Ana's POV

For a moment my heart stops and I can't breathe but when I look up, I realize that its only Christian and relax. But the fact that by now he knows that I don't react well to sudden movements and still pulled me in here like that makes me pissed, so I reach out a shove at his chest pushing him away. Well, as best I can with the sling and cast. I'm clearly more pissed that I realize because even with just one arm I push him a little too hard and he nearly falls into the rack of bottled liquor behind him, thankfully he only grazes the rack and it doesn't wobble, very much.

"What the fuck?" I say reaching to clutch my chest as if that will stop my heart from racing.

"Sorry. Fuck I just keep screwing everything up." He says running his hands through his hair. "Look I wanted to say sorry for earlier. For all of it, it was a dick move."

"Yeah, it kinda was," I say with more snark than I thought I was capable of.

"I didn't know how to tell you, and I didn't know how to tell them, so I just didn't." He pulls on his hair so hard I worry he may actually start pulling it out. "Elliot meant what he said earlier, you did save my life, I'm not sure how much further I would have fallen if you hadn't been there that night. That's why I didn't tell you, how do you tell someone who doesn't even know why that they saved your life. It's not exactly the kind of thing you bring up when your first start getting to know someone. Was I just supposed to come out and say 'hi, remember how drunk I was that night? Yeah, that was part of a bigger problem at the time I had with numbing my feeling but don't let that put you off. Oh, and do come out with me tonight where I will drink but I promise I don't have a drinking problem because I know how to manage my feelings now.'"

"Well I wouldn't have put it quite like that but yeah. You're right we didn't really know anything about each other two hours ago but a heads up would have been nice. Look I understand more than you think, I know what it's like to bottle up your feelings and feel like you can't get through the day yet somehow you do. And sure, I have a family history of alcohol abuse but that doesn't mean I think that everyone who does stupid shit with alcohol is an alcoholic." I take a deep breath that's more of a sigh. "Look sure it sucked to be thrown in the deep end with your friends but honestly I've had one of the best nights of my life tonight so I wouldn't say it's been a total disaster sure you should have come clean with all of us but you didn't do it to be malicious you did it because you were scared and if anyone understands that, I do."

"Wait you're not mad?"

"Not really, a bit peeved maybe but once the initial shock wore off and I understood why you did, I wasn't that pissed anymore."

"I didn't tell them because I was worried it would color their perception of you, I didn't want them to think us being friends was a bad idea. I know they still worry about me; they don't even realize they do it half the time, it's just a look here or there. I just wanted them to get to know you and not because they saw you as the girl who helped me realize I needed to pull my head out of my ass. I thought they may worry about mixing my past with my present would fuck me up again and then try and push you away."

"See that's what I mean you didn't do this because you trying to hurt me or them, in a roundabout way you were trying to protect me and everyone else. Sure, it kinda sucked and threw me a bit but it wasn't to be mean it was to give us all a fair shot, granted it didn't work out as you thought. But it gave me a great night out and for that, I will be forever thankful. I know you joked earlier about teaching me how to live but you were right I don't live at least not like this. I mean I hang out with Ray's family from time to time but it's not the same I don't really get to let go like this, so thank you."

"You're uh… welcome, but for the record, it wasn't just you that had a great night." He says taking a step toward me, I instinctively go to take a step back but can't because the wall is already against my back. "I'm ninety-nine percent sure that everyone out there did and I know for sure that I did, getting to know more about you was really nice." He's even closer now.

"You too," I say sucking in a breath.

"You really are an incredible person; I know you don't do things like this a lot but you're a natural." I want to say something back but it's like my brain can't function with him being this close. "Although we still don't know much about each other yet, from the little I have learned I know that I want to learn more." He so close now I can feel his breath on my skin, just like in the alley and like then my heart is starting to race but this time I don't think it's out of fear. I'm not sure what it is but it feels kind of amazing sort of like there are tiny butterflies in my stomach.

Whatever it is broken by a loud bang and replaced by fear. I look in the direction of the sound to see a guy in the pub's uniform, and a box at his feet that is open and spilling napkins on the floor.

"Ah fuck, sorry I didn't know anyone was in here scared myself half to death." He pants out clutching his chest and sucking in a few deep breaths trying to calm himself while both Christian and I do the same thing.

Christian steps back from me and starts to help the poor guy pick up his napkins and put them back in the box.

"Sorry didn't mean to scare you." He says making simple conversation with a guy in a way I never could.

"It's alright but you to probably shouldn't be in here, it's uh… staff only." The poor guy says trying to stay professional.

"Yeah, probably but I think it's ok, I'm sort of best mates with the owner's kid."

"Oh ok. Let me just put this on the shelf and I'll uh… leave you to it."

"No worries we best be getting back to our friends anyway," Christian says before grabbing my good hand and pulling me from the storage room and back out into the main part of the pub.

"Where the hell did you two get to?" Elliot asks once we are sitting back at the table, this time I'm sat next to Kate as Christian takes my place next to Gail and Taylor.

"Just had a little talk is all," Christian says picking up a fresh beer which makes me realize we've been gone longer than I thought if they've had time to get another round.

"Yeah, I bet you talked, so how was he, Ana? I've heard he's a good kisser." Gail says almost singing.

"From who? Who have you heard that from?" Christian asks I assume trying to take the focus away from me, at least that's what I hope.

"You disputing it, little bro?" Elliot chuckles.

"That is not what I said. I was merely asking whom Gail had gotten this from?"

"Sure, you were."

"So, Ana you still didn't answer and it's my turn for a truth." Gail says and this time I can feel the heat rising in my cheeks even though I haven't got anything to hide. Well at least not about kissing Christian.

"We didn't kiss so I wouldn't know."

"Then why are you so red?" Elliot asks.

"Because I've never been kissed?" I whisper under my breath at least I think I do until Kate spit her mouthful of wine all over the table as she chokes.

"What?" Kate practically shouts. Oh, fuck!

"Shit," I say burying my head in my hands as if that will somehow erase the last minute and a half.

"You never been kissed?" Kate asks and the shock is evident in her voice, I can't even be annoyed at that because really what twenty-one-year-old has never been kissed.

"Wait, what?" The rest of the group gasps almost at the same time. Kill me now!

"Ugh." I groan before Kate reaches over and unpeels my hands from my face and turns me to look at her, but I can't bring myself to look her in the eye. This is humiliating!

"Are you serious?" I nod in response still looking down which is awkward because at this angle I can see straight down Kate's top. "I… uh… what?" She splutters and I close my eyes so I don't have to look at anyone and so I can stop looking down Kate's top because I defiantly don't know her well enough for that.

"I know it's weird, I've just never really gotten the chance." I whisper out but I know its loud enough for at least Kate to hear because she tips my head up in response. It takes me a few seconds to realize that Kate's lips are on mine and when I do my eyes fly open.

"There you go, now your first kiss won't be awkward or forced." She says releasing me and going back to her wine like nothing happened. It's not until she reaches back over to me and closes my mouth that I realize that it's been open since the kiss ended. I spin back around to my lemonade and chug half of it wishing for the first time that it was alcohol.

"Jesus Kate." Gail says and I almost think she's angry given her tone but the smile on her face is wide so I can tell she's not that upset.

"Damn that was hot." Elliot says with a smirk and honestly, I would have been shocked if he said anything else.

"I think you may have killed Ana she's gone as pale as a sheet again." Taylor chuckles.

"Shit, sorry I didn't think about freaking you out." Kate says reaching out to pat my shoulder, and I find myself thankful she didn't choose to rub my back otherwise we might be having more than one difficult conversation. The material on this blouse while thick enough to not be see-through is still pretty thin and I know that if she ran her hand down my back, she would feel something I am in no way ready to talk about.

"It's alright it just threw me for a moment." I say trying to reassure her not because I'm worried, I'll hurt her feeling but because I want her to move her hand, so she doesn't feel anything else. Thankfully that seems to be enough for her and she lets go of my shoulder.

"Good, you had me worried for a second. Just to be clear in case that's why you're freaking out, not trying to hit on you, I'm a 'strictly about the dick' girl. Not that there is anything wrong about liking pussy." She says making me chuckle because that hadn't even crossed my mind.

"Defiantly nothing wrong with that, same here I guess all about the dick." I whisper the last part because it's not a sentence I would ever say under any other circumstances.

"Trust me that wouldn't be an issue with Ana, I met friends of Ana's today who are a same-sex couple." Christian uses the word 'friends' as a question and I understand why Ray and 'Mone are not exactly easy to explain. Hell, I'm not even sure how to classify what they are to me and I know what kind of relationship we have, so how could I expect Christian a guy who met them for all of an hour to understand it.

"Yeah. Not my issue, it's just…" I pause debating how much I want to share with them. "I don't tend to have much physical contact with anyone, so it was a lot for me." I say deciding that it says enough about why it threw me without leaving them with too many questions.

"Fair enough, I probably should have asked you before but like I said earlier I don't really do personal boundaries well. Sorry." Kate says and I can hear the remorse in her tone.

"Really it's okay, I'm fine I just wasn't expecting it." I laugh hoping it will break the tension and it can all go back to how it was before. Thankfully it does and we all start up again with truth or drink but before long I have another question.

"Where is the strangest place you've ever been on vacation?" Elliot asks and although it's a completely innocent question it's loaded question for me.

"I um… I've never had a vacation." I whisper for some reason feeling ashamed when it's not really my fault at all.

"Wait, never? What about as a kid?" Christian asks.

"Uh no. My um…. parents had different priorities and holidays didn't even rank for them." I say dipping my eyes.

"Ana that nothing to be ashamed of." Gail says reaching out to grab my hand and reassure me.

"Yeah sure we all went on holidays growing up we know that makes us luckier than most. Hell, only like thirty-five percent of American's have passports and even those who do don't tend to go very far. Most people just go somewhere warmer in the US anyway." Elliot says and I can tell he feels guilty for bringing it up in the first place.

"Yeah I guess but I not even done that, I've literally never been on holiday." I take a deep breath and consider if I want to tell them everything or just leave it as it. But seeing how they have all reacted to everything else so far, I decide for a change to give them the benefit of the doubt and go for a whole truth rather than a half-truth. "Aside from a few day trips here and there upstate for uh… family gatherings with some friends I've never been outside New York City." I rush out bracing for their reactions but when after a minute or so still no one has said anything I finally look up from the spot I'm staring at on the table and look at them. Every single one of them has their mouths wide open in shock, not in a way that makes me feel self-conscious like it would have an hour ago because I know now, they're all just taking a moment to process that. Not that I blame them it's pretty shocking because how many people do you meet that have never left the city, they live in.

"Christian wasn't joking earlier when he said that he was going to teach you how to live was he?" Taylor asks.

"Uh no."

"Okay, well I say we all join in, and we all help teach you how to live because there are some things you need to be taught by a girl. We all have to summer off so we can all spend it doing the list we are going to create tonight." Kate says.

"Uh don't you work?" I say looking down at Kate's work attire.

"Oh yeah, well I did till today, I completed my internship today and as a reward for working so hard for the company I got the summer off. Yay me."

"Wait, if you completed your internship tonight why aren't we celebrating that tonight?" I ask curiously as to why not a single person at the table has mentioned that tonight, don't get me wrong I know my appearance threw them all but still. I mean Kate's father owns the bar so why aren't he and Kate's mom out here celebrating with us.

"Oh, it's not that big of a deal, we all celebrated a few months ago when they offered me a permanent job starting after the summer."

"Oh, that makes sense. Congratulations." I say not really sure how to respond.

"Okay so back to the list, let me go get a pen and paper from one of the wait staff." Kate says disappearing off to find someone.

"So uh you all have to summer off?" I ask not really sure how that's possible I mean most people end up working the summer after they finish college right? I wouldn't know because I never went the college, well aside from the night I met Christian.

"Yeah well everyone except Jason, though he's technically off unless he gets a mission. Right babe?" Gail says.

"Yeah, though as far as I know, it should be pretty open but who knows just by saying that I'll probably jinx myself and end up being away for most if not all the summer. Gail's lucky because she got the summer off as well because the job, she got at the police isn't starting until the beginning of September when the lady who she is replacing goes on maternity leave."

"Yeah, and as I said earlier Elliot and I have the summer off as well that was mainly because dad said we should have one last hoorah before real life starts. I guess that one perk of going to work for your fathers' company."

"Okay got it." Kate says practically throwing the pad and pen across the table but luckily Gail catches them before they fall into her lap. "Alright where to start."

"Why don't we each decide on something we would want to and if Ana's never done it, we put it on the list?" Elliot says and the group all agree.

"I still can veto something if I really don't want to do it right?"

"Of course, this is for you, so if you don't want to do anything or you want to adapt it, we will." Kate says titling the page 'Ana's Summer Bucket List'.

"Alright bowling?" Taylor offers.

"You're only saying that because you want to do something you can win at." Christian chuckles before turning to me. "If you wanna go bowling just be aware that no matter what Taylor will win because somehow he's magic at it. He's yet to lose a game."

"Sounds good I've always wanted to try it, I'm pretty sure I'll suck especially with only one arm but let's do it."

"Oh, what about crazy golf, there is this really cool one on the top of a building in Brooklyn?" Gail asks.

"Ooh that sounds cool never played crazy golf before."

"Ooh and what about a full-on game night at ours?" Elliot asks.

"Sure. Like board games and things like that?"

"Yeah."

We go on for a while and we have about thirty things to do which considering there are only a few weeks left before they all start work it is going to take some doing to complete but seeing as we have most days and most of the activities aren't all that time consuming we can do several in a day. Just when I think the list is complete Kate gives us one last suggestion.

"I know one last one that will really count as two in one. A holiday and the beach. You have to come with us for the weeklong break we are taking at the Grey's beach house in the Hamptons." I'm about to say no as I don't want to impose on their trip when everyone else agrees with Kate almost instantly.

"Uh if you're sure that I'm not going to impose then I'd love to come. I'm pretty sure I'll be able to get time off work."

"Ana, I think Ray may actually insist on it." Christian chuckles; for a guy who just met Ray, he seems to already have a pretty good idea of what Ray would want for me. The rest of the group asks about who Ray is, so I decide to go with the simplest explanation, he's my boss. Which isn't untrue it's just not the whole truth.

In fact, at the mention of Ray, I check my phone to see if I have any messages from him and sure enough there is a message from him. Telling me to take the time off needed to heal my wrist, because with my wrist in a cast I won't have the range of movement to deal cards and the alternative to that would be working in the bar but I can't really serve drinks with only one hand either.

We wrap up the night shortly before 1 am mostly because today took it out of me and I can't stop yawning. So, everyone decides to wrap it up on my behalf, I try to convince them that they don't have to stop on my account, but they all insist. They walk me home saying it's on the way, but it becomes obvious that it isn't when they all turn back and walk the other way after they drop me off. I tried to tell them it wasn't necessary because I had Jose and Ben would be with me, but they talked me into it saying they could use the exercise as well.

So, there it is, hope it all flowed okay, I wasn't sure but seeing as I'm the only one proofreading my chapters I can't check with someone anymore.

Anyhow, let me know what you thought if you get a chance.

FearfullyBrave.