Perry stared at the face he had been wanting to see. Luckily, he had met Willmar who had told him to go to the dance floor. He was on his way when a body bumped into his.
He had not noticed any sign of terror on her face.
Most people if they were falling, would be full of terror. But this lady in front of him seemed not to care.
She was only worried that she didn't get to where she wanted to go.
And when he took her small hand in his, he couldn't describe it. It was so.....soft.
"Sorry about my friend's behaviour," he heard her apologising. Her voice was a little faint with a slight shyness.
"No need. I know Willmar. She's very good with words and can even turn any situation into something delusional," he said, trying to be conversational.
Phoenix glared at him. She had never been in this awkward situation before. She didn't know what to say.
She was totally out of words. And nothing was popping in her head.
Her hands began to fumble with the hem of her skirt.
Why did Willmar leave her alone?
Perry saw her uneasiness.
Or did she not know what to say?
He was expecting a backup to what he had said and nothing came out.
"Relax, I'm not going to bite you for not knowing what to say. Just be yourself!" He said, trying to light up her spirit, and saw her looking like before again.
"I'm sorry," Phoenix said almost embarrassed.
She f**king wanted to get out of there.
"Give me a minute," she said and finally was out of there. She walked to where she saw Willmar and was surprised to see her gone.
Phoenix stood there rubbing her forehead.
There was nothing there to clear from there too.
She checked around to see if she could still find her friend.
'She really wants me to do this!'
The bartender came to mind. Phoenix saw that he was even staring at her. He signalled her, and she found herself walking to him.
"Did Willmar tell you she would be back?" She asked without any thought.
Well, he was familiar with Willmar and knew something.
"No," the guy replied shortly.
"She told me to give you this," he placed Phoenix's phone and purse in front of her.
"Thanks," she said and placed a tip in front of the guy and walked away.
Phoenix looked like a stranded ghost.
Willmar had left her.
Was it because of Perry?
How was she supposed to cooperate with a total stranger?
'Willmar, you are screwed!'
She had no choice but to return to Perry who was patiently waiting for her.
"Is something the matter?" Perry asked after seeing a scowl forming on her beautiful face. She was without makeup and perfectly still gorgeous.
"Willmar left without me," she complained.
Phoenix covered her mouth afterwards, revealing a shocked face.
She was complaining to a total stranger.
How was that?
She had never complained to anybody before.
God, what was happening to her?
Perry chuckled lightly. She was embarrassed because she complained to him...
"I'm sorry!" She disrupted his thoughts and ran out without looking back.
Perry stared at her back, which was drawing attention.
He quickly followed her to silence the predators. Some had even begun to walk out.
.
.
.
Phoenix stood in the parking lot looking all lost.
She was very lost. What was she supposed to do? She knew the place a little, and if she were to walk, it would take her thirty minutes to get to her flat.
But... she was cold.
How was she supposed to walk in the cold all the way back to her flat? It was almost ten. There would be no cabs around.
She regretted coming here!
She was cold. Her hands began to shake because of the heavy wind blowing.
She was not okay, at all!
"You'll need this," she heard a familiar voice and before she could turn, a coat had been draped around her.
Now she was okay!
"Thank you," she muttered while turning around.
"Sorry that Willmar left you. She was kinda with somebody," Perry explained to her.
Willmar had fled with her fiancé after spotting him with Perry.
They had left without telling him about Phoenix.
Something inside him had been happy that she was left with him.
Then it dawned on him that she wasn't good with people.
Willmar had told him a little about Phoenix.
He knew she didn't know how to communicate well with people.
That she talked less and really liked her silence.
He had watched her approach the bartender. She had spoken a few words and showed no sign of being in the mood.
'She has a lot to learn.'
"I don't know what to say?" Phoenix held tight onto the coat. It was freezing out there.
She stared at Perry who was left in only a white sleeved shirt.
'Does he not feel it?'
"I'm fine. No need to worry," he told her as if reading her mind.
"Come on," Perry held her hand that was almost freezing. He led her to a car and opened the passenger door for her.
Phoenix got in without any questions.
She wasn't sure she even had some to ask.
He also got inside at the driver's side.
"Are you alright? Sorry, I kept you waiting!" He asked and said apologetically.
"Did Willmar tell you to do this?!" Something finally came out of her mouth. She asked with a surprised tone.
"No, I had no idea she was going to leave." He simply said.
Phoenix relaxed in the car. She had worn the coat and even buttoned it up. Her fingers were no longer cold. She looked down at them and began to move all one after the other completely forgetting that she was with somebody.
Perry too relaxed his body and could not stop staring at the woman beside him.
She was lost in her own world and doing magic with her fingers.
"Here," he said loudly but not yelling and pulling her back to him.
He had a plastic cup in his hand with the inscription on it, "coffee."
Phoenix stared at the cup in his hand. She had no idea what to do.
Damn, words. She got to learn something from Willmar.