—Jennifer—
My hands fumble around in the pocket of my jacket searching for my stash of Mentos as Josh gets stopped by a reporter. I happily keep walking down the red carpet at the premiere. Sucker, I laugh to myself.
I pop one of the Mentos into my mouth and I stop for some photos. All of the interviews are getting old now. I swear I've answered every single question about Katniss and about my new hair at least three times. I'm just ready to get through another viewing of Catching Fire and get some down time to relax and blow off steam. Tonight, that means going out with the cast. Suprisingly, I'm looking forward to it, well, actually I'm looking at that black suit that Josh has on tonight. When I walked into his hotel room earlier his stylist was doing his hair, I managed to talk them into spiking it up and, god, was that a good decision.
I shake myself mentally, I'm doing it again. Lately, I find myself just staring at him and imagining things, things I shouldn't be imagining; things I don't want to even admit, but the thoughts are there, clouding the edges of my mind.
This summer I kept my distance, Josh and I talked in texts or an occasional phone call but we were miles apart. Reuniting for the world premiere of Catching Fire has ignited a spark that I had tried to write off as simply a rebound but it can't be. Not after months of trying to run from what I've been feeling since we were in Hawaii and frankly, I'm tired of running.
Eventually I make my way down the red carpet and we all take our seats in preparation for the viewing of Catching Fire. I end up sandwiched in between Liam and Josh. During the introduction I cross my legs, letting the stiletto heel hang loosely before kicking Josh gently with the toe of my shoe. He turns to me, raising his eyebrows before leaning over.
His lips tickle my ear and cause a chill to run down my spine as he whispers, "Don't start with me, Jennifer."
"What?" I hiss quietly and smirk when the lights dim around us.
He shakes his head and mumbles, "Tease."
Since we're surrounded by people I simply sigh and trail the toe of my shoe slowly across the back of his calf. He cuts me a look but I don't stop, instead I lean over closer to him letting my lips graze his ear now.
"I'm not teasing," I whisper a little too loud and Liam turns to look at us. I laugh and decide to try and behave for a while. Josh just shrugs and shakes his head like what do you expect me to do with her?
After the credits roll and the lights slowly flicker on from overhead our cast exits the theater and we all stand congregating in the back hall. Josh and Sam convince everyone to head to a local club downtown known for its drinks and dancing. Eventually, we all pile into cars and I find myself in a limo with Josh, Jena and Sam. Relieved, I reach down, my fingers prying off the shoes that are hurting my feet so badly.
"There's no way I'm dancing in these shoes," I announce and stretch my legs out across the seat.
"Get those things off me," Josh says wriggling away from me.
"My dogs are barking," I whine and trail my foot across his thigh while Sam and Jena aren't paying attention.
Josh reaches down running his hands across one of my feet, gently massaging it.
"Oh, that's good," I say closing my eyes. His hands really do feel fantastic and I wonder how they might feel elsewhere.
"Do we need to leave you two alone?" Jena asks, raising her eyebrows when I look at her.
"Do foot rubs turn you on, Jena?" Josh laughs and the releases my foot only to grab the other one.
"Only when they are being done to me," she retorts and nudges Sam.
"Nah uh, I don't do feet darling," Sam says in his British accent and gives her a shake of his head.
I don't really care what they do but I don't say that in my catatonic state. I'm thoroughly enjoying Josh's hands kneading over the soles of my feet and when the limousine comes to a stop my heart drops a little because I can't help but want more. Josh reaches over grabbing my black stiletto heels off the seat before placing them gently back on each of my feet.
I grab my clutch and lead the way out of the black SUV. I feel a hand on my hip as Josh and I walk down the sidewalk toward the brightly lit entrance of the club.
The musty smell of nicotine and alcohol greet us as we step inside. I follow Jena to an empty booth in the corner. It's dark except for the pulsing lights on the dance floor and a dim light hanging above each table. In every corner bodies sway to the music.
"You want a drink?" Josh asks, his lips curling up in a smile. "I need a drink."
"Apple Martini, s'il vous plaît." I request in my best French accent.
"Oui bien sûr," Josh replies with a wink.
Josh and Sam disappear off to the bar and then a young man walks over to us with a tray full of shots. "They are on the house," he says in a broken English accent, sitting down six glasses on the table.
Jena raises her eyebrows at the server.
"What is this?"
"Fireball," he remarks and gives her a wink before sauntering away to another group of people.
I've already gotten my fingers wrapped around two plastic cups that serve as shot glasses.
"I used to love Fireballs, it smells just like that."
Jena downs one of the shots. "Fuck, it tastes just like it too." She laughs placing her now-empty cup on the black marble table.
I down my shot and then down another before Josh and Sam return to the table.
"What is this?" Josh says, his eyes surveying the empty cups on the table.
"I saved one for you," I smile widely, finally feeling like I can relax. "It's Fireball. And it's wonderful."
Josh slides across my Appletini and we all sit and chat for a little while over drinks until Sam suggests we play a game of Quarters with shots of Fireball. I quickly discover I'm horrible at Quarters, and even more horrible and not saying the word 'drunk', which is so far our only rule because we're quickly becoming too tipsy too get a quarter into the shot glass.
"I quit," I announce and slide the quarter across the marble table at Jena who's probably the most sober of us all.
"God, how can you hold your liquor so well? I can't feel my face," I say, poking my lips out and patting my cheeks with my hands.
"Lightweight," Josh chuckles and I feel his fingers sliding across my thigh underneath the table. My breath hitches and my heart begins to race in my chest.
"Want to dance?" he asks sliding out of the booth beside me and extending me his hand.
"Uhh," I groan unable to turn down the cute drunken smile of his. "What the hell," I say, taking his hand and sliding out of the booth, wobbling slightly.
"Woaah there, Trouble." Josh grins and wraps and arm around my waist to support me.
"Thanks," I laugh. "I warned you, I mean, about the shoes."
"True, but I've got you," Josh says, supporting me as we weave our way through people on the dance floor.
The music becomes deafeaning and I swear the temperature just rose ten degrees. Josh's fingers trail across my back before he spins me around to face him. I laugh and lean into him, swaying with him to the music as his hands linger on my hips. The lights begin to dim above us as the music slows down and it's like it's we're the only two people here.
Josh wraps his hands around my waist and I run my arms up, past the silver tie hanging loosely around his neck, and clasp my hands together. His skin is so warm and as our bodies move closer together I can feel the heat radiate off of him.
"Yes, you do," I lean in to him and say just loudly enough for him to hear over the music.
That's all it takes before his lips come crashing into mine, with such fervor that I'm swept away and I don't think about the crowded room, the other cast members. I don't think of Nick or anything else except Josh's lips pressing against mine and the way his hands feel pressed firmly against the small of my back.
His tongue dives into my mouth and I welcome it, allowing him access. The music is so loud but it's becoming muffled by my own heartbeat. I let my eyes flutter closed and I can't focus on anything except the way our mouths move together and the way his hips now press into mine urgently. Heat sears through the pit of my stomach and I can barely breath when his lips part from mine.
I want more. I curse the DJ when the music picks up and the strobing lights begin flashing again, illuminating the two of us in our precarious position. Our bodies are still pressed together, our noses brushing lightly against one another in our hesitation to move apart.
Josh's chest heaves against mine as I try to catch my breath. He begins to speak, to apologize, but I silence him by pressing my mouth against his again.
"Don't," I say when our lips part again. "Please don't say that."
I trail my hands down his arms as he shakes his head . The two of us stand unwavering against each other while everyone else seems to dance and move around us. Josh starts to pull away but suddenly stops and does the opposite, pulling me closer to him.
"I've wanted you for so long, Jennifer."
I don't know what to say. The truth is, I only just realized what I wanted exactly but it's him. I want him. I grab his hand now, not vocalizing a reponse but instead pulling Josh through the crowd and off the dance floor.
He follows me but I don't make it far until I run into Jena.
"There you two are!" She smiles widely before realizing that something is going on. "We were just getting ready to leave."
My heart sinks and I look back at Josh. I can't read his face but he squeezes my hand before letting it go.
"Yeah, that's fine." he says, his voice strained. I can imagine mine would sound the same if I tried to say much.
"I just need my purse." I say and turn briskly to walk towards the booth in the corner. I'm half way there before I realize Josh is following me. I hesitate at the table, after grabbing my clutch, waiting for him.
"To be continued?" I ask, my eyes meeting his chocolate brown eyes.
"To be continued," he agrees with a sad smile before wrapping an arm around my waist again. "God, you really are going to be the death of me, Lawrence." His flirtatious tone slowly coming to the surface again.
"What?" I laugh, leaning into him as we walk back towards Jena.
"Nothing." He says as we catch up with the others. It's all I can do to keep from leaning back over and kissing him again.
It's the longest ride back to the hotel, with my eyes trailing over to Josh every few minutes. Everything has changed now and there's no going back.