A/N: I've read all of the Madam Secretary fanfiction that has been published on this page and decided to try my own. So here it goes. I don't have a beta and English is not my mother tongue, that's why there are probably some mistakes. Please be patient with me and feel free to leave a review :)
Elizabeth stood in front of her dresser trying on a black mini skirt and high heels that looked a lot skimpier than the ones she usually wore. Adding some light make-up as well as dark red lipstick she critically examined her look in the mirror before deciding that it had to work for the special occasion. Turning back to her dresser she grabbed her hairbrush and started to brush her long blonde hair that she had styled in smooth waves falling down over her shoulders and adding just a bit of excitement to her elegant look. Elizabeth finally was content with her look so she turned to her roommate Becky.
"Do I look ok?" Elizabeth asked, still a bit unsure of herself.
"Are you kidding? You look sexy as hell! The guys are gonna go crazy about you! Let's go!"
The girls left and Elizabeth was glad to get out of their tiny dorm room for a fun night out. She had just succeeded her third week as a freshman at UVA and was ready to go out and celebrate her college life. Thankfully, Becky had some contacts and managed to get them into a sophmore party which was supposed to be much more fun than the ones held by the new students. Elizabeth felt a bit unsure about the theme though, because SEXY LEGSy wasn't really her thing or the stuff she would usually wear. Still, it was supposed to be the party of the year so she could not miss it despite the rather uncommon theme.
Walking down the streets, the two girls could already hear the music's loud bases and the commotion of the people. Getting closer to the party, Becky kept waking faster and faster and Elizabeth was struggling to keep up. Eventually, they managed to make it through the crowds and step inside the huge house filled with people in the naughtiest outfits Elizabeth had ever seen. She couldn't keep her eyes away from these outfits, a shocked expression covering her face.
"Earth to Elizabeth, hello?!" Becky practically shouted into her ear to drown the music. "Do you want something to drink?"
"Yeah, sure."
Waiting for Becky to return, Elizabeth examined the room and the people around her. Being at a sophomore party, most of them were a couple years older than her and she only recognized a couple of familiar faces like John and Delia from her math class. She gave them a little smile in their direction, but both of them were far too drunk to notice. Once Becky returned, she started sipping on her coke with rum and chatted amicable with her. But her roommate quickly spotted some of her sophomore friends and headed towards their little gathering on the couch leaving Elizabeth behind. Feeling a bit lost, the pretty blonde made her way to the kitchen to fill up her coke. Stepping into the crowded room she was immediately surrounded by Delia whom she saw earlier.
"Hey girl! What's up? Never thought I would see you here tonight! Did you give yourself a study break?" Delia was one of those people always saying what was on their mind and Elizabeth really liked that about her.
"Yeah, Becky actually invited me and I couldn't say no to her, so now I'm here!"
"Well you sure as hell look sexy, but you definitely could have shown a bit more of your gorgeous legs. Just saying, if I had these killer legs I wouldn't wear any pants at all. Oh, excuse me they are playing my favorite song!" With these words Delia left and went back to the dance floor.
Half an hour later, after chatting with some people she knew and drowning some shots with them, Elizabeth made her way to the bathroom using the chance to freshen up and doing retouches on her make-up. Being satisfied with the result she made her way back to the common area already feeling the alcohol going to her head.
"Jeez, I should have gone slower and eaten something before coming here." Completely lost in her thoughts she didn't even see the guy walking towards her and they crashed into each other.
"I'm so sorry!" Elizabeth was trying to get back on her feet and on her way started recognizing the guy in front of her.
"Oh hey Elizabeth! I didn't even see you there." John was slurring these words and Elizabeth could tell that he was realy drunk. He couldn't even keep his body upright without supporting himself on the wall.
"I guess you didn't." She replied, unsure of what to do next. She looked around. They were standing in a small hallway next to the stairs. The music was only a blur up here and there was nobody else except the two of them.
"I should go back. My friends are probably already waiting for me downstairs." The young freshman tried to make her way downstairs, but John managed to stop her movement by stepping into her way.
"You know you look really sexy tonight. Your legs are all I can think about and I want you so badly." He leaned in a little closer pushing a stray of hair behind her dear.
"John, stop it! You're obviously drunk and have no idea what you're talking about. I'm gonna leave now."
She tried to get past him to the stairs, but he grabbed her arm and pushed her, her back slamming into the wall behind her. Elizabeth gasped and tried to push him away, but he was too heavy leaning against her.
John leaned in and whispered into her ear "Come on, I know you want it too. Don't be a bitch. You wouldn't have dressed like this if it wasn't for sex!"
By know, Elizabeth started to get really scared. She gathered all the energy she had and pushed him back and slapped his face with her right hand. Unfortunately, that made him only angrier and he put his hands on her shoulders pressing her down to the floor. Elizabeth could smell the alcohol in his breath and it disgusted her to no end. Tears started to form in her dark blue eyes, but she didn't allow them to fall down. Refusing to give up and showing him a sign of weakness. With all the effort she had, she started shouting for help, but nobody was there to hear her, the music being too loud. Elizabeth was shaking by now, her eyes widened in panic and her legs trying to kick John everywhere she could. But John didn't loose his grip on her instead he leaned down trying to kiss her dark red lips. Suddenly, there was a movement behind John and somebody grabbed him and slammed him into the wall. Elizabeth, being in too much of a shock, couldn't see everything but as she looked up, John was lying on the floor with a bleeding nose and tears in his eyes.
"For God's sake, you broke my fucking nose! I'm gonna kill you!" John winced in pain, one hand holding his nose and the other one shielding his body.
"Get out of here or I'll break more than just your nose, idiot!"
Elizabeth stared at the stranger that had appeared out of nowhere and saved her from things she didn't ever want to think about. She was still too much in shock to realize what had just happened, but when the stranger offered his hand, she gratefully took it and got up from the floor. Her body was still shaking but her mind started to clear slowly.
"Hey, are you alright? Did he hurt you?" Her saviour seriously worried about her.
"I guess... I guess I'm alright." She couldn't even recognize her own voice anymore. It was just high pitched and different to her usual lower voice. With shaky hands Elizabeth tried to straighten her outfit before she locked eyes with the young man in front of her.
"Thanks for... for stepping in. I... I don't know what would have happened if...you know... Just, thank you."
"Of course I stepped in. That's what everyone would have done in my situation. I'm just sorry I didn't hear you sooner, the music downstairs was just too loud. By the way, my name is Henry." He held out his hand to her and she shook it.
"Well, thanks again Henry! I'm Elizabeth."
"It's nice to meet you Elizabeth. I mean not under the circumstances, but... you know... " Henry's cheeks turned crimson and suddenly he looked a bit unsure of himself.
Elizabeth couldn't hide the grin from her face. "It's nice to meet you too, Henry. You really saved me and my dignity tonight and I'm more than grateful for that."
Suddenly she felt her legs getting weak, the adrenaline leaving her tiny body.
"I don't feel so good, I... everything is spinning..." Elizabeth's face paled and she was heavily leaning against the wall behind her.
"Just sit down for a moment, I'm gonna bring you a glass of water." Henry startet turning towards the stairs, but Elizabeth quickly grabbed his hand and stopped him.
"Please don't leave. I don't want to be alone right now. I just... Please stay." Elizabeth surprised herself with these words, but she simply was scared to death to be alone at this party again.
Henry quietly sat down beside her, his hand never leaving hers. He understood what she was going through and he was more than willing to give her mental support.
After a few minutes he looked at the young freshman. Her head leaned against the wall, eyes closed. Henry was glad to see that the color had returned to her face making her look like a sleeping angel. He couldn't turn his eyes away from her, just sitting there and mesmerizing her made his heart beat faster. She suddenly opened her eyes and blushed realizing he was watching her. Elizabeth gave him a coy smile and he smiled back at her.
"I should probably go home. I'm definitely not in party mood anymore. All I want to do is crawl into bed and go to sleep."
"I totally get that. Are you here with anyone? I don't want you leave by yourself."A worried look crossed Henry's features.
"Well, I came here with my roommate, but she probably already left with some guy... But I live in the dorms close by, so I should be fine." She slowly got up, still not trusting her legs completely.
"Ok, then let's go. I'm gonna walk you home. There's no way I'm going to let you walk home by yourself in the middle of the night. Especially not after tonight!" He grabbed her hand and made his way downstairs with her following behind him. Once they made it through the crowds and stepped into the fresh air, he quickly let go of her hand, almost smiling sheepishly.
"Sorry, I didn't want to loose you in there. It would have been impossible to find you again."
Elizabeth couldn't keep grinning. "I don't mind. Let's just go home." And with those words she started walking into the night with Henry close by her side.