t w e n t y e i g h t
" it's all good "
-

-

Lewis had just gotten up to get them both another glass of wine when Alice plopped down next to her with the biggest grin on her face.

"Come with me, now," She demanded, grabbing Adela by both hands and dragging her out into the kitchen. "What's changed?"

"What?" She frowned, pretending like she didn't know what Alice was on about as she took a seat on the barstool.

"One minute you're all 'we're just friends' and the next minute you're flirting with him on the sofa, basically lying on him. Spill the beans, what's changed?"

"I think seeing Simon with Catherine has finally... finally shown me that he's actually moved on and that I have a right to do so too. I'm not rushing into anything, but a little attention from someone you're attracted to is nice, you know?" Adela fiddled with the hem of her dress as she spoke, keeping her eyes down. It felt weird to say it out loud, especially in the place she'd once called home, but it was out there now and there was no taking it back. "Even if it doesn't go anywhere, he's a good guy and I do like him."

"This is progress," Alice said, still grinning like a maniac. "Also, Catherine is totally threatened by you so just keep being you, okay? Now, get back in there and get with someone who isn't tall, blond and named Simon."

Adela hopped off the stool. "If you insist," She joked, linking arms with Alice as they walked back to the living room where the majority of the guests were swaying to Christmas music and drinking way too much wine.

"I forgot to tell you," Alice began, "I've got to go early because I'm meeting Harry to fly to his for Christmas, but I'll be back like three days after Christmas."

"I wish you wouldn't keep springing things on me like this," Adela complained as she turned to pull Alice into a tight hug. The two of them rocked side to side as Adela said, "But I do hope you have an amazing time and I'll miss you so much."

"I'll miss you too, Ads, but I know you'll have a great time and eat lots of food with your parents back home. I think I literally have to leave now if I want to get there only slightly late, so I have to dash, but I'll call you tomorrow, okay?"

"Please do call me, I know what you're like with phone calls." Her hands splayed across Alice's back as she held her tight, not really wanting to let her best friend go. She didn't know what she'd do without her for the next week to pester with calls, coffee and doing each other's make up as they gossiped and ranted about next to nothing.

"I will, I will," She promised, laughter lacing her words as she held Adela out at an arm's length. "Now, you've got a cute guy in an ugly jumper waiting for you in there with a wine with your name on it. So, what're you waiting for?"

"Thank you for asking him to come," Adela said quietly, not wanting there to be any chance that Lewis himself might overhear her words.

Alice simply smiled in return, glancing over Adela's shoulder to the topic of conversation.

"Is everything okay?" Lewis asked, standing in the doorway with a glass of wine in each hand.

"Yeah," Alice replied, squeezing Adela's hand. "I was just saying goodbye. Merry Christmas, both of you," She said as she began to pull her coat on and make for the door. Both Adela and Lewis responded with their own goodbyes.

"Sorry to disappear like that but Alice just sprung it on me that she was leaving," Adela explained, stepping towards him to take the wine.

"No big deal," He responded, shrugging his shoulders. "I was more worried that you'd both just ditched me at a stranger's house, but it's all good."

"Yeah, it's all good." Adela's lips drew into a lipped smile as she put the glass to her mouth and took another drink, letting the smooth liquid slip down her throat, warming her from the inside out.

-

-

Adela and Lewis had gone back to sitting on the sofa just talking and talking. Flirting was a common theme, which both took part in and enjoyed. It had been a long time since Lewis had actually had an interest like this in someone. Every time he thought he did, it just ended up being a misunderstanding and that they were just good friends.

So, it felt good when Adela smiled at him like that with the twinkle in her eyes and flirted with him in complete comfort. Even more so when she went as far as to touch his arm as she laughed at one of his jokes.

Maybe she'd had a little too much wine, but she was definitely being a little more confident with him than usual. Not so worried about offending him as she told him his jumper was the ugliest thing she'd ever seen. Her empty wine glass sat next to his on the coffee table, which she later told him that her dad made for when she and Simon had moved in.

Every time she mentioned him a little light in her voice flickered, but all it took was a squeeze of the shoulder and a swift topic change and she was grinning at him again.

People had started to filter out. There weren't many people left now and Simon and Catherine were beginning to start cleaning up, which the both of them only noticed when Simon cleared his throat.

"Sorry," He said, eyes going between her and Lewis before finally locking with her. "Are you done with these?"

To Lewis' surprise, Adela didn't immediately pull herself from under his arm at the sight of Simon.

"Yeah," She replied, "we were probably going to get going soon anyway, but thanks for having this get together. It was good to get out." Adela glanced to Lewis for a moment before standing, smoothing out her dress and offering Simon a smile. "Maybe I'll see you soon," She offered as he took the glasses.

"Yeah, see you soon," Simon replied, looking at her a little longer, taking her face in one last time because he really didn't know if he would see her soon, or even again.

Lewis rose up beside her, following her out into the hall where he helped her put on her coat. He slipped it onto her shoulders, his knuckles grazing her bare skin. The touch lingered even as she stepped away.

"Did you get a taxi?" He asked, frowning as he opened the door to the sight of no car waiting for them outside.

"No," Adela replied, walking out of the door. "It's not far to mine from here. You can stay if you want, or I'll wait with you for your taxi."

Lewis smiled crookedly, slinging an arm over her shoulder as they stepped out onto the pavement. She sank into his warmth. "I'll stay with you, but only if you cook me breakfast in the morning."

"It's a deal," She promised as she wrapped her arm around him too, resting her head on him as they walked down the dimly lit street, her heels sounding with clicks between breaks in conversation, not that there were many.

Finally they got to Adela's apartment block, shivering from the cold but that only made the heat of being inside even nicer. Neither of them let go as they got into the elevator, Adela only breaking away to unlock her door.

"This is it," She said as she swung open her door, the scent of cinnamon candles she'd been burning earlier that day still lingering and flooding her nose.

Lewis stepped in first, hands in his pockets as he glanced around. "It's cosy. Definitely suits you," He complimented.

"Thanks," Adela replied as she slipped her coat off, hanging it up on the back of the door. That's when she froze at the sight of the mistletoe stuck haphazardly on the top of the door frame with sticky tape, most likely done by none other than Alice.

Lewis must've noticed it too. She felt his hand touch her lower back and she turned back to him, looking up into his eyes and wondering whether he really meant it or whether she was just an easy catch to take advantage of.

Adela's palms rest on his chest and as he leant towards her she held her breath, his fingers shifted against her back, cold but not unpleasant. And finally his lips met hers and still she did not breathe, her heart racing with happiness but also flitting with all the worries inside of her. When she responded to his touch, she felt his mouth curve into a smile against her before he kissed her harder, kissed her like he meant it. Her fingers curled into the Christmas jumper, his mouth tasted like wine.

Adela was the one to break away first, barely, but they were apart and breathing heavily. She didn't let go of him and he didn't let go of her. She let out a shaky laugh, quiet but audible.

"Merry Christmas, Adela," He whispered, lips so close to hers that she felt them brush her mouth as he spoke her name. A shudder rocketed down her spine.

"Merry Christmas, Lewis," She replied as she kissed him again, knowing now that he definitely wasn't just taking advantage of her and she hoped he knew that he most definitely was not her rebound, showing him with the way she kissed him as if he'd taught her how to smile again.

-

1635 words
shooketh