Friday evening. It had been 11 days since that night of bonding between Elvira and Sergei, and of the strange incident in the Grind. This was the 12th day. Logan had discovered some kind of bitemarks on his neck but they were too small and hidden under his rich hair to notice that night. Also, he was too drunk and dizzy. He never managed to recall how he got them. He figured out that it was either the result of his drunk and over excited girlfriend while they were on the dance floor and made out with each other, or maybe that place had some real vermin or rat issues and he was too drunk to notice. Silly and reckless as he was, he never had himself checked and just assumed the vertigo was caused by too much alcohol consumption, or by an infection. He settled with some casual medication and recovered in three days. He could have never imagined what really happened.

As for Alice, she explained that she wasn't feeling well either and her friend took her to the hospital. She also claimed that her phone battery was dead and that's why Logan couldn't reach her. Things were fuzzy for her too. The whole thing left a sour taste on Logan and he didn't want to look into it any further. After that, their habits went on as usual.

Sergei and Elvira didn't get much action after that night. Elvira's busy schedule and Sergei's hard work to get more into the music industry only allowed them to meet one or two times for a drink or a walk. However, they communicated often, through the phone or the internet. Sergei enjoyed those nights that he stayed up late and got to catch Elvira online. Elvira was more of a phone person but she didn't mind relaxing in front of her screen after a long day (or a long night). After all, Sergei seemed to be more sociable and confident through the reassuring safe distance that the screen provided. An introvert indeed. During this week, it kind of became a habit for them both to chat about their day, at first, then to move on to several subjects of common interest, such as their music preferences and stuff. Then, there was the good part, where they would get excited about a subject and talk for hours. There would be some teasing or hints of flirting in all that. Sergei felt so content, having these silly, interesting, funny, sometimes deep or even philosophical talks with her. The time passed quickly when they talked.

Now, it was another relaxing evening for Sergei. He and Logan had the day off, as another band performed at Eugi's tonight. Logan was out with Alice, and it seemed that he would spend the night at her place. Sergei loved the company of his best friend, but he valued his alone time in a special way. He loved having the whole place to himself, and the quiet was pretty easy to notice when the blond was not around.

He prepared his hot chamomile with milk and honey, he placed it on a coaster on the low table and sat on the couch, with his laptop on. He went online and browsed the internet a bit. Time passed by nice and easy, as he chatted with one or two people. His favorite music playlist was on, and slow and dark sounds filled the room, creating a strangely sweet atmosphere.

At some point, a notification sound stole his attention. His expression turned cheerful as he read his beloved's name. He opened the chat window.

"Staying up again, aren't we?"

Sergei took a sip from his mug while smiling, then quickly typed his reply.

"It's only 9 pm. It is you who's early."
"Fair point. Well, it was a quiet day for me. No working like a dog, no mood to hang in a bar."
"How so? Are you tired?"

She didn't respond right away.

"Anything but that. Like you, I can use some quiet from time to time."
"Need a break from challenges?" typed Sergei, with a smirk on his face.
"Well, well! Look who's gotten cheeky!"

Sergei giggled and felt amused as he was able to tease Elvira behind the screen, while her influence was not so directly intense on him from that distance. As they were chatting, he used emoticons now and then, while Elvira's texts were more plain and composed. The time passed as they went on and on, and the raven-haired often mentioned the musical tracks he was listening to. Elvira would take short breaks, either to pour herself some wine, or for other minor excuses. Sergei's attention was constantly fixed on the screen, except for the times he needed to get comfortable, take care of physical needs, stuff like that.

At some point, Sergei grew curious about Elvira's past. During all this time, they shared so much information about each other, but he realized now that he only knew what went on with her life at the present. She never talked about her origins, whether she was always a Bridgeport resident or not, stuff like that. She had mentioned one or two things regarding her career, the university she graduated from, or where she worked before, but that was it. All Sergei knew about her was what she did for a living, and that she travelled from time to time. She never mentioned anything about her personal life.

He wondered if she just didn't get the chance to do so, or if she avoided discussing such subjects on purpose. His mind wandered in the possible ways he could ask about her past, without sounding too indiscreet. A few minutes of silence passed and he typed.

"So, uhm… would you mind telling me more about yourself? I mean, stuff like… how long have you lived here?"
"A long time. I think I have mentioned that before."
"Yes you have. But, uhm, I would like to know more about... where you have lived, how you spent your time there, if you have any old friends..."

Two minutes passed and Sergei swallowed hard. Finally, she responded.

"This is not my hometown. Generally, I have travelled a lot. I don't get attached to only one place and I always considered the world a place to explore and conquer. I have spent a lot of time doing that."
"That is... amazing. You are so lucky you had the chance to do that. I was under the impression that your career consumed a large part of your life, casting such luxuries aside. Where did you find the time?"
"I made it."

Sergei responded with a smiling emoticon, then Elvira did so too. For about a minute nobody typed, so he figured that she didn't want to share more information for now. A notification sound stole his attention again.

"What about you?"
"What about me?"
"You don't talk about your life back home either."

His face darkened as familiar bitterness started growing in him.

"Oh... yeah. Well, there's nothing special to talk about. I grew up in a big house, a lonely child... my father was kind of famous in his circles. I was always kind of a loner but I was happy with what I had."
"Interesting. What about your recent years?"
"I got through some good and hard times. Though, I wouldn't take it back, cause I met Logan. It was the only thing that was worth it."
"Would you like to talk about what happened?"

Sergei felt a sob forming in his throat. He didn't respond right away, he took some seconds to form an objective answer in his mind, without letting his emotions drain him again. Maybe if he shared his feelings and thoughts with her, he would feel better, at last.

"Well... I trusted someone I shouldn't have. You see, I wasn't a loner just because I liked being on my own. I rarely found people to share my passions with. Most of them seemed too... hollow to me. Then, she came along... I had always known her but we didn't hang out much, until I got in university. I was in the department of Music and Theatre, while she was more of a dancer. Once we unfurled and combined our artistic natures, we were immediately bound to something that deepened and strengthened over time."

Elvira remained silent while Sergei was opening up about things he never mentioned before. He paused now and then, to organize his thoughts and to pass them on as best as he could.

"Then... some time passed. Everything seemed so perfectly in place. I felt I was where I should be. Then, Logan came along and I finally got a true friend. In the beginning, I was buffled and considered him an annoying, cocky guy. Then, he made me see the world around me with different eyes. For the first time in my life, I walked around the streets during early morning hours with my best friend beside me, blabbering and laughing about silly things, with our beers still in our hands."

He paused for a second. Elvira broke the silence.

"So far so good. What went wrong?"
"I was happy. In a different way than before. I always used to find bliss in graceful things, such as music, poetry, plays etc. but I never took the time to have some... silly fun. I never thought I needed it, but the reality was, I just needed a close friend to be foolish with, and that was Logan. After all that, I started to change. In general, I became more cheerful than before, and happy, in a less dramatic way. For some reason, that affected my relationship with Sheila."
"Why?"
"I didn't know. She didn't seem to like the fact that I enjoyed somebody else's company."
"So, she was jealous of Logan."
"In a way, yes. You see, before he came along, she... had me all to herself. I was so absorbed by her, so clung to her... after a long time, I realized she had her way of using me. In her mind, she loved me... just in a very possessive way."

The raven-haired excused himself and went for a refill of his chamomile. As he prepared it, he was thinking about the things he said. What did Elvira think of all this? She didn't talk much. He wished he didn't bore her with his emotionality. Of course, she asked him to tell her, but maybe she was just being polite. In the movies, she did find some things cheesy, after all.

He went back and greeted her again. He went on telling his story.

"Anyway, a lot of things happened... in general, she used every bit of the things she knew about me to her own interests. I was hurt by the way she tried to manipulate me, the games she played with my mind and my heart. In the end, I found out she... allured other men too, to be her little puppets. She needed to satisfy her arrogance so bad, she ended up being an ugly, manipulative and hollow creature. Everything I ever felt for her, died in the bitterest and most painful way."
"How did you deal with it?"
"I couldn't be around her anymore. Not even in the same neighbourhood. I couldn't stand the sight of her, nor the thought of running into her. Some time after all that stuff, I finally graduated and tried to compose myself. Then, more time passed, and I finally decided to come here."
"I see."

A minute or two passed in silence and Sergei typed first.

"So... what are you thinking of?"
"The things you said."
"How do you feel about them..?"
"It doesn't matter."

Sergei got confused.

"Okay..."
"What matters is, you are here now. There is no use of mourning about what you have lost, or the pain that you felt. They say, when a door closes, another one opens. Or, when life gives you lemons, you make lemon juice. Whatever."
"Yes... you are right. Did I tire you with all this?"
"Of course not. If you feel better after opening up like this, then I am glad to be here."

Sergei's lips curled into a smile. He felt better indeed.

"I am glad too. I would be more glad if you were actually here."
"That is something that can be arranged," she typed, leaving a wink emoticon in the end, surprising the blushing man.
"Do you mean...? Coming here?"
"Yes."
"Oh..." he froze as he was about to take a sip from his mug, a bliss building in him slowly.
"Don't you want me to?"
"I do! I mean, it is a great idea but you don't have to get in trouble. You probably work early tomorrow... I don't want to distract you."
"You won't. I was the one who suggested it. And I intent to get there."
"Why?"
"I have a car, you don't. And... it would be interesting to see your apartment. You have seen mine," she left another wink.

Sergei blushed again, not sure if it was caused by her possible intentions, or the fact that he would see her again.

"You are right. Logan is out, after all. Take your time, let me know when you get here."
"Will do."

Once they both logged off, he jumped off the couch and rushed into tidying up the place, changing into fresh clothes and lighting up a candle or two. Elvira came over shortly and the doorbell rang. He let her in the building and waited for her at his doorstep. When the elevator doors opened, his jaw dropped by her stunning appearance. She wasn't dressed formally as the other times he saw her, but she was as astonishing as always. At least, that's how he felt.

They exchanged smiles and she approached him, whispering softly "hello, you." She went for a kiss but he embraced her warmly, burying his face in the crook of her neck and taking in her fragrance. He held her like that for a few moments, then he planted a soft kiss in her lips. She stroked his hair, then he moved aside and led her in his apartment. She explored the place with her eyes, processing everything that got her attention. She could easily guess which stuff belonged to which one of the two friends.

"Wine?" Said Sergei, as he held out two glasses.
"Sure."

He poured some and sat on the couch, next to her, then handed her the second glass. She took it and held it slightly extended towards him.

"To making lemon juice."
"Huh? Oh..!" Sergei slightly got confused at first, then he remembered what she had told him earlier during their chat. She chuckled by his reaction.
"To making lemon juice, then." They clung their glasses.

The rest of the evening passed pleasantly, as the couple spent time together talking and flirting. Later, they watched a movie together, Elvira being in Sergei's arms. Occasionally, they would exchange sweet words and intimate gestures, caressing each other, kissing, and sometimes making out. Elvira was eager to take this to the bedroom, and she would have it, though not exactly in the way she imagined it.

At some point in the night, they kissed and kissed, then Sergei gently lifted her and silently walked her to his bed. He laid her there. Then, he lighted a few candles and put on some relaxing music. He returned to his beloved's side and just laid there with her. He didn't undress her and he didn't advance to any other actions. He just planted gentle kisses on her lips and her neck, as he held her close. He caressed her here and there, and at some point, she urged him to take this further. His body ached for her, but he didn't want to. He wanted to get drunk in her sight, her reactions and the feelings that filled him. There was nothing more sensual to him, than to have her melt in his arms, as they both ached for more.

Time passed slowly. He treated her like she was a godess to him and passion built in her slowly but fiercely. He caressed her body, but never reached for her center of lust. That drove her crazy. She attempted to take control of the situation but he cut her off, holding her hands beside her, interlocking fingers, driving her even crazier. With nothing more than each other's warmth and their lustful thoughts, they continued this game of mind and chemistry, with Sergei leading on. Eventually, he slowly cherished his well-earned prize, getting drunk by the dazing sight of her melting in his arms, using only his imagination, even though he couldn't stop her from finally locking his body into a death grip, as her aching need demanded so. His body might not be satisfied the same way, but his mind wanted nothing more.

Her expression showed she had not experienced such an approach in a long time. During all this time, the room was only filled with the soft sounds of that music player, eventually joined by deep breathing. They didn't talk for the rest of the night (which was about to end in a couple of hours). They leaned into each other and closed their eyes, just laying there in bliss.