Alison sits at the bar, fingers trembling slightly as she picks up a shot glass.
Myles is next to her now, trying to distract her with jokes, teasing her about her "mystery dancer."
She forces a smile but her eyes keep scanning the room for Scott who is nowhere to be seen.
One shot. Then another. She tells herself it is to relax but it is more to silence the storm in her chest.
The music shifts bass slows, lights dim. The party starts to feel hazy.
Myles excuses himself to use the restroom. Alison stays behind.
That's when she feels it , the heat again.
Scott appears beside her, silently, as if he was conjured.
He doesn't speak at first. Just looks at her, like she is the most dangerous thing he has ever wanted.
He leans in and whispers, "You are not hiding very well, Red."
She chuckles, a little drunk. She looks up and said; "Wasn't trying to."
His hand grazes her back. "You should be."
She doesn't flinch. Instead, she leans closer. Staring at him saying; "And why is that?"
His lips brush her ear, he rely: "Because I don't play fair."
He takes her hand. Leads her off the dance floor, past partygoers, into a hallway, the light dim, lit and barely used.
The air is showing strong emotion. Every step feels stolen.
She asks, "Why me?"
He answers, "Because you are dangerous and you don't even know it."
He pins her gently against the wall, his body close but not touching. "I like that."
Her breath move into different position, her heart racing again. The room feels too small.
Their lips are just an inch apart.
She doesn't pull away. Him on the other hand doesn't rush.
It is extremely annoying, the way he touches her arm, the way his eyes fall to her mouth.
She wants him. Badly.
But then a voices approach, Laughter, Footsteps.
Scott steps back like a ghost, fixing her hair gently as he whispers:
"Later, Red. I'm not done with you yet."
She returns to the party, heart pounding, face flushed.
Myles sees her lips, her neck, her dazed expression. And asked
"Are you okay?" he asks.
She nods. Lies. "Just the shots."
She turns to look back down the hall.
Scott's gone again and like he was never there.
But her body is still burning.
Her thoughts are no longer innocent.
And for the first time in her life… she doesn't want to be.