Alive and Kicking

Careless

She was standing on the balcony, gentle breeze tickling her skin as she took another inhale. Scott left the award ceremony early because he had a flight to catch, some conference he needed to attend early in the morning.

Winona wasn't unhappy with his decision though, but she wasn't too trilled either because that meant she would have to sit through the rest of the night with no distraction and a painfully good view of David and Lily. She lasted about 20 minutes before she found herself in desperate need of some alcohol and a cigarette.

That is how she found herself on the balcony of the Shrine Auditorium, leaning against the railing with a whiskey in one hand and a Marlboro in the other.

She allowed her mind to wander to a time when she was on a similar balcony, the only difference David being next to her. She recalled that first time they shared a cigarette at the balcony of Chateau Mormont, just a few days before the table read...

"Do you ever catch yourself looking up at the stars, finding shapes and admiring them?"

He asked her then. The question was so innocent and sweet, a question that reminded her of when she was younger, having a similar conversation with her first sweetheart.

"I actually used to own a star" She didn't know why she was sharing such a random information that also happened to be very personal, but she would later tell herself it was just a minor mishap, a spur of the moment thing.

"You did?" He looked down at her, smirking slightly at the height difference, she was so tiny, reminded him of a pocket Venus.

"Yeah" She was unsure if the tale was fit for the moment, but it felt nice sharing it with someone new "It was and remains one of my most prized possessions"

"What was it called?" The curiosity killed the cat but David couldn't keep himself from asking, it seemed like a fun tale and he was intrigued by it.

"Jun" she almost whispered the name like it's the most precious thing in the world.

"Hey... I think I read about it somewhere. Isn't that the star you gifted to..." David stopped himself from continuing. His fanboyish persona took a hold of the mature David and almost made the most epic slip up, but he restrained from finishing the sentence... it was too late.

"Yes... it's his now. "

"Winona.... Winona"

A deep, but pleasant voice and a light shake of her shoulders brought Winona back from her memory. It seemed so vivid, or maybe it was just the alcohol, either way she couldn't help but let a single tear slip up down her cheek. It wasn't until she wiped it away that she noticed a very tall man standing in front of her... David.

"Noni, is everything okay?" He wasn't blind, the woman was crying for God Sake and something was definitely not okay, but David didn't want to push it, he knew how protective she could get at times and this seemed like the wrong place for a fight.

"Yeah, I'm fine" she lied "you should go back in, I am sure you don't want to leave Lily at that table all alone". It came out as a bitter comment and Winona felt her cheeks going red, was she really that transparent in her jealousy?

David was taken aback by the venomous tone of Winona's, but could feel there was something more there, was she jealous?

"Lily is gone" he sighed and put his hands on the railing, looking over the beautiful garden "she needed to go back to her girls."

Winona released a breath she didn't know she was holding. Was this universe giving her some kind of a sign? Oh, how she hoped it was.

"Oh" the relief in her voice was not missed by David who allowed a small chuckle to leave his mouth before it turned into a full belly laugh. He found the whole situation hilarious. Here he was, next to the woman he once craved and still did to some extent and she was the one that was flustered.

"What's so funny?" she gave him a light shove, a smile finding its way to her face as well.

David turned towards Winona, this time with a playful expression on his face, brows wiggling up and down. It was both funny and strangely alluring.

"Oh nothing... just that you're jealous"

He winked as he moved his face just a bit closer to hers.

"I am not"

She tried to laugh it off, but their proximity was making it really hard, a sudden vulnerability overwhelming her.

He was now so close she could feel his breath on her face, whiskey and cigarette's, the perfect duo. She pushed herself back, unintentionally trapping herself between the wall and his broad chest.

"Oh, yes you are"

David was getting confident. When he saw her on the balcony as he was returning from escorting his "new found love", all he wanted to do was see if she was alright because she seemed distressed. The position they were in now was nowhere near appropriate and any bystander could tell you that.

"I... I am just glad we get to spend some time together"

Nice save, Noni! She thought to herself, but as soon as his eyes became a shade darker and his lips opened ever so slightly, the fighter in her lost the battle and she was starting to give in.

"I bet you are"

He was inching closer, his arms now trapping her from leaving. She was caught in his web and if Winona was being honest... she liked it. It didn't make it any less wrong though.

"Stop that" she wanted to say no, but her body was saying yes, her gaze now fixed on his mouth that were so god damn close to hers.

"Do you like it?"

David didn't know what was happening. It was a desire so sudden he couldn't stop it even if he wanted to. She was gorgeous, she was brilliant, she was his muse and damn it... he couldn't lie to himself anymore.

They were just about to kiss when a gasp jolted them apart.

"The ... David... your category's coming up"

It was Joe who delivered the news. He was red in the face from the embarrassment of breaking a moment between the two adults and slightly breathless from running around, trying to find David.

"Yes, I'll be right there"

The magic was broken and just like that, the two adults regained their postures as David politely held the door open for Winona, glancing at the embarrassed boy and for a moment Joe wondered... could looks really kill?