NAOMI BELIEVED IN being early to everything. "If you aren't more than five minutes early, you're late," she informed Alisa, who was adding the final touches of makeup to her face in the backseat of Ben's car.
"So," Ben grinned. "Are we going to see Mena tonight?"
Alisa rolled her eyes playfully, hoping her act would be convincing enough. The truth was that she really liked Mena, but she assumed that he had someone else waiting for him back at home. Anyone that beautiful was bound to be in a relationship. To spare herself from the heartbreak, she chose to fake a disinterest in him.
"Of course," Naomi laughed, catching Alisa's eye in the side mirror and giving her a wink.
At last, they arrived at the venue at four minutes before seven, much to Naomi's horror. She dragged the other two up the stairs and inside, only to meet a great big board that showed them the seating arrangements for the night.
Not too long after, Mena arrived with Will. "Is this fate?" Will said as he read the board. "You and your dream girl are just seats away from each other!"
"Shut up, I'm not into her," Mena muttered, though it was pretty obvious that he was.
As they approached their table, Mena noticed an unfamiliar brunette in the seat beside his. He stopped abruptly. He remembered the board had said she was a few seats further down. So why was she now sitting right next to him?
Will followed Mena's gaze to Alisa, smiling like a proud father. "You're so into her."
"No, I'm not," Mena replied quickly, but Will knew. He'd seen it many times before, even in his own children. He wouldn't be fooled by thoughtless words. Will pushed him slightly, nodding for Mena to go and talk to her.
Alisa was growing more anxious by the minute. Naomi had this brilliant idea of switching spots so that she would be right next to Mena, and Alisa was the type to put up or shut up. She sighed a little dramatically and turned from the conversation to find him taking his seat beside her.
Their gazes reconnected, as they had so many times the previous night. His eyes reminded her of the night, more specifically of the starry night sky she'd so often stare into during childhood camping trips.
"I'm Alisa," she said, immediately regretting it because it was lame.
Mena exhaled, visibly relaxing. I know, he thought of saying, but decided against it, in case it came off as creepy. "I'm Mena." Then he couldn't help but add, "You sing beautifully."
"Coming from someone whose voice makes my heart soar, that means so much. Oh my goodness, did I really say that aloud?" Alisa was turning a bright shade of red.
"Don't worry about it," Mena smoothly winked. "I'll pretend I didn't hear it."
She was grinning like an idiot, and he was no better. Something about her-- the blue eyes, the glistening smile, her general aura-- fascinated him to the point that he could not draw his eyes away from her. He wanted to watch her, like a work of art in a museum.
The music softened to a mute, and dishes were coming out to the tables. The magic had worked faster than anyone had anticipated. The once-strangers became close friends in a matter of minutes, after talking about everything under the sun except their feelings towards one another.
The more Alisa learnt about Mena, the more intrigued she became. She familiarised herself with his dimple and his goofy grin. She learnt the way he laughed and the way he spoke. She didn't know much about him, yet she got the strongest sense of knowing him quite well.
It wasn't until her third flute of champagne that the music became decent. As Dancing in the Moonlight played through the speakers, Alisa told Mena how she loved the song.
"Me too," he smiled excitedly, knowing that their shared taste in music made them even more compatible. "Do you wanna dance?"
"I don't know," she said bashfully. "I'm not much of a dancer."
"That's a lie, Alisa." The alcohol had given him the confidence to say anything that came to mind. "You're a Disney princess. Your whole life is one big musical."
He was relieved to hear her cute giggle. "I only do choreographed routines."
"Perfect. I'll choreograph one for you."
Alisa couldn't turn down his offer and took his outstretched hand. Even slightly tipsy, they could still sense the strong impulses that travelled up their arms. They wobbled to the centre of the room, where their cast mates were dancing too.
Will and Mena, having danced together many times on set, were comfortable with getting loose around each other. Alisa was happily watching them but she was told to loosen up and dance. Mena took her hand and spun her around, earning a gasp from her. A gasp of ecstasy-- Alisa had never felt euphoria like this before.
A slightly-tipsy Mena and Alisa stumbled off the dance floor, giggling uncontrollably. Mena downed another drink, feeling his dignity slipping away from him. He wanted to be close to Alisa, to never let go of her. He spun Alisa yet again, earning another onset of harmonious giggles from her, and drawing her as close as he could. She could smell his cologne, and she loved it.
"Do you want to get some air?" he asked into her ear. His breath caressed her skin, giving her chills all over. She nodded solemnly and spun herself out of his arm.
Alisa had never done anything remotely rebellious in her life. She had never done anything like this before, and she was hardly sure of what she was doing. All she knew was that it made her excited.
____________
THANK YOU FOR 2K READS THIS IS WILD AHHHHHHH
hope you enjoyed this chapter, if you did you're gonna love the next
♡♡♡
YOU ARE READING
𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐄𝐄𝐓 𝐑𝐀𝐓, mena massoud
Fanfiction━━━ 𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐄𝐄𝐓 𝐑𝐀𝐓. . . ❝ sounds like a deal, street rat.❞ ❝ you've got to stop calling me that, princess. ❞ ❝ that'll be the day I stop calling you mine. ❞ in which mena meets alisa at the crossroads of love ...
