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Alcohol

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Chapter 31: Alcohol (Vanessa's POV)

"Vanessa." 

I huffed a breath but kept my eyes closed, determined to continue sleeping. Until suddenly there was a pillow thrown at my face. I groaned, forcing my eyes open. 

He was standing beside the bed, wearing his pajamas. 

"What? Did we miss dinner?" I sat up quickly, reaching for my phone and checking the time, nearly knocking off the water bottle but catching it just before it fell. 

"No. Dinner is in thirty minutes. Get dressed." 

I whined, lying back down. "I don't want to go." 

"Vanessa, we have to go." 

"Why?" I mumbled into my pillow. 

"My mom is here." 

My eyes snapped open and met his immediately. "And you're waking me up now? When there are only thirty minutes left?" I huffed and got out of bed, drinking some water to wake myself up. 

"I just woke up five minutes ago," he replied. 

I choked on the water, nearly spitting it out. 

"What?" he asked in confusion. 

"We slept at the same time?" 

"Yeah, so?" 

I glanced at the bed. "Where's the divider?" 

"We didn't make one. We were too tired, nobody crossed a line, don't worry. Just..." He went to my suitcase and opened it up, looking around and grabbing a dress, tossing it to me. "Get dressed, go." 

"Okay," I mumbled, putting the water away and grabbing my claw clip from the nightstand. "You change in the room, okay?" He nodded as I passed him, going into the bathroom and closing the door. I splashed some water on my face first and then changed out of my pajamas and into the orange satin slip dress. I grabbed some deodorant and put that on. 

I opened my makeup bag next and quickly put on some concealer with my fingers, some mascara, and a lip stain. I slapped a little life into my cheeks and put on a little bit of highlighter so my face glowed a bit. I didn't have time to do more because Aaron knocked on the door. 

"Fifteen minutes!" 

I huffed, zipping my makeup bag up and then unlocking the bathroom door. "Stop being a human timer," I told him before looking at my hair. It was a bit wavier and curlier from the ocean water and humidity in the air. I couldn't do a lot so I ran my fingers through it, making it a little damp in the process, and grabbed my claw clip, pulling my hair back into a bun, clasping it together with the clip. I took some water and flattened the top of my hair to tame the frizz and then took out the shorter strands that usually frame my face. I grabbed perfume and sprayed it everywhere. I was about to leave the bathroom but then came back and put on lipgloss. 

"Five minutes!" he called out. 

I left the bathroom and opened my suitcase, grabbing a pair of black heels. "Stop it," I said through gritted teeth, sitting beside him while he put his shoes on. I pulled my heels on, strapping them up. We both stood up in sync, adjusting our clothes. "Okay?" I asked, turning to him. 

He looked me up and down, nodding slowly. "Perfect. Okay?" he questioned, glancing at his clothes. 

I stared at the white button-up and the black trousers. "Okay," I nodded, "other than the fact that you're dressed like you're going for work." 

"Vanessa," he huffed, rolling his eyes at me. 

"At least roll up your sleeves. It's just dinner." 

He rolled his sleeves up to his elbows as I suggested. "We're barely on time. Let's go," he said and I nodded in agreement. He didn't move though, his eyes got caught on the strap of my dress. He reached forward and fixed it. "It was twisted," he mumbled. 

I glanced down at my dress. It was a satin slip dress in a sunset orange color that was mid-length. It fitted nicely until my hips but was still flowy when you looked at it. I looked back up at him. "Was it really?" 

"I thought it was," he responded, holding my gaze. 

Since we almost kissed on that boat, I've been trying not to think about it. 

Why would he do that? And why did I want him to? I even nodded my approval. 

"Let's go, Aaron." 

"Yeah, let's go." He led the way and opened the door for me. I stepped out while he shut the door and it automatically locked behind us. He held his hand out for me, surprising me. I glanced up at him and found him already staring at me. "No?" he asked, offering his elbow to me instead so I could link my arm with his. 

I shook my head, sticking my hand out. He chuckled in amusement and took my hand, walking beside me, slowing down to match my pace. "So," I sighed as we headed downstairs. "Is there anything I should know about your mom before I meet her?" 

"Hmm, let me think." He dwelled on it for a moment. "She's a fashion designer but she hates talking about fashion, so don't bring it up. She says she talks about it enough at work. She loves hearing childhood stories, it doesn't matter who she's talking to and how old they are. She doesn't like when people go out of their way to talk to her, she hates being treated like a celebrity. And she loves asking questions, so be prepared to answer them. All of them. Oh, and uh, do you know any French?" 

"No." 

"None?" 

"Well, I thought it would be better not to speak any French than the typical 'Bonjour' and 'Au revoir' no?" 

He paused and then nodded. "Good thought. Don't speak any French." 

"Got it," I mumbled just as we reached the restaurant. We headed inside and spotted most of the people already there at the outdoor table we've been sitting at usually. 

Tonight, the tables were arranged a little differently and a clearing was formed a few feet away, where dancers were preparing and practicing in the corner while a jazz singer stood with a microphone. We arrived at the table and I noticed that the lanterns that usually hung around had real flames in them tonight. 

"Hi, everyone," I smiled as we reached our seats. 

"Hey," everyone said back. Almost everyone. 

I took a quick glance around the table, my eyes stopping at the chair right across from mine where a woman sat. 

Ms. Harmony Martin. She looked the exact same like she did in all her articles and pictures. She was wearing a white blazer dress with rubies for cufflinks. 

They're real, I bet. 

She had on makeup, only a little, just some eyeliner and bright red lipstick. Her hair was a very dark brown, almost black, just like Aaron's, with a single grey streak going through it. Her hair was neatly pulled back, two pieces twisted and pinned away from her face. She looked extremely young for her age. Hardly any wrinkles except the crow's feet. And her eyes... Her eyes were the exact same as Aaron's. An oceanic mix of green and blue. But mostly green. "Hello," she smiled. She even sat in a very 'Harmony Martin' way. She had her elbow propped up on the table with her chin resting on her knuckles. If I knew right, her legs were crossed too, one over the other. 

"Hello," I greeted back, grinning. I was starstruck, no doubt. 

She stuck her hand out. "I'm Harmony." 

I shook it. "Vanessa. It's really nice to finally meet you." 

"Finally?" she asked in amusement, glancing at Aaron as he pulled my chair for me. "Does he really bore you by talking about me?" 

"Luckily for me, the stories he tells are hardly boring," I replied as Aaron sat beside me. I was a little jealous watching the way she looked at her son. It made me miss my mom a lot, that one look. 

"Aaron," she smiled, nodding slightly. 

"Mom," he said mockingly. "How have you been?" 

"Good, honey," she answered, "You?" 

"Great," he answered, briefly glancing at me. 

Her brows twitched up but she didn't say anything and lifted her wine glass, taking a sip. She put it down while Aaron handed me the menu. "Vanessa Juliette Griffin, right?"

I stopped, looking up at her. "Yeah," I nodded with a small smile. "How'd you know?" 

Her eyes cut to her son's. "I've heard all about you." 

"Mom," he cleared his throat. 

"Mostly college stories," she added. 

"Oh, that's not good. Then he must have told you his horror stories of his most annoying student and classmate." 

She chuckled, "No, the opposite rather. As far as I knew—" 

"Mom." 

She ignored him, "He adored you." 

I paused, dumbfounded. I turned to him. "In college?" 

"Yes," she answered while he avoided my gaze. "But I'll admit, I have heard a few 'annoying student' stories as well." 

I laughed softly, looking back at her. "I'm sure you have." I glanced at him as a waiter arrived, taking orders one at a time. 

When I ordered an iced tea instead of a drink tonight, Nick jumped in. "You won't order any alcohol tonight?" he asked. 

I shook my head. "No. I don't feel like drinking tonight." 

"Don't you get what she's doing? She's trying to impress Harmony," John snickered. 

My brows furrowed as I opened my mouth to bite back at him. 

"And why would she have to impress me?" Ms. Harmony cut in, lifting a sharp brow at John. "I'm impressed enough hearing stories from Pierce, Judith, and Aaron. But I'm sure you, out of all people, must have the best stories about her. Enlighten me." 

Aaron and I exchanged a glance. 

"Perhaps a good story, one about her putting you in your place. Oh, I'm sorry. Was that rude?" 

I bit down on my bottom lip, staring at the menu and trying not to laugh at the look on John's face. When the conversation finally resumed, I cleared my throat and turned to the waiter. "I think I will take some alcohol after all. A margarita, please," I smiled. 

He nodded and then moved to take the next person's order and I faced forward. 

She was busy in a conversation with Judith but glanced at me with a small smirk. 

"Thank you," I mouthed. 

She nodded briefly. 

I turned to Aaron, surprised to see him staring at me. "What?" I asked. 

He shook his head. "Nothing. What were you about to say?" 

"Just that I think I love your mother." 

He chuckled, "Good thing she loves you too."

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Chapter 32

His mom is literally like Gianna Allister in my mind y'all

anyway ik some people thought from my A/N at the end of the last chapter that this book was ending. It's not ending right now, I still have quite a few chapters planned, just letting y'all know

oh also, I'm going for a sleepover tomorrow lmao so I may or may not be able to update, I'm not sure, that's why I'll update one more time rn just in case

next chapter: fallen