Earphones

Chapter 3 : Night out

⚠️WARNING: Panic attacks

I knock on the door with my already sweaty hands and wipe them off on my dress as soon as I enter in the reunion hall. "Good afternoon M.Paulson." I greet politely.

He stands up from his seat and comes shake my hand. "Hello Miss Pugh. It's a pleasure to meet you."

"The pleasure is all mine." I smile and stand awkwardly not knowing what to do.

"Come on sit." He invites me and I do so. "Shall we start?" I nod. "Great."

He exposes to me his main ideas for the buildings and how he wants it to be briefly. I ask him some questions for more precision and present the few ideas I had in mind. I think it's going pretty well.

"Well, we'll call you to let you know what we think of it, Miss Pugh." We shake hands as goodbye.

"Sure. Thank you for having me M.Paulson." I said trying to hide my excitement. "Have a good day." I gave him a smile and left.

♡

Once out of the building, I grabbed my phone and called James.

"I think I did it!" I screamed out of joy through the phone when he picked up.

"I knew it! Good job! I'm proud of you Alexia."

"Thanks. We'll still have to see their feedback but I'm not worried."

"Well it should be good then. Anyway, now I think you deserve this afternoon off before beginning the real stuff."

"Yeah, I think so too. I won't keep you from work so I see you tomorrow."

"Ok, see you. Bye."

I spend the rest of the day walking around in the city with a smile on my lips, my head moving to the beat of the music blasting through my earphones.

♡

It's 4pm and since this morning I'm buried under the amount of sketches and plans I have to do and sent to my clients. I'm exhausted, I cannot wait the end of the day and to be finally in weekend.

My work phone rings and I pick it up. "Here, Miss Pugh. What can I do for you?"

"Hello Miss. We're calling about yesterday appointment." A smile appears quickly on my lips at the thought of yesterday's meeting. "We think your ideas are great but-" At the word, my mind goes completely blank and the end of the call just became fuzzy. I don't hear the call ending, and don't even notice my hand putting the phone back. All the noises around me fade away only hearing the sound of my heart pounding hard against my chest. I try taking and putting my earphones in but I can't, my hands shacking. Oh no this can't be happening... I can't... I hurry quickly outside of my office to the bathroom. Oof, it's empty. I slide down the wall and wrap my arms around my knees, my breathing becoming more and more complicated with each passing second. Tears streaming uncontrollably down my already wet cheeks. I close my eyes slowly to concentrate on my breathing but it's useless. So, I open my eyes and use my old technique. Concentrate on my surroundings: one grey door, one...two...three...four sinks, one mirror, one...two hand drying machines, one...two...three...four...five toilet cabines. I inhale and exhale slowly taking step by step control of my self again.

Once calm, I stand up and splash some water on my face to fully regain myself. I can't believe I've failed I really thought I killed it yesterday. I'm so angry at myself for making me believe I did it.

I go back to my office a few minutes later with one thought haunting my mind: I have to tell James...

"Hey Alexia, are you okay? I saw you running to the bathroom." Julia asks worried as I walk to my desk.

"Hum... yeah... I'm better now don't worry." I shoot her a small smile as I grab all my stuff and put them in my bag. "I... I finished for the day. So... I guess... see you Monday." I don't want to tell James right away so I'll wait for after the weekend.

"Okay, have a nice weekend."

"Yeah, you too. Bye." With that said, I left more than ready to binge watch Friends all week-end.

♡

"Come on this going to be fun!" Leo drags me towards the club.

"I hope for you that you're right because I wasn't planning on going out at all this weekend. And if you make me regret it, you'll regret it too." I threaten him.

"As if binge watching Friends is better than getting drunk. Don't forget I made you a promise and I always keep my word."

"Yeah, yeah right Elijah." I chuckle. He showed to the nightclub bouncer the badges and we entered the club. "I don't even know how you did to get these VIP tickets."

"That's a secret I'll never tell." He smiles. "Come on follow me."

"At this point I thought I was your best friend but now you keep secrets from me and go to clubs without me."

"Stop being a baby and thank me for this." He says as he opens a door revealing a dance floor full of bodies clashing against each other to the beat of the music. "Free drinks and hot guys and girls to flirt with. What I said : FUN!" He adds dragging me to the bar.

"Four shots of tequila, please." I shout to the barman to cover the music.

"On it." He replies leaving and coming back a few seconds later with our glasses.

"Thanks." I turn my head to Leo raising my glass and he mirrored me. "To us!"

"And being drunk!" We took the shots and did a couple more until I was drunk enough to go to the dance floor.

"You coming?" I ask taking his hand in the process.

"Not yet but go. I'll join you in a bit." He encourages me pushing me towards the crowd.

"Don't drink too much I don't want to have to carry you home."

"Says the one who is always on the floor at the end." He laughs.

I made my way to the dance floor and blended into the crowd not wanting to argue about this. I threw my hands in the air moving to the rythme of the music not caring about the proximity with the other bodies. I let myself loose control in the music as the alcool took over me : my hips swaying sensually to the beat as my hands travel from my hair up into the air.

♡

A familiar body pressed itself against my back.

"Care for a little dirty dancing?" A hot breath whispered in my hear.

"Like always, Johnny." I giggled back at Leo.

His hands settled down on my hips and mine went into his hair. And like that we started our little sexy and hot dirty dance. It's like an habit when we're in clubs.
I'm pretty sure everybody thinks we're together but I really don't care.

♡

After a few songs, we go in the back to try to find a free booth to relaxe in. So, we walk along the tables in search for one.

"Alexia?!"

~~~

AN/ Chapter 3, done!
Any guesses about who that might be?
Have a good day/night!