Sapphire

"Do you want a drink?" Ian asks as he moves us through the crowd, our hands interlocked so we don't lose each other.

"Only if you drink with me." I beam innocently, squeezing his hand gently. "You need to loosen up a little."

He immediately shakes his head, finally stopping in front of the kitchen bar. "I'm driving, remember?"

"We can take an Uber back home." I shrug, hopping onto a stool beside him. "Don't be a party-pooper."

He glances over at me before settling his attention on a group of people standing near the back of the house. "One of us has to be aware of what we do. If not, we'll ruin the whole plan."

I roll my eyes. "You're treating this as if it's a special FBI case." Ordering myself a strong margarita, I twist in my seat to face him. Staring at the side of his head, I notice how he clenches his jaw in irritation. I decide to follow his gaze. Of course, I think to myself. He's staring at Julissa partying with a group of guys. "What are we supposed to do, anyway? They seem to have her full attention. Seems to me, we don't even have to continue this – she's no longer bothering you." I slap a hand on his back.

Finally, he tears his eyes away and looks over at me, as if suddenly becoming aware of my existence.

He sighs, "Why do I even care that she's with them?"

"Maybe because love doesn't fade overnight?"

"How about two weeks?" He asks dejectedly.

"About the same amount of time when it comes to being heartbroken and trying to move on." I say sympathetically, patting his shoulder in a comforting manner.

When I get my drink slid over to me, I instantly grab it and guard it. For the sake of not getting drugged, I chug it all in one go. They can't spike my drink if it's already in my stomach.

"You're starting with the chugging again?" He sighs exasperatingly. "Let me remind you that the last time you did that, I got punched."

"Hey, that was your choice." I quickly defend, biting the straw as I wait for my next drink. "And let me just say, it was totally unnecessary."

He rolls his eyes, "Maybe I should just let you drink. Me taking care of you might work in making her jealous."

I instantly knit my eyebrows in confusion as I pull away from the straw. "I thought we were doing this so that she can leave you alone?"

"Yeah, I know."

I narrow my eyes at him. "That's not what you said right now, though."

He glances over at me. "What'd I say, then?"

"I barely had one drink, don't make me think I'm stupid and overhearing things." I glower at him. "Seriously, she's not worth your time for you to worry about making her jealous. I agreed to make her back off, not to make her jealous." I pause momentarily to think. "... but I'll make an exception if you cook and clean every day."

He hands me my drink, smiling in amusement. "Shut up and drink, you dork."

"I'm not a dork." Snatching my drink from him, I chug it as well. "You're the dork for being in love with someone who isn't even worth it."

He laughs, standing to walk over to a cooler. He pulls out a cold water bottle and chugs half of it while standing. He then nears me again and retakes his seat, setting the water bottle down on the counter. "Imbecile is the correct word to describe me."

"That, too." I grin innocently, biting down on the straw.

He turns to glare at me playfully, leaning towards me to crush me in a sideways hug. "You naturally make me feel better. Are you a witch or something?"

"Or something." I take my pick. And as I chug a third, fourth, fifth, and sixth, Ian simply stares at me in bewilderment.

"Take it easy. Now I'm actually supposed to defend you when a guy tries to approach you." He slaps my hand when I try to reach for my seventh. I pout, already feeling slightly buzzed.

"But– But ..." I begin. "They're sooo good."

"Yeah, good enough to make me get punched again."

"If I wanted to be treated like a child, I would've asked you to take me to Chuck E Cheese's." I stick my tongue out childishly, undermining what I just said.

He turns in another direction and I quickly take my chance to snatch the drink, ditching the straw and just going for it, throwing it back like a shot. When he turns back around, he gapes at the – now empty – glass and pinches the bridge of his nose. "If I wanted to look after a child I would have one of my own."

"You're too young to be the father of a child. A baby? Maybe. But a child? Nope, can't see it." I freeze, suddenly feeling the need to use the restroom. "Um, Ian?"

He looks at me hesitantly. "Yes?"

"I need to pee."

Heaving a sigh, he steps off the stool while I – being much shorter than he is – hop off of mine. Like a child with their mom at a grocery store, I grab onto his shirt as we weave through the crowd of people dancing and groping one another. My nose wrinkles when I see a couple practically naked by the stairs, too close to having sex in front of everyone.

Ian guides me up the stairs and opens a door, revealing a bathroom with a flickering light, so close to dimming out. Nervous, I turn towards him. "Can you please wait outside of the door? I'd ask if you can stay in here with me, but that's weird."

He chuckles, "Sure, I'll be out here. I'm gonna be right by the door, alright?"

"Thank you." I mumble, shutting the door before taking care of business. After washing my hands thoroughly, I peek out of the door and grin when Ian pushes himself off the wall.

"You ready?"

I nod.

"Alright, let's go."

* * * *

"Oh, my god, Amber!" I call out when I see my friend grinding on a guy. Confused, she looks around frantically before her gaze settles on me. She quickly ditches her date before running over to me.

"Sapphire? What are you doing here?" She asks, looking over her shoulder and signaling for her date to wait. He gives a thumbs up and continues to dance. Turning her eyes back over to me, she frowns. "Are you here alone?"

"No, I came with Ian!"

Noticing the slight slur and the way I stumble with each step, she grabs my shoulders and lifts a groomed brow. "Are you drunk?"

I lift my seventh cup in the air. "Hell yeah I am, sister!"

"Okay, so where's your date?" She questions, looking around behind me. "You can't run off when you're drunk. You're so vulnerable. I mean, you're lucky I'm here but you should know better than to run off like that."

I pout, throwing back the remaining of my drink. "If I knew you were gonna get me in trouble, I wouldn't have came with you."

Her eyes focus on something — or more specifically, someone — behind me and heaves a sigh of relief. "I'm getting you in trouble because I care. Now, go back to your date. He looks like he's been looking for you for a good while."

I turn back and, sure enough, Ian is looking over the heads of the people on the dance floor with a worried look on his face. His eyes suddenly land on me and he quickly pushes through the crowd. Finally standing in front of me, he grabs my face and lowers himself down to my size, leveling our eyes. I stare into his piercing gaze as his eyebrows furrow, showing concern.

"Do you know how long I've been looking for you?" He huffs. "Jesus Christ, Sapphire. I was worried sick. Don't run off on me like that again. You're drunk. Do you realize how dangerous it is to –"

"You talk too much." I interject, and his forehead wrinkles as he lifts his eyebrows up in shock. "You're worse than Amber."

He lifts a single brow, "Who?"

I signal behind me, "Amber. My friend, she's –" but as I look over my shoulder to introduce her, she's already long gone. I scan the crowd, finding her on the dance floor with her date again. Turning back towards Ian, I wave it off. "Never mind. I want another drink."

"Oh, no you don't." He quickly stops me by grabbing my wrist. "You've had enough for tonight."

"You're not my dad!"

My mind suddenly wanders to the popular vine and I burst out into laughter, curling over as I grab onto him for support. Ian simply looks at me as if I grew a second head, his eyes bouncing between the crowd and I, as if making sure no one sees how weird I am.

He wraps an arm around my waist and guides me out into the backyard. "I don't know what was so funny for you to laugh that hard, but it was further proof that you don't need another alcoholic beverage for the rest of the night." He sits me down on a lawn chair. "I'm gonna go get you a water bottle. Stay here. Seriously, please stay right where you are. Don't move."

"Alright, alright." I dismiss him with a hand. "I'll be here."

He rushes back into the house and I rub my eyes, realizing I rubbed too hard when stars take over my vision. My gaze then lands on a pool and I immediately beam in appreciation. It's so hot, I need a swim.

Disregarding the fact that Ian just told me to stay still, I jump up from my seat and stumble towards the edge of the pool. Ian walks out just as I'm about to jump in.

"Sapphire, don't!"

But I simply offer a lopsided smile before diving into the pool. As I resurface, Ian is already squatting by the edge and I smile deviously.

He gives me a wary look, stretching out his hand for me to grab the water bottle. However, I have other plans. Instead of taking the water bottle, I grab onto his wrist and use the power of surprise to yank him into the pool. With a short yell of shock, he falls into the pool beside me and resurfaces with a deep scowl.

"Oopsies?" I offer, an innocent smile on my face.

He shakes the water out of his hair, swimming towards the edge of the pool. As he's about to get out, his eyes wander up the long legs standing in front of him. Swallowing, he pushes himself away from the edge.

Julissa smiles down at us, her arms folded over her chest. "Looks like you can't control your new little girlfriend, huh?" She laughs bitterly. "Why don't you just come back to me, baby?"

His arm wraps around me protectively, "I would never get back with you no matter the circumstances. We're over for good, Julissa."

She squats, reaching her hand into the pool to play with the water. Her eyes focus on us, a proud smile tugging her lips upward. "Come on, I can still show you a fun time." Her eyes look me over in disgust. "I doubt she can satisfy you the way I used to. No one can compare to me."

"Our sex life is none of your business," he spits. "And I would much rather become a priest than to ever get in bed with you again."

Her face becomes sour. "So you've fucked her already?"

"Like I said, that's none of your fucking business. Now, leave us alone."

"Fine." She glowers. "Have fun with the bitch who can't even hold her liquor." She stomps back into the house, her heels clicking with every step.

Ian turns his full attention on me and grabs my face once again. "Don't listen to her, okay?" His lips turn into a small smile. "Are you ready to go home?"

I simply nod my head, suddenly feeling a strong urge to go to sleep. "Yeah, I'm tired."

He helps me out of the pool and guides me towards a fence at the side of the house, avoiding going back into the house to wet the floors. He swings the large wooden door open and I follow him out.

By the time we make it into our apartment, my eyelids are too heavy for me to keep my eyes open.

Ian helps me into my room and lays me down on the bed, helping me take off my heels before placing them on the ground. "Do you have any makeup wipes?"

"Um, what?" I inquire, lifting a confused brow. "You wore makeup tonight? No wonder your face looks so smooth."

He chuckles, "No, I didn't, but thanks. I'm asking for your sake. Don't girls hate sleeping in their makeup? Plus, your mascara is smeared."

"Oh, right," my eyes travel to my vanity and I point a lazy finger at it. "They're in the little drawer to the left."

He goes over to where I instructed and takes out the pack of makeup wipes, pulling out two. "Eco-friendly wipes, huh?."

"I usually use Micellar water and a washable face cloth, but I forgot to bring them here." I babble. "The makeup wipes are my backup."

He walks back over to me and sits at the edge of the bed, reaching over to my face with the wipe in his hand. Holding the back of my head with one hand, he wipes my makeup off gently. "Close your eyes."

I do as told, allowing him to remove most of my makeup with the first wipe, then to finish it off with the second one. When I open my eyes again, I watch him stand up to dispose the now-dirty wipes.

"I'm gonna bring you a glass of water, alright? The more water you drink, the less you'll feel like crap in the morning."

"Okay, thanks."

He nods and exits my room, returning a few minutes later with a tall glass of water. My hand reaches out to grab it before I chug all of it, letting out a sigh of relief.

"Want more?"

I quickly nod. "Yes, please."

Handing the cup back over to him, I lay back down, shifting uncomfortably before sitting up again to try to remove the dress. Appreciating that it's easier to remove than to put on, I shimmy out of it while still in bed and throw it onto the ground.

Ian walks back into the room and looks at the dress in confusion. "Did you –"

"Don't worry, I'm under the blanket." I cut him off. "You won't be seeing any of my goodies tonight."

"Is that suggesting that some day I will?" He chuckles, shaking his head with an amused smile as he nears my bed. "Because thanks, but no thanks."

"As if," I roll my eyes. "Even I have standards."

"I don't know whether to be offended or not." He sets down the cup of water on the nightstand before turning to leave. "Let me know if you need anything else, okay?"

"I'm fine, thank you."

He nods, smiling. "Alright, goodnight."

"Goodnight."

He shuts the door behind him and I chug the water before turning on my side. After pulling the blanket higher up on my body, I let myself drift to sleep.