Alesha stared at Matt incredeously before saying " I cannot believe what I'm hearing. you of all people are trying to convince me, that the Counting Crows are better than the Black Crows. and here I was, thinking you were sort of cool, Matt Devlin!". She shook her head chuckling as Matt, tried and failed to come up with a good excuse behind his reasoning.
Alesha nearly choked on her drink, when he started sputtering about his dreadlocks being like Samson's. "now, i'm going to stop you right there, because you are obviously drunk and possibly brain damaged. and I don't want this conversation to come between us!" she said in mock seriousness. The two friends cracked up in another fit of laughter.
They were both feeling very relaxed,enjoying an afterwork hangout. Ronnie and the rest of the gang had already cleared out nearly an hour earlier, with claims of being too old and too tired to stay out this late on a Friday night, and left the two youngest members to their own devices.
Alesha barely registered that Amy Winehouse's Me and Mr Jones started playing in the pub, before Matt dragged her to the middle of the floor, and pulled her into an unsteady dance. Embarassed and a bit confused, Alesha questioned her impromptu dance partner " um what are you doing? trying to get us banned?".
Matt laughed as he said " no, I'm showing you how cool I am" He pulled her closer to him and did some Lambada style dance move, which secretly thrilled her as well as made her giggle in dismay.
Alesha buried her face into the base of his neck, and breathed " I don't think its working". she felt Matt's body tremble with quiet laughter, so she looked up grinning at him.
Maybe it was the drink, or the atmosphere or how pretty her eyes looked under the pubs lights, but he bent his face towards her and kissed her passionately. She didn't pull away, so he deepened the kiss, until they both were forced to come up for air.
They stared into each others eyes, completely taken aback by the intensity of that kiss. From that kiss Matt knew, that he was hooked. he was confused by the sudden clarity of his emotions but he clung to his "avoid commitment at all costs" belief. he wasn't looking for her, but there she was, looking back at him with eyes filled with confusion, hurt and fleeting hope.
Alesha was pleasantly shocked by the kiss. and then repulsed by the look of pure fear in Matt's eyes. She'd inspired alot of different feelings after kissing guys, but never fear. never utter rejection like that. No words were spoken after the kiss, but she knew without a doubt, that he regretted it very much.
So when Matt started sputtering out an excuse about why he had to leave that very minute, she barely mumbled an audible response. although that didn't seem to register to him as he hastily made his retreat.
Alesha ever so slowly put on her coat and scarf, and slung her bang across her chest and left the pub. She hailed a taxi and sat quietly looking out the window during the drive home. a bitter silent tears slid down her cheeks as she stared out of the cab, she wondered what was so wrong with her, that he would have reacted that way? was it her breath? maybe she wasn't his type?
By the time the cab dropped her off in front of her apartment, she had vowed to stay strong and to carry on as if that ill fated kiss never happened, just so she could retain any vestiges of her pride.
Alesha unlocked her door, turned on the lights, kicked off her shoes and said aloud, to noone in particular "What a lovely night, to have a good cry".