Then Alice comes to us. She literally flies into the hall like a whirlwind, with her bright laughter and infectious mood, and immediately starts hugging me. Her warm arms wrap around me so tightly that I feel all the energy of the moment filling the space. Katrin's eyes widen in surprise, as if she just saw something inexplicable. And there are really reasons for that. Alice has always been vibrant, sometimes even bold in her behavior, and it draws attention. The girl loves to dress provocatively, often choosing outfits that, on one hand, are elegant, and on the other, extremely daring. And now she appears in a dress that barely covers her hips, with no straps on top, leaving her shoulders and chest completely exposed. When she presses against me while sitting on my lap, I feel her closeness and warmth, and at the same time, I know that for Katrin this might be shocking.
I'm already used to Alice's behavior. She is sometimes too bold and free in her actions, but she is herself. However, Rebel Girl, who is always more restrained, clearly didn't expect this turn. I feel her gaze darken instantly, and the tension in the air becomes tangible. I deliberately hug Alice tighter, pulling her closer to feel my beloved start to get jealous, even though I try not to show it.
"Maxim! I've missed you so much! Why do you come to me so rarely?" asks my friend, pouting, her voice both playful and slightly capricious. It's how she always addresses me when she wants attention, and I know that this trait of hers always evokes mixed feelings in me — from admiration to slight irritation. She's never behaved this strangely before, and I clearly understand that it's all because I brought Katrin.
"Work, Alice. I couldn't get away," I shrug slightly, but inside I already sense that the conversation might take a different turn.
"Ah, forget work. Come to me more often, I'll help you relax and forget it exists," she suggests in a soft, languid voice, and I want to laugh at her behavior.
Rebel Girl can't resist and snorts, drawing attention to herself. Alice immediately shifts her gaze to her.
"And who's this? A servant? What is she doing here?" Her eyes fill with biting mockery, and I realize she doesn't intend to hide her displeasure, though she clearly knows I brought Katrin, and there's something dismissive in her voice. Probably, Vi told her about it since I introduced them once.
"This is Katrin. The mother of my daughter."
"Wow! So you have a little baby? That's wonderful. Congratulations, Maxim!" The girl ignores Rebel Girl. Apparently, she decides to focus on reinforcing her interest in me, ignoring Katrin as if her presence is unimportant.
"Thanks, Alice!" I play along, feeling how her ignoring Katrin becomes obvious.
"Oh, my favorite song is playing! Let's dance!" She grabs my hand, and without fully realizing why I do it, I follow her.
My hand naturally lands on her waist, and she wraps her arms around my neck. We start dancing, and I feel her breath almost merge with mine.
"And what are we doing, Alice?" I whisper in her ear.
"Why did you bring that traitor here?" Her voice turns cold, and everything from before disappears. She returns to her usual form, unafraid to express her feelings and thoughts.
"I have a plan, and you'll help me," I feel the tension between us growing.
"That's the Maxim I like. I thought you already forgave her," she immediately smiles lightly, a spark of hope flashing in her eyes.
"I'll forgive someday, but we'll be together again. Not now, though, I'm not ready yet," I feel these words weigh heavily on my heart, but I am sure that now is not the time for forgiveness.
"I don't want to hear about you being together. Tell me about the plan," her eyes narrow, and I see her thoughts focusing on the idea I try to hide.
"We're already doing it," I reply, feeling her gaze sharpen even more.
"And that's it?" Alice responds, disappointed.
"No, now we'll pretend to kiss. I'll turn my back to her, and she will see only what I want," I feel confident, though a slight worry lingers inside me.
"You want her to be jealous?" asks Alice, her voice soft, but with a hint of cunning that I notice.
"I want her to see who she lost, and to boil with jealousy," I answer, and in this moment I realize that not only Alice, but I myself am at the center of a game where every step can lead to unpredictable consequences.
"All right, let's start," her eyes sparkle with excitement, and I know this is only the beginning of what we've started.
I stop with my back to Katrin. Alice begins to gently, almost imperceptibly, stroke my hair; her fingers are warm and tender, soothing in this motion, as if she wants to create an atmosphere of comfort and safety. She leans closer, pretending we are kissing. Her warm breath touches my lips, but it's clear it's no more than a performance, a mask hiding true intentions.
Alice, knowing my character, doesn't try to actually kiss me. She understands how important it is for me to maintain distance, and following our little code, she does exactly what I told her. I feel her confidence and understanding of the situation — she knows exactly what to do, without a hint of mistake.
Rebel Girl rushes past us. She is like a whirlwind, moving quickly across the hall, barely touching the floor. Approaching the bartender, she asks something, but I don't hear it. She moves in the same direction my gaze follows, but her figure quickly disappears from sight.
"It worked, Maxim," says Alice, smiling at me, her eyes sparkling in the dim light, and that slight smile on her lips shows that everything is calculated down to the smallest detail. She kisses my cheek, and I feel her lips on my skin, like a sign of a task completed.
"Thanks for your help, I'll go," I say, though inside me churn mixed feelings.
"See you," the girl says in parting, her voice quietly confident. I nod, knowing she will stay here while I go after my goal.
I approach the bartender, just like Katrin, to find out why she went to him.
"Stas, what did she ask?" I ask the guy, not hiding my interest.
"About where the bathroom is," he replies calmly, without asking unnecessary questions.
"Thanks," I answer and continue on my way. Now I need to find her, and this information is key.
I enter the women's bathroom, just like Katrin, feeling no embarrassment at all. I feel the tension rising with every step. Inside it's empty, only one stall is occupied. I look at her legs — it's clear. It's her. I close the doors, prop them shut, and, sitting on the edge of the sink, start waiting, feeling everything inside me boiling with anticipation.
A couple of minutes later, Rebel Girl comes out. Her face is tense, but I notice something in her eyes that shows she's experienced something important. She can't hide that her emotions are on the edge. It's obvious she's been crying. This doesn't stop me. I quickly approach her, grab her hand, and, not giving her a chance to react, push her back into the stall. I start kissing her — first on the lips, fast and passionate, then, without letting go, move to her neck. Everything around becomes blurred. Rebel Girl doesn't understand what's happening; her breath is broken, and her eyes flash a mix of fear and desire.
"Max?" Her voice is quiet, with a hint of confusion, as if she can't understand what she's about to face.
I look at her, and at that moment something clicks in my head. I lean in, breathing in her scent, and kiss her again, this time more fiercely, more strongly, as if releasing all the tension that has built between us. She relaxes, and responding to my kiss, gives herself to the moment.
My hands slide over her stomach, moving lower, savoring every breath, every moan. Her body struggles — she tries to understand what's happening, but I am something for her that she cannot pull away from.
I step back slightly to take her in, while Katrin tries to catch her breath, gulping in air. I reach out, grab her wrist, and turn her back to me. I press her against the stall wall, feeling her body tense and at the same time ready for new sensations.
At that moment, time seems to slow, and I realize that in these moments I can control everything happening. But I also know that in this moment, everything could change.
My hand slides over her body, barely touching the thin fabric of her dress, as if afraid to disturb the fragile balance between us. Every touch sends shivers over her skin, her breath catching, broken and hot. My fingers slowly, almost hesitantly, expose her shoulder, revealing the soft, trembling skin, so familiar and so desired.
I carefully wrap my hand around her neck, feeling her pulse racing under my fingers, like a caught bird. Turning her face toward me, I press my lips to hers again — this kiss is bitter, like regret, and sweet, like memory. She responds, but there's uncertainty in her movement, as if she doesn't understand why she doesn't resist.
My palm slides lower, with a slight rustle removing the last barrier — thin lace panties falling to the floor with a barely audible sound, like the last bit of shame pushed aside. With one hand, I caress her firm ass, feeling her body tense, while with the other I unzip myself — the metallic sound of the zipper rings in the quiet of the room, like the click of a lock trapping her.
And suddenly, Katrin snaps awake.