They were sitting at a table, Hennessy twirling her straw around in the water she was given. She told Alexander that she didn't drink alcohol, and he wasn't surprised. With everything that happened in her past. He saw something on her wrist and lightly grabbed it.
"What is this Hennessy?" Alexander traced his finger across scars on her wrist.
"Oh." She looked up at him, trying not to get shivers from the touch.
"Hennessy." His voice was firm and she was ashamed.
"It was after the whole grocery store thing. It brought back horrible memories, and I just-I'm sorry." Hennessy said, staring into his eyes, as his touch remained on her wrist.
"Have you done it before."
"Yeah, a long time ago. But not much. People don't like strippers who are fucked up." She said, chuckling without the humor while looking down.
"If you ever feel this way again. Please Hennessy, I am here for you. Call me. It doesn't matter where I am." Alexander said, disappointed that he wasn't there for her in her time of need.
"I don't-I feel like I'm depending on you too much." She whispered, looking back down at her hands.
"No, no. You need to realize this what normal people, normal friendships are like, they are there for each other." He explained, and she glanced up to him.
"Okay, I guess." Hennessy shrugged.
"Come here." Alexander said, and she scooted her chair closer to him. He put his arm around her chair and smiled.
"Alexander! Sweetie!" A voice from behind them squeaked.
"It's my mom and dad. Be nice." He whispered in Hennessy's ear and she put a smile on her face.
"Who's the lucky lady?" The man said, sitting down in front of them. They both gave her a glance over, not liking what they saw.
"I'm Hennessy." She extended her hand to the mother, and she shook it vigorously.
"I am Laura, and my husband is Tom."
"Hello, Tom." Hennessy nodded to Tom and put her hands back in her lap.
"So, Hennessy, what do you do?" Laura asked.
"Um.." She wondered what the right thing to say was. She did not exactly have a profession, and it was inappropriate to say that she was Alexander's personal maid. As Laura obviously thought they were together.
"She is a maid, housekeeper." Alexander said, saving her from the explanation.
"A housekeeper?" Tom said, sitting back. His son was getting with a maid, a step down for sure. Alexander usually had models, actresses on his arm.
"Yes, sir." Hennessy responded, smiling.
"What do your parents do?" He said, and Hennessy bit her lip. He asked the exact question she did not want. The exact question that took her a forever to tell Alexander. The question that took her time and trust to tell someone the answer.
"Hennessy's parents are not in the picture." Alexander saved her yet again, and Tom wondered what he was doing? A maid who didn't have her parents around? Sounds like trouble.
"Really?" Laura said, looking at Hennessy intently.
"Yes. Now me and Hennessy were in the middle of a conversation so can you please leave us to it?" Alexander said harshly, with no emotion in his voice.
"Of course son. Goodbye Hennessy, Alexander, see you later." Tom said, standing up. They both walked away and Hennessy turned to him and was wearing a shocked face.
"What the hell! That was so rude!" She lightly slapped his chest and he chuckled, grabbing his scotch.
"I wanted to be alone with you."
"How sweet, I am going to go grab some more lemon water. Do you want anything?" Hennessy said, standing up.
"No. I'm okay. Have fun." Alexander said, watching her weave through tables to the bar.
Hennessy asked the bartender for lemon water, and she sat down on a stool. Tracing her finger along the marble countertops, as she spaced out, until a man sat next to her.
"Hello, Hennessy is it?" The man said, leaning towards her. He ran his fingers down her arm, but she gently turned away.
"Yes. Who are you."
"I am an old friend of Alexander. You are his new girl?" He said, getting up and standing next to her.
"Why do you care?" Hennessy said, debating whether or not to just deal without her lemon water.
"I will get you a drink." He said, waving over the bartender.
"No thank you. I already ordered lemon water."
"I will grab it for you." He said, walking to the other side of the bar. As soon as he left, Hennessy turned around, her eyes searching for Alexander. But there were too many people.
"Shit." She whispered. Turning back around, whoever was grabbing the drink for her was taking a while. Right as Hennessy was about to just leave, she felt a tap on her shoulder.
"I'm back!" The man said, holding out her drink.
"Yay." Hennessy said flatly. Grabbing her lemon water, taking drinks of it and standing up.
"Do you want to hang out." He said, once again leaning into her personal space and touching her arm.
"I'm fine. I've got to go. Thanks for grabbing my water." She took another drink to get out of her grasp, smiled sweetly, and walked back towards Alexander.
Taking in all the rich, privileged faces, as she tried to find Alexander's. She spotted him and smiled, waving at him. He smiled his award winning smile back, and Hennessy almost tripped over her own feet. As she was too consumed in Alexander's smile.
"I got my water." She said, sitting down at the table, and taking another long sip of her water while looking at him.
"I see. It took you a bit."
"I know. There was this creepy guy at the bar. He said he was your friend? I don't know. It was weird." Hennessy debated on telling him but knew she should.
"Fuck, it was probably Ryan. He's a creep. Stay away." Alexander said, knowing his history with girls.
"Mmhm. Okay."
After an hour or so, Hennessy was a completely different person. She was slurring her speech and breathing very fast.
"Hennessy, in and out like this." Alexander said, breathing with her. Though hers didn't slow.
"I don't feel well, Xander." She mumbled, slouching in her seat.
"I know. Let's go. I will take you to the hospital if it gets any worse." He said, helping her up.
"Stop yelling please. I'm sorry if I made you mad." She said softly, standing up, while still hyperventilating.
"I'm not yelling. You didn't do anything. Shit. Come on." They stumbled to the exit, gaining peoples stares. They made it outside and Hennessy fell into Alexander.
"I'm tired, Xander." Hennessy mumbled, and he motioned for the valet to pull his car around.
"I know baby. Come on. Let's get to the car." He said, as she leaned all her weight on him.
"No. We have to stay for you." She closed her eyes and slowly slid to the ground, and Alexander realized she passed out