"Coming right up." The bartender said to them as he poured a couple of different mix into two shot glasses. "Here you go." He added as he placed the glasses in front of them.
"Ouuuu, thank you." Avery replied excitedly as she quickly lifted the shot glass to her mouth and poured the content of the glass in her mouth. It was so strong that she had to pat the side of her temple slightly.
"You don't even know what's in the glass." Mason scolded her even though he was impressed that she was willing to take that risk.
"Oh look, he speaks. I didn't think words could come out of that mouth with all the stares." She replied sarcastically. The burn from the shot still slightly hurt in her throat but she was not going to let him know how much it hurt. However, her facial expression betrayed her so when he noticed, he patted her back slightly and offered her his bottled water.
"I'm sorry" Mason murmured as he continued patting her back.
"It's okay. Don't rub it in that I'm a pathetic social drinker."
He stopped patting her back, instead he chuckled and said, "You're not pathetic. If you weren't here and I wasn't trying to look brave, I'd be bawling. That shit was hella strong."
Avery chuckled and said, "Right?" Turning to the bartender, she asked, "What the hell did you put in that shit? My eyes are a bit teary."
The bartender laughed and said, "I was just following his instructions."
"Well, can you make me something less strong? I'm not about to get my insides lit" Avery said.
"Make it two." Mason added.
As the bartender was about to get started on their order, Mason said, "I feel like I should be more specific."
"Don't worry, I know what you should like. And I can guess what the beautiful lady would like too."
"Thank you." Mason replied, then turning back to Avery, he said, "While we wait for that, how about an introduction" he extended his hand and said, "Hello, I'm Mason."
She took his hand and said, "Avery"
He looked at her hands and then slowly brought it close to his face and the kissed it. "Freshman?" He asked
"Uh huh." Then she took her hands from his and asked, "What about you? Do you go here?"
"Yeah, I'm a sophomore. Everyone at this party attends Brasswell" he started but stopped as the bartender let out a cough to get their attention, "Well, maybe not everyone" he took the drink and said, "Thank you." He handed Avery her drink.
"Thank you" she took a sip and immediately looked the cocktail. "Ugh, this is so good!" She turned to the bartender and said, "Could you make me another? I love it!"
As the bartender smiled and got on her second, she turned to Mason and said, "You should try my drink, it's so good!" Then hands him her drink.
"Yeah?" Then he took a sip and said, "That's really good" but he also knew that it will get her drunk if she takes too much. Seeing as she had ordered another, he knew he'd have to pause on his mission of getting wasted and just babysit her—especially after hearing the bet the other guys had placed on her.
"Told ya! You know, earlier, I could've sworn you're a stalker or something, I'm not even freaking kidding!"
He chuckled and said "Wow, what gave you that impression?"
"You're literally everywhere go! At the airport, at my apartment, this party—"
"Your apartment? I don't even know your apartment"
She took a long sip at her drink and said, "This afternoon? You were in the apartment opposite mine. You were with Giona—our realtor"
"You know Giona?"
"Of course! She helped us get our apartment—my friends and I. It felt weird, you know? I saw you at the airport and then shortly after in front of me"
Mason laughed and said, "I can assure you I am not a stalker."
She took another sip and said, "Well, if you were, you'd be horrible at it."
He laughed again and said, "Well, I guess we've both found something I'm bad at."
This time Avery laughed and asked, "What else are you bad at?"
"There's a myriad of things I'm bad at, hope you have time"
Avery fake looked at her wrist and said, "I've got all night"
Mason chuckled and said, "Okay ma'am! Well, there's singing—horrible at it, dancing—it feels like I've got two huge left feet"
Avery laughed and said, "It can't be that bad"
"It is, it really is."
The bartender brought Avery's drink and as she took it, she realized her glass was empty but she did not mind. "So, what else are you bad at?"
"We both discovered stalking but there's also vlogging"
"Vlogging? You? No way!" She teased and he caught on so he said, "Come on now, don't tease me like that" and they both laughed.
"It's crazy because I did not know I was bad at it till I had a friend who was good at it and did it often"
"I can imagine the look on your face, and now I wanna know what you look like in vlogs"
Mason chuckled and said, "I don't think it's because I look bad, I think it's more about—"
"No, you couldn't look bad even if you tried. You have a god-like facial structure"
Mason raised a brown and asked,"God-like? What's that?" He was flattered by the comment since it was coming from her. He had heard alot of good commentary on his looks but only Avery's had the power to make him feel tinglingly. And he had not felt this way in a very long time.
"Do you read romantic fiction?"
"Not really?"
"Hmm, well, I would have recommended some movies with steamy hot male main characters but, it's better described in a book."
"Aw, so how would I know what that looks like?"
"I could recommend some books to you, or just describe it and hope it gives what it's supposed to give"
Mason nodded and said, "latter"
"So, he has a defined jawline—just like yours, the facial elements, like his eyes are either blue, green or grey, they're rarely brown or black—let's not ignore the message the eyes are passing—"
Mason raised a brow, with a grin he was desperate trying to hide and asked, "What message do you think mine are passing?" Then he looked straight into her eyes. They held each other's gaze for what felt like an eternity but it was for less than ten seconds before someone interrupted them.
"Yo Mason! I've been looking everywhere for you, can you—" Ian called out but trailed off as he walked towards the bar and saw him with Avery.
They both stared at him and it was obvious that he had interrupted.
"I feel like I just interrupt something? Look, I'm sorry. I'll come back—"
"You clearly—"
"You didn't really interrupt anything." Avery interrupted. She was glad he interrupted because she knew that they were so close to kissing.
Wouldn't have been a record, it has happened before. Ha! And everyone thought I've lost it. Broken up with Jasper and almost kissed by this hottie, not bad. I guess what they say is true, I have an appeal that is not going to die till I'm dead, she thought.
Ian looked at Mason and could tell that he did not feel that way, but he turned to Avery and said, "Thanks beautiful. Damn, they don't come this beautiful anymore. What's your name Mami?"
"Avery. And thank you, you're a looker yourself." Avery replied in a sweet way.
Ian saw Mason roll his eyes but he ignored him and continued being friendly with Avery. "Well, it was really nice meeting you. I hope I get to see you around often."
Luna smiled and nodded.
"Why don't you excuse me" Ian finally said and passed Mason a familiar look before excusing himself.
"Do you play too?" Avery asked Mason when they were alone.
"Play?"
"Yeah, he's a basketball player"
"Yeah, he is, but how do you know?"
She took the final sip of her second glass and said, "Earlier, Troy, the host, when he was giving me a tour mentioned the players to me. But, I heard them mention a certain Ian, I'm guessing that's him?"
"Yeah, that's Ian. Why'd you ask if I played too? Do you like basketball players?"
She giggled and hiccuped. "I don't know. So, do you play?"
"Not professionally but I can shoot some hoops"
"If I said I did not like basketball players, would you have said something different?" She asked and leaned in.
He knew the drinks had started kicking in. "I don't know"
"What? What is that? " She asked pointing at his necklace.
It was underneath his shirt but because of how he moved, she had seen it. He brought it up and said, "It's my neck piece."
"I like it"
"Do you want it?"
Her eyes lit up and then she asked, "Can I really have it?"
"Of course." He took off the jewelry and gently wore it on her. She bowed her head and held her hair to help him.
When he was done, she looked up at him, smiled while holding onto the necklace and slowly said, "Thank you. How does it look on me?"
"Gorgeous as you"
She started to smile but it turned to a pouty face and then she just stretched out her arms and asked, "Can I get a hug?"
"Sure sweetie, come here" he pulled her in and just held her. "Are you okay?"
She shook her head and murmured, "Jasper is a jerk, he broke up with me through a fucking text"
Mason did not hear who it was, he only heard "...he broke up with me through a fucking text." He held her tighter and murmured, "Jerks will be cowards", but she did not hear what he said. She just felt very safe in his embrace. She couldn't hear anything playing in the background, except his heartbeat. So close to him, she loved his scent. She inhaled more than she exhaled. Finally, she said, "Your heart's beating really fast. And my head is spinning really fast."
"Yeah?"
"Uh huh"
Turning back to the bartender, he said, " Water. I need a bottle."
She looked up at him and said, "I don't need water Mason, I need to use the bathroom. Will you take me? I don't want anyone to know I'm drunk. Someone could be filming and my parents could find out."
He looked down at her and noticed how blue her eyes were. "Sure thing Babe." He said before he caught himself.
Really Mason? Babe? Did you just fucking call her babe? Shit! What if my drink has started kicking in, he thought to himself.
Then it hit him that he was tipsy.