4 : James

- James!

I don't give him time to react and I take him in my arms.

- I'm sorry, don't be angry with me, please!

I give him a kiss on the cheek and hear Stronger blaring from the speakers, so I let go of a shocked James to go and dance. We push back the coffee table and everyone joins us for the choreography, except the same three as yesterday. James still hasn't recovered from my outburst of tenderness towards him, the one who wanted to punch him yesterday looks very displeased and the third remains impassive.

- Damn, girl! Even in high heels, you've got the dance down pat!" Célia shouts, throwing herself into my arms. You're a goddess!

- How come you're only being discovered now?" asks Mathis as he hands out another round.

- I've been keeping a low profile.

- And what prompted you to come out of the shadows?

- The wisest person I know told me I was in dire need of a break and a change of scene.

- Much to my delight!" exclaims Célia.

I laugh and throw a ping-pong ball at her, then get up and pour myself a glass of water in the kitchen.

As I fill my glass at the tap, I feel a presence behind me and see an arm on either side of me leaning against the sink. A head approaches my ear, but at no point does it touch me.

- Don't ever walk around in such provocative attire in public again," the man whispers to me.

When he moves away, I turn around but he's already gone. I drink my drink and start to think I'm making it up, but as I return to the living room, I see James approaching, a man's shirt in his hand. Without really knowing why, I take it.

- Are you all right?" he asks sincerely.

- It's a good thing I've been drinking," I say, slipping on the shirt, which falls lower than my dress. I'm going to get some fresh air," I add with a small smile.

To my surprise, he returns it and mine blossoms. I cross the living room, tucking my hair back over the shirt.

- Damn, girl! What are you doing?" exclaims Célia when she sees me.

I act like I don't understand the question.

- I go out onto the terrace.

- Don't bullshit me, whose shirt is that?

- Well, considering the size, I'd bet on a footballer, but honestly, who cares?" I finish with a little lie because I can't tell her about my suspicions.

- Tanya?

I turn around and see that Max has followed me onto the terrace.

- Is he all right?

I nod and pull the shirt over me like I'm cold.

- Are you cold?

He took the bait.

- A little, but I needed some fresh air, I'll be back in a minute.

- Is that...

He scratches his head awkwardly.

- You and James...

I burst out laughing.

- No, we're not! And I remind you that I knocked him down yesterday, so even if I had, his ego would have pushed him to dump me.

It brings tears to my eyes.

- James is my friend. He takes care of me, that's all.

- So you think... I've got a chance? I mean... with you...

I don't want to push him away, he's nice.

- Maybe in time... I'm not the kind of girl who throws herself at the first man she meets. Then we'll see...

- I understand, and it's to your credit," he replies with a smile.

He holds out his hand and I take it. He kisses my cheekbone and we head home. I take a seat on the sofa, meeting the gaze of James's boyfriend, a wry smile pasted on his face, quickly erased when Max sits down next to me.

Mathis suggests a game of beer-pong, and I jump at the chance to get back into the swing of things. No sooner have I agreed to play than James asks me to team up with him. I happily accept, while Max sweats jealousy.

- Why don't you take that off, bitch!" says Celia, watching me roll up the sleeves of my shirt.

I don't know why it pisses me off. My jaws tighten and James plants himself in front of me with a glass.

- Drink this, princess. Bottoms up," he orders.

- You want to get me drunk?" I ask, looking skeptical.

- If you must...

I take the glass and empty it in one gulp.

- What a way to go down!" exclaims Eli, who has just put his arm around my friend's waist.

- Why do you make her drink like that?" Célia snaps at James.

- I'm helping her keep control, so if you'll just calm down a bit, let Tanya relax.

- You've known her for what, two days? Don't you tell me what's good for her!

- You don't know what you're talking about," intervenes a deep voice that makes me shiver.

I think I recognize her, but with the alcohol, I can't be sure of anything. We look up at the owner and discover James's pal.

- Who are you, anyway?" attacks Celia.

- Don't you recognize our quarterback?" offends Eli, diverting her attention.

She shrugs and launches into a honeyed discussion with Eli, while James guides me to one side of the beer-pong table.

The guys are formidable opponents and few of the girls wanted to play. I'm not fresh at all and find it hard to stand, but James is there to hold me despite his giggles.

After a few games, someone suggests we play the bottle game. James accompanies me to the sofa.

- Tanya, are you playing?" asks Max, intercepting me.

- No, I'm not! This time, I'll pass.

He's disappointed, but joins the circle of players. James and I fall back on the sofa and things get so hectic that I rest my head on James's shoulder and close my eyes. But it's really not the idea of the century.

- James...

- Hmm?

- I think I'm going to throw up...

He lifts me up and takes me to the bathroom just in time.

- Why did you make him drink so much?" growls this voice that does something to me even when I'm emptying my stomach.

- Did you have another idea to inhibit his senses, maybe?" retorts James before lifting my hair.

- Don't take advantage of the situation," says James.

- I wouldn't have to do this if you hadn't screwed up and warned me!

- Take her home.