Runaway

Chapter 7

"A last one!"

You watched Richie drink his fifth "last one" shot of the evening. Jon and you exchanged an amused smile.

You directly drove back after the show. Alec and Tico went back home, but the level of adrenaline was too high with the younger members of the group to simply go home.

Richie joined you all and you decided to go out in a bar he knew. Problem: at the entry, you had to show an ID to confirm your age, but you didn't have it. It was still in 2019.

"But she is... My sister!"

The bailer looked at Richie suspiciously, just like the three of you. His sister? Was it the best argument he found to make you enter?

He literally stuck his face against yours and watched the guy. He frowned and crossed his arms. God, he was going to beat your asses.

"Please sir, she is my twin sister, don't you see we look like each other? She just arrived in town and I want to show her my favourite club. We're the same age!"

Twin sister? Was he completely mad?

You heard David scoff behind you. Richie started battling his eyelashes, and you couldn't help but laugh.

The guy scanned you and sighed. "Fine." He opened the doors.

And here you were. The trendy, full of ambience, super cool bar that Richie sold you earlier wasn't really what you expected.

There were not more than twenty people, – honestly, why was there a bailer? – a little room to dance, a DJ set behind his decks and a little stage for karaoke. But the music was good, and you even improvised one at a moment.

It has been maybe two hours now that you were there, and the four of you were at the bar. The bartender felt the good clients you would be and started selling you all sorts of cocktails, that Richie empathetically took for you all, of course. You started to feel the effect of alcohol; your movements seemed slower, and you stupidly laughed at every pseudo-jokes Jon said. Was it the alcohol though?

David and Richie were currently in a heated debate about whether the right way to eat cornflakes was to put the milk before or after – really? – when Jon tapped on your arm. "Wanna dance or stay assist to this masterpiece of conversation?"

You rolled your eyes theatrically: "Thank you my saviour!"

You both laughed and went to the dancefloor.

You were dancing for twenty seconds when the music changed. The iconic guitar riff resonated into the room; you exchanged a look; the mood of the song was clearly different. You hesitated if you had to start this slow with him but he answered it for you by grabbing your hand and putting his other on your back.

He acknowledged his sudden gesture and threw you an interrogative look; you smiled and put your head against his cheek.

Time, it needs time to win back your love again

I will be there, I will be there

Love, only love can bring back your love someday

I will be there, I will be there

Some couples joined you on the dance floor. At a moment, your movements lead you to face the guys, further at the bar. You saw David take a bottle behind the bar when the barman was away and fill Richie's glass, while this one crossed gaze with you and winked. You rolled your eyes.

Fight, babe, I'll fight to win back your love again

I will be there, I will be there

The tempo increased. You both let go of your holding hands at the same time; he put his on your side, yours on his shoulder, like you needed to hold each other completely to not get lost in the music.

If we go again all the way from the start

Is there really no chance to start once again?

I'm loving you

You closed your eyes. You lost all reference to the outer world.

Try, baby, try to trust in my love again

I will be there, I will be there

Love, our love just shouldn't be thrown away

I will be there, I will be there

Your hand that was on his shoulder tightened. You breathed deeply; you felt a bit out of breath, even though you were nearly not moving.

I know what you've been through

You should give me a chance, this can't be the end

Your head was spinning. Your senses were altered. Alcohol? No, it wasn't like you couldn't control your senses anymore... it was more like they were accentuated.

I'm still loving you

I need your love

I'm still loving you

Fuck it. The guitar was vibrating inside you, well you assumed it was that. You held him closer, if you could; you melted into him.

His hands clawed at your sides, like he had the same debate than you inside him.

His mouth was just next to your ear.

Still loving you, baby

Still loving you

I need your love

He moved and you felt his cheek scrub again yours.

"It was Still Loving you, a brand-new song by Scorpions!"

You opened your eyes. It felt like a huge hand took you both and threw you back in reality. You moved back to face each other. The DJ talked a bit and you heard the crowd cheer to the presentation of the next song he chose.

You broke apart, you didn't know where to look at. You both came back to your friends.

Richie seemed to be in the middle of an existential crisis, looking for the meaning of life in the bottom of his glass and David emptied his in one trait.

As soon as you sat, the first notes of Wake me up before you go-go resonated through the bar. David got up and shouted at Jon: "Dude! This is our song!" He didn't let the last one the time to answer when he gripped him by the arm and led him back on the stage to sing. You shook your head, to come back in the mood. He threw you a "help me" look, and you raised your shoulders in a "sorry" way. It amused you to imagine the rockers sing the last pop hit.

You laughed and turned to Richie. You frowned: he wasn't all joy like some minutes ago. "Are you OK?" He looked at you and jumped a bit, like he just remembered you were there. "I think I shouldn't have drunk that last shot. My stomach is screaming at me." You shrugged. He continued. "I think I... I..." You squinted. The lights were dim, but you clearly saw his face turning too green to be normal. You didn't hesitate and grabbed him from the high stool to drag him outside.

From the stage, Jon noticed you. You pointed at the door and then at Richie, hoping he would get it.

You just had the time to make some steps outside when he fell to his knees and threw up.

You walked a bit and breathed deeply; the fresh air soothed you, and helped you see clearer.

He got up and looked at you: "I think we should head home..." You smiled at his childish expression. "Can you bring me back?"