A/N: Hello everyone! So here it is, earlier than I usually post, so that's something! =P Anyways, I hope you guys enjoy it. A little bit of romantics for a change of pace.

Chapter 7: Help!

"Woohoo!" I yelled as we downed our drinks and slammed them upside down on the counter. We had been doing this for at least 15 minutes and I had lost count of how many that was.

"I must admit, I really generally don't do this." Dan laughed, "Like ever. But this is quite fun with you."

"Heehee, you're saying that now but wait until after I've beaten your butt!" I giggled as the next round came. "Bottoms up!" We raised out glass and downed another. "Wooo!"

"Hey kids, you better slow down." The bartender said, handing us another round, "I don't want to have to cut you off."

"Perhaps he's right, Amber." Dan smiled

"You're only saying that because you're losing." I teased.

"Miss, you dropped your purse." The bartender pointed to it on the floor

"Ah! Thank you!" I bent over to pick it up, when I felt something brush me from behind. When I looked back, I saw nothing of notice. Someone probably was just trying to get past me. I mean this place is packed! And I sat back down to our drinking game.

While we were ordering our rounds, a man had sat beside me. I could feel him eyeing me up and down the whole time and it was starting to make me uncomfortable. I started to stand up and take the seat on the other side of Dan, when the man lightly took hold of my wrist and immediately let go when I turned.

"Hey, I've never seen you around before." This man was obviously quite wasted, and wasn't very discreet in checking me out,

"No, I've only moved here about a week." I said,

"London's a big place for a new comer like you. I could show you around." He offered.

"Maybe some other time..." I tried to walk away but he grabbed me again,

"You know sugar, you're a very pretty girl." He smiled, Okay, alarm bells are seriously ringing here… "And in that dress…" He suddenly pulled me into his lap and gave me a sloppy kiss on the cheek then moved onto my neck.

"Hey!" His hand was low on my waist, the other on my legs with a strong grip.

"Ahh!" I screeched. As you can imagine, this took me very much by surprise and I started to struggle. Oh god, oh god, oh god! I had accidentally knocked Dan, making him spill his drink on the counter, causing Dan to spin in my direction. He was just as shocked as I was, seeing the scene in front of him. I was very scared at this point, "Dan!" I called, pleading with my eyes for someone, anyone to help me.

"Oi, get your hands off her, mate!" Dan said as he took my arm, putting himself between me and that creep. "What do you think you're doing?!" Perhaps it was only the effects of the alcohol, but Dan was raving mad.

"It's none of your business, 'mate'. C'mere luv." He replied, reaching for me again. I shut my eyes and buried my face into Dan's back, grabbing onto his shirt like a little kid. I was almost trembling. Dan glanced back at me, then spoke again to the man,

"Listen here, just leave her alone, alright? Walk away. You've had too much to drink." The man stood up and was definitely much bigger than Dan. He took a step forward, to which Dan took a step back.

"A right Mr. Hero we have here… What are you going to do, huh?" I peeked out from behind Dan and saw that the man was going to hit him, and my eyes widened. He started to swing down but I pushed Dan out of the way and braced for impact. The blow landed square on the left side of my face, and I fell to the floor just as security got a hold of the brute. I had trouble breathing for a moment. At this point, I was shaking and tried to get up when Dan came to my side.

"What in the world were you thinking!?" He asked as he put his hand on my back and looked at my cheek. Everything was quieter now around the bar, save for the music. I could see Emily and Phil looking this way, Emily already rushing to my side. I looked around to see all of the staring faces and felt tears forming in my eyes. I got up as fast as I could and ran towards the bathroom.

"Hey! Wait! Amber!" Dan yelled after me. Not everyone had seen the incident so the dance floor was still pulsing with people that I had to push through. By the time I got to the center, I had to reorient myself. I found a long, dark corridor where I could be alone so I ran for it. I made it to the hall and kept running but tripped over a step on the floor. By this time I was a weeping, trembling mess. What am I doing? What is happening?! I stayed on the floor, propping myself up with one hand, the other hand was on my throbbing cheek. Dan had now reached the hallway, and saw me sitting on the floor crying.

"Amber, Amber hey…" He said softly,

"I'm sorry Dan. I didn't mean for you; I-I-I…" I didn't know what I was apologizing for. I didn't know much of anything at that point. I was a weak little child and didn't know what to do.

"You don't need to apologize." He said, bringing me into a tight hug. "What were you thinking anyways? I could've taken a blow, I saw the security coming anyways." He took my face into his hands and searched my eyes.

"Dan…"

"Shh, don't worry. Now let me take a better look at that jaw." As soon as he touched it, I recoiled. "Sorry." This time he just looked. It was an angry red, promising a nasty bruise in the morning. Now that the adrenaline from earlier was wearing off, it became rather sore and was swelling up fast. "It's alright at least. I don't think he broke anything." He looked back at me again, "Why would you do something so stupid like that?" It would have been better for me to take a hit from a guy like that than you. Besides, you're smaller than I am." He gave me a gentle smile. I really didn't know what went through my head…

"I-I'm sorry. I just… I just didn't want anyone getting hurt. It was my problem and you didn't need to be punched for a girl you basically just met." Tears were still running down my face. "I caused this whole scene, I shouldn't have come!" I looked down at my clothes, "I shouldn't have bought this new dress!" The crying renewed and I felt like an utter idiot.

"Alright, that's it. I think that after all this, I'm going to take you home." Dan said as he stood up.

"No, I can go home by myself. I've ruined your night enough." I tried to stand too, but ended up falling. Luckily, Dan caught me. I didn't have the wits or the energy to have caught myself.

"Well now we both know that you can't do that." He smiled and helped me to stand. He looked at my face once more and picked me up bridal style with my left side pointing in towards his body. My eyes went wide with shock at this unexpected action but he misinterpreted it, "Your left cheek has swelled quite a bit and is starting to bruise. I just thought that this way, you could hide it if you want."

"Th-thank you." I whispered in his ear as I lay my head on his shoulder. He walked back out into the crowd where he immediately found Phil and Emily.

Dan's POV:

"Oh my god! Is she alright? What happened?!" Emily was almost catatonic, touching Amber's shoulder lightly.

"It's alright. I'm going to take her home." I replied. I could feel her small body trembling, I have to take her home…

"Well, then I'm coming with you." Phil said, concern lacing his voice,

"Me too. I've got her keys." Emily said, flashing Amber's purse.

"Right well, we better hurry." All of us made our way to the door and immediately Emily ran out for a cabbie. Unfortunately, the first one that stopped didn't have enough room for all of us.

"You take her in that one first, we'll follow afterwards." Phil suggested. Emily agreed and put the house keys in my pocket.

"Be careful with her." She said sternly, "And don't be funny." I nodded, why would I even consider it, especially at a time like this?"

I got into the cab, closing the door and gently placed her beside me. As I removed my hands from her back, she placed her head on my shoulder again. She was still trembling so I took off my coat and put it around her slowly. As the ride went on, she finally stopped shaking and looked at me. She really was beautiful. Her brown eyes and her brown hair… I could kiss her. I want to kiss her. But my thoughts were slow and slurred; the adrenaline finally wearing off of me, and the alcohol taking dominance once again. Her face was slowly inching its way to mine. Closer, closer, closer… I was so still. And then her lips met mine. I immediately put my hands on her head, trying to get as close as I possibly could to her, but then something emerged from the fog of my inebriated mind, 'Don't be funny.' It took me a few seconds before I broke the kiss and let my hands fall from her face. I wanted nothing more than to continue, but Emily's warning rang through my head loud and clear at this point. Emily looked at me, a little hurt, but mostly embarrassed.

"Thank you." She looked away, "For, you know, everything." She said, barely audible. The rest of the cab ride was spent in silence as I banged my head against the figurative wall. Come on Dan! You have a chance here! I looked at her again. She looked sad and tired… No, she's been through enough without me confusing her.

Soon we arrived at the apartments and by this time, I was fully drunk and so was she, so it was a bit of a struggle trying to get out of the cab. Luckily, I could stand just fine but Amber? Not so much. As soon as Amber got out, she almost fell to the floor,

"Whoa," I started to chuckle as I caught her, "You alright there?" My speech sounded slurred, Yep, adrenaline definitely gone.

"Y'know what? I c'n totally stand, jus you watch." She definitely wasn't better off than I was. I laughed and kept her steady as she tried to walk straight but just ended up falling back into me giggling. "Heh, perhaps you should carry me, Mr. tall, strong, and handsome." Without thinking, I picked her up off her feet and started towards the doors and into the elevator; Amber laughing all the way, throwing her head back. She definitely seemed to be in a better mood, as if she had forgotten all about it.

"Right, I'm going to have to put you down now." I said as I finally reached her door. She gave me her best puppy dog eyes, which definitely worked. "Okay, okay, fine, but it's going to be a real balancing act." I braced my knee on the door and rested her on it as I used my hand to fish around in my pockets to find the key. I felt its shape in my hand and fit it into the keyhole with a lot of fumbling, giving rise to fits of giggles from Amber. "Would you rather I put you down?" I joked,

"Aww, b't you're doin' so well!" She laughed. Finally I got the door unlocked and made my way inside. She allowed herself to slip out of my arms and stand by herself.

"I thought you couldn't stand?" I closed the door behind me, taking the key out of the lock,

"I thought you couldn' carry me, yet here we are!" She giggled, her arms still around my neck, "Besides, it was fun." She smiled. She's so beautiful when she smiles… We stood there for a few seconds, just smiling and staring at each other, not saying a word. She began to kiss me again and I tried to pull back,

"Amber…" I said in between kisses, "I–we shouldn't…" She continued. I was starting to wear down. "Amber, you heard what Emily said…" At this point, I was putting up minimal defense, "we're both dru-" She kissed me once more on the lips and I completely lost all reservations.

Amber's POV:

He finally started to kiss back and took control. He dropped the key that was in his hands and brought them up to my face. I guided him to the sofa, and began to take off his shirt. Reluctantly, he broke the kiss only long enough so that he could pull it over his head, and then he continued, leaning me down onto my back, his body on top of mine. My heart beat so fast, my mind drawing complete blanks.

That is until I heard the front door open.

"Oh my goodness, you will not believe how hard it was to get a taxi around here!" Emily called. Dan immediately sat up, fear all over his face. It was almost laughable except he had his shirt off. And on top of me. Emily walked into the living room. I almost burst into laughter at her reaction. "OH MY GOD DAN!" Her face registered absolute shock which was then replaced by seething anger.

At this point Dan had gathered up his shirt, "Emily, you don't understand." He started,

"I asked for ONE THING DAMMIT! ONE THING! You were just supposed to take her home and make sure she was okay!" She yelled

"I am definitely feeling okay…" I hummed. Dan tried to hide his smile but Emily was as sharp as a hawk.

"Don't you smile." she scolded as Dan put on his shirt again, "Seriously, the last thing I told you was to keep the funny business to yourself."

"I'm sorry, I-"

"Don't start. Just leave for now. I'll be having words with you tomorrow." She thought about it, "if you remember…"

"But Emmmm!" I whined, "I jus wanna cuddle, jus for lil' bit? Pleeeease?" I gave my best puppy dog eyes,

"Just go to your own beds..." She said pointedly at both of us. I gave a dejected 'humph' as Dan left my apartment.

"You're no fun…" I said as I skulked to my room

"Hah! That is something I never would have thought I would hear from you." She turned towards me, "Are you alright?"

"Why wouldn't I be?" Please don't ask about earlier tonight. Please, please, please… "I mean, Dan actually didn't do much…" I shrugged, "Especially since you interrupted." I mumbled under my breath.

"Well, you know… About, earlier…" Damn.

"Oh, well, um… Its fine, I guess. Dan saved me, so it ended, alright?" I rushed into my room. Sorry Emily… I just can't right now…" I changed out of my clothes and into my pyjamas. I walked over to my bed and sat down, smiling as I touched my lips. I giggled, I kissed Dan, I sang in my head. I lay down in my bed, giggling and laughing, replaying the happy moments that had happened tonight. I must have fallen asleep in the middle of all of this because the next thing I knew, I had a splitting headache.

A/N: Hey guys! This was definitely one of the longer ones. Was it too long? Tell me in the reviews just so I know for next time. I hope you guys really liked it, it was my first time writing romantic scenes so yeah, tell me what you guys think! See you all in the next chapter!

~Ateles