2

Maxine’s POV

I drank a lot that night. Kristen made me do it. I was dancing forgetting the rest of the world. I know I might look funny but I felt the main character's energy for the first time. For the first time, I didn’t care about anything as I was too drunk and living in the moment.

I didn’t mind where my friend was and who are these people dancing around me. I danced until I felt too tired and dizzy. I stopped and went to sit by the table.

I just passed out and don’t know how long I’ve been like that. I regained my consciousness when I felt someone's hands pressing my thighs. I looked at the man who was doing that indecent act. I hadn’t seen him before and looked like the weirdest guy among all the faces I had seen that day.

“Take your hands off me,” I scowled and quickly moved from him.

“Hey, don’t get panic. I was dancing with you, don’t you remember?” he asks.

I wasn’t in the right mind to answer him and looked around to find only a few people were in that place.

I got panicked because my friend wasn’t there. There’s no trace of the gang she was with. I turned to search for my purse and it’s there where I left it. The creepy isn’t leaving me alone.

I took my purse and the guy held it to make me uncomfortable.

“I want to talk. Do you know who I am?” he asks.

“I don’t care, just let me go,” 

“Why? I’m not going to do anything,” he chuckled but the way he said it scared me.

“No,”

“Let’s talk,” he insisted again and I only wanted to leave.

He tried to stop me and I felt helpless. I was drunk and my legs were wobbly. My eyes welled in tears and when I was about to shout for help, a familiar voice got their attention.

“Leave her alone,” Thomas said.

“Do you know her?” the man asked.

“Yes, she’s my guest,” he said and swooned his hands around her waist. The stranger left, perhaps he must be scared of Thomas as it’s reflected in his eyes.

“Come on, I’ll take you out,” he said and I strangely felt safe around him.

He took me out of the club and I smiled to have found a good man today. Maybe some men are bad but not all of them, I thought and he smiled back at her.

“You really got drunk,” he said.

I nodded.

“Can you go home on your own?” he asks.

“No,” I said.

“Give a call to someone,”

“I don’t know anyone in the city other than Kristen,” I said and squatted on the ground as I couldn’t walk any further and I felt like I was going to throw up.

“Are you alright?” he asks.

“No, I’m not,”

I looked at him. I know what I’m going to ask is too much but I asked him anyway.

“Can you take me home, please,”

I’m so afraid for my safety and I trust he will help me

“Where do you live?”

“I stay at my university dormitory,” I stuttered.

“Oh, where’s your friend?”

“She left, I guess,”

“It’s far away from here and it’s too late. Why don’t you stay at my apartment for the night? You can leave tomorrow morning,” he said.

I looked surprised and I thought that would be the right choice. I know I shouldn’t trust strangers but he’d be different. He seems to be protective.

I was young and naïve and trusted him with all my instincts. He told her that his apartment was two blocks away from the pub. It’s quite a decent place and completely opposite to her imagination. It’s a lavish apartment but it’s mostly empty.

“Make yourself comfortable at home,” he said.

“Is this your apartment?”

“Yes, I live here temporarily,”

I gave him a nod and asked for directions to the restroom.

“It’s in there,” he pointed at the left side.

I hesitantly walked in and it was in there. Even though I trust this guy still I’m so hesitant. Doubt is a human’s survival instinct.

The bathroom looks pristine, and my drunken state has cleared a little. The vomiting sensation I had earlier has gone after I threw up the alcohol. I washed my face and felt much better. I looked at myself in the mirror, the mascara mascara-smudged eyes and messy hair were quite out of my character. Kristen’s dress doesn’t suit me at all. I look like a weirdo. I cleaned my face as much as I could.

When I came out of the bathroom, I saw him standing by the bedroom door.

“You okay?” he asks.

“Yes, I am,”

“Do you want anything to drink?”

“Water?” I said.

He went outside to get a glass of water. I sat down on the bed and looked around the empty room. As he said, he’s temporarily staying in the apartment. Except for the cot and a few chairs, there’s nothing big in this house.

He came with a glass of water and I drank it.

“You shouldn’t do this again,” he said.

“What?”

“I mean coming to pubs and all,” he said.

“Yes, you’re right,”

“As a man, I’m sad to say it, men are waiting to take advantage of vulnerable women. Don’t fall into the trap and you must protect yourself,” he said.

“Not always a guy like me will come and help you,” he said.

I smiled. He looked like the most beautiful person in her eyes. Suddenly, a thunderstorm broke their eye contact and I looked down, blushing hard.

“Thank you,”

“That’s okay,” he said and stood by the door.

“Why are you so nice to me?” I ask out of curiosity.

He shrugged.

“I don’t know. I thought you’re innocent and I have to help you,” he said.

I look at him having so many thoughts running all over my mind. For the first time, I got an intense interest in someone who I barely knew.