After a couple more exchanges about their school and the town with Emile, Nora returned to Benny's side to ensure he didn't feel out of place. He was talking to one of their schoolmates from History class. Luke and Amber approached them, holding hands. They had definitely assumed the mantle of the school's golden couple.
It surprised Nora that someone as mature and intelligent as Amber went for someone so dim and goofy as Luke. Both greeted her a lot friendlier than they did in school. It was odd seeing her classmates outside school; it was like they were completely different people. The social boundaries seemed to loosen, and alcohol lowered people's inhibitions. Or was it Rafe's presence in Nora's life that made her suddenly more socially significant than before?
"You look nice, Nora," Luke said, looking at her slightly bewildered. Amber, too, paid her compliments, touching the fabric of her expensive dress. Nora felt a lot more relaxed. This wasn't as terrible as she had imagined. She was enjoying their company. Even Hazel said a dry hello and ogled her expensive accessories.
A handful of Rafe's 'boys' from London looked out of place and attracted the eyes of many girls. They were dressed in expensive clothing and an aura of confidence and arrogance surrounded them, just like Rafe had had when he first came to school. They could've formed a boy band with their looks.
Uninterested in Rafe's schoolmates and the girls in the club, they kept to themselves around the bar, preferring to talk to Emile or Rafe only. The two groups of friends separated into the 'city boys of London' and 'townsfolk of Berk'. Nora figured Rafe's closest friend was Dmitri, a really friendly guy from Moscow. Rafe introduced them and told her they went to a posh summer camp every year together in Switzerland. It dawned on Nora now just how glamorous and luxurious Rafe's life really was and how successful and beautiful his family and friends were. What his childhood memories and holidays were made of. It all screamed money. They had had a good, comfortable life when her father was a trader. But Rafe's fortune was a whole new league. She'd be out of his life once he went back to London. He would eventually return to that life after earning his father's forgiveness. The thought made her sad. She couldn't recall what life in Berk was like before he had rudely barged into her world.
As the night went on, the club swarmed with people. The alcohol hit the system, and people ventured to the dance floor with newfound confidence. Some were making out; some were intimately standing together and talking. Nora took Benny by the hand and led him to the dance floor too. Swaying to the rhythm, Nora let herself enjoy the night. She felt the tensionand the stress of schoolwork leave her mind for a blissful couple of hours. She felt like she was in a new dimension. She observed the people whom she saw every day in a new light.
They seemed to take new form in her eyes out of their school uniforms and loosened tongues.
She felt a pair of hands on her hips and turned to see Rafe give her a cheeky grin as he swayed to the music with her. Benny had disappeared. She grinned back and threw her hands in the air as the beat dropped.
"You're having fun?" He yelled into her ear through the music.
"As you can see," she replied, turning her body to face him.
"You look a little drunk," he said, pulling her close. She felt electricity run through her body. It was responding to Rafe's charming smile and his strong body that she felt as she put her hands on his chest.
"I am a little drunk," she said with a satisfied smile and swayed with him in sync.
He leaned in, close enough to tickle her ear with his lips. "You look hot," he said in a husky voice.
She shivered. She knew he did that on purpose and needed to make sure her knees didn't buckle from underneath her. Nora tried to act cool, but her flaming cheeks gave her away.
She didn't remember the last time anyone referred to her as 'hot'. He made her feel hot. She briefly wondered how many drinks did he have to throw around compliments like that? She looked into his warm brown eyes, which seemed to liquefy from the drinks he'd had.
She'd seen his 'drunk eyes' before. They were half-lidded and sexy. He looked intently into her eyes, and his gaze travelled down to her lips. Out of habit, she bit her bottom lip. He was making her nervous. She knew he was leaning in for a kiss. She sucked in a deep breath, her heart hammering in her chest.
Someone's hand smacked Rafe on the arm, ruining the moment, and a shrill voice cut through the music. "Rafe! Baby! Surprise!"
Rafe had to do a double-take to see who had rudely interrupted them. He looked aghast.
"Maria?"
She gave him a 'ta da!' look and enveloped him in her hands, shoving Nora out of the way.
Nora wasn't sure if her heart could take in so many emotions at once. Excited, love-struck, horny, annoyed, confused, envious and downright pissed off. Who the hell was this supermodel?
"Did I surprise you?! The boys told me they're coming down here, so I thought I'd join! But I was getting ready too long, apparently, and they left without me, assholes. I've missed you," she added the last part with a pout.
Rafe's mouth opened and closed, like a fish on dry land, still recovering from the shock of seeing this girl. "It's uh nice to see you," Rafe said finally. "Maria, this is Nora. NoraâMaria."
"Hello," Nora said, trying to keep her tone neutral. "Another friend from London?"
"Actuallyâwell, a friend who used to date is more like it," she replied, and Nora looked at Rafe, who looked far from happy to see his ex-girlfriend.
* * *
Out of all the times Maria could've visited...Out of all the things she would have ruined. It just had to be the one time he took a chance to kiss Nora. He tried to keep the disappointment off his face.
What surprised him was that seeing Maria stirred nothing in him. Back when he first came to Berk, he had missed her ditzy company. How often he'd look at his screen and find his messages unanswered. How he wished she'd come visit. She was still gorgeous. Her hair was shorter than he last remembered. She was wearing a tight, short playsuit and a fur collar. He looked at Nora for any signs of emotion. Was she angry? Curious? Upset?
Frustratingly, it was hard to read Nora, as always. She gave a small, polite smile to Maria. That serene look was gone from her faceâthe one she'd had a moment ago when she lost herself in music and basked in the strobe lights.
"I've heard from the boys that Rafe has a sexy Asian tutor now! I had to come and see for myself," His ex said with a giggle. "It's nice to meet you."
"Thanks..." Nora said with that usual dryness in her voice. Rafe began to panic as the carefree aura around Nora disappeared and began retreating back into the demeanour she usually wore in school. He could almost see her putting up her hair and whipping out her chunky glasses.
"You're much prettier than I imagined. You look more Korean than Japanese. Or Chinese? Have you seen girl bands in Korea? They are so adorable. Don't get me started on the boys. Who kind of look like girls too? Girly boys. Makes me question my own sexuality haha," Maria said, laughing at her own commentary.
Mio dio. Please stop talking, Rafe thought desperately. Had he never realised how stupid she sounded? He used to find her monologues hilarious, and now he wished she'd just shut up. Nora blinked a couple of times, unable to find a response to her verbal diarrhoea.
"I'm going to the ladies' room. You guys probably have some catching up to do," she said. She gave Rafe a cool look, nodded to Maria and pushed past the dancing crowd. Maria gave her a little wave and turned to Rafe with a smirk.
"Missed me?" she asked, planting her hands on his shoulders, shimmying her body. He gently plucked them off himself, and she frowned.
"What are you doing here, Maria?"
She blinked and raised her brows. "I can't come and say Happy Birthday to you? Haven't you missed me? I know we broke up, but you're still my person," she said affectionately. The phrase he used to find endearing now irked him. Did she still expect him to wait around for her? Or now that he only had a couple of months left to graduate, she conveniently realised that she wanted him back? He couldn't blame her for not wanting a long-distance relationship in the beginning. It wasn't her problem he got banished for his stupid behaviour.
But breaking things off when he had already hit rock bottom was too cruel.
"Thanks for coming." Though I don't remember inviting you. "But whatever we had is over. It's been almost half a year now, Maria."
Her eyes saddened. "Don't you think we deserve another chance? I have a half term break. We can do something this weekend together. Maybe explore another village? It's very cosy here. We can start over..."
Rafe laughed mirthlessly. "You don't know what I would've given to hear you say that when I first came here, cara."
Maria reached out to fiddle with a button on his shirt and pressed her palm to his chest.
"Well, I'm here now. I'm sorry it took me so long to realise what a terrible mistake it was to break up with you. I couldn't cope with having you so far away. I thought breaking up was for the best, but I was wrong, Rafaello. Let's give us another shot."
"Look, it's too late. We're not getting back together, okay?"
Maria shook her head, her eyes glinting with emotion. "I thought my coming here would be a good idea." She ran a hand through her hair in frustration. "A nice surpriseâAre you seeing someone? I asked Dmitri, and he said you weren't..."
His eyes searched for Nora and saw her petite frame walking up the stairs to the washrooms. If she had any feelings for him, Maria's presence at this moment would've hurt her. Hell, he couldn't stand William and Nora being in the same room, and they barely spoke to one another.
He gave her arm a squeeze. "Thank you for making an effort this time, and please stay and party with the guys, but you and me, that's over, for sure."
Rafe needed to shake off Maria, get Nora back on the dance floor and finish that kiss.