glistened with kindness, his soft grip on her hands, his muscles enhanced by his tight T-shirt...

Nah, she didn't think of him like that, he's just a friend.

A friend.

I have a friend.

With the matter resolved, the music started back up, and the party-goers resumed their activities.