One Time Thing [Wattys 2021 Shortlist] ✔️

Chapter 3: The real reason to drink responsibly

MIA 

Rational part of Mia's brain told her to get out. To get up, take her stuff, throw up the scotch and just leave. But she didn't want to. She rejoiced in the fluttering sensation the butterflies in her stomach created, even though she knew that was the most dangerous feeling she could get tonight.

Maybe she just felt like doing something out of the ordinary, maybe she wanted to prove that her life was still fun, that she could still do something surprising. She washed her nervousness down with her booze, as Xander took his card.

"Spades." He smiled, the relief on his face all too obvious. He drank a big sip and Mia realised he might have been feeling the same. She picked a card, it was diamonds.

"I have to say something personal about myself, ha?" Mia laughed at the card, unable to shake the feeling that this was not going to end well.

"It can be whatever, you don't have to tell your deepest, darkest secrets." Xander's smile was goofy and excited, and he was hot, Mia thought. She had to shake that thought out of her mind, of course, but it still tingled in the back.

"I feel like I chose wrong. Like I chose the wrong life to live, the wrong career, the wrong friends, the wrong values." She said, realising how personal this really was once she said it out loud, but she kept on talking. "My boyfriend, Jeff, he's about to propose. I know it, I can feel it. And I'm so scared because..." Mia sighed, her eyes starting to burn.

"Because you feel like your window to run is closing." Xander finished the sentence for her. Mia downed her drink, she never said that out loud.

"Am I a bad person? I feel like a bad person." Mia asked, forgetting whose turn was to draw a card.

"People are neither good nor bad, people are selfish. And nobody gets to tell you what should make you happy, if it's something other than what you have, that doesn't make you a bad person. Just like you said ten minutes ago." Xander drew the card. "Diamonds, again. I have to say something personal."

"Oh, finally! I was becoming anxious." Mia watched Xander smile. Confidence rolled off him, but his smile was childish, almost like he was always teasing just a little bit. But she noticed his glances, she saw how that smile twitched a bit when she looked into his eyes.

Xander smiled at his glass for a few moments, lifted his gaze and looked straight into Mia's eyes.

"I noticed the rain calmed down. A part of me wishes for another storm, just so I can stay here longer."

Mia's heart stopped in her chest. His words made this all seem real. Until now, she could pretend they were just two strangers innocently talking over a few glasses of scotch and beer. But now, it was taking a whole other dimension. The dangerous territory, just a couple of sips away from a mistake.

Questions swirled in Mia's brain as she gulped down her beer and took another card. Hearts. What would she do if this got out of control? Would she go that far? What would it all mean? At this point, the fluttering in her stomach turned nauseating and the alcohol didn't help.

"If you could do anything you want, what would you do right now? In this exact moment?" She asked, hoping Xander didn't hear her voice shaking.

"To risk sounding like a movie cliché." Xander got up and offered Mia his hand. "Let's dance."

Questions disappeared as Mia took Xander's hand and followed him to the middle of the bar. It wasn't a dancefloor and this wasn't a club, but no one opposed. The bartender switched up the volume and Elvis Presley's Suspicious Minds began in the background.

Mia did not realise how drunk she was until now. Xander grabbed her by her waist and spun her slowly across the bar. Mia almost tripped, but he caught her expertly.