CHAPTER 2


We'd already polished off our third drink, and Dimitri was turning out to be both entertaining and the perfect gentleman. There was just something about the way he laughed that pulled me in. And how every so often his hand would drift across the bar and he'd run his knuckles softly down my arm causing goosebumps to appear everywhere he'd touched. But nevertheless I could still feel a certain pair of eyes fixed on me from across the room.

"Annabella is a beautiful name." Dimitri says with a smile, making his electric blue eyes crinkle slightly around the edges. I breathed a thank you in response, and took another sip of my martini. By this time I could feel the alcohol settling in, but I wasn't drunk. I had finally reached the perfect level of tipsy that allowed me to unwind just enough to not act like a total spaz. "So, did come here alone tonight?" His voice was deep and rich, and it seemed like the alcohol was causing his Russian accent to flow a bit more freely.

"I came with a couple of my roommates and friends, they're just over there." I said, pointing across the club to direct his eyes where my friends were seated. Logan and Opal were still enthralled in their never-ending make-out session, and Harlow and Christopher were laughing and drinking with Oliver.

"Ah, so just a bunch of friends then, yeah?" came Dimitri's reply and I could feel my cheeks heat up, and I managed a nod. "Well, that's wonderful. I'd hate to have to steal you away from some poor guy."

"No poor guy to steal from here." I said honestly as the bartender set down another round of drinks for the both of us, and Dimitri placed a few bills down on the counter to cover them.

"Do you dance, Bella?" I almost corrected him and told him it's Belle, not Bella, but for some reason I liked the way it sounded coming from his lips.

I paused for a moment to think his question over, and took a few sips of my drink to stall my response. When I looked his way he was staring at me with a curious look, one eyebrow raised, and a small smile playing on his lips. I sighed. "Dance, yes. Well? Absolutely not." I finally lamented.

"We'll just have to fix that." And with that he took my hand and pulled me up off my stool towards the large dancefloor. I could really feel the alcohol now that my was in motion. Ah, shit.

"I meant it when I said I really don't dance well!" I said, nearly frantic as we neared the dancefloor. I had no sense of balance even on my best days, and I just knew I was about to lose any sense of allure or charm Dimitri might have seen in me.

"Shh…" He said, placing a finger against my lips, and again I felt my cheeks turn red and betray me. "Don't worry, Bella, just follow me." He pulled me close and wrapped both arms around my waist. I put my arms around his neck, and hoped that clinging to him might afford me a little bit of balance. "See, you're alive." He said with a cute half smile.

"For now." I challenged.

"For now." He agreed with a nod, and I could feel the rumble of laughter in his chest against my own. He pulled his face back to meet my eyes and there was the faintest sparkle of mischief in his own. And then I felt his lips softly against mine. The kiss was delicate and yet intimate, and when his eyes found mine again there was more than just mischief playing within his own. He tightened his arms around my waist and leaned in for another kiss, but this kiss was different. I felt his tongue graze over my bottom lip asking for permission, which I granted. I whimpered into the kiss and curled my fingers in his hair, pulling him closer to me.

"Bella…" He breathed huskily when we finally broke the kiss to come up for air, and I smiled at him shyly. He placed a quick kiss at the corner of my lips, and if it was even possible I felt my face turning a deeper shade of red. Did we really just make-out on the dancefloor? What type of cliché is that?

"There's…um…I'm having a party at my house after this. I'm sure you're busy, and it's sort of last minute, so I understand if you don't want to-" I was cut off midsentence by his lips on mine once more.

"I would love to come." I smiled at him and took his hand in mine, pulling him towards my friend's booth. Upon closer inspection I realized that Alec had joined the group, along with some drunk brunette that was hanging all over him like a baby koala bear. I made a point to not look directly in his direction as I introduced my company.

"Guys, this is Dimitri. Dimitri, this is everyone." I went around the table introducing everyone a bit more formally, and it turned out that the mystery koala girl's name was Aubrey. Dimitri and I slid into the round booth as well, and of course I end up just opposite of Alec.

"What are you even doing here, Alec?" I hissed across the table, and he looked up at me with an amused look on his face.

"I promised to play nice, so put your claws away." Alec said with a smile. Aubrey, clearly upset that Alec had deigned to speak to another female, pulled his face into her own and placed a kiss on his lips. A bit demanding, but effective I suppose. I rolled my eyes. He's all yours girl, no worries.

"Are you guys ready to go?" I asked, looking towards Harlow and Christopher, to which they both nodded in response. Oliver agreed, and after we'd managed to pry Logan and Opal apart, they'd agreed as well.

"Are you coming to the party, Alec?" Christopher asked, which sent one of my pointy heels flying under the table to connect with his ankle. "Ow! Dammit." He complained, and Alec looked at me from across the table with an amused glint in his eyes.

"Sure, I'd love to come." Alec said, his eyes locked on mine.

"Me too!" Aubrey giggled, looping her arm through Alec's and pulled his gaze back towards her. I fought the urge to roll my eyes. I wasn't going to let him get to me anymore. I had promised myself that months ago. What he did was unforgivable, at least to me. And besides, I had a proper gentleman sitting to my right. Dimitri.

"Would you mind giving me a ride back to my place, Dimitri?" I asked, as a wide smile stretched across his face.

"Of course, beautiful." He whispered lightly, placing a quick and light kiss against my lips.

"Th-Thank you. Let's get out of here then."

Everyone filed outside and exchanged temporary goodbyes as they made their ways to their vehicles. Dimitri took my hand in his and steered me over to his car, and my jaw nearly his the ground when he pulled his set of keys out and hit a button causing the lights of a red hot convertible to flash. I pulled myself together as he opened the passenger door for me and helped me in. As he made his way around the car I again felt eyes on me, and when I turned to look out my window my eyes met with Alec's. He was paused beside his driver's side door, and I flipped him off. He shook his head and pulled the door open just as Dimitri slid into the car beside me.

A few moments later I felt the buzz of a text message from my phone. I opened it.

That wasn't very ladylike, "Beautiful".

-A.T.

I quickly texted back a response and shoved the phone back into my bag.

I hate you.

-A.

I felt my phone buzz again just ask Dimitri and I pulled up to my house, but I chose to ignore it. Alec had a lot of growing up to do, and even if I did sometimes miss my friend, my best friend, I couldn't overcome the feeling of betrayal that came over me whenever I thought about him. I didn't need a friend like Alec Tiers.


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