chapter three _The stranger
1364 Words
Avery’s POV
The cab left me standing in front of a club, which bore no semblance to where academy wolves like myself were expected to enter.
The songs were heard even outside. People were standing around the entrance laughing and talking as though the world is not full of missions, rules and constant surveillance.
I hesitated for only a second.
The minute I left campus I had crossed the line.
So I could as well cease to feign concern.
I stepped inside.
It smelled of alcohol, sweat and perfume. Flashes of light flickered above and I could feel the bass beating my heart like a second heartbeat.
I walked up to the bar.
“Drink?” the bartender asked.
I didn’t even think. I can’t even recall the last time I had soda.
“Anything strong.” My mouth replies.
He lifted a brow, yet poured something clear out of a glass.
I took it and drank.
The burn hit immediately. I felt like I would die, but the burn reduced later.
“Newbie?” The bartender asked, through he meant no harm, my competitive side won.
“No.” I said and cleared my throat, and made myself take another swallow.
This was wrong.
I knew it was wrong.
However, I already took the risk when I had sneaked out, instead of returning to my dorm and a part of me just accepted it.
It was not a night of being the weapon of the academy.
Tonight was regarding being a person.
Being me.
I drank again.
Minutes blurred.
I did not even count the number of glasses I drank. I was only aware that my head was lighter, my thoughts not so keen, as though somebody had turned the sound down in my brain.
I was not thinking of Umbra.
Or Nexus.
Or the organization.
I was just… here.
The crowd thinned at one time or another.
I had not realized when it occurred, but all of a sudden I did not feel that the bar was so packed. The music remained loud but the intensity had changed. Individuals were walking away in twos or threes and the bartender was wiping down counters as the night was closing down.
That was when I noticed him.
A man sitting a few seats away.
He wasn’t drinking much.
He was just watching.
Staring, really.
And it made my skin prickle.
I narrowed my eyes.
What was his problem?
I scuffled off my stool and walked steadily towards him, although the alcohol slightly impaired my balance.
“What? Why are you staring?” I asked rudely.
His lips twitched.
“I was not aware that it was illegal to stare. By the way, you must have looked at me to notice I looked at you.” He replied, sassily.
“It’s rude,” I shot back.
He sat up and looked at me as an object of interest.
“You’re bold.”
“I’m not bold,” I said. “I’m just not scared of you.”
That made him laugh.
A low, surprised sound.
I frowned immediately.
“Stop laughing.”
“I’m sorry,” he said, still amused. “You’re just… funny.”
“I’m not funny,” I snapped. “And I’m not a baby either.”
His eyes flicked over my face.
“I didn’t call you a baby.”
“You were thinking it.” I retorted.?
This time he laughed, more mildly.
“Ok,” he said , and lifted his hands in mock surrender. “No baby comments.”
I looked at him some time, and crossed my arms.
“What’s your name?”
He paused.
Then he said, “You first.”
I blinked.
“Why?”
“You came walking over here to fight me,” he said. “I believe I have the right to know whom I am doing business with. Even if she wants to fight me.”
I scoffed.
“I’m Avery.”
His gaze held mine.
“Avery,”he repeated.
“And you are?” I pressed.
He hesitated, then smiled.
“Just a guy sitting at a bar.”
“That’s not an answer.”
“It is the only one you are getting at the moment.” He replied.
I narrowed my eyes again.
“I could take you down, you know.” I warned, flexing my sore muscles.
That earned a grin.
“Is that so?”
“Yes,” i said, although my words were beginning to sound a little slower. “I’m a good fighter. I whoop asses and assholes like you for a living.”
“I am certain you are,” he said, surely amused.
“I am,” I insisted.
“I believe you.” He replied.
“ I am serious.”
He leaned forward slightly.
“I detect teens who have had too much to drink and you, Avery, you have had too much to drink.”
“I’m fine,” I said quickly. I hated how calm he was. It caused me to have a desire to prove something.
“Why, why are you here?” he asked with the air of nonchalance. “Where is your babysitter? Does she know you are here?”
I blinked.
“What?”
lWhat is your business here, Avery?l he asked. “Alone. Drunk.“
I stiffened.
“I’m here to have fun.”
He relaxed his face a little.
“Fun?”
“Yes.”
“And are you having fun?”
I opened my mouth, then paused.
“I was,” I admitted.
“Was? What happened?” He asked.
I tilted my head.
“I was enjoying myself until I saw your eyes gazing at me.”
He chuckled.
“Oh.”
He lifted his hands again.
“My apologies.”
“It’s not enough,” I said.
His brow lifted.
“No?”
“No,” I said stubbornly. “Fix it.”
He merely gazed at me a moment.
Then, slowly, he leaned closer.
I didn’t move away.
His forehead was within inches of my face.
Then he kissed me.
It wasn’t hesitant.
It wasn’t careless either.
It was stable, as he was already aware of what he was doing.
I froze for half a second—
Then I kissed him back.
The world narrowed.
The music became background music.
His hand touched my waist, I stiffened and he immediately pulled back.
As he drew away his gaze remained on mine.
He looked… amused again.
“What?” I demanded, breathless.
He tilted his head.
“Did I just give you , your first kiss, little tigress?”
My face heated instantly.
“You did not. This…that was not my first kiss!”
He smiled.
“It was.”
I stared at him, caught.
Then I told him, in a low voice, “maybe.”
His smile softened.His gaze didn’t turn mocking. It became softer, if anything.
“Then I should stop.”
I blinked.
“What?”
“I am not going to exploit you.” He said, his eyes dropping to the floor.
“I am not being exploited,” I said hastily. “ I want more.”
He looked at me some time.
“Are you sure?” He asked, his tone somewhat different.
I shook my head.
His voice dropped. “Come with me.” Offering me his hand:
My hunch was that this was dangerous.
But I was already reckless.
I nodded once.
“Okay.”
He stood up, his hand still outstretched and I took it.
He led me, very quietly, down another corridor, out of the main bar, up a flight of steps.
The room was dimly lit, red and blue lights with a king sized bed in the middle of the room.
The door closed behind us.
One kiss became another.
Then another.
The remainder of the night passed together in warmth, intimacy, and the sort of escape that I had not known I required.
Then—
My phone rang.
Sharp.
Sudden.
I shuddered, searching it on the floor.
The screen lit up.
One name flashed across it.
Director Hale.
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