'...And that was when security threw him out.'

I giggle and gulp down the remains of my fifth cocktail. 'What did he expect? He asked the owner of the company if he was GAY!' I can't stop laughing.

'Actually, that was one of my questions,' Kate says, twirling the glass around in her hand, her other arm draped casually over Levi's shoulder.

'What, seriously?' says Levi, while I chime in with 'No way, in what universe would that ever be appropriate?'

Kate looks offended. 'He's never been seen with any women, even though he's incredibly hot and incredibly rich. I thought it was a valid question.'

'He probably thought the guy was trying to make a move on him,' José snorts, prompting me to giggle even more.

The four of us are out celebrating the end of exams. José's dad and my stepdad Ray are best friends, so José is like a brother to me, and he and Levi are both photographers. Normally, I don't drink at all, and I've always preferred staying home with a book to partying, but this evening has been surprisingly fun.

'Yes, well, I did think I was going to be the one doing the interview. It would have been fine if it'd been a girl asking, Ana.' She waves a wobbly finger in my direction.

'Oh no, you don't get to pin this one on me,' I protest.

'Anyway, he obviously touched a nerve.'

I shrug. 'Maybe he's just too busy building up his multimilliondollar corporation to have time to date.'

'Or maybe he's just really deep in the closet. Who cares, I want to dance!' Kate drains her glass, slams it down on the table and heads to the dancefloor with Levi in tow. José edges closer and a wave of nausea washes over me.

'Excuse me a minute, I need some fresh air,' I mumble, and head for the nearest exit.

It's not until the cool air hits me that I realise how wasted I am. I can barely stand up straight. This would be why you never drink, Anastasia, my superego scolds, pushing her black horn-rimmed glasses up her nose. I mentally tell her to shut up and prop myself up against a wall for support, taking deep breaths and trying to stop the world from doing somersaults around me.

'Ana? You OK?' It's José. Or, rather, two Josés, swaying and overlapping. I feel ill.

'I think I just had one too many margaritas. Go back in and get us some beers, I'll be fine.'

'You don't look fine,' he murmurs, slipping his arm around me, and pulling me towards him. As supports go, he's a lot warmer and more comforting than the wall, but then he angles my chin up towards him and there's an intense look in his dark eyes which makes me uncomfortable.

'You know I like you, Ana. Like, really like you.' He's slurring his words, and panic rises in me. I don't want to be having this conversation, not here, not now. I may be drunk, but I'm not quite drunk enough to start randomly kissing people. Frantically, I try to think back through the evening's events to see if I've done anything to give him the wrong idea, but my mind is blank. Jose bends his head down and nuzzles the side of my neck.

'OK...' I say weakly. 'Let's go back inside.' I jerk my head away and try to squirm out of his grip, but he doesn't seem to notice, trailing kisses up my neck and along my jawline. Alarm bells start sounding in my head. José may be my friend, and he may not be anywhere near sober right now, but if he keeps this up I'm going to have to unleash some of the self-defence moves Ray taught me... if I still have the co-ordination, that is.

I flex my fingers experimentally as José leans in to plant a kiss on my lips, but my mouth has other ideas. The wave of nausea surges up again and this time it's overwhelming. It's too late, I can't stop it. I try to get away from José but I'm not quite quick enough, and we both watch in horror as I spew all over his pants.

'Dios mio, Ana!' José yells, jumping from foot to foot and ineffectually dabbing at the vomit with his shirt sleeves. It's on his shoes as well. Holy crap. I have never been so mortified in my life. I burst into tears, while my superego looks on smugly with her arms folded. See? This is what happens when you try to be someone you're not.

'I'm sorry!' I wail. 'I'm so, so sorry. Let me help you clean it up...' I fumble in my bag, looking for tissues, but as ever I am unprepared. I wipe my eyes with the bottom of my t-shirt. 'I'll pay for the dry cleaning... I'm so sorry...'

'It's fine,' says José moodily, though clearly it isn't.

'Ana!' Thank God, it's Kate. I burst into tears afresh. 'I heard you were crying in the parking lot. What happened?'

'I think she had a bit too much to drink' says José. 'I need to go to the bathroom, get this cleaned up.' He stomps off, his shoes squidging as he goes.

'I threw up on him,' I sob.

Kate puts her arm gingerly around me. 'He'll forgive you, he's crazy about you.'

Right now, I don't think I want him to forgive me. At least not before I forgive him, and that may be a while.

'I'm going to be sick again.' I announce. This time I make it to the trashcan, and Kate rubs my back comfortingly.

'As soon as you think you can go ten minutes without puking, we're getting a cab home.'

'No! You were having fun...'

'Not really. Levi is all over me and I'm just like, meh, I'm so done with students. I can't wait till we're in Seattle and there's a whole new city full of guys to check out.'

Despite myself, I laugh. What would I do, without Kate to rescue me?