I felt the wine swimming in my head, sloshing about like waves as I took another sip of rose. The girl opposite me was smiling, her eyes shining in the light of the candle that was dripping its wax on the table. She was leaning her elbows on the mahogany, pushing her breasts forward and I noticed her cleavage. I checked myself, and averted my gaze as I felt a weird warm and tingling feeling in my stomach.
"So, what do you want to do with your life?" Laura asked.
"I want to write. I know it doesn't pay but I love to write."
A small smile crept across her lips; the way her eyes wrinkled made her look so welcoming, "Well, do what you love. That's the only thing worth doing."
I brought my index finger to my hair and twiddled a piece of hair around the fingernail. Without thinking, I bit my lip and smiled back at her, "Exactly.' There was a pause as we looked at each other. I coughed awkwardly, 'so... what do you want to do?"
She took a breath, leaning even closer and whispered over the candle "To see the world."
Her breath caressed my cheek and then I realised how close she was. We didn't move, just looked at each other across the flame. She took a sip of her wine without taking her eyes off me. There was a prickling at the back of my neck and I shifted in my seat.
Suddenly there was a hand clamped on my shoulder, looking up, Sam's face was beaming down at me, "You gals want another drink?"
Shaking my head, I raised my glass, "No need, still got a full one here."
He looked at Laura; she declined too, "No thanks. This is my last one, I've had one too many already."
"Aw, shame on you two, I thought we were on it tonight?" Sam said.
She laughed, "I've had enough. If I have more I won't be able to control myself."
Sam raised an eyebrow, taking his hand away from my shoulder, "Really? Maybe I should buy you a bottle anyway. Could be a lot of fun..." he gave her a wink, which made me cringe.
Laura was shaking her head before he had finished his sentence, "Really no. This is enough."
He shrugged, "Whatever' and turned his attention to me, 'I would expect more from you Elle. Seriously." And with a frown, left us alone again as he got another drink.
Laura watched him leave, then turned back her attention to me, "What are your plans after the pub?"
"Home." I downed the half full glass of wine in one go.
One perfectly plucked eyebrow was raised as she watched me.
"What?" I asked, as I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand.
"In a hurry?"
"No...I, um" the sentence trailed off as she continued staring at me with her elevated eyebrow.
She shrugged then did the same, putting the glass back down heavily on the table, "I can drink too, just because you think I'm a posh snob."
"I never thought that." I raised my hands in defence.
"I can see it in your eyes. Just because I went to a finishing school and my family are full of Lords and Ladies doesn't mean I'm not normal."
Laura shuffled forward in her chair, again leaning on the table, and started picking at the wax. I watched the way her fingernails scratched the hardened liquid away delicately. She had long slender fingers with perfect nails- I got a shiver looking at them.
Looking at me up through her eyelashes, I saw how her eyes glittered in the light of the candle and had to swallow. I couldn't understand what was going on with me; I was getting a knot in my stomach looking at Laura. She was beautiful; there was no doubt about that. I could appreciate a female's beauty but I had never felt myself getting butterflies. There was something about her that made me feel uneasy in myself.
"Where are you staying tonight?" She asked, not taking her eyes off mine.
"I was going to get a taxi home with Sam."
"And how much is that going to set you back?"
"No idea. A fair amount being the centre of London and way after midnight."
She stopped scratching at the wax, and looked me dead in the eyes, "You could always come back to mine.' Then hurriedly continued, 'I mean, I'm staying with a friend for a while. She's out of town visiting her parents so you are more than welcome to stay over. It'll be cheaper."
"Is Sam welcome too?" I asked.
Laura's eyes flicked over to where Sam was sitting at the bar. "I'll doubt he'll be needing anywhere to stay." I followed her eyes and saw he was eating the face off some blond girl.
She giggled. I hadn't seen her laugh before. Her nose wrinkled and so did the corners of her eyes. Her teeth were pristine; I didn't know why I noticed that. It set me on edge even more.
Shrugging, I replied, "As long as your friend doesn't mind, and as long as it's okay with you."
"Don't be silly, I'm inviting you. She doesn't need to know, but either way she'll be cool with it. Promise." She flashed her smile.
The red wine¬ was really taking its toll and I felt my head swimming. Laura's eyes were the only thing I could focus on, the rest of the room seemed a blur. Suddenly my tongue was talking and I couldn't stop it.
"I'm not a lesbian." I blurted. I only realised what I said before it was too late.
Laura's eyes widened, sitting back in her chair as what I said sunk in.
"Wait, no! I don't know why I said that." I panicked.
Then she burst out laughing. Her shoulders shook and her eyes scrunched up as she had a fit of the giggles. Seeing her laugh caused me to start laughing. We both laughed loud enough to get some questioning looks from the other drinkers. It took us a few minutes to compose ourselves, by which point we both had tears on our eyelashes.
"Wow. That was the most random thing I have ever heard." Laura managed to gasp out.
"I am so sorry. I'm a little drunk and have no idea why I even said that."
She smiled, "Don't worry, you could have done much worse."
As she said it the bar lights started flashing and a group moan erupted from the patrons. It was kicking out time.
I shrugged, "Looks like we're no longer wanted."
"Time to go home." Laura stood up, picking up her bag as she did so.
I scanned the bar for Sam but didn't see him; the blond he was with was nowhere to be seen either. I knew Sam well enough to know he could take care of himself.
I felt a brush against my shoulder and turned to see Laura right next to me. I noticed then that she was the same height as me, her eyes level with mine.
"Ready to go?"
I coughed, "Sure. Sam is nowhere to be found, he can take care of himself. How far is your place?"
She slipped on her jacket, "Five minutes stroll at the most."
Up close her eyes were almost glowing, her skin was flawless and I hated her for it. She really was beautiful. She tilted her head, looking at me questionably, "Shall we go?"
"Sure"
Without a pause, she took my hand and led me through the crowd of drunken people to the cold October evening outside. Our breath clouded around us as we started walking towards her friend's flat.
I shivered despite my wine jacket, "Wow, it's pretty chilly out here."
"You cold?" Laura was still holding my hand and I was extremely aware of how warm it was.
"Yes. I should have worn a bigger coat."
Laura took the hand she held and placed it inside her jacket around her waist. I almost automatically drew away but she held me there firmly. It was boiling inside her jacket, my fingers curled around her waist. She was tiny.
"Better?" She asked, looking at me sidelong.
"Much. Thanks.' I smiled 'you're very hot."
She smirked, "Thank you."
"I didn't mean it like that. Not saying that you're not hot in that way, because you are, but-' I sighed, 'God I'm talking such shit today."
Laura was laughing at me, "It's fine. I know what you meant. I am hot, I'm naturally warm blooded." As we walked, we seemed to come closer, our hips coming together and chafing against each other.
The flat wasn't that far away, as she promised. We reached it in a few minutes, despite stumbling most of the way because of the alcohol. I found myself laughing with her- at what I couldn't remember- but I felt happy and no longer took notice of my arm around her waist. She had her arm placed around my back so that we could fit closer together.
We parted as she buzzed herself in and we made slow progress of the stairs.
"Why don't we use the lift?" she asked me.
"I have a phobia of lifts." I gasped as I mounted a step.
She was standing above me, hands on hips. Reaching down, she took hold of my wrist and pulled me up the last step. I stumbled and came to a stop so close to her our breasts touched.
"You're adorable." She was grinning. I felt her breath on my cheek.
I whispered back, "It's small spaces. I don't like them."