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Anissa's POV
"How do I look now?" Mariano asks me as he adjusts the collar on his now slightly wrinkled white dress shirt.
"Still drunk," I tell him truthfully as I shift my weight from one leg to the other.
"I guess that's because i still kind of am," Mariano says letting out a laugh as he runs his hands through his now matted down hair.
Id been hiding out in the women's restroom with Mariano for about 40 minutes now and I still didn't feel ready to come out and face Harry.
"Maybe I should just go home," Mariano says leaning against the sink counter.
"Why are you so afraid of your uncle knowing that your drunk anyway?" I ask him even though I honestly don't care.
All I care about right now is distracting myself from thinking about Harry.
"I'm kind of a recovering alcoholic," Mariano tells me timidly as he moves his leg slowly back and forth like a pendulum.
"Kind of?"
"I mean I am a recovering alcoholic," Mariano admits.
"And what does that have to do with your uncle?"
"He put me in some program about 2 and a half years ago, long story short I'm only suppose to have one drink a week, and my uncle knows it," He explains looking down at the tiled floor, "He'd literally kick my ass for breaking my good sobriety streak ."
"So why didn't you just have your one drink and be done?" I ask him feeling a little curious now.
I've always wondered what made addicts relapse even after they'd been sober for years.
"This is the first time I've done something like this since I started the program."
"That doesn't answer my question," I tell him with a small smile.
"It's a stupid reason," he says, no longer moving his leg back and forth.
"I get it. You don't have to tell me if you don.."
"It's because of you," He confesses, looking straight into my now, confusion filled eyes.
Um?
"Well I guess more because of your face," He corrects himself shyly as he begins to explain what the hell he means, "I was ordering the one drink I always get when I come down to the club when I saw you across from the bar, you were taking shots with that guy," Mariano says nodding towards the bathroom door, "It's like the second I laid eyes on you I was reminded of the very reason I began drinking so heavily. You look just like her."
"Like ... who?"
"My girlfriend. Well, ex-girlfriend. She uh...she left me about 5 years ago," Mariano answers, "And you look just like her."
"I watched you for a few minutes, just the way you laughed and smiled," He says, his eyes suddenly beginning to water a little as he stares in the distance, "And before I knew it I was downing an entire bottle of vodka to drown out the memories of Vivienne."
I'm at a loss for words, I wasn't expecting this type of answer, mostly because it's a little weird.
"When my uncle asked me to come meet his important business guests I had said no, that is until I saw you. I couldn't help but to want to meet you, I wanted to see what you were like. I even had the stupid thought that maybe, just maybe you were Vivienne and that you came back for me," Mariano continues.
"I know I was staring at you pretty hard but you honestly resembled her even more up close. When I introduced myself I was already pretty out of it and I couldn't help but to flirt with you. So sorry about that," Mariano admits looking slightly embarrassed.
"Don't worry about it," I manage to say, finally able to find my voice. We stand in silence for a few more minutes until Mariano speaks again.
"This is a little awkward now. I'm going to go back out into the club, thanks for all your help ," Mariano says suddenly. taking a few wobbly steps towards the door.
"Is it your leg?" I ask noticing he was actually limping.
"My knee," He tells me stopping to lean against the mirror, "I guess falling flat onto the bathroom floor can leave a mark," he tells me forcing out a laugh.
"Maybe you should go home then," I suggest, "Do you have like a driver or something that you need to call to come get you?" I ask pulling out my phone.
"I drove myself," He says slowly.
"Just leave your car here, I'll call you a cab," I tell him.
"I can't.The bouncers will see me and tell my uncle. They're snitches," Mariano says will a chuckle, "I feel better anyway. Seriously. I can drive."
"Your joking right? You can't drive like this."
"I can," he says beginning to walk to the door again.
"You can't, your drunk," I tell him as I move closer.
"I'm fine, I don't live very far anyway. I can do it," Mariano says pulling out his black keys. I walk over to him and snatch them out of his hands.
"Hey!"
"Do you know how stupid you sound right now? I can't let you drive home drunk," I tell him holding the keys away.
"Will you drive me then?" He asks desperately, " I really want to go home."
"How can you trust me to drive your car?" I ask him.
"I just told you the biggest secret ever. Literally no one but my uncle and his bouncers know about my alcohol problem. I think I can trust you to drive my stupid car," he says smiling a little.
I guess it's better than staying here.
"Okay, just let me get some help," I tell him deciding I'll do it, " I don't think I can get you to the car on my own."
"Don't ask anyone who works here," Mariano tells me quickly with a worried expression.
"I won't. Just stay here, I'll be back soon," I tell him walking towards the door.
I slowly walk in between people towards the VIP booth, scanning the tables for Harry. Thankfully I don't see him anywhere.
Once I feel it's safe, I approach the table that Louis is sitting at as quickly as I can.
"Louis! Where's Harry?" I ask just to make sure I don't run into him while I help Mariano get to his car.
"There you are! What the hell happened?" Louis asks giving me a crazy look.
"I'll explain later just tell me where Harry is," I press.
"He left, about 20 minutes ago. Quite pissed off I might add. He even knocked over my Pepsi when I asked him why you were taking so long in the bathroom," Louis informs me, "Now I'm pissed! That Pepsi cost 4 American dollars!"
"Here's 5," I tell him pulling a bill out of my bag and shoving it into his hand, "I need you to help me walk someone to their car."
"And by 'walk someone to their car' you mean?" Louis asks suspiciously.
"I mean walk someone to their car! Louis come on I'm being serious right now," tell him impatiently.
"Okay sure I'll help you," Louis says getting up, "Anything beats sitting here alone with my phone."
"Where's Marco?" I ask Louis suddenly remembering I can't let him see Mariano.
"The sweaty dude? He's over there in the corner getting a lap dance," Louis tells me pointing towards the small gathered crowd of girls laughing.
"Okay let's go," I tell Louis grabbing his hand, leading him to the bathrooms.
Once we've reached the bathroom Louis immediately stops following me.
"I can't go in there. That's only for girls," Louis says.
"Just come on," I tell him tugging him in.
"What the...?" Louis says as he sees Mariano leaning against the wall.
"Don't ask," I tell Louis not really feeling in the mood to explain.
"Hi," Mariano awkwardly says giving Louis a small wave.
"Alright so Louis just let Mariano put his arm over your shoulder for some support, I'll do the same on the other side," I instruct.
The three of us move in a cluster, occasionally bumping into someone until we reach the door Mariano suggested we take, the back door leading to the employee parking lot.
"My car is that black Lamborghini in the corner," Mariano tells me as we reach the end of the parking lot.
"It's beautiful," Louis says looking at Mariano's car in admiration.
"Thanks man, I just got it a few months ago," he tells Louis proudly.
"Wait you're going to drive this home? You can't even walk straight mate you're going to wreck it!" Louis tells him seriously sounding concerned ....for the car.
"Anissa is going to drive me home," Mariano tells him casually.
Louis' mouth turn into a tight O shape, and for a second I think he's going to say something but thankfully he doesn't.
"Well then. I'm off, I'll see you tomorrow for work Anissa," Louis says fighting back a smirk.
"Bye Louis and thanks for helping me," I tell him avoiding his eyes as I pull out Mariano's car keys from my bag, clicking the door open.
"Be careful, they don't open like regular doors," Mariano tells me cautiously, limping over to the passenger door where I'm standing with my hand on the handle. I let go and watch him gently tug the handle, the door sliding upward, "They're scissor doors," he explains as he lowers himself onto the seat. Once he's in, I reach upward, pulling down the door for him, closing it slowly.
I open my door cautiously, pulling it down slowly behind me as I get in.
"Shit I forgot to ask, you can drive stick right?" Mariano asks looking over at me as I buckle my seat belt.
"Yes," I tell him as I look for the key hole so I can start the car. Mariano watches me with an amused expression before finally bursting out laughing.
"What?" I ask feeling annoyed.
"It's a 'push to start'," Mariano tells me with a smile as he pushes the black button behind the steering wheel, the car immediately turning on, "Sorry I should have told you. It was just funny watching you look for the key hole."
"Anything else you need to mention before I pull this spaceship out of the parking lot?" I ask looking over at him.
"The radio doesn't work," He admits with a serious face.
"You have a nearly six hundred thousand dollar car and your telling me the radio doesn't work?" I ask laughing at how stupid that sounds.
"Yea, I've been meaning to get it fixed but I'm just ... lazy," he tells me with another laugh.
I adjust the mirrors, before finally pulling the car out of the lot. For the next 10 minutes I drive Mariano home listening to his directions closely.
"It's the one at the very end of the road," Mariano tells me when I turn onto a very long street with about 4 widely spaced out mansions.
"With the statues on the gate?" I ask trying not to sound judgmental but statues? Seriously?
"They're gargoyles, but yea. You can just pull up to that black box as close as you can so you can punch the number in," Mariano instructs, I do as he asks and slowly pull up closely to the black box.
"The code is 0824," He tells me as he reaches across to roll the window down for me, our hands accidentally brush against each other, making Mariano pull his hand back onto his lap quickly.
I punch in the number, making the large black steel gate slowly slide open.
"You can park in front of the door."
I park parallel with the passenger side closest to the door so that Mariano doesn't have to walk so much.
"Let me help you get out," I tell him shutting the car off, getting out and walking around to his side.
I pull the passenger door up slowly, putting my hand out for Mariano to grab.
"Hold ......on," He says slowly, pushing my hand away, his face suddenly pale.
"What's wro..." I begin to ask right as Mariano leans as far as he can out of the car with his arm out, throwing up all over the floor and on me.
How lovely.
"I am so so sorry I tried to move you! I couldn't reach and I couldn't say anything more than 'hold on' because I thought I'd lose control of holding it in. I'm sorry!" Mariano apologies quickly looking horrified.
"Don't worry about it, you only got a
little on me," I tell him trying my best not to sound as disgusted as I feel being covered in his throw up.
"A little? Your legs and dress are covered in my throw up!" Mariano says pulling himself out of the car, "Come inside you can get cleaned up before I get you a ride home."
"It's really not ..."
"It's not okay, so please just come in," Mariano insists. I give him a nod deciding that he's right.
I follow behind Mariano as he limps the few steps he has to take, pulling his keys out and opening the large wooden door.
He hits a few light switches, illuminating the large mansion.
"Come on," he says waving me in. I step in slowly, closing the door behind me.
The inside is nothing short of extravagant, just like the outside. The ceilings are high, the floor is covered in white carpeting and there are large framed pieces of art work hung on the navy blue walls of the entry hallway, and at the very end of the hall is a two sided split staircase leading to the 2nd floor.
"This way," Mariano tells me as he turns down the hall leading us towards the kitchen, he turns the light on and begins looking through his cabinets until he finally pulls out a few paper towels. He then turns to me, looking down my body.
"I was going to see if you wanted to just wipe off the throw up but now that I'm looking at you in better light it probably be better if you took a shower. You have it ......everywhere, even a little in your hair," Mariano tells me as he looks at me with an embarrassed face.
"I'll just take a shower when I get to my hotel," I tell him taking the towels from his hands, wiping away the throw up that I see on my arm.
"Alright well I'll call my Uncle's driver to come pick you up. What hotel are you staying at?"
Just as I begin to think, I remember that Harry was the one who knew the address, not me.
Harry.
Even if I did figure out where the hotel was I know for a fact Harry wouldn't want me to go back to the room after the way we spoke to each other, and in all honesty I didn't want to go back because his words really did hurt me.
"No where," I mutter as I wipe down my other leg.
"What do you mean no where, didn't you get a hotel room?" Mariano asks as he grabs more towels.
"I did. But I don't really think I'm welcomed there anymore," I tell him feeling embarrassed about my situation.
"What do you mean?" He asks looking confused.
"I was suppose to share that room with Harry," I tell him truthfully.
"Harry? Oh, Mr. Styles, your boss..."
"I told you he isn't my boss," I snap feeling my anger slowly return at the mention of Harry's name.
"Well whoever the hell he is, I'm sure he'd be worried if you didn't come back to the hotel," Mariano tells me pulling out a chair from his 12 seat dining table, turning it backward and sitting.
"Didn't you hear him in the bathroom? He agreed that I wasn't his problem anymore. He doesn't care if I come back or not," I say to Mariano, wondering why I was being so honest with him.
"He was just jealous, take it from a guy who knows the feeling. He might have said all that shit but he didn't mean it, you could tell by how sad he looked when you told him you weren't his 'anything'," Mariano explains stretching his leg out to the side, "Bottom line, tomorrow morning when he wakes up and sees you never came to the hotel room he's going to care and he's going to be real concerned."
"So your saying I should just go back to our room and be all 'hey sorry we fought in the bathroom but you need to share your bed with me like you said we would?'. Yea, no," I tell him tossing the dirty towels into the black square embossed trash can.
"Share the bed huh? So you guys were a thing," Mariano says with a smile on his face, "I knew it."
"We're not a thing..."
"I'm teasing," Mariano says letting out a laugh at my now hostile tone.
"I'll just get another hotel room," I say out loud to myself as I turn the kitchen faucet on.
"Don't be stubborn," Mariano says raising his brow at me and my attitude, "How about this, it's nearly midnight, just stay here and chill till about 1am and then go back to your room. You won't even have to talk to him because he'll be asleep by then, all you have to do is shower and slide right into your side of the bed with him," Mariano suggests laughing towards the end.
"Shut up," I say cracking a smile as I dry my hands off on the black towel hanging near the sink.
Mariano's plan does sound appealing, I still need to get all my things from the room anyways. I could just sleep for a little bit and wake up super early so that I can avoid talking to Harry.
"I guess you're right," I tell Mariano as I lean against the marble counter.
"Can I just suggest something you could do while we wait?" He asks slowly standing from his chair.
"What?" I ask crossing my arms over my chest.
"Take a shower! You still have throw up on you and the smell is kinda getting to me,"Mariano says covering his face, "And once you finish we can watch a movie and eat ice cream for our heartache."
"I don't have heartache and I don't have anything to change into," I tell him half lying.
"I can let you borrow something, come on," He says walking back out into the hallway towards the stairs.
I stay where I am lost in my thoughts, replaying Harry's words from earlier.
Would Harry really even care if I didn't show up to the room?
"Anissa, seriously get your ass over here! You are not sitting in my theater covered in throw up," Mariano shouts playfully from what sounds like the top of the stairs, when he notices I didn't follow him.
"I'm coming," I shout back deciding it's best I don't think about Harry right now until I'm alone, just in case there are tears.
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