All strings detached - Leon S. Kennedy

Chapter 9

I look into the mirror as I put on my necklace to accentuate my collarbones, the curls falling down my shoulders, my hair has grown so much that I can actually recognize myself again, besides the hair colour, I've started sticking to black, there's just some things I can't look at anymore. I'm wearing a long emerald-green dress with a split, I've not worn anything more fancy than this my whole life. I've organized a big event for Chris birthday, something to thank him with for the things he's done 6 months ago when Jake put me in the hospital. I put shoes on, touch up my hair one last time and breathe in and out, calm down, you'll be fine. I told everyone to bring a date, after all this is a dinner & dance. Looking at the clock, I wait for mine to pick me up, everyone we bring is from within the unit, so it's a guy I know, nothing special, I literally just picked him for the sake of having a date. Hoping the feeling is mutual, but considering we barely talk, I assume so. When he picks me up, we rush to his car, we're already almost late when we get into a small traffic, great now they all have to wait for me. Really am hoping that Chris took the courage to ask out Jill, he used to help me with Leon, it's time to redeem myself. My phone rings as we get out of traffic "Amber where are you?" Jills voice comes through the phone "We're there any minute, just wait before you sit down, we got into traffic" I reassure her, ending the call as we park the car, Mike opens the door for me, helping me out. "Ready?" he asks to which I nod. I take one last deep breath, we stand in front of a very beautiful looking restaurant, booked to be Chris birthday. The entire unit was going to be here to celebrate one of my best friends. Mike opens my door, letting me walk in, classical music in my ears and bright lights in my face, in front of me a group of people waiting. They turn around the moment we walk in, my hands not being able to nervously clutch onto anything, I straighten my back confidently. I scan the people, most were already sitting at the table, we were a huge department after all, but Chris, Jill and their unit waited for us including Leon and his date. All their faces on me, a bright smile on my face, I walk past both of them and up to Chris, giving him the biggest hug. "Happy birthday" I whisper while he squeezes me tightly "You really didn't have to" He laughs "Oh but I did" I reply, not letting go of him "See it as a thank you" I add, stepping away, Jill by his side, looks like he did take the courage together to ask her. I give him a wink before hugging Jill aswell, who looks gorgeous in a blue dress. I bite my bottom lip and look to the side to see Leon arm hooked with a woman, I haven't seen her around, is she from stratcom? Her brown hair is tied up into a pretty updo, lips red and her eyes a beautiful blue. She's way too touchy, something Leon usually wouldn't be with strangers, right? this isn't just a date, is it? I politely say hello to Leon, turning around again to walk to the table with Chris.

We order our food, Mike next to me, Leon across from me on the far left of the table, sitting with his date. I cannot stop looking at her, she was truly beautiful, it's clear why he brought her. Not even I can get my eyes off her eyes. Chris taps me on the shoulder, he's sitting directly in front of me, Jill next to him. "Is she from stratcom?" I blurt out, Chris chuckling a bit to which Jill hits him on the harm lightly "Alexandria? She's new at stratcom, Leon told me about her" Chris replies, I bite the bottom of my inner lip, why do I want to throw a riot about him bringing her? I've barely talked to him in 6 months outside of work. "He's the one that got her into stratcom in the first place I believe" Jill adds to Chris statement, I look back to Leon, his gaze on her, her hand on his cheek, laughing playfully next to him. God, is this where all my feelings bottle back up again? Him in a suit just reminds me too much of that night out we had. I clutch onto the glass of water in my hand, drinking a sip, talking with Mike. What he does, I can do aswell. I turn to look at Mike, leaning my head towards him, playfully speaking, biting the bottom of my lip. I meet Leons eyes for just a second, I hope he saw how I speak to Mike. Not too long until our food comes in, I've ordered a salad, nothing too heavy for me tonight. I take a sip of the champagne as we all raise a toast for Chris "Ah, he's blushing" I laugh "Need glasses, Torres?" He says, giving me a smug smile "You're definitely blushing" Jill agrees, giving me a wink. We start eating, somehow I still manage for my eyes to jump at him all the time, I'm the one that sent him away, am I not? Amber make up your mind. I clutch onto my dress for a second, calming myself. "You alright?" Mike asks "I'm fine, thank you" I say nicely, finishing up my food. 

I look at the clock, everyone was finished with food as we've just been talking for the past 20 minutes "Oh, is it time to dance?" Jill asks at my gesture "Dance? No one said anything about dancing" Chris states confused "Not to you" I grin, time to force Chris onto the dance floor, nah, I'll leave that to Jill. I stand up, brushing over my dress, Mike waiting for me, holding his hand out for me to hold, which I take. Together we walk up to the other half of the restaurant, slow music playing as we all gather, I'll admit, this made me feel like I was back at prom. I hope everyone felt the same way, after all Jill and I organized this for quite a while, you wouldn't believe how hard it is to book a restaurant only for yourself on a saturday night. "I'll be right back" Mike declares, leaving me on the side of the dance floor, I didn't mind waiting for a moment, just that it left me scanning the room again. In the corner of the room, Leon was standing with Alexandria, her whispering things into his ear, so awfully close to each other with his hands on her hips, just the way he used to hold me, it was quite obvious that he was involved with her sexually, I'd know. It makes my blood boil, it shouldn't for sure, but it did 100%. Mike comes back, taking me by the hand, pulling me on the dance floor, where Leon and Alexandria were headed to aswell now. "Want to make him jealous?" He whispers into my ear, my eyes widen "Who?" I ask obliviously "Leon, trust me, I've noticed" He laughs, I return a laugh "Sure, go ahead" Leon and my past relationship has not been a secret, so I guess Mike would've noticed. He pulls me in by my hips "Play along" he says and turns us around, I wrap my arms around his neck, looking over his shoulder and at Leon, who is looking at me over her shoulder. Eye contact for just a second, my heart beats fast, my heartrate must be skyrocketing. Our eyes meet again, this time not breaking, my lips lightly part as i breathe through my mouth, my whole body is hot, my cheeks are flushed and I feel like even this dress is too tight. I see him breathe deeply. It's all getting too much "Excuse me for a moment" I say, walking away from Mike and towards the bathroom of the restaurant. I stand in front of the mirror, looking down into the sink, going through my hair with my hand, breathing heavily "fuck" I mumble. "Amber?" Leons voice chimes behind me. I look into the mirror, looking at him behind me, readjusting his tie "Leon" I say and turn around. He's standing right in front of me, looking down into my eyes. "Won't your date miss you?" I whisper as his face is only a few inches away from mine "Oh shut up" He replies "Make me" I bite my bottom lip for a second, he looks at my lips, back up to my eyes and then pushes his lips on mine. His hands trace down my sides, my arms swung around his neck, kissing him so intensely, how much I've longed to be kissed by him again, to feel his lips on mine, the taste of champagne on his lips. He lifts me onto the counter of the sinks, my legs wrap around him almost like a reflex. My body pressed against his, his hands on my inner thigh as his tongue is entangled with mine, my hands messing up his hair, sighs slipping my mouth inbetween our kisses. He's longing for me just as much as I am for him, I can tell by the way he's grabbing onto my thighs, the way his muscles tense up when I trail my hands down his arm, the way he grabs my face. But we can't do this, not right now, not here "We can't do this, Leon" I sigh, his breath on my lips "I know how badly we both want this" he holds onto my chin, looking me in the eyes "Not here" I reply, pressing a kiss onto his lips as he lifts me off the counter. I adjust his tie while he brushes the hair out of my face "Your date, she's pretty, I get why you're with her" He scoffs at my remark "She's just my date, there's no deeper feelings, not from those few nights" I look up at him "Good to know" I turn around, walking out of the bathroom, back to the crowd.