Drinking Partners

by ASlaveToWords

Sometimes love comes along from the most unexpected places, and from the most unexpected people. One is in love with a long-time friend, one is stuck admiring his friends girl from afar, and two will have to find solace in the arms of a kindred rejected spirit like themselves. One night, three stories, and lifetime of love and friendship they never expected to find.

A/N: Oh dear this one is ridiculously long! O_O Hope it's not too overwhelming. I'd just like to say that I've been sitting on this one for a while and only now had the chance to get it out. There are two (POSSIBLY three) more parts to this one but unfortunately (or is that fortunately) they will not be NEARLY as long as this one. Well, I suppose that's about it except thanks for your support and I hope you enjoy the story. Reviews are so very much appreciated!

IMPORTANT: This story takes place years after the end of the series; everyone is gown up now, all at least in their twenties.

Disclaimer: I own my OC's. I still do not own beyblade.

---

Brilliant emerald green eyes scanned over the faces of the room while their owner sat quietly, occasionally nodding her head as she listened to the girl next to her chatter on. Seeing no new faces, the blunette turned back to Emily and smiled, trying to find some way to politely excuse herself from the seemingly never ending rant about statistics and beyblade data.

Alexianna Wright, who usually went by Alex, was a very attractive young woman with long vibrant sapphire-coloured locks and entrancing emerald-green eyes. She was of average height with a peaches and cream complexion and the sort of adorable face that could get away with murder - although looks could be deceiving because even though she was sweet as cherry pie, she also had a mischievous streak.

Currently, she was attending a huge New Years Eve bash with her best friends who happened to also be her former teammates when they played in the beyblade circuit, and a sea of other bladers and their friends. Said team consisted of four members which included; a tall and voluptuous brunette knockout named Fairlee Blaine, a spunky and wildly gorgeous redhead named Nikkita Jones, the no-nonsense blonde bombshell Reid Beckett, and of course, herself.

Somehow, the girls had managed to convince an extremely reluctant Reid to host the party at his ridiculously huge mansion, and boy had it taken all their combined charm! But, thankfully, the effort had paid off as most every beyblade team they'd ever met had shown up for the fun; and they'd all brought their own guests, which in turned added up to a full house (figuritively speaking) and one heck of a party.

The man of the house was leaning against the far wall at the back of the room, talking to Kai, Tyson and Hilary. As usual, an emotionless and indifferent look adorned his face but Alex knew better. Reid loved the rare times he got to just chill and hang out with his friends, and those moments were precious to him. Looking into the older blader's eyes, the blunette knew that even from his spot against the wall, he was probably having more fun then any of them.

Eventually Alex sighed lightly and turned absently to the entrance of the massive room, smiling when she noticed a small group of new arrivals.

"Hey, the White Tigers are here." She said quickly, taking her chance as Emily paused for breath.

The chatty American looked up at the Chinese former bladers and beamed.

"So they are." She said cheerfully. "C'mon Kenny, let's go say hi!"

Kenny sighed and got up from the couch, following his girlfriend as she tugged at his hand and all but dragged him in the direction of their old friends. Upon departure Kenny looked over his shoulder and gave Alex an amused smile and a small wave. The blunette chuckled and lifted a hand in return.

"See ya later, chief!"

Alex watched the two for a while and smiled as the White Tigers greeted the American and her boyfriend warmly before also attempting to dismiss themselves politely, though it proved to be a little difficult for them as well. Alex grinned at the scene and shook her head, then stood up and began to make her way across the room.

Seeing her approach, a wide grin crossed Tyson's face, and he slung his arm around Alex's shoulders when she'd reached them.

"Heya, Al ol' girl!" The former champ said cheerfully. "First time I've seen ya since we got here! Where were ya?"

Alex smiled and gestured over her shoulder.

"Learning all about spin ratio and interference probability." She replied playfully.

The others turned and Tyson grinned upon seeing Emily chatting it up with the White Tigers, the other team only now having dismissed themselves from her company and blended into the crowd. Emily bid them all farewell and sundered off somewhere else with Kenny in tow, until they too melted into the crowd. Tyson turned back to Alex with a laugh.

"Ah. Good ol' Emily!" He said with a smile.

Alex laughed as well, then leaned ahead and looked past Tyson at Hilary, giving her a smile and receiving one in return.

"Happy New Year, Hil." She said cheerfully. The brunette grinned.

"Happy New Year, Alex!" She replied enthusiastically. Alex then turned to Kai and Reid.

"Happy New Year, grouch twins!" She said with a grin.

Reid gave her an unamused look.

"Cute." He replied sarcastically.

Kai lifted an eyebrow at her.

"Hey, I look nothing like this hideous beast." He replied with a straight face.

This made three of his companions crack up with laughter - partially because the blonde beside him was anything but hideous, and partially because Kai Hiwatari had actually cracked a joke. Even the normally straight-laced Reid smirked in amusement.

"If I'm a hideous beast, there's no hope for you, Hiwatari." The blonde teased back with his deliciously deep voice.

Alex grinned and turned back to Tyson, noting a wide grin on his face as well. The female blunette opened her mouth to speak again but Hilary's excited squeal halted anything she might have said. Alex cringed at the loud sound and both Reid's and Kai's faces screwed up into a pair of scowls, the former reaching up to tweak his ear in annoyance.

"This is my favourite song!" Hilary exclaimed excitedly, grabbing Tyson's hand and giving it an encouraging tug.

Tyson gave his friends a shrug and a sheepish grin. Alex laughed and shrugged back with a knowing smile, while Reid shook his head and Kai simply 'hmph'ed. Tyson gave a small laugh at their reactions and allowed his girlfriend to lead him away, waving over his shoulder as he disappeared.

"See ya later guys!" He called to them.

"Later, Ty!" Alex called, watching the two finally disappear as well.

"I hate it when she does that." Kai growled in irritation. Alex had to fight back a grin.

"What? Leaves you for Tyson?"

Kai turned a glare on the blunette.

"No. When she squeals like that."

Alex lifted her drink to her lips to hide her wide grin, staring at the ex-captain with an amused glint in her eyes as she drank. Lowering the glass, she smiled at the handsome Russian.

"Relax buddy, I was joking." She said, reaching out and nudging Kai's ribs playfully. "C'mon, you can't be a grouch tonight, it's New Years!"

Kai gave the shorter woman a weary look, then finally sighed and shook his head, a small smile coming to his lips.

"You're one of the most irritating people I've ever met." He teased, turning then towards the blonde beside him. "How do you deal with this one all the time?"

Reid snorted humourlessly.

"With great irritation." He replied bluntly, though there was a somewhat teasing glint in his eye when he looked at his friend.

Alex grinned and stuck her tongue out at both young men.

"Who are you kidding, you both love me!"

The blunette turned then and, not for the first time, scanned over the faces of the crowded room. Again not finding what she was looking for, her eyes turned back to the two handsome young men beside her.

"So... have either of you seen the Majestics yet?" She asked casually.

This time both normally stoic men smirked in great amusement.

"The Majestics?" Reid questioned tauntingly. "Don't you mean a certain redheaded Scot?"

Alex coughed and lifted her glass to her lips again to hide her sudden scarlet flush. When she'd finally willed it away, she lowered the glass and attempted a casual shrug.

"I was just wondering, that's all. It'd just be nice to see all my friends at New Years. It doesn't really matter if they don't come though, that's their choice, I don't really care."

The two young men exchanged a highly amused look, and Reid closed his eyes with a smirk on his face as he leaned against the wall with crossed arms. Kai lifted his chin to look down his nose at the woman in front of him.

"You're getting defensive." He said with a smirk.

Alex shifted uneasily.

"No I'm not... I'm just saying."

"Right." Kai replied bluntly.

He grinned at Alex, then looked over her head and scanned the room as well. Finally his eyes seemed to fall on something and he looked back at the woman he'd been teasing.

"Looks like your Scottish beau has arrived."

Alex's eyes widened a little and she whipped around to look at the entrance where Kai had been looking. Her eyes scanned the area frantically but she didn't see anyone new - least of all a certain redhead.

Hearing Kai laughing behind her now, Alex immediately realised what had happened and turned back to the other blunette with an unamused expression.

"Hardy, Har..." She mumbled in embarrassment.

"So Lex, are you that excited about seeing all your friends tonight?" Reid added now, rejoining the conversation.

Alex frowned and again, ignoring the two men enjoying themselves at her expense, and lifted her drink to her lips to hide her flush. But this time it didn't work as her entire face was red. Kai stopped laughing and gave the young woman a smug look.

"Don't lie to us, Alex." He said bluntly. "You suck at it."

Alex lowered her drink again and sighed heavily. Kai shook his head and his expression softened slightly.

"You've got it so bad." He teased.

Alex bit her lip and looked away from the two. She had something on the tip of her tongue but decided against saying it.

"And you don't?"

Obviously not hearing the other blunette's thoughts, Kai placed a hand on Alex's waist, causing her to look back at him with a curious expression.

"He'll be here soon." The Russian said softly in her ear. "Enrique and Oliver are already here and the party is well on. I'm sure him and Robert will be arriving any minute."

Alex blinked at him for a moment, then smiled gratefully. Kai returned the smile, then stepped closer to her until the space between them was almost non-existent. He placed a hand on Alex's hip, then leaned in close, his cheek against hers.

"Remember Glasgow." He said cryptically, a small smirk on his face.

Without another word, Kai stepped past her and walked away, leaving Alex to stare forward in confusion. After running the words through her mind for a few moments, she finally turned around to stare after the Russian.

"What's that supposed to mean?" She called, but quickly realised that it was too late; Kai had already disappeared.

Alex sighed and chewed her cheek, replaying the words over and over in her head as she raked her brain to try and figure out the meaning. She knew Glasgow was a place in Scotland; was it the capital? She couldn't remember. And even if it was, what did that have to do with anything? Was the Russian trying to give her a conversation piece?

The blunette folded her arms across her chest and and lifted a finger to her lips thoughtfully. And what did he mean by 'remember'? Remember what? Remember to remember that he'd mentioned Glasgow? After considering this for a moment she shook her head dismissively. No, that was stupid, that couldn't be it.

Alex narrowed her eyes as she tried again to think of just what the hell Kai could have meant by the simple comment.

"You look like your brain's about to explode."

The blunette jumped slightly and turned towards the blonde beside her, blinking at him as she watched him once again smirking in amusement at her expense - admittedly she'd forgotten he was there.

"You have no idea what he meant do you?" Reid asked with a strange glint in his eye.

Alex heaved a heavy sigh and gave the blonde an irritate look.

"No!" She admitted, thoroughly frustrated. "I have no idea!"

To her surprise, the blonde chuckled.

"Well, who am I to spoil a good riddle." He replied teasingly. "Though I do feel sorry for you, so I suppose I could help you out bit."

She watched as her former teammate pushed off the wall and uncrossed his arms to casually place one in his pocket.

"Consider this; if you want a taste of Scotland, order the highlands in a highball."

Emerald eyes blinked at the blonde in nothing short of bewilderment. This made him actually laugh, but instead of elaborating, he merely stepped close to her like Kai had, leaned down to press an affectionate kiss to her temple and moved past her to walk away as well. The blunette turned around to watch him leave.

"You'll figure it out when you need to." He said over his shoulder without looking at her.

Alex frowned in irritation and placed her hands on her hips.

"Why can't you just tell me the answer?!" She called after him in annoyance. But unsurprisingly, the blonde didn't miss a step as he continued on before being swallowed up by the crowd.

Heaving another heavy sigh of frustration, Alex lifted her glass to her lips again for another drink. Her eyes absently scanned the room as she sipped and this time she choked on her drink when her gaze fell on a familiar face at the main entrance. Coughing and sputtering, Alex finally managed to clear her throat enough to breathe and stared wide-eyed at the new arrival, her pulse speeding up the longer she did so.

"He's here!" The blunette whispered breathlessly.

Just walking through the archway and into the room, was the very redhead she'd spent nearly her entire night waiting for. The Scot strolled into the room just ahead of Robert like he owned the place, brimming with all his usual confidence, and returning greetings on all sides as the popular Europeans made their way through the crowd.

Alex couldn't help but notice how good Johnny looked, this making things all the more difficult. He was wearing a pair of scruffy designer sneakers, dark blue distressed denim jeans that fit him a little too well, a fitted black shirt and a wine coloured button-down he'd left open and untucked. The worn leather jacket he wore over-top just screamed Johnny McGregor, and Alex couldn't help but smile at his deliciously rugged style.

Looking down at herself, the blunette wondered for just a second if she herself had made the right style choice - would the redhead find her as attractive as she found him? For her own outfit she'd chosen a pretty off-white dress with halter straps and a sweetheart neckline. The dress skirt was a light, billowy number that came to about mid-thigh on the front and slanted downwards to float around her well-shaped calves on the back. It had a large belt around the waist and the cute black pumps on her feet showed her perfectly painted toes and completed her outfit. Her long sapphire locks were arranged in a pile of sexy curls, partially piled on top of her head and partially flowing like a waterfall down her flawless back.

Even though she'd gotten many compliments and flirtatious looks that night, and even though she was extremely comfortable in her own skin, her usually plentiful confidence still wavered as she stared into Johnny's handsome face.

Alex swallowed hard and took a very deep breath. Drawing herself up to her full height, she gathered up her courage, then made her way through the crowd and across the room. Her appearance was that of a cheerful confidence, but inside he blunette felt like she was going to be sick right there on Reid's expensive marble floor. Her heart was fluttering against her rib cage like a trapped bird, and her stomach was tying itself in knots the closer she got to the gorgeous Scot.

Turning away from a girl he'd just been talking to, Johnny began walking again but stopped and offered a heart-stopping, roguish grin as he saw the blunette making her way towards him.

"Heeey! Sexy Lexi!" The redhead said playfully once the blunette had reached him. "I see you've started without me."

Alex did her best to will the flush to stay off her face as she stopped before the Scot, allowing him to place a hand on her hip as he leaned down to press a kiss to her cheek. When he pulled back she gave him her most winning smile before tipping her glass towards him.

"Hey, you can't expect the world to sit on hold waiting for you all night!" She teased.

"Though I did..." She added in her head.

Johnny's grin widened and he laughed in response.

"No I s'pose not eh?" He replied in amusement. "Well the least you can do then is accompany me to the bar and lemme catch up!"

Alex laughed now too and nodded.

"Yea, I guess I can do that, seeing as who you are."

Johnny laughed and turned towards one of the exits, Alex following close behind as the redhead parted the crowd. They left the dancing room and walked across the hall to the huge room Reid had designated for the drinks; complete with a massive bar spanning the entire length of the back wall and stocked from one end to the other with any and every alcoholic mix one could possibly want.

Upon reaching the bar, Alex took a seat on one of the tall, classy bar chairs while Johnny took up a stance beside her, leaning his elbows against the bar-top as he held up two fingers to the attractive blonde who immediately approached them.

"Two Soul Taker shots, bartender!" The redhead requested, passing a mischievous look to the blunette beside him.

"Comin' right up, hun." The blonde replied. Alex gave Johnny an odd look when the bartender left to fetch the request.

"Two what?" She asked in amused bewilderment.

Johnny grinned as the bartender returned and gestured to the shots she placed before him.

"You'll see." He replied cryptically.

He laid down the money for the shots, plus a tip, and thanked the bartender, then picked up the two shots and handed one to Alex. The blunette accepted it with a questioning look.

"For me?"

"Of course!" The redhead replied a little too enthusiastically. "Who wants to drink alone?"

Alex arched a perfectly shaped sapphire brow at him.

"Thought you wanted to catch up to me?" She said playfully. "How're you supposed to do that if I'm drinking with you?"

Johnny laughed and gave the blunette a wink.

"Don't worry, I'll catch up. Bottoms up, sexy Lexi!"

Alex felt her face heat from the silly nickname the redhead always used for her, and shaking her head, she lifted her shot to clink glasses with the Scot before both knocked back their drinks in one swift motion. Johnny slammed his empty glass down and laughed as Alex began to cough and sputter, her face screwing up as she shook it distastefully

"Yuck! Johnny, that's horrible!"

The Scot laughed heartily now and rubbed her back.

"Yea, first one's the worst one!" He said with his ever-present grin. "But you did good, kid! I've seen men twice your size wimp out just from the smell!"

Alex screwed up her face again before clearing her throat and laughing.

"Yea, well, you can credit Kai for that; he's the one who 'taught me to drink'."

"That so?" The redhead replied, looking mildly impressed. "Guess he taught ya well!"

Alex grinned as Johnny held up two fingers for another round. She frowned however when the bartender placed the same shot down in front of them again.

"This one again?" She almost whined. Johnny gave her shoulder a playful push.

"Yea, c'mon. You're a trooper, you got this! It'll go down easier this time, promise."

Alex sighed and shook her head, then smiled and picked up the shot, once more clinking glasses with the redhead before making a face and knocking it back. It still went down a little rough, but Johnny was right, it did go down a little easier this time - but only just. Smiling, she placed the empty glass upside down on the counter and lifted her hand to make a slash across the air.

"No more!" She said, only half jokingly. "My soul has thoroughly been taken!"

Johnny again laughed heartily and reached out to slap her on the back.

"Yea, yea, I guess you earned a reprieve! Can't say I'm not impressed, missy!"

Her chest swelling with pride now, Alex watched as Johnny leaned back on the counter when the bartender approached them again.

"Two Angels Kiss, love." He said this time, placing another bill on the bar.

The woman gave him a smile and a mock salute this time and walked away, soon re-appearing with another pair of shots and sliding them across the bar to the redhead.

"Two Angels Kisses." She affirmed with a smile before picking up the money.

Johnny thanked her and again picked up the shots before turning to hand one to Alex. The blunette accepted, but before the Scot lifted his drink, Alex spoke again.

"Why do they call it a Soul Taker?" She asked the redhead curiously.

"What? You didn't feel it robbing your soul soon as it hit your gut?" He replied teasingly.

A wide smile spread across Alex's face then, which turned to a grin and eventually a hearty laugh. Johnny laughed again too and lifted his shot.

"Bottoms up, gorgeous!" He said, offering her a cheers. "You'll like this one, it goes down easy."

Taking his word, Alex returned the cheers and lifted the glass to her lips, mimicking the redhead as they both once again knocked the shot back just like before. This time she licked her pretty painted lips when she lowered the empty glass and placed it on the bartop.

"Mmmm..." She hummed in appreciation. "That one is better."

"Of course, would I lie to you?" The redhead teased. Alex gave him a look and decided to let that one lie.

Johnny gave her another playful nudge, then noted the nearly empty drink in her hand.

"I think that's enough shots for a while. Why don't you finish that drink Lexi, and I'll get ya another one."

Alex looked down at her hand to the drink Johnny had gestured to. She lifted the drink to polish it off, then placed the empty glass on the counter and watched the redhead once more flag down the bartender who'd been serving them.

"What are you drinking, anyway?" The redhead asked, turning an inquiring look on the blunette.

"Hurricane." She informed him simply. She liked to try different things, and for the first time trying this one, she found she liked it and decided it would be her go-to for the night.

"Hurricane it is." The redhead said, then turned back to his front to wait for the blonde to return.

Alex turned to absently look over the bottles behind the bar while they waited, but she gasped lightly, barely audible, when her eyes fell on a certain bottle. Suddenly both Kai and Reid's words flooded back to her and her eyes widened slightly as their meaning finally clicked in her head.

"Remember Glasgow... Highlands in a highball."

The blunette sweat-dropped, unable to believe she'd been so dense.

"Duh!" She thought, mentally slapping her forehead. "I'm just gonna go ahead and blame my slow uptake on the alcohol..."

Alex shook her head to clear her thoughts and looked back at Johnny just as the bartender walked up to him again.

"A Hurricane and-"

"Johnny, let me." Alex interrupted, turning to the bartender herself. She offered the blonde a polite smile as she placed the order she really hoped would impress the redhead. "A Hurricane and a Glasgow, please... in a highball."

"Sure thing sweetie." The woman said, returning her smile before turning away to fix the drinks. Johnny turned an odd look on the blunette but there was indeed a smile and an impressed look on his face.

"Nice choice." He said, eyeing her a little suspiciously. "That happens to be my favourite drink. And it's uncanny that you even knew I like it in a highball, and not those stupid top-heavy glasses just begging you to knock 'em over."

Alex had to resist the giddy urge to cheer with joy. She made a mental note to profusely thank the two young men in question later.

"Really?" She replied cheekily. "I had no idea."

A flash of amusement lit the Scot's face as he eyed her.

"Right." He replied sarcastically, his grin wider than ever.

The bartender returned and Johnny reached for his money but Alex's hand on his stopped him.

"I told you I'll get it." She insisted, handing the blonde the correct amount plus a healthy tip. "Besides, you paid for the shots."

The bartender eyed the two with a grin as she slid the tip towards a hole in the bar.

"Thank you very much, darlings! You two have fun now!"

Johnny picked up his drink as the blonde walked off to serve someone else, then turned towards Alex. She was stirring her drink but gave him a questioning look when she felt his gaze on her and looked up.

"What?" The blunette asked, squirming a little in her seat. Johnny grinned at her for what seemed like the umpteenth time that night and shook his head.

"Nothing." He said gently. Alex stared at him for a minute bet eventually returned the smile.

Johnny looked away then and glanced at the entrance to the room, cocking his ear towards the music across the hall. He then turned back to the blunette and tipped his head towards the other room.

"So sexy Lexi! How about-"

"There you are!"

The two started slightly and turned towards the new voice to see Salima standing before them with a smile.

"I've been looking all over for you Johnny!" She said enthusiastically. "Come dance with me!"

Johnny looked back at Alex and gave her an apologetic look.

"Sorry, I guess I'll catch ya later Lex."

Alex forced a smile and nodded, and Johnny gave her one more apologetic look before taking Salima's outstretched hand and allowing her to lead him out of the room. Her smile faded then and she looked down at her drink with a sigh, absently swirling the straw around in it as she thought. She looked up again when a new voice greeted her ears.

"He's cute that one." Said the same bartender who had served her and Johnny their drinks. "I'd hold on tight if I were you."

She winked at the blunette and Alex forced herself to return the smile the blonde gave her before she walked away. Her smile dropped as soon as the blonde was gone, and now she felt worse then ever.

"Hold on tight? Ha! I'm lucky when I get to hold him at all!"

Shaking her head clear of her thoughts, Alex stood from the bar and left the room, heading again across the hall to re-enter the dance room. Her eyes scanned the people therein like they had so many times that night, and just like before, they found no sight of the redhead they were looking for. However her attention was suddenly diverted once more as another voice greeted his ears.

"Hey Alex. Happy New Year."

Alex turned to the handsome blonde now standing before her and gave him an odd look.

"Hey Miguel..." She said a little cautiously, giving him a weak smile.

"I guess I deserve that look." The blonde replied, returning her smile with a lopsided one of his own. "I know the last time we saw each other, you were looking across the dish at me after my team and I cheated yours out of the tournament... I really am so sorry about that. It might be hard to believe but... we've changed, and I was really hoping you could forgive me..."

Alex gave the man a suspicious look, which made the blonde squirm. He was right, the last time she'd seen him was when his team had cost hers entry into the respective tournament, just like they had so many others; including the Majestics. However, she'd heard about their dramatic tale and by all accounts, they seemed to have turned over a new leaf. Besides, it had all happened so many years ago; they were all just kids back then. She wasn't about to hold a grudge over something that happened so long ago.

So, finally, Alex gave the blonde a genuine smile and tipped her head slightly to one side as she observed him.

"Of course I forgive you." She finally said, extending her hand to him. "Consider this the olive branch."

Miguel grinned and shook her hand before glancing at the packed dance floor. He turned back towards Alex then with a slightly shy expression.

"Glad to hear it! So, I ah... I actually came over here to ask you if you'd mind joining me for a dance."

Alex smiled at him. Why not? It was a party and her dance card was currently empty.

"Sure, let's dance."

Miguel beamed and held out his hand for Alex to take. The blunette took his hand and allowed him to lead her onto the dance floor, smiling when the blonde turned to her and gently placed his hands on her hips.

Alex danced with Miguel for a few songs until Kane came and asked for a dance, which was soon followed by a request for a friendly dance from Ray, then a few guys she didn't know, until soon enough Alex had forgotten all about her redheaded problem and had little trouble focusing on having fun. It wasn't until Emily showed up with Kenny on her arm that things changed.

"Hey girl!" The American said cheerfully. "Looks like you're quite popular tonight!"

Alex laughed and shrugged sheepishly.

"Whatta ya say us girls show the guys how it's done?" The American asked with a smile.

Looking past her shoulder for confirmation at Kenny, Alex smiled as the brunette nodded hopefully, looking very tired and almost desperate for the blunette to say yes. Alex laughed and looked back at Emily.

"I'd love to girlfriend!" She said with a grin. "Let's-"

The end of her sentence was cut short when she suddenly caught sight of something over Emily's shoulder. Some ways behind the girl she saw Johnny dancing with some unknown girl. They were shockingly close, their bodies grinding as they danced. Johnny's arms were around her waist and hers were wrapped around his neck as they moved provocatively against each other. In that instant, Alex felt her heart twist forcefully enough to take her breath away, and her stomach knotted nauseatingly. She turned back to Emily with a forced smile as she desperately willed her voice not to shake.

"I'm sorry Emily, I'd really love to dance with you but... I don't feel so well all of a sudden. How about a rain check?"

Emily looked over her shoulder, knowing somehow what had come over Alex, but it was impossible to know exactly who she'd spotted. Kenny however seemed to know exactly who Alex had been looking at and gave the blunette a sympathetic expression. Emily turned back to the other woman with a sympathetic look as well and gave her a small smile.

"Sure Alex, I understand... I hope you feel better soon."

Alex gave her a lopsided smile.

"I really am sorry Emily." She said softly, leaning in to give the American a hug.

Emily smiled and nodded, hugging her back.

"Feel better Alex." Kenny said softly, and Alex waved before turning and practically bolting from the room.

---

Alex was back at the bar and she sighed heavily as she sucked the last of her drink through her obnoxiously pink straw. She opened her mouth to ask for another but a new presence beside her made her turn towards the person curiously. She smiled when she saw who it was.

"Hey Kai." She greeted. Kai offered her a small smile in return.

"Hey yourself. Looks like you're a real hot commodity tonight, Lex." He said playfully. Alex forced a small lopsided smile and Kai tilted his head slightly.

"What's with the face?" He asked softly. Alex willed her smile to widen.

"Nothing. Just a little tired. Dancing can take a lot out of you." She replied, not entirely convincingly. She hurried to continue, hoping to change the subject. "By the way, thanks so much for the tip earlier! About Johnny's favourite drink, I mean! I seriously owe you one, buddy oh pal!"

As if to punctuate her words, she leaned over and wrapped her arms around the other blunette for a tight hug.

"Sure, glad you caught on." The Russian replied simply as he lifted a single arm to wrap around her and return the embrace. He then turned to the bartender who appeared in front of him; the same one, Alex noticed, who had served him and Johnny earlier.

"Two blue bombshells."

Alex's lips turned up into a genuine smile then. Her trademark shot. This one was her favourite and everyone always told her it reminded them of the blunette, but it was her favourite because it went down smooth and tasted great.

The bartender smiled coyly and leaned her elbows against the bar as she eyed Kai playfully.

"Well, this is your lucky night Mr. Hiwatari; you've got one blue-eyed bombshell right here and a blue haired bombshell right there." She teased playfully, giving Alex a playful wink. The blunette laughed and looked over at Kai, a little surprised to see the handsome Russian grinning.

"I'll keep you in mind, Remi." He said to the woman, giving her a sly wink in return. "As for this one, she's already taken. This is Alex by the way."

The woman, apparently named Remi - if not a nickname - looked back at Alex with a smile.

"Yea, I remember. A very handsome couple they make too. It's nice to meet you Alex."

Alex gave her a small smile, but this time it was another forced one. Remi gave a small laugh and straightened up.

"I'll get you sexy things your shots." She said with a laugh, turning then to fetch them.

Kai turned to Alex with a smile, happy that it was genuinely returned now.

"You always know how to make me feel better." She stated gratefully.

"Yea well, I've known you long enough to pick up a few things - whether I wanted to or not!"

Alex's smile widened and she turned back to the bartender when the blonde placed the requested shots in front of them.

"There you go sweethearts." She said cheerfully.

Kai thanked her and handed her the money, leaving a big tip like his companion had earlier, then picked up the shots and turned towards Alex as he offered one to her.

"A blue bombshell for the blue bombshell." He said, smirking at his own cheesy comment.

Alex laughed and accepted the shot, clinking glasses with her companion like she had with Johnny before knocking the shot back with ease. She licked her lips when she'd removed the glass and gave Kai a grateful smile.

"Thank you." She said softly. "I really appreciate this Kai"

She laughed then and gave the Russian an amused smile.

"Not just the shots! I mean-"

"I know what you mean." He interrupted, a rare soft expression on his face.

Kai ordered Alex another Hurricane and ordered himself a Jack Daniels on the rocks before turning back to the blunette beside him again.

"I saw what happened earlier, when Emily asked you to dance."

Alex frowned and looked at her newly acquired drink, absently swirling his straw around again like she had before instead of looking at her companion. Kai spoke again.

"You can't let little things like that bother you, Lex." He said softly. "I know it's easier said then done, but you've gotta understand; Johnny likes to have a good time, he likes being around lots of people, and he gets bored easily. But what you've got to realise is this; he might be a genius when it comes to some things - like beyblade - but when it comes to his and other peoples feelings; he's completely clueless."

Kai stopped and took the time to sip his drink, staring at it for a moment before looking back up at the woman beside him and continuing.

"He might seem like a real ladies man - and I'm sure you can see there are enough of them more than interested - but that's just the way he comes off. They're just dances. To anyone else, they might seem like something intimate, but to that idiot, it's just another way to have a good time. Most of the women he dances with ask him first, not the other way around. The only time Johnny ever asks anyone to dance is if he's interested. That doesn't happen very often because he nearly always has someone hanging off him, sometimes even the person he's interested in, saving him the trouble."

Kai paused for a moment as the thought, then took another swig of his drink before speaking again.

"Then again, just because he asks someone to dance, doesn't mean he's interested either; sometimes it's just because he saw them dancing and thought they were good, so it might be fun to dance with them... Johnny's a complicated fool."

Alex blinked, utterly stunned, at her companion, unable to remember the last time she'd heard the Russian say so much at once.

"That's... that's a lot of information to take in at once..." She replied, feeling a little intimidated and overwhelmed. "How do you know so much about him?"

Kai gave her a weary look.

"I've been around him enough to pick up on a lot of stuff too - again, whether I want to or not. Only difference is, I'm a lot less interested in learning things about a big ugly Scot than I am about a gorgeous blunette."

This made Alex snort with laughter and she felt a tug of affection for the Russian.

"Awe come on!" She replied with a grin. "He's so not that hard on the eyes."

Kai gave her a look.

"Yea, I'll take your word on it." He replied bluntly. "Big, burly, hairy apes aren't my type."

This made Alex nearly choke on her drink she'd just sipped as she again snorted with laughter, and she had to plug her nose to keep the liquid from exploding out of it.

"Oh damn! You are just full of it tonight!" She exclaimed though her laughter. "Are you drunk, Hiwatari?!"

Kai snorted indignantly but there was a glint of amusement in his eye.

"Not nearly enough." He replied bluntly again, lifting his drink for a long haul now.

Alex grinned and shook her head before sighing in content.

"Well, anyway; thank you Kai... you're such a good friend, and I'm so lucky to have you..."

"Trust me, babe." He said softly, looking back at her with a tender expression. "I'm the lucky one."

That said, Kai knocked back his hard liquor like it was apple juice and stood up from his seat. He turned back to Alex then and placed a hand on her shoulder and gave it an affectionate brush with his thumb.

"Don't stress too much, Lex. And remember what I said; when it comes to feelings, Johnny's usually totally oblivious. You've got to be obvious and straight forward when it comes to him."

Alex smiled gratefully and nodded.

"Thanks Kai... again. I'll try to remember."

Kai nodded and leaned in to give her a hug before pulling away, giving her one last smile, and finally turning to leave the barroom.

Alex looked down at her untouched drink for a moment, then turned and stood up as well, walking away from the bar once again in direction of the dance room. She was sipping her drink and not really watching where she was going as she stared down at the floor in thought. Consequently, this caused her to bump into someone, nearly spilling her drink all over them in the process. She looked up guiltily to apologise but froze when she saw the person in front of her.

"Hey, there you are!" Johnny said with a smile, the hands he'd used to catch and steady her releasing her then. "I've been looking for you everywhere. Looks like you're a real hot commodity tonight!"

Alex gave the redhead a small smile.

"So I've been told." She said, doing her best to sound cheerful. "I could say the same for you too."

Johnny shrugged indifferently, a bored look on his face.

"Eh. Some old, same old. I needed a break for a while, the last one kinda wore me out."

Alex remembered the girl she'd seen Johnny dancing with when Emily had asked her to dance, and forced herself to keep a straight face as her heart lurched and stomach knotted again.

"You mean the pretty brunette girl?" She asked, finding it very hard to make her voice sound normal. Johnny tilted his head slightly and gave Alex an odd look.

"Yea I guess... the pretty brunette."

Alex lifted her drink to her lips to hide her frown and took a good long haul, nearly draining it. She was still drinking when Johnny spoke again.

"She's got a boyfriend though, and apparently he's a jerk. I don't mind being used by a pretty face when I get something out of it, but damn. Why bother to make an idiot like that jealous?"

Alex choked on her drink, then stared at he redhead when her throat was clear enough again to breathe.

"What?!" The blunette spat in shock. "What did you just say?"

Johnny looked a little confused.

"Uh... which part?" He replied questioningly. "She's got a boyfriend..? He's a jerk?... I don't mind being used by a pretty face?"

Alex gawked at the Scot for a few moments, her mouth slightly agape as previous images and words ran through her head. Finally a wide grin split her face and the blunette burst into a fit of laughter. Johnny looked at her as if he figured she'd lost her mind.

"That's too good!" She gasped through her laughter. "Boy, was I ever stupidly off!"

"They're just dances, Alex. To anyone else, they might seem like something intimate, but to Johnny it's just another way to have a good time."

Kai's words came back to her for a second time that night and she laughed harder. The girl had a boyfriend, and she didn't even seem to like the Scot for crying out loud! Kai was right, she shouldn't be jumping to conclusions and letting those silly little things bother her.

Johnny looked around a little wearily as if looking to see if anyone was watching this display. After a while he turned back to the blunette before him and blinked a minute, then a wide smile split his face as well.

"Should I be worried or am I missing something?" The redhead teased playfully, feeling in fact that he was missing something.

Alex's laughs died away and the grin on her face was impossibly big.

"Something like that." She said with a chuckle now. "Sorry stud, it's nothing, don't worry about it."

Johnny furrowed his brows and shook his head but he still looked amused.

"If you say so. Anyway, I was won-"

"Hey Alex, there are traditions that need to be upheld ya know!"

Alex turned around in confusion and her eyes fell on the bartender named Remi, whom was leaning against the bar and grinning at her like the Cheshire cat. The blunette gave her a confused look and the woman's grin widened.

"It's bad luck not to follow traditions, even if they're leftovers!"

Alex blinked at her.

"I... I don't understand what you mean." She called back, still confused.

Remi's face looked like it was going to crack, but instead of saying anything else however, she raised a finger in the air and poked it upwards. Furrowing her brows in confusion, Alex looked up and instantly flushed hotly upon seeing the sight that met her eyes.

"How cliche." She thought, feeling her entire body heat with embarrassment before looking back to the Scot.

Johnny was still staring up at the mistletoe above the archway they were under and continued to do so for some time. Just when Alex thought she was going to burst with anticipation, shifting and fidgeting uncomfortably, the redhead looked back down at her again.

"It's- it's just a stupid tradition..." Alex stuttered, attempting to sound calm and indifferent. "I understand if-"

"She's right." The Scot interrupted. "Breaking a tradition is bad luck, we don't want any of that do we?"

Alex swallowed hard, realising the task was impossible as her throat had suddenly gone dry.

Johnny smiled at Alex's doe-in-headlights look as he gazed into her entrancing emerald eyes. Lifting both his large hands, he gently placed them on her face, cupping her cheeks and a portion of her neck, and moving one of his thumbs to delicately brush her jaw.

Alex's pulse was fluttering violently now and her chest was rising and falling at an insanely rapid pace. Her breath was coming in short spurts and she felt like she was trapped in a fishbowl running out of oxygen.

Tilting his head ever so slightly, Johnny's eyes lidded half-mast as he watched the blunette's reaction, then slowly leaned down and brushed his lips against Alex's in a whisper of a kiss. From the back of the room Alex faintly registered Remi's hoots and cheers while a few people around them playfully joined her.

Over before she was able to respond, Johnny pulled away from Alex and smiled down at her.

"There, no bad luck for us." He said playfully, releasing her and taking a step back. "Now, what I was going to say earlier was; would you like to dance with me?"

Alex blinked at Johnny for a long moment, waiting for her mind to catch up with reality and process everything that had just happened. Johnny had just kissed her, it was his idea, and he'd done so affectionately. Now he was asking her to dance. Finally, she nodded dumbly, not really able to say anything else. Johnny smiled and turned to walk away, not outstretching his hand but instead simply gesturing her to follow.

Shaking her head to clear her thoughts, the blunette turned to shoot a glance at Remi. The bartender was still looking at her and smiled, giving her another wink. Alex returned her smile and finally turned to follow the Scot.

Johnny led Alex through the packed room towards the centre of the crowd. Somewhere among the bustle of moving and grinding bodies, Alex found herself getting jostled further and further away from the redhead and she struggled to keep up. Soon enough though the Scot had disappeared and Alex found herself both unable to move and unable to figure out which direction her partner had gone in. Biting her lip, she looked around at all the faces and knew immediately that she was never going to find Johnny again on her own. She felt like a lost child in a sea of grown-ups.

Suddenly, just when she was beginning to become a little intimidated by the crowd, Alex jumped as a hand wrapped firmly around hers.

"Careful sexy Lexi, you could loose yourself in here."

Alex couldn't resist the violent shiver that ran down her spine as the hot, almost seductive whisper brushed past her ear. Turning to look over her shoulder, she gave Johnny a weak smile, feeling her heart threatening to strangle her as she gazed up at the devastatingly handsome Scot.

"Johnny..." She said breathlessly, relieved to see him. He smiled at her and took a step closer, his chest pressing ever so slightly against her back.

"Stay close to me." He said softly. Alex nodded.

Johnny stepped past her, his hand still clutching the blunette's tightly, and Alex followed him through the crowd. Soon enough the redhead stopped at almost the dead centre of the room. He let go of Alex's hand and turned to face her, a heated smile on his face as he looked down at the blunette.

"I watched you dancing earlier." He informed her, leaning in as he spoke and pulling her close to him. "You're really good, no wonder you're in such high demand."

Alex forced a shaky breath as Johnny's hands came to rest on her hips, and his beautiful brown eyes stared deeply into her emerald ones.

"You're one to talk." The blunette replied with a smile, trying to ignore Johnny's body against hers.

Johnny smiled and pulled Alex closer to him, so much so that the blunette could feel every move the redhead made, every inch of his body tantalising her flesh as he moved. Noticing the blunette's lack of movement, Johnny smiled, then leaned in and placed his lips next to Alex's ear.

"C'mon Lexi, I know you can do better then that, I've seen you. Pretend I'm the guy you dream about at night; I want to see what you can do."

Alex looked up at the Scot when he pulled away, a mix of amusement and longing in her eyes.

"OK." She agreed heatedly. "But all I've got to say is; careful what you wish for, Stud."

Alex's hands slipped around Johnny's neck and her eyelids slid shut half-mast. She pressed her body to Johnny's and stared up at him with a heated expression.

Johnny smiled and leaned down until his face was close enough to Alex's to feel each others breath. His hands on her hips caressed and roamed up and down the blunette's body. Alex's head tilted back exotically as her hands trailed down Johnny's torso and slid around his back, moving then back to his hips and slipping her thumbs beneath the waistband of his way-too-well-fitting jeans, caressing the sensitive creases hidden beneath the black shirt. Johnny bit his lips against Alex's explorations and his gaze lingered on the exposed flesh of Alex's beautiful, flawless neck. Unable to stop himself, he leaned forward and dipped his head down to attach his lips to her throat. He spread hot, lingering kisses around the area and suckled gently, soon being rewarded by a small vibration he knew was a teasing moan. A shiver ran down the Scot's spine as the sound vibrated through his lips, and he pulled the blunette closer. Her head tipped back up again, her eyes still lidded half-mast, and she leaned up to press the side of her face to Johnny's.

"Ooooh baby, yea ya know what I like..." She whispered seductively along with the song.

Johnny inhaled sharply through clenched teeth. She was right; he'd asked for it - and now he was paying for it.

The Scot gritted his teeth as Alex moved against him in perfect time to the music. It was all he could do to keep up with the movements and not completely submit himself to the temptation in his arms. Damn the woman was good!

Alex regarded her partner through lidded eyes as an occasional coloured beam fell on the two. The flashing, moving, multitude of lights and smoke created a hazy, surreal, provocative dream world in the darkened room, and the blunette found it surprisingly easy to let herself run on instinct inside it as she kept expecting herself to wake up and realise it had all just been a dream. As a result of this, she no longer registered anyone else in the room, and barely took notice of Johnny hovering over her, his fair experienced fingers leaving trails of lava in their wake as their bodies moved blissfully together in perfect synchronised rhythm.

All too soon the song was over and Johnny placed a hand on Alex's lower back as he leaned in close, his own eyes lidded now as well as he stared down at the blunette.

Alex's heart raced in anticipation and she tilted her head slightly to the side to as she gazed up at the redhead. Johnny's jaw worked for a moment before finally leaning down and brushing Alex's lips. It took everything in him to resist the urge to stoop down and hoist her into his arms, wrap her legs around him and ravish her. But the tiny part of him still sane scolded him for these thoughts, and he knew he could never allow himself to disrespect his long-time friend like that.

"Thanks for the dance sexy Lexi." He whispered huskily. Alex nodded and allowed her eyes to slide shut, but moments later they opened again with a start, noticing the absence of a body against her.

Emerald eyes blinked in confusion as they scanned the area around them. Johnny was gone. Alex frowned as she felt a stab at her heart. Her shoulders slumped and again she felt like she had earlier; like she was a child lost in a crowd.

"Alex!"

Alex's heart leaped a little and she turned to the voice, but her heart sank again when she saw it was only Kai.

Kai stopped in front of her and looked around with a frown before looking back down at her again.

"Where did he go?" The other blunette asked with a serious expression.

Alex frowned again and shrugged, a pained expression appearing across her face.

"I don't know..." She said quietly. "He just... disappeared.."

"Idiot." Kai growled angrily. "Just when always I think that moron might have a shred of common sense after all, he proves me wrong every time."

Before Alex could reply, a new voice stopped her.

"My, my, don't you two make a drool-worthy pair."

Both blunette's turned to the side to see a stunningly beautiful brunette knockout sauntering towards them. When she stopped, she lifted a well-manicured hand to place delicately on her shapely hip, and gave them both a toothy, stellar smile any supermodel would die for.

"You look like someone ran over your dog." She playfully teased Alex, turning then to the handsome Russian beside her and the wattage in her smile amped-up to a blinding degree; but there was a playful glint in her eye as well. "And you look like you're ready to murder the man who did it."

"Hey, Fay..." Alex greeted her stunning friend with a forced smile she thought for sure was going to break her face. "We were just talking..."

Kai heaved a heavy, weary sigh.

"Fairlee." He greeted simply. "I don't know about murder, but it might actually do us both some good if I gave him a good kick in the-"

"That's not going to solve anything, Kai..." Alex mumbled with a frown, cutting him off. "As much as I appreciate your concern..."

Fairlee tilted her head to one side as she observed the two, her expression considerably softer now.

"Yea I saw you and the Scottish Rogue burning up the dance floor." She said to her former teammate with a slightly sympathetic smile on her pretty painted lips. "Seriously hot stuff, kiddo... what happened?"

Alex folded her arms across herself and bit her lip as she looked to the ground.

"Not sure..." She replied uncertainly. "I guess maybe he got bored..? I duno.."

Her two friends exchanged a look at that, and when they turned back to her, Fairlee placed a hand on the blunette's shoulder and gave her an encouraging smile.

"I'm sure that's not true, Lex." She said softly. "I saw the way that handsome brute was looking at you... He probably just..."

Not really sure where to go with the thought - she really didn't know the Highland prince as well as the other two did - the brunette bit her cheek and paused. This is where Kai jumped in.

"I'm gonna help you, Alex." He stated bluntly. The two young women beside him both blinked at him; the blunette with surprised curiosity, the brunette with intrigue and something else that was hard to identify.

"You are?" They both asked simultaneously. Alex added; "How?"

"By showing Johnny what he's missing."

Alex blinked at the Russian and beside her, Fairlee arched a lovely slim eyebrow. However, without responding, Kai turned away from them and began scanning the faces of the crowd.

"Who are you looking for?" The vivacious brunette asked.

"A dance partner for Alex." Kai informed her. "Someone guaranteed to turn Johnny's vision green."

Something seemed to click in Fairlee's head and her voluminous lips once again lifted, this time into a somewhat mischievous smirk.

"I know just the man." She said with a gleam in her eye.

This time it was Kai's turn to look at her, as both him and Alex watched her turn to mimic him and scan the heads of the crowd. Almost immediately her lovely cerulean eyes locked on to their intended target, and she lifted her long attractive arm to catch his attention. As soon as he'd spotted her, Fairlee offered him a charming smile and beckoned him over.

When Kai saw who she'd chosen, he smirked in satisfaction.

"Perfect." He said approvingly.

In no time at all another new face had joined them and Alex blinked at the blonde now standing before her.

"You beckoned, m'lady?" Enrique Giancarlo asked playfully, a suave look on his face.

"I did indeed, dear Enri." She purred in response, reaching out to run a finger down the blonde's chest. "We need a favour, love. Can we count on you?"

The blonde gave her a devastatingly brilliant smile that no doubt had made many a women swoon over the years, and reached out to lift one of the Fairlee's hands to delicately brush a kiss to the backs of her perfect digits.

"Anything for you, Fair, Fairlee..." He replied, not taking his eyes off of her.

The brunette seemed completely immune to his charms, and the way the blonde was looking at her like she were the very essence and embodiment of desire itself.

"Always so sweet." Fairlee said almost absently. She turned then to gesture towards Alex . "We need you to be Lex's dance partner for a while, it shouldn't take long. You don't mind do you?"

The blonde gazed at Fairlee for a moment before seemingly tearing his eyes from her and looking at Alex. After a moment, he smiled and gave her a nod of greeting.

"Hello again, Alex." He said, much more friendly and much less flirtatious then he'd been towards the brunette. "Long time no see."

"Hello Enrique." She replied simply. "Yea, it's been a while."

The blonde then turned back to the brunette.

"I don't mind a few dances with a friend. But... is there a reason you consider it a favour?" He gave Alex a playful look then. "I mean, she's not exactly hard on the eyes, so is there something else I should know?"

Fairlee placed a hand delicately on the blonde's shoulder and leaned in to whisper in his ear. It took a few minutes, but when she pulled away, there was an amused and slightly mischievous look on Enrique's face.

"Ah. I see." He said simply. "Well in that case, I suppose I'm obligated to help. After all, I always was a sucker for a damsel in distress."

This tickled Kai's funny bone and he actually snorted in amusement as a smirk came to his face. Alex looked much less impressed.

Ignoring both, Fairlee gave the blonde a look of approval.

"I knew we could count on you, Enri." She purred at the blonde. "Make it count."

She gave him a sexy wink and Alex didn't miss the way the blonde seemed to practically melt. However before he could respond, the brunette turned towards Kai with a completely seductive expression.

"So Mr. Hiwatari, why don't we leave these two alone to get the show started, while you and I claim a place on the dance floor ourselves..." She leaned in close and gave him a look that had often driven many a man to his knees, then reached up to run her finger up Kai's chest, similar to what she'd done with Enrique, but this time her finger trailed all the way up to his chin before gently guiding the blunette's face down to hers until there was barely a hairs breath between their lips. "... and perhaps... get better acquainted."

While this look had felled many a man in the past, Kai - like she had been with the blonde - was completely and utterly immune to the stunningly attractive brunette as he stared down at her with an emotionless expression.

"You're barking up the wrong tree, Fairlee." He said bluntly. "I don't dance."

That said, he reached up to take Fairlees's hand and took it away from his face before leaning back and releasing it. With nothing more to say to her, he turned back to the other pair.

"This'll work." He told Alex confidently. "Trust me."

He then stepped towards the other blunette and leaned down to place a quick kiss to her cheek. When he pulled back he gave the blonde beside her a nod.

"Enrique." He said simply. The blonde was frowning at him slightly but he gave him a return nod nonetheless.

"Kai." The blonde replied.

Kai turned then and walked away without another word to the three, completely missing the pout the brunette was giving him as he left, as well as the strange and unidentifiable look in her stunning blue eyes.

"Well, he might not dance, but I'll be free soon enough." Enrique said suggestively. "And I wouldn't mind you and I getting a little better acquainted Fair, Fairlee."

Fairlee turned back to the blonde and she seemed to once again miss the look in his eyes and the longing in his face as he offered her his best seductive smile.

"That's sweet." She said almost bluntly, offering him a simple smile in return. "We'll see. Caio, kiddies! Have fun!"

Alex looked back and forth between the two, watching Enrique's face fall as his eyes followed the voluptuous brunette, then considered the looks her friend had been giving Kai, and she sweat-dropped.

"So beautiful, but so clueless." She thought wearily.

Finally, once the brunette had been swallowed up by the crowd, Enrique released a heavy discontented sigh and turned back to the blunette beside him with a warm, this time friendly smile.

"So, I believe I'm supposed to help you out, aren't I?" He said almost playfully. Alex gave him a lopsided smile.

"So they say..." She said, admittedly a little weary of the whole thing.

Seeing the uncertain look on her face, the blonde chuckled.

"Don't worry Alex." He said kindly. "I only want to help... And I'm pretty sure this should do the trick."

Alex sighed but eventually offered the European playboy a smile before lifting her arms for a playful shrug.

"Alright, let's do this. What do you have in mind, sensei?"

Chuckling again, Enrique lifted his hand in the air to make a swirling motion with his finger, indicating Alex to turn around. She furrowed her brows but obeyed, jumping slightly when she felt Enrique's body press tightly to hers and slip his arms around her slight frame. He leaned down then to press his cheek against hers and whisper in her ear.

"Don't worry Alex." He said again, his voice soft and gentle. "I'm only doing as Fairlee asked. She thinks if we give Johnny a good enough show, it'll get his attention, and well..."

Alex looked up at Enrique over her shoulder as he trailed off.

"How do you know he'll be watching?" She asked him, still a little uncertain.

Enrique grinned.

"Trust me, he'll be watching. Now, follow my lead, alright? And remember, I'm only here to help you."

"Why?"

"You ask too many questions." The blonde teased. Then his expression softened. "Because I know what it's like to love someone and not have the courage to tell them... or have it reciprocated... Now enough talk, do as I do."

Alex once again thought of the longing looks he'd been giving her attractive friend but decided not to rub salt in his wounds, so she kept quiet and instead nodded in consent.

Enrique pulled Alex as close as possible and moved his face to gently rest his chin on her shoulder. He reached down to lift Alex's arm and place her hand on his neck, her other he placed on his hip while his own hands reached down to rest on Alex's waist. She felt a little awkward in the strange position but Enrique's voice in her ear again gave her confidence.

"Good." The European whispered. "Now all we've got to do is make it look believable."

Alex nodded as the current song ended and the next one began. Enrique gripped Alex's hips firmly and started with a few jives. He grinded against her a little and swayed his hips, moving lower to the ground as he did so. Alex easily followed his movements and Enrique smiled. The blonde then slid his hands around Alex's front until they came to rest just above her thigh. This made the blunette tense a little.

"I'm sorry Alex." Enrique said softly in her ear. "I might only be following Fairlee's request, but this is for you, I don't want to make you uncomfortable."

The blonde made to move his hands but Alex's hand on his stopped him.

"No, it's OK." She said, relaxing again. She then moved the hand that was on Enrique's and placed it behind her around his neck along with the other one.

Enrique smiled again and dipped low once more, the blunette following him easily. Alex was quickly catching on. Her body shifted and as Enrique made another dip, and her shoulders and back moved off of him, her hips pressing back towards the blonde. Her body rolled as it slowly pressed back against her European partner, first her hips, then her lower back, upper back, then shoulders, until finally Alex's head tipped backward so she was looking up at Enrique through lidded eyes.

Enrique resisted a smile; Fairlee was right, Alex was good. The European took one of Alex's hands from around his neck and lifted the hand to his lips to press a gentle kiss to her finger tips. He then leaned down to press feathery kisses to her flawless, exposed shoulder. Alex lifted her other hand and placed it to the blonde's cheek as her head leaned back to rest on his shoulder. When the blonde lifted his head, he once again placed his chin on her shoulder and both Alex's hands now slid down the length of Enrique's body to entangle themselves with the ones on her hips. Alex slid down Enrique's body then, lifting both their hands over her head as her hips swayed downward, until she was sitting on her knees. She swayed and bounced for a moment or two, then slowly slid back up Enrique's body again, rolling her own as she went.

"If that didn't get Johnny's attention then nothing will." Enrique whispered in her ear with a smile when Alex was pressed against him again.

Alex smiled as Enrique let go of her hands and momentarily pulled away from her, only to press his body so close moments later it was nearly impossible to distinguish where one ended and the other began.

"Do you think it'll work?" The blunette asked over her shoulder hopefully, her eyes closed as she listened to he beat of the music. "Do you think he'll come back?"

"I hope not." A deep and familiar voice that was obviously not Enrique's rumbled huskily. "My manly pride would force me to fight for the right to keep you for myself."

Alex gasped, her eyes shooting wide open in shock, as she turned around in the arms wrapped tightly around her.

"Johnny!" She exclaimed, staring up at him with a shocked expression.

Johnny smirked.

"And here I was thinking you'd shown me everything you had." The redhead said teasingly. "I'm a little hurt, sexy Lexi!"

Alex frowned deeply and pulled away from the Scot.

"You're the one who left me here all alone, you jerk!" She said a little angrily, trying to hide the sting the redhead had left behind. "I expected more from you! You didn't stay long enough for me to show you anything!"

Johnny wrapped his arms around Alex again and pulled her back to him. He leaned down into her face and reached a hand up to cup her cheek, much the same as he had under the mistletoe, as he stared into the entrancing emerald orbs.

"I'm sorry, Lexi." He almost whispered softly. "I just... needed some air after our first dance. I didn't mean to just leave you here all alone. Forgive me?"

Alex stared up into his warm brown eyes with a pout, but noting the pleading stare in them, she soon caved and sighed heavily.

"Fine." She said a little moodily. Johnny grinned brightly.

"I promise, I won't leave you this time. I'm yours for as long as you want me."

Alex finally smiled at the implication of this and nodded happily. She turned around in Johnny's arms again and the redhead pressed his body close once more. Soon the two were caught up in the current song and Alex found Johnny's movements to be much more exciting then Enrique's - probably because with the handsome Italian, they'd both only shared a friendly interest, but with the rugged Scot, she at least wanted something much more.

With every move Johnny made, Alex felt her insides flutter, and her consciousness again faded into the surreal dream-like state she'd been in with the redhead earlier.

After a few dips and grinds, caressing Johnny's thighs and hips on her way up, Alex turned again in the redhead's arms. Already Johnny's eyes were glazed, and he was watching the blunette like he was a cat and she were the mouse, not missing a single move she made. Their gazes were locked together as they danced, barely a blink between them.

A hiss escaped Johnny's lips as Alex slid down his body like she had Enrique's only this time she was facing her partner. Alex's hands trailed up Johnny's body on the way up and her slim fingers slipped up in under his shirt, sensually caressing the deeply carved lines on his hips that lead down into his jeans. Johnny's breath hitched as the blunette's nose nuzzled his shirt up a little higher, and he sucked in a sharp breath through clenched teeth when her lips pressed delicately against his bare hip, then parted and gave his salty skin a few tiny teasing licks before giving his hip a little nibble.

Something stirred violently deep inside him, and the redhead felt his vision swim. He was convinced the blunette before him was toying with him. He sucked in another sharp breath when this time she brushed her tongue along the deep lines on his hips. Wave after wave of a vicious heat rolled over him as Alex continued to tease and torture him. When she eventually made her way back up his body, pressing tiny kisses to his muscular chest and stomach on the way up, her fingers gently brushing his sides under his shirt before letting it fall back down again, Johnny knew he'd better wrangle it in before things got a little too serious.

The beast inside him going ballistic for even considering putting a stop to something he in no way wanted to end, Johnny forced himself to cup the blunette's face in his hand again and gently guide her back on her feet to look up at him - which she did with an adorably questioning look that made him want to devour her. Leaning down to close the distance between them, the Scot noted the almost hopeful look in her eyes as he did and couldn't help feeling a little guilty.

"Let's keep it PG, huh?" He panted slightly, ignoring his pulse thundering in his ears and the rapid rise and fall of his chest as he struggled to return the pace of his breath to normal.

The disappointed look on the blunette's face made the pang of guilt intensify, and Johnny found himself wanting to drive it away. But he didn't want to dangle a carrot in front of her either.

"OK, maybe not PG." He said with a roguish smirk. "But let's not give the virgins a nosebleed either."

This made the blunette crack up and the redheads heart melted at the sound.

"I'll see what I can do." She replied playfully.

Johnny reached up to cup both her cheeks now and another hopeful look appeared on her face. The redhead heard his inner self screaming at him to just dip down and capture those perfect, full and so-kissable lips. But he ignored that voice and instead leaned down to instead press a tantalisingly close, lingering kiss to the side of her mouth, just at the corner of those perfect lips.

When he pulled away, the Scot moved his face to press his cheek beside hers, not wanting to see the disappointed look again, and moved his hands to place one at the back of her head, the other back around her waist to pull their bodies tight together again. To his relief; the blunette, after a slight hesitation, slipped her hands back around his neck and they both easily melted back into their electric dance.

Johnny tipped his head back as he gripped Alex's waist tightly, the blunette's body sliding against him as she dipped low again, caressing his legs, hips and sides again on the way back up. The redhead could feel his body beginning to sweat and was more than glad he'd left his jacket and botton-down behind. Suddenly a low throaty groan escaped him as Alex leaned up and attached her lips to his neck, pressing tender kisses and suckling gently at his exposed throat, much like the redhead had done to her earlier. The only difference was, she almost instantly found his sweet spot. The Scot's breath hitched, his vision swam, and a deep pressure built inside him as his arms pulled the blunette as close as their bodies would allow. Closing his eyes, he leaned down and nuzzled her neck, breathing in her delicious scent as her lips moved from his throat to teasingly suckle and nip at the sensitive juncture between his neck and shoulder.

The blunette was driving him mad! Tiny bursts of colour were popping in the Scot's vision, his breath and pulse were racing dangerously, and his nerves were all spiking electrically with every touch and caress the stunning creature in his arms gave him. Each time Alex slid down his body was pure ecstasy and Johnny felt himself holding his breath more often then not. He'd never felt so much, so intensely, in his life.

This continued non-stop through countless more songs, until finally Johnny felt he couldn't take it any more; if he allowed her to continue what she was doing to him, then he knew he wouldn't be able to control the now savage, animalistic urges pulsing through him, demanding he scoop her up and carry her off to take everything she was offering him.

So, Johnny looked down at Alex as the song ended and stared into her beautiful emerald eyes yet again, all but kicking himself for what he was about to say.

"How about a drink?" He asked breathlessly, panting heavily now. Alex smiled, more than a little breathless herself, and nodded in agreement. Johnny returned the smile, taking her hand this time as he lead her back through the crowd.

Johnny grabbed his jacket and shirt off a chair as he passed, and lead Alex out of the room, across the hall and once more back into the barroom, closing his eyes and taking a deep breath when the air of the much cooler room smacked him in the face like a physical object. The two walked up to the bar and Johnny grinned at the person he saw sitting there.

"Kai, the one and only! Haven't seen you in hours, man!"

Kai turned his head and gave he redhead a weary look. He then rolled his eyes and turned back to Remi, lifting three fingers to her before speaking.

"I've seen you." He said a little coldly. Johnny's grin widened, and he brushed the comment aside, gesturing for Alex to sit beside him as he plopped down next to the other man.

"Aw, wats wong wit the pouty Russian?" He said in a babyish tone as he reached out to pinch the blunette's surprisingly un-painted cheeks. Kai slapped Johnny's hand away and glared at him.

"None of your damn business." He growled irritably.

Remi returned with three shots and smiled when she saw Alex and Johnny.

"Back again you sexy beasts?" She said cheerfully. "You two sure are suckers for punishment."

Alex grinned and shot Kai a look, making the young man smirk.

"You have no idea." She said with a laugh.

Feeling left out, Johnny picked up the shot Kai had bought for him and lift it in the air.

"To a New Year and the sexiest damn dancer here!"

Alex grinned when Johnny winked at her, and Kai's smirk widened as he raised his shot with an approving look. The three clinked glasses and knocked back their shots. Next Johnny ordered them a round.

Kai toasted ''secret crushes" this time and Alex almost choked on her shot while her face flushed scarlet. And Johnny again felt left out. Alex cleared her throat and gave Kai a small glare, then turned to Johnny and smiled as she also ordered a round for the three.

"To exciting new discoveries and always knowing when to laugh."

Johnny grinned now, feeling every bit a part of this one, and clinked glasses with his two friends.

"Here! Here!" He exclaimed enthusiastically, mimicking the other two as they once again knocked the shots back.

Johnny placed his glass down on the counter and each of the three ordered a drink for themselves. When they'd gotten them, they sat and chatted while they drank.

"Bet you never knew Alex was such a good dancer did ya Johnny?" Kai asked with a smirk. Johnny grinned and shook his head.

"Nope. But let's just say I'm pleasantly surprised."

Alex laughed when Johnny winked at her again and Kai took a swig of his drink to hide a grin.

"I didn't have much to complain about either." Alex teased with a smile, a small blush coming to her cheeks.

"So, I guess you two will be seeing a lot more of each other?" Kai questioned with a smirk. Johnny gave him an odd look and lifted an eyebrow.

"Maybe. Why d'ya say that?"

Kai lifted an eyebrow as well and gave the redhead a look.

"Well, I just figured that since you two are an item now-"

"Woah, woah, woah!" Johnny interrupted. "An item? Where did that come from? I really like Lexi and all, but we're not an item."

Johnny looked over at Alex, completely having missed the slap-across-the-face look that appeared across her beautiful features. But he didn't miss the smile she gave him - though he didn't seem to notice how forced it was.

"No, we're not an item." The blunette confirmed, though her heart wasn't in it. Johnny looked back at Kai with a triumphant expression and the Russian frowned.

"You mean to tell me that after that display you two put on out there, you're still not anything?"

Johnny gave Kai another odd look, and this time a lopsided smile of his own.

"They're just dances Kai." He said, sounding a little amused. "I usually put on a display with most of my dance partners."

Kai's eyes narrowed at the redhead.

"Not like that you don't." He growled lowly.

Johnny sighed then in exasperation and looked back at Alex for support.

"Tell him they were just dances Lexi." The Scot said wearily.

Kai raised a brow as he stared at Alex challengingly. The emerald-eyed blunette stared at the drink in her hands for a few moments, creating a slight tension among the two men. But eventually she looked up at Kai, her face void of emotion but eyes swirling with it, and finally spoke.

"They were just dances." She repeated almost robotically. She then turned back to her glass and said nothing else.

"Yous see?" Johnny said, turning back to Kai and giving him another triumphant look. "Don't get your boxers in a bunch Scrooge. Sexy Lexi knows where we're at; we're allowed to have fun without getting too serious. Right Lexi?"

Johnny turned a coy smile on Alex and winked playfully when the blunette looked up at him. However, instead of smiling or winking back, or anything else Johnny had expected, Alex simply stared at him, her face again blank and void of emotion. This time, instead of agreeing with Johnny, Alex turned away from the two gorgeous men and stood up.

"Excuse me." She said tonelessly.

Johnny watched the blunette in confusion as she walked away, but another coy smile crossed his lips as he called after the retreating woman.

"Don't be gone too long sexy! We've still got a long night ahead of us!"

When all he received for his playful comment before Alex disappeared was a single hand lifted over her shoulder, Kai spoke in her stead.

"Stop it, Johnny!" He spat coldly.

Johnny looked at the man beside him with a confused expression.

"What?" He asked, taken aback. "Stop what?"

"Toying with her!" Kai growled. Johnny blinked in confusion for a moment before his face contorted into a scowl.

"Toying with her?" He replied indignantly. "What the hell are you talking about?"

"Toying with her!" Kai repeated, his voice raising a little with his anger. "Playing with her, using her, stringing her along! It's not fair to her, Johnny! There are so many women in there who are ready to fall at your feet with a snap of your fingers, women who only want the same things you do, so don't do this to her, McGregor! It's not right!"

Johnny blinked at Kai, unable to decide whether to be angry or confused.

"I got no idea what the hell you're talking about!" He spat, choosing to expel a little of both. "I didn't do anything with Alex that I haven't done with anyone else! Don't you dare accuse me of something I didn't do Kai!"

Kai lifted his hands to tangle in his hair, ready to pull it out in his anger and frustration.

"You don't get it do you?!" He growled, his teeth clenched in fury. "You're too damn stupid and self-absorbed to see how much all those touches and glances mean to her!"

Kai turned a savage glare on the Scot then.

"And you kissed her remember?! Under the stupid mistletoe earlier, you kissed her! Did you forget about that?!"

Johnny lifted an eyebrow as he stared at Kai, not liking one bit being yelled at or accused of things he didn't do. Consequently he felt his own anger rapidly rising as well.

"You can't call that a kiss! " The redhead spat angrily. "I've given my grandmother better kisses then that! What the hell is your problem Kai?!"

Kai growled savagely and all but jumped off his stool, turning it over onto the floor in the process with a mighty crash. He leaned in to Johnny's face until the space between them was almost non-existent, and Johnny had to force himself not to back up.

"You know what?! If you're too stupid to see what's so painfully obvious to everyone else, then stay the hell away from her Johnny!" The blunette exclaimed, almost exploding with fury now. "Don't you dare so much as look at her again if you don't want anything serious! If I ever see you doing to her what you did tonight, I swear on my life, I'll make you regret ever laying hands on her!"

Johnny watched in a mix of utter shock and anger as Kai stormed out of the room. His blood was boiling over the fact that someone had actually threatened him, but he was shocked that the normally stoic and collected Kai Hiwatari had just blown a gasket thinking he needed to protect a girl from Johnny.

Blinking away his shock, the redhead looked around the room as he felt what seemed like a thousand eyes on him.

"What are you all looking at?!" He snarled angrily, giving them all wicked glares. This caused nearly every face to pale as every single eye turned quickly away form him.

Johnny clenched his teeth and pushed away from the bar, everyone in the room giving him a wide berth as he stormed out much the same as the blunette Russian had previously.

-;-

Johnny walked across the hall yet again, immediately relaxing as he let the music soothe his troubled soul. Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath, then smiled to himself when he opened them. He looked around the room, hoping to spot Alex and get some answers out of her, but the blunette was no where to be found. She was probably dancing with someone else by now, buried in the bustle of the crowd, and Johnny knew he would never find her if this was true.

Thinking back to the almost-brawl in the barroom, Johnny furrowed his brows. He couldn't for the life of him figure out what Kai's - or Alex's for that matter - problem was. He had only been in a handful of typical 'serious' relationships before, and he always found that it never took long before he felt smothered and had to end it - usually messily. However, as he considered Kai's words and the implications behind them, he thought of Alex again and something unfamiliar stirred inside him, this time of the heart-skipping-a-beat variety.

He quickly brushed that aside.

Admittedly, he'd never had any real feelings for any of the people he'd dated before - and certainly not for any of the ones he'd merely shared a single or few nights with. Considering it, he knew that he'd never really been in love, at least not the kind the whole world seemed to put on a pedestal. Sure, he'd been interested in people before, but he knew it wasn't love.

However, as he first considered his night with Alexianna, then some of the memories he'd shared with her in the past, and how he'd felt during their time together, the Scot couldn't deny that he definitely felt something different for her then he ever had for anyone else. After all, no one had ever made him feel such intense emotions at once before, and thinking back - though they'd never been quite that intense - it wasn't the first time she'd made him feel that way. In fact, the more he thought about it, the more the redhead discovered similar feelings attached to past memories with her, and he wondered how the hell he'd never realised before just how much affection and something else he couldn't quite identify he actually felt for the blunette.

Shaking his head clear of these annoying thoughts as he moved deeper into the dance room, Johnny's eyes soon fell on two familiar faces leaning against a near-by wall, and he decided to approach them.

"Hey, how's it goin'?" He greeted, inclining his chin to the two.

Tyson and Ray looked at Johnny as he approached them and returned his greeting.

"It's goin' great! I'm having a blast!" Tyson replied with a huge grin. Johnny couldn't help but smile.

"I'm having a good time too." Ray said, laughing lightly at Tyson's enthusiasm. "How about you, Johnny? Are you enjoying yourself?"

"Havin' a ball." The redhead replied, only half serious. "Listen... have you guys seen Alex anywhere?"

Tyson chewed his cheek and Ray frowned deeply as he crossed his arms, both choosing to stare at a spot on the floor rather than look at the Scot.

"I... think she went up to her room." The ravenette said carefully. "She said she was going to get some air so she's probably out on the balcony."

"Why are you looking for her?" Tyson asked, looking up at he redhead now.

Johnny rolled his eyes.

"Kai accused me of toying with her. But it's not like that. I really like her and all; I mean, she's a bloody amazing woman, but it was just a few dances. Not like they really meant anything, right?"

Looking to the other two for confirmation, he was a little surprised - and suspicious - to receive small nods and unconvincing words of agreement. Narrowing his eyes at the two for a minute, Johnny absently turned to look at the dancing crowd.

"I know I was the one who asked her to dance, and I was the one who kissed her under the mistletoe - if you could call it a kiss - but we're just good buddies, we've known each other for longer than I can remember. And like I said they're only dances."

Tyson and Ray remained silent as the Scot ranted. Eventually he lifted his drink to his lips and took a sip before continuing again.

"Why should any of it have meant anything to her? We were just playing around and havin' a good time. I mean, it's not like she's actually into me or anything."

Johnny lifted his drink to his lips again and turned back to the two men beside him, noting their continued silence. However, his mouth dropped a little and he lowered his drink again as something finally clicked in his head.

Tyson's head was down and he was chewing his cheek. Ray's face was turned away from him and the frown on his face was deeper than ever.

Johnny cursed colourfully, the shock of his realisation clearly evident on his face now. "She is into me isn't she?"

Tyson frowned now and Ray finally glanced up at the Scot, pinning him with a look that told the redhead everything he needed to know. Johnny's jaw dropped.

"Bloody hell..." He said softly. "I-... I-..."

Unable to decide what he wanted to say, Johnny bit his lip and turned away form the two. He laid his drink down on a random table he passed and hastily left the room.

---

Alex heaved a heavy sigh as she stared out over the scene before her. The wind rustled through her hair and over her face, causing her to close her eyes and enjoy the feeling. A cold chill ran down her spine but the cold didn't bother her; it was a welcome distraction from her thoughts.

The blunette sighed and opened her eyes as she stared out at the scene again. She looked down at her hands dangling over the edge of the railing she was leaning on and sighed when a thought came to her.

"They're just dances Kai. I usually put on a display with most of my dance partners."

Alex frowned deeply and looked up at the stars.

"Johnny... if you only knew..."

She took another deep breath and shifted her position against the railing, then absently scuffed the comfy ugg-style slippers she'd abandoned her sexy heels for. Her thoughts ran wild as she stared up at what she was sure was every star the good Lord ever made. Usually staring at the multitude of tiny jewels took her breath away and made her feel so small, in a good way. But tonight her problems felt way bigger then the black diamond-strewn blanket above her - and she couldn't help but sweat-drop at herself for the emo-esque thought.

She wasn't sure at all what Johnny had felt when they'd danced, or when they'd kissed, or at any point during the night, but she knew for certain that the redhead didn't feel for her the way she felt for him.

As if on cue, Alex felt a presence beside her and looked to her left. She wasn't overly surprised to see Johnny mimicking her position against the railing, even staring up at the cloudless night sky as she had been. Without a word to the redhead, she turned her own face skyward again as well.

"You mad at me?" Johnny asked softly. Alex didn't look at him as she spoke.

"Why would I be mad at you? You didn't do anything."

Alex's voice was calm and cool but there was a cold and bitter edge to the statement as well. Johnny sighed.

"I talked to Kai." He said, still softly, as he looked out the corner of his eye to gauge the blunette's reaction. When she didn't so much as flinch, he continued. "And Tyson and Ray."

Finally Alex turned to look at Johnny but her expression was a bored one.

"OK?" She replied, indicating that this information meant little to her. Johnny fully turned his head and body to face her now.

"Seems like I've been totally missing something all night... and probably a lot longer."

Alex's expression flickered for a moment but it quickly vanished and the blunette once again looked bored.

"And what's that?"

A small amused smile crept up the Scot's face now.

"I think there's a reason you were so upset about me leaving you alone on the dance floor. And why you were upset when I told Kai that none of it meant much."

Finally Alex's expression completely changed and fixed into a shocked one.

"I-I..."

She swallowed hard and quickly turned away from the redhead.

"I'm not in love with you, if that's what you're getting at!" She blurted loudly, surprising herself as much as the redhead beside her.

"Where the hell did that come from?" The blunette scolded herself in a slight panic. "Why did I say that?!"

Johnny blinked at the woman beside him for a minute, a look of utter shock and surprise on his face.

"Oh..." He said awkwardly. "I just thought that... I mean..."

The Scot bit back the stupidly huge grin threatening to appear as a single thought ran through his head.

"Yea? We'll see about that."

Fixing an awkward look on his face, the Scot shifted uncomfortably and nervously rubbed his arm, mentally patting himself on the back for his totally believable theatrics.

"Yea, that's what I told the guys... I mean, how could you be, it's me! Besides, we're just buddies right? We've known each other forever! And what with all the guys hanging off you all night... I don't know why I thought... ya know... I'm sorry Lexi, I didn't mean to make things weird. Forget I said anything."

A nuclear bomb went off in Alex's minds eye, the whole world exploded into a cloud of dust, and everything went red.

Her inner self screamed blue-murder and throttled the part of her that had been stupid enough to pass up such a long-pinned after golden opportunity.

"Damn it Alex!" She cursed furiously in her head. "Now look what you've done you big dummy!"

"It's fine Johnny." Alex replied eventually, trying not to sound as miserable as she felt. "You didn't make it weird... I mean, nothing's weird- I mean... We're cool."

She mentally slapped her forehead now.

"Smooth move, Exlax..."

It was everything Johnny could do not to grin like a damn fool, but he managed to force himself to heave a convincing sigh of relief.

"Good, glad to hear it. I came up here not knowing what I was gonna say to you but... I guess I didn't have to worry about it."

Alex frowned. Johnny must have come up to tell her he wasn't interested. In that case, it was a good thing she had said what she had.

Quickly loosing herself again in her own thoughts, Alex jumped a little when she felt the Scot's familiar huge and muscular arms snake around her, his drool-worthy hard chest press against her back, and an intoxicating scent she knew all too-well envelope her.

"Oh... Sorry sexy Lexi." The redhead apologised in a hot whisper that brushed passed her ear and sent a violent shiver down her spine. "I know you said you're not interested or anything, I just figured you looked kinda cold... I can leave if you wanna be alone.."

Alex looked at the redhead over her shoulder for a moment, then looked forward again.

"It's fine." She mumbled, not bothering to try and hide her misery anymore.

Again Alex let her thoughts wander but she was soon shaken out of them again when Johnny once more pressed closer to her, this time slipping his arms further around her waist, leaning down to rest his chin on her shoulder and nuzzling his nose - his only cold body part - into her hair directly behind her ear.

"It really is cold out here... they say body heat is the best source of heat you know."

Alex tensed and her breath hitched as her heart began to pound in her rib cage, sounding like thunder in her own ears.

Liar! The Scot wasn't cold at all, she could feel the heat radiating off of him like he was hiding a radiator under his coat. It was one of the things she'd always loved about him; the fact that while she always seemed to be cold - cold hands, warm heart and all that - the Scot always radiated a delicious warmth, as if there was an unquenchable raging fire inside him twenty-four-seven.

Feeling the blunette tense, Johnny tilted his face to give her a sheepish and shy look; which in turn made her melt at the adorable, alien look on he Scot's face.

"You're uncomfortable aren't you?" He asked, sounding a little crestfallen. "I'm sorry Lexi, I'll leave."

"No!" Alex exclaimed quickly, whirling in the redhead's arms now and clenching her fists in his shirt. "I'm not uncomfortable, really. Like you said, were... buddies. Not like this is the first time I've ever been in your arms... Besides, you know me, I'm always cold."

Johnny smiled and pressed closer to her again, this time leaning down to rest his forehead against hers, and lifting his hands to gently rub up and down her arms over the heavy woollen shawl she'd draped over her shoulders - he always thought those things looked so damn ridiculous, even if they were only meant for wearing around the house.

"Then why are you out here?" He asked playfully.

Alex sighed and looked down for a few minutes before once again looking up at him again.

"I needed to think." She said quietly. "And I needed some air."

"And cause you love the stars." Johnny replied softly.

This tugged at the blunette's heartstrings and a tender expression crossed her face, obviously pleased he knew that about her, which in turn made the Scot smile slightly before continuing.

"Why not dress for it then?" He teased, referring to the party dress she'd yet to change out of. "Or were you planning to rejoin the party?"

Alex shrugged.

"No, I'm definitely partied out... I don't know, I guess I just didn't think much about it, I just wanted out."

Johnny watched her for a moment, finding it funny that she seemed to be having a hard time keeping his gaze, when never before had she ever had a problem looking him in the eye.

"Well, you should have considered pants!" He said playfully, pulling away from her.

Alex couldn't resist a smile as she watched the redhead, expecting him to shrug off his jacket, or return to her room to fetch some sort of article of clothing. Consequently, a loud gasp escaped her when the Scot instead stooped down and slipped his huge hands around her thighs, hoisted her up, and wrapped her legs around him inside his heavy jacket. Stepping forward to sit her on the railing, he pressed himself as close as their bodies would allow and moved his hands to instead snake around back.

"Like I said, body heat is the best kind."

Alex bit her lip against the seductive whisper and intense expression on the Scot's face, especially when he leaned down to brush his cold nose against hers and pin her with a heated gaze. Once again, a violent shiver shot down her spine like it had earlier that night, only with Johnny hands now wrapped tightly around her, the redhead no doubt felt it.

"Johnny, what... what are you doing?" She asked with a strained voice, doing her damnedest to remain calm.

"Told you, sexy Lexi... I'm cold." The redhead whispered, earning another gasp from the blunette as he leaned in and nibbled her ear. "I know you're not interested in me or anything, but we're still friends right? So is it really too much for me to ask you to keep me warm? You said you're cold too right?... I can fix that."

The strong arms around Alex tightened and Johnny leaned down to latch his scorching lips onto her delicate and flawless neck, much like he'd done earlier that night. Alex bit her lip and closed her eyes, unable to resist allowing the redhead to just do what he wanted; after all she'd already ruined her chance of becoming anything more that friends with him, so who knew if there would ever be another moment like this one again.

As the intruding lips found her sweet spot and began to gently suckle, Alex knew she was no longer in control, and a deep, heated moan escaped her as she leaned pleadingly into the redhead's arms.

Johnny's head lifted from Alex's neck and he looked up through his lashes at the expression of supreme ecstasy on her face.

"What was that?" He asked, feigning surprise. "You mean to say you actually like what I'm doing? But I thought you weren't in love with me Lexi?"

Alex's breaths were a little ragged as she tried to gather together enough words to form a coherent sentence.

"Johnny, I-"

The Scot pulled back slightly and straightened as he reached up to take her chin in his hand, forcing her gaze to lock with his intense one and effectively silencing her.

"Don't deny me again, Lexi." The redhead whispered huskily. "I know you don't want to."

Without another word, Johnny darted forwards and captured her lips in a searing kiss that completely stole the blunette's breath away.

Alex instantly melted. She slipped her arms around Johnny's neck and another small moan escaped her lips as she melted into his embrace. The redhead's kiss softened, his lips sensually showing the blunette just how sorry he was, and how he fully intended to apologise right.

Pulling away from her momentarily, Johnny looked down into Alex's face and stared into her vibrant emerald eyes. Lifting her off the railing, he walked backwards, carefully carrying her back through the open balcony doors. Once inside the room Alex was staying in, Johnny leaned down to capture her lips again, lifting his foot to shut the doors so as not to break the kiss. He then pressed her up against the glass doors as he tightened his hold on her again.

Alex soon found herself lost to the Scot's touches and caresses again and felt herself slipping deeper and deeper into a blissful ecstasy. Suddenly however, as if being pricked by a needle, something stung Alex's heart and she pulled away from the redhead to turn a pained expression on him.

"I don't want this to be something to haunt me for the rest of my life, Johnny." She whispered painfully. "If I'm just going to be another one of your trophy's, just another notch in your bedpost, then this stops now... You have no idea how much you mean to me..."

Johnny felt his breath hitch as his stomach churned sickeningly.

That look...

It was a look of pure innocence and genuine love - turns out he was able to recognise it after all. In as long as he could remember, he'd never seen a look like that directed at him; he was always watching longingly as it was delivered to other people. The only looks he ever got were playful and lusty. In that moment Johnny knew that even if him and Alex weren't meat to be forever, the blunette was already still an extremely important person in his life, and he intended to do everything in his power to make her happy.

"I swear to you Lexi..." Johnny whispered softly, his thumb caressing Alex's jawline lovingly. "If you're ever hurting, I promise to be there to fix it, not be the one who causes it."

He gave the blunette a playful smile, but his eyes shone with affection, and he knew that although he wasn't there quite yet, he could without a doubt grow to love this woman like he'd never loved another woman before her.

"You are a trophy." He whispered again, reaching up to affectionately brush his thumb against her jaw once more. "But I can guarantee, there's never been another one like you... and right now, I can promise you that I don't intend there to be another."

He smiled and leaned forward to affectionately nuzzle his nose against hers, causing the blunette to giggle lightly and return the smile.

"I'm not a greedy man, Lexi." The redhead whispered once again, barely audible as if his own words intimidated him. "I'm more than content with what I've got... and until tonight I never realised how much you mean to me either..."

Finally being convinced and having enough of talking, Alex smiled happily and leaned up to kiss the redhead again. Johnny returned the kiss with a contented sigh, and moved backwards, this time to sit on the bed. The blunette smiled against his lips and placed a hand on the Scot's chest to encourage him downwards. Obliging her, Johnny leaned back, taking the blunette with him - once more without breaking the kiss - and reached up to slowly slide the ridiculous shawl off her shoulders.

"I never liked that thing..." The Scot mumbled against her lips. He smiled against said lips when a light laugh vibrated between them.

His arms once again slipping around her, Johnny finally let go of his control and lost himself to the blunette in his arms, allowing her to fully explore him as long as she wanted and pick up where she'd left off on the dance floor, knowing she'd return the favour, and knowing he'd have as long as he wanted to accomplish it.

And he intended to take the rest of his life to do just that.

---

Kai looked away from the scene before him and pulled his cell from his pocket, looking down at the screen with interest when he saw who the text was from. He read it to himself and frowned at Johnny's message, not sure he liked - or fully understood for that matter - the meaning of the words.

"You were right. We are going to be spending a lot more time together."

Kai frowned, moving his fingers to reply when a second text came through and stopped him. His frown eased and slowly turned up into a small smile when he read the second message, now fully understanding what he was reading.

"Did I ever thank you for that Glasgow hint?! I seriously owe ya one buddy ol pal! Love you, hope you're next! Happy New Year, Kai!"

Kai decided these texts didn't call for responses and placed his cell back into his pocket.

"Happy New Year, Lex." He whispered to himself, then snorted as another thought formed in his head. "Yea... I seriously doubt I'll be next, but it'd be nice..."

So Johnny set things straight after all. Good, now Kai didn't have to take it upon himself to kick the Scot straight back to the Highlands. Laying his mind to rest over Alex's problems, Kai turned to his own. He looked back up again and turned a longing look on the couple dancing a ways in front of him. No matter how much he wanted it, or how much he wished, Kai would never take Tyson's place in Hilary's arms. He never meant to fall for her; she was loud, and nosy and totally annoying more often than not, and she was seriously the last person he'd ever pick for himself to fall for. Still, he didn't have a choice; his heart had pulled a fast one on him, and he couldn't help but stare; his imagination, dreams and fantasies being the only things that gave him any comfort.

"I wonder if she knows she has a secret admirer."

Kai jumped a little in surprise and looked to the person beside him. He blinked at the familiar face for a moment, then snorted indignantly and turned away.

"And who might that be?" He said, deciding to play dumb. The new arrival smiled knowingly.

"Nice try... You know, just because there's no beginning with one person, doesn't mean there can't be one with someone else."

Kai looked back at the woman curiously. Was it possible she was right? If so, and if his match wasn't the spunky brunette he'd been admiring, then was it possible it was this person now standing before him?

Maybe. Maybe not; only one way to find out.