TW // ALCOHOL

It seemed as if it was only yesterday since Poe, Rose, and Finn stepped accidentally into a foreign world. They left the not so cool reality and went to one where the colors sang, and the flowers danced. Other people would sell their organs to even get a glance at it. It would have been great to experience this world without pain. But not everything that looks good is also worth the beauty to taste. Everything has its price. So, in the end, it was a good thing to not take a piece of Rose’s brownies, which were filled with cannabis.

“I felt like a turtle and thought I was going to puke my colon out,” Poe described his experience over the next few days as he spent half the time hugging the toilet.

Although Finn didn’t feel a physical ache, he got to feel an emotional one. It was his mother’s voice, who dragged him out of the ideal reality. His dog, Beebee-ate, who was faithful to Finn since he’s fifteen years old, betrayed him. That’s what you get when you have a cop in the family who adopts a tracking dog.

Rose’s luck charm did not use any help, either. “I was the reason my parents had to call a plumber the next day. They thought a horse had broken in.”

“And what was your great excuse?”

“I’m lactose intolerant.” As soon as Rose was feeling better, her sister gave her a safety lesson on what to prepare for if she wanted to follow the same path as Paige.

The only one who didn’t get to tell their crazy brownie experience was Mr. Hux. Until the end of the week, there was nothing more to hear from him. Rose felt responsible for Hux’s absence. She wrote him many emails where she apologized for the brownies and was ready to accept her punishment. However, no answer.

The only not-so-good news was that Qi’ra and your mother had to leave for the rest of the week. Straight before you could even inform them about the cat. And so, you had to stay home alone.

In this terrible week where everyone felt bad and moody, you had three reasons to not get affected. First, your bandage was coming off, which was an immense relief. Second, the sliding doors got fixed and third, and what you were looking forward to all week: you were going out clubbing with Finn. Even though his mom had grounded him, he still took the risk and sneaked out of the house.

“Now that I think about it… didn’t you want to go out on Sunday?” you asked Finn as you two stepped out from the bus.

“I wanted to, but — I forgot my mom is free that day. The others are also busy. And you… have work to do as well.”

You groaned as you remembered for what you had to prepare yourself tomorrow. “All the better. Then I can get drunk twice in a row.”

Finn’s eyes drew a line down the middle. “Your boss lets you drink at work?”

“Only non-alcoholic beverages. But, with all the crap I must listen from the First Order fans, I wouldn’t say no if he would offer me a tiny sip to digest it.”

He grinned. “What a great day not to work in customer service.”

You thought about it for a moment. “Actually, it’s not that bad. I like it. Sure, it can be overwhelming, but it takes your mind off your life, you know? You don’t really have the time to think about school or anything that’s bothering you in your private life. Just counting money, memorizing orders, having a lot of patience with the customers and hoping you don’t spill or break anything.”

Finn let out a sigh. “I’d love to have your problems. I don’t understand what can bug you about coming home and not having a mom nagging at you right away. To be honest, if I had a job and knew I could spend the time home alone, I’d quit.”

You suddenly became silent. You twisted your lips into a thin smile but could barely nod your head. And just when the sickening images appeared before your eyes again, your ringtone saved you. Without looking at the screen, you picked up the phone.

“Where the hell are you, kid?”

You knit your brows. “Luke? Is that you?”

“You damn well better believe it’s me. Do you know how crowded it is in the arena tonight? Why am I standing here alone behind the bar?”

“It’s… a Saturday,” you mentioned.

“So? I told you they moved the match to this exact Saturday.”

You rubbed your forehead, trying to remember. “No, you didn’t.”

“You sure ‘bout that?” For a second you believed he hung up, but then you heard his heavy breath and the scratching sound his beard makes when he’s deep into thinking. “Well… I guess that’s my fault.”

“I can still come if you need me,” you offered, to which Finn started waving his hands in front of you, trying to steal your phone.

“No, no, forget about it,” Luke declined, as you struggled to push Finn’s hands away from you.

“Are you sure? I honestly don’t mind. I would just need—”

“I said it’s fine, forget about it!” The way Luke yelled through the phone made Finn finally stop and take a step back. “I’ll just — borrow two other hands from someone else.”

“Okay, well call me if you need anything,” you said, to which only Luke chuckled. “It’s the other way around, kid.” And then he quickly hung up.

When you glanced up at Finn, you found his puppy eyes showing. “Sorry… I thought you would leave me hanging here all alone.”

You smirked as you warmly slid your arm over his shoulder and moved with him in the club’s direction. “I wouldn’t even do it if my life depended on it.” As Finn smiled, you added. “Do you take puppy eyes courses from Bee-bee? If so, you totally suck at it. No wonder your mother didn’t buy your apology off.”

Finn rolled his eyes. “Oh, shut up. You’re just jealous that you don’t have a super cool dog to show you how it’s done.”

And that’s how the both of you stepped with full anticipation into the well-known nightclub Medusa. You had promised yourself to enjoy the night with an empty head, leaving everything you’ve ever seen behind. There was nothing you needed more than to just completely switch off your brain. No thinking, just drinking.

Let's groove (perfect remix) ^^ - YouTube

I definitely recommend listening to this one :)

As you entered the club, you observed the coloring lights flying through the dark room from one side to the other. The music blasted in your ears, making Finn and you naturally sway your hips to the rhythm. With each beat, the crowd jumped in the air.

As some time passed by, the room filled up with more young people singing and shouting. Once you felt the alcohol flowing in your head, you pushed Finn to dance with you in the middle of the dance floor. After all, it was probably the last time you could finally enjoy that much of freedom. Yet it was still not enough. The monitoring eyes started mingling around you, just like at home.

“Don’t you think it’s too hot in here?” you referred to at Finn’s leather jacket.

“Nope, I don’t mind going up in flames,” he brushed it easily off, throwing his hands in the air, to which you already missed the beat.

“I’ve never seen you with that jacket before. Is it new?” you almost yelled into Finn’s ear.

He checked on it as if he had forgotten which jacket he was wearing. “Oh, that one. Yeah! You like it?”

“It suits you very well,” you grinned brightly, as your lips brushed his ear. “And I don’t think I’m the only one who thinks that way.” Secretly, you hinted with your eyes at a guy behind who with a plastered smirk was playing with his martini, checking out Finn’s moves.

Finn turned around as noticeably as he could and waved at him awkwardly. Just when you thought he was going to make his way to him, Finn grabbed you by the hand and pulled you across the room to the other bar.

“What the hell was that?”

“I’m thirsty,” he clarified, ordering two Krombacher.

Finn preferred to be the driver than the drinker, who kept an eye on the others. However, since the both of you came alone without a car, there was no way he would miss out on the opportunity to drink.

You scratched your head, confused. “But — the bar with the martini guy was literally two feet away from us.”

“I thought you knew the barkeepers that work at this side of the bar. And — And I’ve heard they are — more skilled than the others,” he explained, tapping his fingers on the counter.

Maybe he knew the martini guy from online dating? It wouldn’t be the first time Finn suddenly ran into the people he was writing to on tinder and pretended to be someone else.

You glimpsed at the bar and then astonished back at Finn. “Wait, do you think just because I’m also a bartender that I know every single bartender in the country?”

Finn shrugged his shoulders. “Maybe? It would make sense to me. Sharing secret drink mixes and talking about horror stories of drunk customers.”

You giggled helplessly. “No, Finn, that’s not how it works.”

Finn beamed at you and took his wallet out. “The first round goes on me.”

Instead of confronting him with what he clearly seemed to avoid, you picked up your beer and let out a toast. “To a long, well-deserved, and unforgettable night, my friend. Cheers!”

Finn sang every single song, even if he didn’t know the lyrics. And as the hours of the young night passed, and your legs became more and more tired, the sizes of the glasses became smaller as you chugged them one after another. What started out as a big cup of beer was nearing the end of a tequila shot. The more people entered the club, the more you felt flames burning down your throat.

Finn had lost count of how many shoes he had already stepped on. With your back pressed against the others, the floor changed colors, and the room spun around you. This must be what it feels like to dance on a cruise ship, feeling every wave that brings you closer to the other bodies.

As you noticed the music moving further and further away from you, so that the only thing you heard was your own pulse pumping in your ears, you didn’t care if the sweat running down your bare arms belonged to you.

Finn had suddenly stopped dancing and just stood motionless on the dance floor. Your gaze drifted slowly around your surroundings to what Finn was occasionally staring at, yet the only thing you saw were colorful dots. “Whatcha looking at, huh?”

There was no response from him.

“Hey Finnegian, whatcha… hic… whatcha looking at? Found the matiti guy?” you asked as a cackle hiccup escaped you.

Again, no answer. Not even a comment. He just turned his face back to you that suddenly saw double. His mouth moved, but whatever he said you didn’t catch the words. And then Finn slowly pushed his way through the crowd and headed towards the exit and left you standing there all alone.

“Finn! I — Finn, wait!” You tried to run after him in a straight line, which only ended with you tripping over other people’s feet. You kept calling his name, yet he didn’t hear you.

As soon as the fresh air hit you, you wished you had brought with you a jacket. “Finn!” you screamed one more time. Finally, he seemed to have heard you. Still with his back turned to you, he kneeled at the side of the road and started coughing.

A bright light from the left side of the road dazzled you from afar that seemed to come closer at a high speed. And although it was crystal clear, you reacted much too late.

“Finn, get the hell out of the street!” you yelled at the top of your lungs, running to him in fear. But unfortunately, he was not it the right position to move as some of the tequila and beer flowed down the drain cover.

It was like a race. Who would hit Finn first? Was the driver drunk? Texting their partner, they would be home soon? Maybe too tired? You couldn’t witness a second murder in the same week, right in front of your eyes. And neither could you lose Finn. This time, it wouldn’t be a stranger. It would be a close friend, a person you trust, a person you like and who plays an important role in your life.

You hadn’t got to him in time to pull him off the road, however the driver seemed to be jolted back into reality as the tires started squealing. And before Finn was ready to accept the car lights as his first step into heaven, the car stopped right in front of his face and the driver climbed out.

You stopped on the sidewalk, panting. “Oh, my god, you ‘kay?”

Finn risked a peek. “Am I dead yet?”

“No, but you will be as soon as I get my hands around your neck,” the driver raged, grabbing Finn’s jacket collar.

“Get away from him, you — you monster!” You were ready to take the strap of your chain bag as your weapon and step forward when suddenly the streetlight next to you lit up, bringing out the driver’s true face out of the shadow.

Finn’s eyes widened as he stared at the driver, who let him go with the same expression.

“Mister… Starros?” the driver asked, doubtfully.

The way you tried to recognize with squinting eyes, the driver’s brooding voice looked probably just as silly as it was. At first you hesitated, but then you turned your head to Finn and whispered, “Is that… Professor Ren?”

“Yep,” Finn affirmed with closed lips. He then scrunched up his forehead and met your gaze. “Can’t you see him? He literally stands in front of us.”

“Pff, of course I can see him…,” you protested with a wide grin that was slowly fading. “It’s just kinda hard for me to… hic… look him in the face without going blind.”

Professor Ren stepped in front of the light so that your eye muscles could finally relax. You started blinking like crazy. The streetlight shimmered on the driver’s dark hair. He really looked... not bad... like not at all... maybe a little irritated, but still quite handsome for someone going over the limit through an inside built-up area and nearly killing his student.

Professor Ren exhaled in relief by placing his hands on his hips, casting you a skeptical eye. “Were you planning on hitting me with your purse?”

“Oh, this?” You chuckled lightly, dangling the purse in the air. “I mean… hic… I was trying to save Finn’s life, so, I guess?” You hung it back on your shoulder. “Maybe… I — I don’t even know…”

“Are you sure you’re okay, Finn?” Professor Ren interjected, ignoring your gibberish. This was probably the first time he called a student by his first name, and it left Finn quite surprised. “I’m truly sorry, my mind was somewhere else.”

Finn cleared his throat and adjusted his jacket. “Yeah, everything’s cool. You just have, uh… a powerful grip,” he let out a nervous laugh, showing off a fist.

The corners of Professor Ren’s mouth turned up, and immediately disappeared as his gaze darted to you. Or to be more precisely; down on the ground at which you were standing. “Where are your shoes?”

Finn’s chilly hand touched your shoulder, to which you shivered. He then pointed down at your bare feet, in which you no longer had any feeling.

“Oh,” you let out a short laugh in admiration. “My shoes are gone.”

“I’m glad you noticed, Chipmunk,” Finn said, rubbing his eyes. “How did you even lose them without realizing it?”

“I mean… we jumped a lot so...”

“I will go look for them,” Finn suggested. As he let go of your arm, you tightly squeezed his hand.

“You can’t just leave me here alone with… hic… our teacher! Who knows if he’s not gonna… hic... kidnap me the second you’re gone?”

Finn’s eyebrows went up in confusion as his pleading face met Professor Ren’s gaze. “Don’t you dare look at me like that, Mister Starros,” he snarled, shaking his head. “I for sure will not go in there.”

“I can go,” you smiled broadly.

The two letters that you knew were a full sentence came loud and clear from Professor Ren and Finn’s mouth at the same time.

“You’d just get lost in the crowd, and I have no intention of fishing out your… unconscious body,” Professor Ren added, shoving his hair back.

You bursted out into another silly laugh, feeling this time a sickening liquid coming up your throat. Finn gripped you by the arm as you leaned forward, ready to get rid of the alcohol from your body. However, nothing came out.

“Wait, I might have”—Finn fumbled in his jacket pocket as his hope fainted — “right, never mind.” He took off his jacket and put it over your shoulders like a gentleman.

“What did you drink?” Professor Ren asked, concerned as he took a step closer.

Through glossy eyes, it was still a surprise to you seeing him so close to you outside of school, even though it wasn’t the first time. Maybe because you were used to having something between you? Like the bar and the desks? Where you were safe and not threatened by his close presence?

“The real question here is” — you strained and held a finger in the air — “how much did I drink?”

“It was only tequila, beer, and so on,” Finn assured with a nervous smile to Ren. For someone who threw up because of tequila and almost got run over, he seemed doing pretty fine for now.

“Did you at least take any breaks so that your body could metabolize the alcohol?”

“Nope,” you answered proudly, unsure you even understood what Professor Ren was saying. You just nodded and shook your foot to get rid of some small stones.

Professor Ren crossed his arms and gave Finn a sharp look. After a quick moment, he sighed, “Fine. How much did you drink?”

With dilated eyes, every finger you picked up in slow motion counted as every single glass you remembered. “Maybe… two?”

Finn cocked his head. “But you show six.”

“Then it’s seven.”

“Tequila shots?” Professor Ren specified with a slightly disgusted expression.

“No…” You held back a wheezed laugh until you nearly turned red and bursted it out. “Cat lives!”

While professor Ren did a facepalm, Finn just slightly frowned. “I’m pretty sure a cat has nine lives.”

“Alright, I’ve heard enough,” Professor Ren growled. When he stepped closer in front of you with his big shoes, you almost stumbled backwards. “I think it is time for both of you to go home.”

“No!” you opposed by taking a glance at your invisible watch. “It’s time to... hic... recharge!”

Professor Ren frowned. “Are you planning to drink until you pass out?”

“Well… let me tell you a secret.” You lurched forward as you gestured your psychology teacher to lower his head. At first, he hesitated and exchanged with Finn the same puzzled look, but then he slowly leaned on. “Yes…” you whispered as another wheezing laugh escaped from you.

Professor Ren rubbed his raw and tired eyes. “That was my last straw.” He then turned around and walked to the car. “I’m driving you home.”

Afraid of the idea that you might escape when Finn’s not looking, he grabbed you by the arm and pulled you after the teacher. “Wait — um, thanks for the invite, Professor Ren,” he said with a genius smile, scratching his head. “But I’m sure we’ll be fine.”

Professor Ren stopped and turned around with a stoic face. “That wasn’t an invitation, Mister Starros.”

Finn swallowed thickly. He remembered Professor Ren’s grip and how he would probably use it on him again if you would refuse to go with him. And then his mother’s voice drummed in his ears about safety.

“I think he’s speaking to himself,” Finn whispered, as you observed Professor Ren making room in the back seats and raging at the same time about him being a professor and not a babysitter.

You placed your head on Finn’s shoulder. “I think he does it… a lot. I still can’t believe we’re leaving that early.”

Finn exhaled. “Yeah, well, I suppose it’s for the best. Thankfully, we get home safely.”

“And we don’t have to pay,” you added.

“Since when would that be a problem for you?”

You bit the inner of your cheek. “I might have drank it all… away…”

“Alright, everything’s settled,” Professor Ren announced. “Get in the car.”

“What about her shoes?” Finn asked.

Professor Ren took a second look at your bare feet and raised an eyebrow. “She can call tomorrow and ask if they have found them.”

You gave him the thumbs up as Professor Ren only gestured for you to get in the car. Finn let you go first so you could sit in the middle. When you buckled up and Finn was ready to sit down, Professor Ren stopped him.

“If she’s going to throw up in my car, I will blame you,” he whispered in a threatening voice, to which Finn nodded with a shaky smile.

“Now I understand why you didn’t want me to leave you alone with him,” Finn whispered as Professor Ren walked to the other side.

You snuggled your head back into Finn’s shoulder and closed your eyes. “Told ya.”

“I can’t believe I just experienced a near death situation,” Finn remarked as Professor Ren got in his seat and started the engine.

You peaked an eye open. “Are you talking about… hic… your puke on the street or that our teacher’s car almost hit you?”

“Both.”

Professor Ren squared his shoulders and sighed. “Oh, boy…”

With your eyes closed, you felt worse. Your head spun around just imagining at what road you were driving on only to find out, your mind had tricked you. It seemed like every time you tried to take a little nap; you felt like you were going to fall off the bed.

Finn noticed you waking up. “Hey sleepyhead, how are you?”

You rubbed your eyes. “Well, I’ve been better.” Slowly, you lifted your head. Finn’s shoulder must have been cramping from how long he didn’t move so that he wouldn’t disturb your little nap.

In the rearview mirror, you took a glimpse of Professor Ren looking behind you with a scowl. “Don’t worry, I don’t feel like throwing up,” you assured him, to which he only rolled his eyes back to the front.

You squinted from Finn’s bright background light as he typed a thick text that was covering half of the phone size. “Who ya texting?”

The phone went dark. “No one,” he answered hastily. “Just… my mom. She’s on her way home.” Finn adjusted in his seat and crossed his legs.

You nodded and ran your hand through your hair, taking in the scent of rich leather that you secretly liked. The streetlights seemed to be off, because almost nothing was visible. The silence was not even that embarrassing. It was strange to sit in the car with your teacher for the second time. Not every teacher takes the time to drive his students’ home after they have partied. And certainly not Professor Ren. But it seemed to be like a second job for him. Constantly driving someone around.

“I don’t want to let you go home alone in such a state,” Finn said in a worried tone.

You put your hand on his leg and grinned. “Don’t worry, my friend. I’ll be fine.”

Finn took your icy hand and squeezed it shut. “You know you could spend the night at my place, if only—”

“Your mother didn’t ground you. I know. I’m just glad you took the risk of going out with me. It was fun, right?”

Finn pursed his lips and narrowed his gaze at your hands. “Sure.” The corner of his eyes crinkled, and he let out a deep breath.

The car came to a halt. “You can get out, Mister Starros,” Professor Ren announced.

You looked out the window and saw Finn’s big house, where Bee-bee was already barking at the door.

Finn wrinkled his nose and gave you a longer hug than usual. Professor Ren apologized again for the minor accident and Finn thanked him for the ride home. You watched Finn get out of the car and greet his loving dog, who jumped at him as if he hadn’t seen him in years. He looked over at you again, waved, and closed the door behind him.

And there you were again. There was no way this should become a routine. You laid your head back and closed your eyes again. The pain on your forehead became more intense and the feeling in your cold feet returned. At least you still had Finn’s jacket to keep you warm.

You hadn’t even noticed, but Professor Ren had already continued the car ride. He didn’t look at you, said nothing, and didn’t even ask your address. Was that a good sign? Probably not.

It was a solid fifteen minute drive before you woke up again, with the window view of your house with the lights you turned on before going outside. Your mother gave you the trick so that people would think you were at home. As if that would stop the robber from breaking into the house.

“There you go. Home sweet home,” Professor Ren said cheerfully, finally getting rid of you.

Your empty gaze remained focused on the house. However, the house was not exactly what you saw anymore. It was rather the images in your head that passed before your welled up eyes. You opened your mouth to speak, but your voice broke off, causing more tears to fall down your flushed cheeks. You weren’t in the right sense of mind. This was all in the past. All those images were long gone, yet you felt like you were reliving them again. Was this the alcohol playing with your emotions?

From the side, you noticed Professor Ren’s face turned toward you. And yet he said nothing. Why didn’t he say anything?

“I — I can’t,” you cried, savoring your tears in the need of fresh water.

“You can’t what?” Professor Ren finally spoke, his voice gruff with no empathy.

“I can’t spend — another fucking second alone — inside this house,” you said louder in a shaky tone, feeling your heartbeat increasing and your breath slowly losing control. It seemed to have gotten hotter in the car, so you took the jacket off.

“But you’re — home.”

You let out a nervous laugh. “Shouldn’t home be the place where you feel safe? Appreciated? Connected to at least someone from your family?”

Professor Ren studied you thoughtfully and moved his finger to the button which wind down his window.

“I’m not even sure I am my mother’s child anymore.” Your voice fainted and your breath seem to come at peace as you felt the fresh air enter the car. “I feel like I don’t even know her at all…”

Your teacher seemed to search for the right words. “What happened?” he asked gently.

You remained calm without meeting his gaze that demanded an answer. And then came the unexpected. He spoke your name for the first time, your real first name. It sounded so beautiful as it left his mouth. It was even better than when he said Finn’s name.

“Tell me.” He lowered his face between the seats as far as he could. “What happened?” he repeated once again, this time much more demanding, yet still very soft.

“Qi’ra,” you finally pronounced, your eyes sinking down on your shaky hands. “Qi’ra, is what happened…”

It took him a second to remember the name. “Is that your aunt?”

The word choice was not nearly what you were thinking of as you clinched your fists.

“Is there another place I can take you to?”

The first thing you thought of was Luke, but then you remembered you didn’t even know where he lived. Besides that, your teacher would rather drive you to school every morning than take you to his uncle, who didn’t seem to like him very much.

You shook your head, to which Professor Ren heavily sighed and turned his head back to the front. “I would propose something to you, but you don’t feel safe with me.”

You wiped away your tears and glanced rapidly at the rearview mirror, where the professor’s eyes were already waiting for you. “I never… hic… said that.”

“You literally thought I would kidnap you.”

“Well… that was — before.” You looked over at Professor Ren’s GPS. The time showed 2:13a.m.

Professor Ren drew in a long breath, as if he would already regret what he was about to say. “Would you — would you feel safer at my place?”

Your eyes went round, and your jaw dropped. You weren’t even sure if you should laugh or cry. Was he serious? “I mean”—you tried to form a sentence by scratching your head—“is this even allowed?”

He gave a half shrug. “Probably not.”

You tried to hold in your laughter at his calm voice. There was no way he would want you behind his own wall. “And — and where would I —”

“Guest room.”

You bit your lip. Of course, he had a guest room. “That sounds nice… but also risky.”

Professor Ren turned to you again. Even in the dark, the color of his eyes was glowing. “Look, I don’t want to force you into trusting a stranger—”

“You’re not a stranger to me,” you interrupted, brows knitted together.

His face softened. “Just because I’m your teacher does not mean I’m not a stranger,” he corrected you. “I’m proposing a drunk student to stay at my place for the night… which sounds extremely inappropriate.”

You rolled your eyes and clicked your tongue in disapproval. “I’m not that drunk.”

“That is exactly what a drunk person would say,” he stated blandly.

You narrowed your gaze on your nails. “I mean… when you form it like that, sure… that sounds quite wrong.”

Professor Ren adjusted in his seat. “I need you to know that... this — is in no way my intention. I am giving you this option because I cannot leave you alone on the road. And if you don’t have another place to go, then... it would be wrong of me not to ask you.”

A strange warmth felt in your belly that brought a little smile out of you. The smile was wide enough to dry your tears and forget that you cried in front of the teacher you seemed to think you hate the most.

You raised your eyes to him. His face looked so nice, as if it was a trap. “Does that mean you’re home alone?”

Professor Ren nodded. “Is that a problem for you?”

“No, no, not at all,” you smirked. “I just expected… never mind.” You felt your cheeks flush red. Were you willing to stay with your teacher for an entire night? You barely tolerated to be with him in a class for two hours. But then again, you would sleep. Which automatically makes it sound much more bearable.

“It can’t get any worse than at my house,” you remarked, looking out of the window.

“So, is that a yes?”

You thought again of what exactly you would get involved in. Spending the night in the house of your teacher, who you don’t like. And he does not like you either. Yeah, sounds about right. Sounds much better than spending another night in a house where the chance of being killed was higher than in prison.

You swallowed thickly, surprised at your own, well-thought answer. “Yes.”

That would certainly be an unforgettable night.