my head felt heavy and my lips dry like the Arizona summer sky. I let out a small grunt as I open my eyes and my pupils painfully contract. I see a blurred image, blink and rub my eyes until the image becomes clear, its Joe, staring down at me.
I quickly come to my senses and embarrassed at the thought of him seeing my hardly-awake face, pull the covers over me.
I can hear him laughing, "what are you doing? am I that scary?"
"No. I am"
I'm also beyond confused...why was he on my bed, why is my body sore and my head spinning? Oh God, did we, did we have like, sex?
He pulls the sheets from me, "don't be ridiculous, I know you're hung over but you need to get up. the train leaves in two hours."
"Hung over? Wait. It wasn't a dream?" my heart rate increases quickly
"No, I can recall it quite well, especially the 'I just want to fuck you' part" he winks and laughs but I want to bury myself 6 feet under and never come out, oh I can feel my cheeks burning, I've never felt so embarrassed before!
"Oh God, I'm so sorry, I don't know why I said that. I was really drunk, really, I"
"Shuush, don't worry about it love.
Just drink this, and, get ready to catch the train." He hands me a bottle of water and some pills.
Just as he's walking out the door he glances back at me and murmurs "you know what they say about drunks?"
"what do they say?"
"they never lie."
the inner voice in my head is screaming

***

I had to convince myself to leave the hotel room after a long shower trying to recall what happened last night. The most I can remember is being very turned on, holding onto Joe and then saying that stupid thing.

I walk down to the lobby and there they are, they greet me in a friendly manner as usual, but I can tell, inside they're all making fun of me. Or perhaps I'm paranoid? yes, that must be it.
Wait, Joe is not sitting next to me this time, he must think I'm a whore!
"How are you feeling? you got pretty wasted last night" asked Paul who was sitting across from me, they all were.
"I'm okay. I guess. I don't know why I got 'wasted' I never even drink." I replied staring down at my legs.
"Then that must be why, amateur drinkers go wild when they taste whiskey" they all laughed at that, I pretended I was not dying and did not make one sound until we arrived at the train station.

Once there Joe and Paul walked to the restroom and I was left alone with Mick, which made me realize Terry wasn't around. Also I noted how close Joe and Paul were, they're probably best friends.
Anyways, I felt comfortable with Mick since he was very nice and open to me before so I just decided to ask.
"This is embarrassing but, do you know what actually happened last night? I honestly can't remember anything."
"Don't feel embarrassed, we all have our drunken nights. It was quite funny actually. Even hot, if you don't mind me saying."
"Hot? how so?"
"Well, from what I saw, you were carried to the stage, I don't know how that happened but once you got there you weren't wearing your lovely dress anymore. It was just, you know, your stockings, panties and bra-thing."
I covered my face letting out a small "oh fuck me" while hoping, PRAYING, to disappear.
Mick let out a laugh, "don't worry about it, it was nothing, I see girls and guys strip on stage all the time, it makes the crowd go wild."
I looked up at him, "and what happened then?"
"Johnny started to sing for you, you looked swooned, then Joe saw you and brought you down from the stage, you collapsed on his arms.
Like the real gentleman he is, he found your dress, dressed you and took you back to the hotel."
"Really? thats, really nice of him"
my attention wanders off to the sky while I sense my heart-felt devotion growing for him.
Even after me acting the way I did, he was a gentleman, he protected me and, you could even say he saved me? I was not his to look after, that was his night to enjoy and yet he chose to take care of me. I must thank him, let him know that's the nicest thing anyone has done for me.

I walk towards him as soon as Paul's not with him. I lose my breath whilst he focuses his attention towards me.
"Mick just told me about last night and, I'm so sorry I ruined your night, but I'm really thankful for what you did. That was very kind of you, I think its the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me, so, thank you."

He smiles. "There's nothing to thank, you didn't ruin my night, I'm glad you didn't get hurt and I could never allow myself to let you get hurt, Candy."

I can feel my lips quivering like the ones of a child who sees its most prized possession after it has been taken away and now given back.
I want to jump into his arms and hug him, I want to hand him over my life, my pride, my love and all thats mine. He is the epitome of grandeur, he is what every teenage girl dreams of before falling asleep and I think I could even cry. Is it normal? to cry for someone you admire so fondly?

the train interrupted my praising for this ethereal human

"well, there's the train, lets go" he smiled and took me by the hand.