TIDAL AFFAIRS

CHAPTER FOUR

Kris sat at the bar, gulping down shots of tequila. She wasn't yelling, crying or asking "why me?" She was just calm. She looked around the whole place, it was very calm there, there was soft music playing in the background and couples sat with each other conversing. Kris choked a little on her drink as she swallowed it in a haste to stop the tears from flowing. Did she ever envision sitting in a bar alone, gulping shots of tequila when she was playing for this cruise?

She stares down at the ring on her finger, the feeling of pulling it away and throwing it in the waste bin overwhelmed her but she didn't want to draw attention so she just looked away.

"Again" She said to the bartender who gave her a concerned look before pouring her another shot.

"Is everything okay, Ma'am?" He asked with an eyebrow raised.

"Oh, you really don't want to hear it. I'm fine." Kris said, smiling at the bartender. It took a lot from her to restrain herself from bursting into tears and embarrassing herself. Drinking alone and without a seeming limit.

She may have been calm but she was pissed. She obviously had the right to be pissed no matter how calm she usually is. Four years! That's what she spent loving Clay, she dedicated her whole life to him even when the red flags were there. She would always tell her friends that everyone had flaws, Clay wasn't an exception because he was equally human.

"You shouldn't put him off like that. He's just being concerned, alright." Someone said from behind her. She turned and it was the same guy who scared the life out of her in the dark. Kris began to wonder if he's so obsessed with creeping up on people.

"Dude! Are you a p*****t? You really enjoy creeping up on innocent people and scaring the life out of them, don't you?" She whispered, turning sharply to the closet guy.

"You like it, don't you?" Closet guy said, smirking and drawing closer to her. She rolled her eyes at him and pushed backwards, the action causing her to sway a bit.

"And why would I like something so scary? I'm just telling you for your own benefit. You really should stop showing up like that suddenly, especially at people's backs. You are putting yourself at risk, dude." She said, as a matter of factly., putting her arms on the table.

"Don't worry about me. I swear I only do that with you, showing up suddenly." Closet guy said, the smirk still on his face.

This time, Kris takes time to really analyze him. It had been too dark to analyze him back in the closet and a few minutes ago, she was pretty much taken aback and scared to analyze him.

He was tall, physically fit and had black hair. His height made Kris remember how obsessed she is with tall guys. He must really be a fan of the gym. His black hair complemented the colour of his eyes, black and thick with a lot of focus. She started imagining running her hands through his smooth hair, it really was smooth from looking at it; smooth and shiny. She shook her head, what was she thinking?! There's a ring on her finger for crying out loud. But maybe this was an opportunity, an opportunity to get back at Clay right? This closet guy is definitely the type of guy Clay would kill himself over if Kris ever cheats. She shook her head again, she was brought up well. Never give an eye for an eye, yes.

"You like what you see?" Closet guy said bringing Kris out from her own thoughts.

Immediately, she took her eyes off him and quickly scanned the hall.

"Again!" She ignored the question and turned to the bartender, a cute smile on her face. The bartender blinked before leaning forward to pour her another shot but the closet stranger stopped him.

"She won't be having anymore." He said.

Kris glared at him, her facade almost breaking. If looks could kill, he'd probably be a dead man with the way Kris glared at him.

"What is your problem dude? Mind your own business. Do you want to die?"Kris asked in a whisper.

"You know, baby girl, spewing threats like that isn't good for you, especially in this condition" He said, smirking. Kris was getting tired of his smirks.

"Now you, who was hiding from someone in a closet, is advising me? Who do you think you are? Huh?Move!" Kris spat, waving her hand in an effort to get him to move.

His smirk never fading, the closet stranger stood still.

"You've been smirking since you walked in here, dude. You are mocking me, aren't you?" She gasped, her eyes glazed.

"I haven't gotten there yet. We'll start from knowing what got you into this state. You were in such a beautiful mood when I met you earlier on."

Squinting eyes fixed on him, Kris stretched her arm towards a just refilled glass of wine. Closet stranger sighed and pushed the glass away.

"What the hell even is your name? I keep calling you closet stranger in my head." Kris asked, sounding sober. Closet stranger must have probably caught on by now and he nodded his head in realization.

Oh! Another heart broken, probably shattered into pieces. Closet stranger said in his mind as he looked at this beautiful young girl wasting her life on tequila.

"West. And you are...?" West's eyebrows shot up in anticipation..

"Kris. What do you want?"

"To know what in the world would make a beautiful lady like you drown yourself in alcohol"

"I'll tell you if you buy me a drink " Kris smirked.

"Buy you a drink? I don't want you to drink anymore. Have you seen the state you are in? Someone would walk in here and think you escaped from the mental hospital. No more drinks, pick something else." Closet stranger said.

"Ooouuu! Look who cares about me. If you won't buy me a drink, then I'd take it that you really aren't interested in knowing what is wrong with me." Kris said and shrugged. "It's a drink or nothing."

Closet stranger looked at those insisting eyes and knew she wouldn't give up on drinking that easily. He had to try another method on her.

"Fine! But on one condition, that would be the last shot you'll be taking. Honestly, at this point, I have to drag you out of here, dead probably." Closet stranger said.

"I haven't asked you for more than just a drink. I can handle myself, I'm not a kid and I'm not a light weight either." Kris said.

West chuckled, his deep sound sending a sudden shiver down Kris's spine. "Deal" He gave the bartender a signal.

Kris grinned and looped her fingers together.

"It's a happy story, really. My boyfriend of four years cheated on me and then proposed to me on the spot. Happy ever after "

Kris suddenly wiped her tears, tears that she didn't even know were there and smiled like an evil witch. Her ruined mascara added spice to her devilish look. West almost looked freaked out when she turned to face him.

"No! I'm going to have to make him pay. Seriously though, the humiliation I got was terrible" She said as she gulped down the shot the bartender had just poured. She felt it deep inside her stomach, her head was spinning as well. So without a sign, but a snort, Kris threw up all over West before passing out.

West sighed, he wasn't angry because he had expected her to throw up after that last shot. Look who was bragging about not being a lightweight. Laughable!