A&N: Pressure of work makes me hard to concentrate on constructing the story. I hope I will finish this story as planned.

Chapter 1

The scent of fresh citrus and mint came from the darkness. Mello's eyes were blurry, his groped with his hands and touched comfortable soft sheets. He opened his eyes and took a few seconds to realize that he was lying in a big bed, covered with a blanket，as sunlight shone into the room through the muslin curtains. He struggled to get up and gave a neigh, as a fit of dizziness came over him. He held his forehead and vaguely remembered that his group members had met at the bar last night to celebrate finishing their assignment and that he had been pressured into drinking heavily. He looked blankly at the clock on the bedside table, which showed that it was already 10 o'clock. He couldn't remember what had happened after the third drink.

"You're awake."

Mello was trying to recall just now and didn't notice a woman with long blond hair standing by the bedroom door. Mello turned, as she crossed her arms in front of her chest.

'Where am I? And who are you?" Mello said confusedly.

"Don't you remember what happened last night?" The blonde walked over, dressed in a nice robe with the pattern of colored ink, which was just like a Chinese ink painting at a distance.

Mello caught a glimpse of her plunging neckline from the corner of his eyes, as his heart began to beat quicker. He hated that he thought of commonplace possibility first. He picked up the corner of the blanket slightly and quietly glanced down. He slightly relieved when he saw that he was dressed in his own pants.

Mello looked up and saw that the American accented woman staring at him, as he looked away sheepishly.

The blonde woman pretended not to notice the small act that he made. "My name is Halle Lidner. You're at my flat. You were drunk last night and then you came back with me." She continued saying.

It was not a large room. There was a king-sized bed with a cowhide backrest and a dressing table littered with bottles boxes. There was no doubt that this was the bedroom of the woman standing near the bed.

"Why did I come back with you?" Mello narrowed his eyes.

"Ask yourself." Halle sat by the bed, smiling. She crossed her legs and propped her right hand on the bed. They were so close that Mello could smell her fresh citrus and mint-scented

perfume. His face burned and he moved aside. Halle raised her eyebrows and continued.

"Last night, I came out of the bar and waited the cab I ordered. You got on before I closed the cab door."

Mello tried his best to mimic what Halle had described in his mind. "Then?" He asked.

"We came home by cab."

"When we came home…"

"You threw yourself on my bed and fell asleep soon." Halle patted her knees gently with her left hand.

"What about you?"

"I slept on the couch."

"That's it?"

Halle blinked. "What do you think should have happened last night?"

"I went to the bar with my friends last night." Mello stated.

"I didn't see any of your friends, and I wished someone had taken you away when you held me tight."

"How do I know if you're telling the truth?"

"That's up to you." The corner of Halle's mouth twitching, she suddenly lost interest in teasing the boy.

"What did I say? I mean, haven't I said any word since I got in the cab?"

"Umm…" Halle cupped her chin as if she was thinking. "You said out a dozen of names, exams, papers. You repeated you would go home several times."

Mello scolded in his heart his friends who took him to the bar but left him alone. "Why didn't you push me off?" He asked after a moment's hesitation.

Halle narrowed her eyes, flashing a smile that made Mello's hairs stand up. "Someone threw up on my new dress I bought last week, and I had to pay the taxi driver extra for a car wash. How could I let him go so easily?"

Mello lifted the blanket and struggled to get up after perpetual awkward silence.

"Where's my coat?"

"There." She pointed at the closet.

Mello took his jacket and touched the pockets. He bit his lip and murmured. "I didn't bring that much cash. where are your dirty dress ..."

"Don't worry, Mihael."

"Excuse me?" Mello glared at Halle as he heard his name, but he immediately realized that she had likely seen his student card in his jacket pocket.

"Mr. Keehl. It doesn't matter." Halle called his surname tactfully. "My dress was sent to the laundry. I think you'd better take a shower now." She covered her nose and took a glance at the bathroom door. Mello suddenly smelled the awful smell of alcohol on himself.

Mello turned off the tap. He picked up a soft towel hanging on the towel rail and carefully patted his skin dry. The bath refreshed him up, though his head was still spinning. He put on his clothes quickly. He found a new toothbrush and a bottle of unopened mouthwash in the drawer under the marble tops. He looked at himself in the mirror, with circles under his eyes. He had never thought one day he would wake up in a strange woman's room. He regretted that he had gone to the bar last night and wasted precious time rather than reviewing his lessons. He knew he was not a good drinker and would not remember what would happened when he drank too much. But the woman, who called herself Halle Lidner, didn't seem to be lying. He never counted on John and Dan. However why had even Linda left him when he was drunk last night? Thinking of this, he thought he should make a phone call.

Mello got out of the bathroom, seeing Halle was dressed in a beige wool dress near the kitchen island.

"Are you leaving?"

"Yeah..." Mello stammered, walking to the living room. He put on his jacket, and touched the mobile phone in his jacket pocket.

"Would you like some bread before you leave? I made coffee."

"No, thank you for your kindness." Mello licked his lips. He zipped up and opened the door. He took a step across the door and retreated back soon.

"Give me your phone number. When I get paid next month, I'll pay for the laundry charge and cleaning car." He said, holding his phone in one hand.

Mello walked quickly alongside the Thames. His stomach had been growling since he smelled the coffee at Halle's flat. It's a great location. He had just been able to see the Thames and Tower Bridge from the window of Halle's living room, and the was very well furnished and decorated. The rent must be high. He arrived at the underground station in less than five minutes, and reached into his pockets habitually.

"Damn it." He cursed. It was John who had said he would buy and pay for the taxi yesterday, so Mello didn't take his Oyster card. He stared at two pounds fished out of his pocket and was silent for a moment before shoving the notes back into his pocket and going away. He decided to go back on foot. After all, he had promised to pay for the laundry and car-cleaning. He would be over his budget this month, and it was worthy of giving up taking underground to save traffic expenditures.