Chasing the Sun

Lilly took her time getting ready for her night out.

Even though it was entirely possible that Gerard wouldn’t show up she wanted to impress him if he did happen to show up.

Of course you do, you hussy! It’ll serve you right when-

‘Oh shut up!’ she said out loud, finally silencing her Inner Voice as she finished getting ready.

She looked at herself in the mirror. She had lost a bit of weight recently so she was quite happy with her figure for the first time in years. She wore a little black dress that clung to her best assets.

Her makeup was done to highlight her one good feature, her eyes. She had large almond shaped light green eyes, which was the only thing she liked about herself.

She bit her lip, feeling butterflies flutter about in her stomach.

She never normally made an effort when she dressed to head out, because she never normally wanted to impress anyone when she went out.

But Gerard was different.

He might have been a bit of a creep, but he was a good looking, articulate and persistent creep who seemed like he could be good company.

Did she also mention the good looking part?

She knew the chances of him actually liking her in that way was quite slim, she never had much luck when it came to men so she wasn’t getting her hopes up.

It was nice to fancy someone again, though. It had been a while since she had even noticed a member of the opposite gender and she had forgotten what it was like to feel this way.

She turned away from her reflection as she went to grab her bag and check she had everything she needed before she turned the lights off and left the house, hoping that she would have a good night whether Gerard came or not.

*****************************************************
It was safe to Lilly was well and truly drunk by the time the group made it to the bar. Said group consisted of her sister, her two housemates Patrick and Devon and Devon’s girlfriend.

The one or two drinks they had originally planned on had turned into a couple of bottles of wine and a couple of beers each.

While everyone else seemed only slightly tipsy, Lilly felt like she was well and truly off-her-face drunk.

It was also quarter to eleven and there was no sign of Gerard yet. She tried not to feel disappointment every time she looked at her phone and saw he hadn’t text or called her yet.
She should have known he wouldn’t show, she had told herself not to get her hopes up and yet she did it anyway. So she got herself another drink it hopes it would dull the ache of disappointment.

She paid for her drink at the bar and was walking back to the table everyone was sitting at when her phone suddenly started to vibrate. Checking her screen, she saw it was a text from a number she didn’t recognise.

Hey, It’s Gerard (the creepy guy from earlier) sorry I’m late, are you still out?

Lilly couldn’t help the wide grin that spread across her face as she quickly typed out a reply telling him they were still at the bar.

Her mood having picked up considerably, she realised she should probably explain to the group that they would soon have someone joining them as she rushed back to the table.

She gave as little detail as possible, but it didn’t her sister and Patrick from grinning at her with a smirk that said they knew there was more to the story than she was letting on. She was glad they didn’t ask her to expand on the matter.

Twenty minutes later her phone lit up again. Lilly picked it up straight away and her eyes scanned the screen eagerly.

I’m here, where are you?

She quickly text him back and told him she would meet him at the front bar as she stood up from her seat, swaying slightly as she suddenly felt the effects of the alcohol in her system.

‘Dude, take it easy. Don’t appear too eager.’ Her sister warned, unable to stop herself from chuckling slightly at her sister’s obvious nerves and desire to impress the strange American boy.

‘I’m fine’ she replied impatiently as she walked away from the table and made her way to the front bar.

It took her a moment to find him when she got there, but when she did she let herself enjoy the view for a moment before she approached him.

He was wearing a black shirt and black skinny jeans which looked amazing on him. His hair was pushed out of his face and she got a perfect view of his amazing handsome face.

He looked too good, and by that rational alone she knew he had no real chance with him. Her sister might if she took an interest in him, but there was no way this guy could actually find Lilly attractive or as anything other than a quick lay if he was desperate.

She took a deep breath as she approached him and came up beside him, tapping his shoulder.

He turned to look at her and smiled when his eyes landed on her own.

‘Hey’ he said, his accent stronger than she remembered.

‘Hi’ she replied, suddenly feeling shy and very aware she was drunk. ‘I’m really drunk right now.’

He laughed.

‘I suppose I’ll have to catch up then’ he said with an easy smile.

‘Get a jàger-bomb, no get a double one, it’ll get you drunk in no time’ Lilly advised.

‘Okay, but fair warning I’m a clumsy drunk so you’re responsible if I get wasted’ he joked, playfully elbowing her arm, before ordering a double and one for Lilly.

‘I still can’t get use to the euro money’ he told her as he paid the bar tender ‘it feels like monopoly money.’

‘I know, but hey at least they’re colourful’

‘Again, just like monopoly money.’

‘Fair point’ she agreed as she took the drink the bar tender placed in front of them.

She turned to Gerard.

‘Bet I can drink this faster than you’ She declared with confidence.

He raised his eyebrow at her.

‘If that’s a challenge, I accept.’ He replied coolly, as he raised his glass.

Keeping their gaze on each other they both raised their glass to their lips and drank.

Gerard drank his with alarming speed, and Lilly struggled to keep up with him.

He won by a matter of milliseconds, setting his glass on the bar with a little force and a big grin.

‘I should mention that I can drink just about anyone under the table. I’m no lightweight’ he said with a chuckle.

‘Good for you’ Lilly muttered sourly.

‘Aw, don’t be such a sore loser.’ He said consolingly.

‘Want another one?’ She asked, wanting to change the subject.

‘Sure.’ He replied, smiling at her with a smile that showed his teeth.

She ordered them two shots.

Handing him his shot, she raised her own.

‘Here’s to international relations’ she declared.

He laughed.

‘To international relations’ he said, before drinking his shot in time with Lilly.
************************************************

Two hours later everything became a blur to Lilly.

She was beyond drunk, but she didn’t care. Her and Gerard had stayed by themselves at the bar, ignoring the goings on of the world around them.

The alcohol helped Lilly let go of her self-consciousness and enjoy Gerard’s company and conversation without fear of what she would say.

As last orders were called Lilly went to find her sister and friends, to find they had already left.

‘Bastards’ she mumbled.

‘Is everything ok?’ Gerard asked, looking amused at Lilly’s cursing.

‘They left me without saying anything. I could be attacked or anything and they wouldn’t know.’ She said, not really caring that much.

‘Don’t worry; I’ll make sure you get home safe.’ He replied, slurring very slightly.

‘Do you promise?’ She asked in a teasing manner.

‘C’mon, let’s get out of here’ he said, grabbing her hand.

Lilly could feel her hand tingle in his grip as she followed him out of the pub into the crowded street.

‘If we walk up the road a bit it might be easier to get a taxi’ Lilly said with a giggle, laughing for no good reason other than she was drunk.

‘We could go back to mine if you want, I live just around the corner from here’ Gerard suggested, with a smile that told her exactly what he was offering by asking her back to his.

Lilly stopped suddenly and looked at him, surprised at the sudden turn in conversation.

Did she really want to become a random one night stand?

It had been well over a year since she last had sex due to her reluctance to partake in the world of casual sex.

Gerard gently pulled her towards him, giving her time to stop him or pull away.

She didn’t resist as he planted his lips on hers, in a kiss that was gentle and sweet.

He pulled away slightly, their noses touching as he tried to gage her reaction.

‘Your place sounds like a good idea’ she whispered, suddenly not caring about the consequences.

The rest of the night passed by in a haze that Lilly was sure she wouldn’t remember the next day as they reached his place, barely making it through his front door before tearing each other’s clothes off.

Notes

Hi all, another chapter for your reading pleasure.

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