11:
The bar buzzed with chatter and clinking glasses, a stark contrast to the quiet intensity of the lab. Amelia and Derek sat in a cozy corner, drinks in hand. Amelia, usually seen in her chaotic lab attire, now looked stunning in an all-white ensemble. Her hair was pulled into a high ponytail, and her thick glasses framed her intelligent eyes. She exuded a sophisticated, almost ethereal beauty that turned heads as she walked in.
Derek took a sip of his drink, his eyes flickering with curiosity as he observed Amelia. "You know, you clean up pretty well. I almost didn’t recognize you."
Amelia chuckled, adjusting her glasses. "Don't get used to it. This is a one-time deal."
Derek laughed, then leaned in a bit closer, lowering his voice. "So, what’s the deal with you and Sebastian? I mean, I noticed the way he looks at you. There’s got to be something there."
Amelia sighed, taking a long sip of her drink before answering. "There’s nothing, Derek. Whatever feelings I had for Sebastian, they were lost years ago. I realized that he wasn’t for me."
Derek raised an eyebrow, genuinely curious. "What do you mean? You two were engaged. Surely, there must have been something."
Amelia looked down at her glass, swirling the liquid around. "We were engaged, yes. But it wasn’t because of love. It was a decision made more out of convenience and expectation than anything else. I was always jealous when he slept around with other women, but he never cared about how I felt. I left because I knew I deserved better. Sebastian isn't for me. He never was."
Derek nodded thoughtfully, taking in her words. "I get it. You needed to find yourself, away from him."
Amelia smiled faintly. "Exactly. And here, I can be whoever I want to be without any judgments or expectations."
Derek raised his glass. "Well, here’s to being whoever you want to be. Cheers."
Amelia clinked her glass against his, her smile widening. "Cheers."
As they drank, the conversation flowed easily, punctuated by laughter and shared stories. Amelia felt a sense of relief wash over her. She had been honest about her feelings, and it felt good to finally let go of the past.
Derek suddenly leaned in closer, his eyes gleaming with mischief. "You know, you never told me what happened that night Sebastian asked to be a test subject."
Amelia groaned. "Do I have to?"
Derek's grin widened. "Yes, you do. Spill the beans!"
Amelia sighed dramatically. "Fine. He kissed me."
Derek's eyes widened. "What? How? When?"
Amelia rolled her eyes. "We were in the lab. He lifted me onto the table, started caressing my neck, and then... kissed me."
Derek's jaw dropped. "Did he, like, make a move? Was it a peck, or...?"
Amelia looked confused. "I mean, he licked my neck first."
Derek's eyes bugged out, and he slapped his forehead. "Amelia, you genius and idiot! It’s obvious he’s into you if he did that!"
Amelia shrugged. "It’s for science, Derek. Just research."
Derek stared at her, utterly frustrated. "Research? Are you serious? You’re telling me you’re that clueless?"
Amelia took another sip of her drink, nonchalantly. "It's just data collection."
Derek threw his hands up in the air. "I can't believe this. You really are something else, Amelia."
Amelia smirked. "Cheers to being something else."
Derek shook his head, muttering under his breath as he raised his glass. "Cheers, you brilliant fool."
The bar buzzed with laughter and conversations, the energy palpable. Amelia and Derek continued their banter, oblivious to the outside world.
"Amelia, you really is a fool," Derek muttered, still shaking his head in disbelief.
Just as Amelia was about to respond, their co-workers suddenly burst through the door, adding to the chaos. They cheered, raising their glasses high, and quickly surrounded Amelia and Derek's table.
"Hey, you two lovebirds!" Tim shouted over the noise, making Amelia roll her eyes.
"Oh, shut it, Tim," Amelia retorted, but there was a playful smile on her face.
Amidst the commotion, Sebastian quietly entered the bar, his eyes immediately finding Amelia. He stood silently in the corner, watching the scene unfold. Derek, noticing Sebastian's presence and the way he was watching Amelia, felt his frustration bubbling over.
"Alright, everyone," Derek announced loudly, standing up. "Time to mix things up!"
With a determined look, he marched over to Sebastian, grabbed him by the arm, and dragged him to the table. Sebastian didn't resist, but he did look mildly annoyed.
"Sit here," Derek ordered, practically shoving Sebastian into the seat next to Amelia. "And you," he added, smacking Amelia's forehead lightly, "stop being an idiot."
Amelia blinked, utterly confused. "What the hell, Derek?"
Derek threw his hands up in exasperation. "Figure it out!" With that, he walked away, leaving the table in stunned silence.
The co-workers exchanged puzzled glances, but then shrugged it off and continued their merriment. Amelia, now seated beside Sebastian, turned to him with a bewildered expression.
"What was that all about?" she asked, rubbing her forehead where Derek had smacked her.
Sebastian, trying to suppress a smile, shrugged. "I think Derek's had one too many drinks."
Amelia sighed. "Yeah, probably."
As the night wore on, Amelia kept pace with the drinks, her alcohol tolerance something out of this world. Glass after glass, she remained composed, her eyes bright and her laughter genuine. Sebastian, on the other hand, was feeling the effects. His face was red, and a slight dizziness made everything seem slightly off-kilter.
He watched Amelia in awe, unable to look away. She glanced at him, her features soft and illuminated by the dim bar lights. She looked so pretty, and he found himself blushing. The more he drank, the more he found himself captivated by her.
"Sebastian, what's wrong with you?" Amelia asked, noticing his unusual behavior.
He didn't answer right away. Instead, he stared at her, his eyes filled with a mix of admiration and confusion. Before he could stop himself, he leaned in and buried his face into her shoulder, hiding his flushed face.
Amelia, baffled by his sudden action, looked down at him. "Sebastian, what are you doing?"
He mumbled something incoherent, too embarrassed and slightly tipsy to form a proper response. Amelia, despite her confusion, couldn't help but find the situation amusing. She patted his back awkwardly and continued drinking.
Their co-workers were busy in their own world, laughing and clinking glasses together, oblivious to the odd scene unfolding at Amelia and Sebastian's corner of the table.
Amelia took another sip of her drink, her free hand resting gently on Sebastian's back. "Are you okay, Sebastian? You're acting weird."
He lifted his head slightly, his cheeks still flushed. "I'm... fine," he muttered, his voice muffled. "Just... you're really pretty, you know?"
Amelia blinked, surprised by his words. "Thanks, I guess?" She gave him a puzzled look, then shrugged. "You need to get a hold of yourself."
Sebastian nodded weakly, trying to regain his composure but failing miserably. "Yeah, I know. It's just... I didn't expect this."
"Expect what?"
"You. Here. Like this."
Amelia chuckled softly. "Well, get used to it. I'm not going anywhere."
Sebastian, feeling slightly more at ease but still awkward, nodded again. He managed a small smile, appreciating her presence even more. "Okay. I'll try."
As the night continued, the dynamic between them shifted. Sebastian's awkwardness and Amelia's calm demeanor created an unexpected, yet endearing, balance. The chaos around them seemed to fade into the background, leaving just the two of them, sharing a moment that neither of them fully understood but both felt deeply.
Sebastian, having consumed far more alcohol than he intended, was now leaning heavily against Amelia. His large frame seemed to envelop her, pressing her into the back of the booth. Amelia, still unbothered but somewhat squished, tried to adjust herself but found it difficult with Sebastian practically crushing her.
To Amelia's confusion, Sebastian kept sniffing her shoulder as if trying to savor her scent. His face was buried close to her neck, his warm breath tickling her skin. She shifted uncomfortably but decided to let it slide, attributing it to his inebriation.
Derek reappeared, his face twisted into an incredulous expression when he saw Sebastian holding Amelia’s hand and gently kissing it. Sebastian’s words were slurred, and his eyes were half-closed as he murmured, "You know, Amelia, you have the nicest hand I've ever held."
Derek, trying to stifle a laugh, said, "Well, at least he’s got good taste, huh? I guess he really appreciates your hands."
Amelia, growing increasingly frustrated and embarrassed, pinched her own cheeks, hoping to wake herself from this bizarre situation. Her patience was wearing thin, and she was about to push Sebastian away when their co-workers noticed the commotion.
Seeing Sebastian’s drunken state and his excessive closeness to Amelia, they started to feel uncomfortable and concerned. They knew Sebastian was a highly respected scientist, and the sight of him so unsteady and clingy was not what they had expected. Concerned that they might have made Amelia uncomfortable, they quickly intervened.
One of the co-workers, trying to be as polite as possible, gently pulled Sebastian away from Amelia. "Sorry, Amelia, we didn’t realize how much he had to drink. We’ll get him home."
Amelia let out a sigh of relief as Sebastian was carefully escorted away. She watched as he wobbled towards the door, still mumbling incoherently. Despite the chaotic end to the night, she felt a sense of calm wash over her as she realized she could finally leave.
Pulling out her phone, Amelia booked a taxi to take her home. As she waited for the car to arrive, she couldn’t help but shake her head, a mix of amusement and exasperation on her face.
"Tonight was something else," she muttered to herself, thinking about how she’d need to process the bizarre evening and Sebastian’s unexpected drunken behavior.
The taxi arrived, and Amelia climbed in, ready to return to the quiet of her home. She glanced at the city lights as they blurred past, her mind already drifting to the upcoming challenges at work... and... Sebastian.
******