Chapter Eight

Christian sat at the grand piano, his fingers caressing the keys. Any other time he'd barely have to look down, but tonight his touch kept faltering as his mind wandered and he grimaced, pained each time he hit a wrong note.

His eyes wandered yet again to his cell resting silently on the closed lid of the piano, taunting him. It was nearly eleven pm. Over twenty four hours without a word from Elena. Was she really that mad at him? Had she found out about him speaking with Ana today? He took a deep breath and flexed his fingers, reminding himself that Linc was just most likely home for the weekend and he began to play again; feeling the tension of the keys beneath his touch as he picked up the tempo, the lilting notes filling the room around him. Movement from the doorway caught his eye and he looked up to see his mother stood cradling the house phone to her chest like a new-born baby, her face split with a grin.

He creased his brow and his fingers slowed to a stop as he watched her in confusion, trying to understand what he was seeing as she made her way towards him, her excitement barely contained with each step she took.

"It's for you!" She hissed in a whisper as she held the phone outstretched towards him.

Christian stared at the handset blankly and blinked. Elena wouldn't call the home phone and besides Grace would know Elena's voice, they were good friends. Tentatively he took the phone and held it to his ear.

"Hello?" Christian could instantly hear the distant thumping rhythm of music on the other end.

"…Christian?" The feminine voice whispered softly and Christian was surprised to recognise it instantly.

"Ana? Where are you?"

"I'm in Kates Closet" Ana whispered back, before she trilled a giggle and he heard her slap her hand over her mouth to try and mute herself.

"Why are you in the closet?"

"Why are you?" She giggled again.

"Anastasia, are you drunk!?"

Grace backed out of the room on tip toes, still smiling until she gave a small wave and discreetly left the room and closed the door behind her. Christian watched after his mother helplessly.

"No… I only had the-the punch… and that's not alco-alcolol-alcololic" She hiccupped.

Christian ran his fingers through his hair and sighed. That would be Wes' gin he guessed.

"So, you're in a closet and decided to call me… Why?"

"because I- I don't want to. He's just my friend"

"You don't want to… Jose." It wasn't a question, he already had his answer. "Stay there. I'll come and get you" He was already on his feet, patting down his jean pockets for his car keys.

"Ok… I'm in a closet… A big one… with lots and lots of shoes. Pointy pretty shoes"

"I'll find you, don't worry about that"

"Wow…These are hooker shoes…"

"Hang up the phone Anastasia…"

"No bossy. You hang up…" She giggled and he hung up.

Less than ten minutes later Christian was pulling up outside of Kate's vast house, every window was lit up, framing silhouettes of mingling, dancing people within them as music pulsed into the night, bodies littered the steps and cars haphazardly covered every square inch of drive. Christian pushed the button on his key fob locking his car behind him, the car flashing its lights in recognition as he reconsidered his confidence in finding Ana so easily. Slipping his keys back into his pocket he made his way towards the throng of the party, stepping over a girl he presumed unconscious he felt her hand reach out and take hold of his ankle.

"Hello…" She slurred, looking up at him. "You never come to parties…. We should… we should have some fun gorgeous Christian Grey" Her eyes rolled back closed as her hand ran clumsily up his calf. Christian bent down to her level and opened the clutch purse that lay in her lap, he opened it relieved to see his presumption was right and pulled out her cell, scrolling through her contacts his thumb punched call when it reached 'Mom' and placed the phone to her ear. Her hand dropped from his calf as the call was answered on the third ring and he left her to an awkward conversation he hoped would at least save some of her dignity and hopefully a whole lot of regret.

He walked through the front door that was propped open by a silver beer keg and his eyes widened as he looked around at just how many people were here, surely Kavanagh couldn't actually know all of these people? Christian cut through the crowd, weaving his way passed the faces, seeing some he knew from school and ignoring the stunned looks on their faces as they stopped and stared at him.

Kate's house, or rather her parent's house was tasteful and modern, and somewhat minimalist for a family home, with large open plan spaces, white marble floors and pop art on the walls. He saw the stair case sweeping up over the heads of the party goers, and quickly made his way to it, the polished chrome banister running through his hand as he took the steps two at a time, as he reached the top he looked down, through the glass panelled barriers with a bird's eye view at the melee of ruined rugs, crooked wall hangings and sculptures used as coat racks and drink holders. All of high school debauchery laid out below him and he wondered idly if Princess Kavanaghs parent's would actually let her get away with this.

Looking back he was faced by several closed doors, all uniform except for the glittery pink door hanger labelling 'Kate's Room'. Walking passed an entwined couple, who obviously hadn't quite made it to a room and didn't seem to care a jot as items of necessary clothes dropped the floor around them, he steeled himself to open Kate's door. Giving a silent prayer he wasn't about to walk in on his brother he turned the handle and pushed open the door, walked in and flicked on the light keeping his eyes firmly away from the bed.

"What the Fu-… GREY!? Get out!" Christian's gaze reluctantly followed the male cry, familiar but thankfully not Elliot and glanced at the bed seeing Wes naked for all but a corner of the duvet and a mass under the rest of it. For a moment Christian was shocked that even Wes had got laid tonight but as he looked down at the floor he saw two sets of male clothes strewn everywhere and his surprised was instantly replaced with vindication. Christian's lips curled up into a smile as he met Wes' eyes and watched the boy swallow and pale as he shrunk into himself. The unnecessary conversation hung between them, not a word needing to be spoken and shaking his head in amusement, Christian turned his attention back to the closet door and pulled it open. Finding Ana curled up asleep, he sank down to kneel at her level and tried to gently cajole her awake.

"Anastasia?... Ana, wake up…" He shook her shoulder softly and her brow creased as she smacked her lips together.

"Five more minutes mom…" she whispered softly.

Christian shook his head. "Ana, it's Christian. Time to go home"

"Christian hates me…"

"No Christian… I, don't hate you. I'm here to take you home… Wake up…" He sighed as Ana just seemed to snuggle down more against the hard closet wall. "Anastasia wake up, or I swear to God I'll carry you out and school will be talking about it for weeks… Ana… Ana. Wake. Up." He patted her cheek as gentle yet forcefully as he could but her face simply fell limply into his palm as she moaned contentedly.

"You have nice hands… fingers… sexy… long… nice… sexy… you are."

"Oh for Christ sake Ana…" He scooped her up into his arms and stood with her, turning back to see Wes still huddled in bed paralysed by fear next to his anonymous mound.

Deciding not to spare Wes of the worry that his secret was safe, he simply carried Ana from the room and juggled her in his arms to close the door behind him. The jostling finally woke Ana and her eyes slowly focussed on him sleepily, her large blue eyes grew wider as she seemed to become aware of herself with a gasp.

"Put me down… put me down-put me down-Put. Me. DOWN!" She shrieked, kicking her legs so much he nearly dropped her. He set her down on the floor and she pulled out of his hands, barely taking a step away before she crumpled to the floor and sat staring at her feet in dismay.

"Hooker shoes…" She breathed, staring at the platform eight inch black stiletto's all straps and diamantes as if she had no clue how they got there.

Christian crouched down beside her and lifted her foot and inspected the shoes closely. "I didn't have you down for the hooker shoe type of girl Anastasia"

"I think I found them in Kate's closet…" She said as she twisted her foot around looking at them closer.

"Well… That makes more sense" He said, setting his mouth in a grim line as he tried to figure out which strap would actually remove the contraptions.

"Ana, I've been looking for you…" Jose jogged up the stairs breathlessly towards them.

Christian dropped Ana's foot and stood up to face Jose. "I'm taking her home"

"Home? It's not even midnight" Jose scoffed. "Ana, c'mon let's go dance… Get something to drink"

"She's not Cinderella and she needs to go home. She's had more than enough to drink."

"She's my date…" Jose's eyes narrowed as he squared his shoulders.

"Date's over." Christian kept his tone matter-of-fact and bent down to Ana again to begin helping her undo the many buckles with his quick, deft fingers.

"Say's the almighty Grey, always better than everyone else aren't you!?" Jose's voice boomed as if he was making an announcement, the slur of his words telling on where his sudden bravado had come from. "My date, my responsibility"

"Oh and this…" He gestured to Ana, sat slumped on the floor and held hostage by the shoes "Is your idea of responsible? Or is unconscious the only way you can get a woman?"

"Like you would know, you don't even date!"

Christian shook his head, bored of wasting his time and took a hold of one the shoe's heels to try and pull it off.

"I said… My date Grey!" Jose staggered, his stride faltering with the drink and placed his hands on Christians back, the next thing Christian was aware of was the crunch of his own knuckles against Jose's jaw and the stunned look on Jose's face before he gripped Christian's shirt and tried to pull him off balance while landing a blow to Christian's ribs. Christian twisted to deflect the impact, his shirt tearing in Jose's hands. The whole house erupted in a roar of cheers and screams and people rushed from every corner to watch the fight unfold.

Ana's POV

Ana battled with the remaining shoe, tugging at the straps as everyone started chanting 'fight-fight' like blood thirsty Neanderthal's, kicking her foot out in frustration, her leg flailed and the shoe flew from her foot and smacked Jose square in the eye. Jose crumpled, clutching his eye with a cry of pained surprise. Christian pulled himself out of his grip and stood over him, fists hovering and his breaths ragged with anger. Ana pulled off her other shoe and aimed it at the back of his head, it bounced off her target and he spun round rage clear in his eyes until his gaze fell on Ana and she watched it instantly dissipate when he looked from her to the second shoe at his feet. Ana pulled herself up with the bannister and stood precariously.

"Stop fighting… Please." Ana swayed on her feet as the room span and she grasped her head as if this would help to stop it spinning and closed her eyes and swallowed hard.

"Ana… I think you need some air" Ana opened her eyes to look at Christian, his expression dropped with alarm. He reached her in two long strides and took her by the elbow, quickly guiding her through the house, splitting the crowd with the glare of his eyes until the cool night air hit her like a wall.

She breathed in deeply, trying to gulp in the clarity of the cool air, her fingers tingled as if they didn't quite belong to her.

"Ana? …You don't look that well…" Christian placed a hand at her elbow, she wanted to say she was fine, she really didn't want to not be fine, especially around Christian but her arms began to feel like lead as her legs grew as light as a feather. The world tilted before it spun then in a blink it was gone.