Work Text:
Noelle was always the voice of reason when it came down to drinking alcohol and smoking weed. So, why was she right now sitting at a bar, way past her usual schedule, accompanied by her long-time acquaintance, Akarsha Anand?
Noelle glanced over at her own glass, which had been sitting in front of her, untouched. She had no plans on drinking the liquid in the first place, so she handed it over to Akarsha, who was on her 3rd glass, excluding the one that Noelle just gave.
“Come on, frenchman,” Akarsha began, her face slightly flushed. “You should loosen up a bit, it’s the end of midterm exams.”
Noelle scrunched her nose. “No thank you, I'd rather be sober.” Akarsha laughed. Noelle’s stomach fluttered.
“Just a couple of drinks, frenchman,” Akarsha insisted as she smiled drunkenly at Noelle. “I won’t bother you again after that, promise.”
Noelle sighed, disapprovingly. “You’re just going to keep bothering me anyways, aren’t you?”
“Yup,” Noelle scowled.
Akarsha leaned on the bar counter, smiling to herself. “…after this, I have to go back to the airport.” She confessed. Noelle turned her head over.
“Already?” Noelle asked. Akarsha nodded her head.
“My grades aren’t doing so good, so I have to get them up soon,” Akarsha said. “Otherwise, my parents are going to find out that they were raising a liar this entire time.”
Noelle took note of how Akarsha’s hands were trembling. Her hand reached out to touch Akarsha’s hand, wanting to assure her, but she paused and pulled her hand back. Turning her head away from the dark-skinned girl, Noelle could feel her face grow warm, ashamed that she couldn’t do much to help. They sat in silence until Akarsha stood up.
“Well, it’s been fun talking with you,” Akarsha said as she reached into her pocket, preparing to pay the bartender. “I should get going now-.”
“Wait.”
A hand shot up and touched Akarsha’s arm, prompting the woman to turn to see who it was. Noelle looked back at her. “Stay a bit longer.” She requested.
Akarsha’s eyes widened momentarily, then she slowly removed her hand out of her pocket and sat down. “Huh, this was your first time asking me to stay.” She teased. “Too scared to see me leave, frenchman?”
Noelle huffed at the nickname as she called for the bartender. “Don’t make me regret this,” she said, raising a finger up at the bartender. “One beer, please.”
The bartender nodded and walked away, leaving only Noelle and Akarsha. By now, everyone else had already left, leaving just them two. As the bartender returned with a glass of beer, he nodded his head and walked away, preparing to clean up after a person’s mess.
Noelle picked up her glass and took a sip, immediately grimacing at the bitterness.
Akarsha watched her with intent, her elbow leaning on the counter as she supported her head. Noelle took notice and turned her head, raising an eyebrow. “What?”
“Nothing, I’m just recording this in my brain.”
“…why?” Noelle asked. Akarsha smiled warmly.
“Because I never see you drink anything alcoholic.” Noelle scoffed as she placed the cup to her lips again.
“Please. Unlike you and Min, I’m not an alcoholic,” Noelle murmured. She placed the glass on the counter. Akarsha hummed, having nothing to retort back.
After a couple minutes of silence, with occasional stolen glances from the both of them, Noelle finally got the drink halfway. By now, her face was red, matching Akarsha’s flushed face. She placed the drink to the side and laid her head on the counter.
“How is it?” Akarsha asked, perking Noelle to throw a look at her.
“What?”
“Being drunk.”
Noelle closed her eyes, “…horrible. I feel hot and everything is spinning.”
Akarsha smiled. “That’s how it’s supposed to be.”
“I don’t get how you and Min can handle this nauseating experience,” Noelle groaned. By now, the headaches that had been silenced, thanks to aspirin, was beginning to come back. “This is the worst feeling ever.”
Akarsha laughed, reaching over towards Noelle’s glass. “You’ll get used to it.”
Noelle sat up, frowning. “I’m heading home.”
She stood up and attempted to walk towards the door, but nearly stumbled and fell over. Akarsha quickly caught Noelle by the arm, yanking her up. She stood up as well and wrapped Noelle’s arm around her neck.
“I can take you home,” Akarsha offered. Noelle scowled as she threw a drunken look at Akarsha.
“How? You don’t even have a car.”
“I’ll manage.”
Akarsha quickly reached in her pocket and pulled out her wallet, grabbing a couple crumpled bills and placing it on the counter. She shoved her wallet back where it had been and began helping Noelle out of the door.
When they left the bar, Akarsha was immediately hit by a wave of cold air. She shivered. “Shit, I forgot how cold California gets during November.”
She turned her head towards Noelle, “Do you know where your house is?”
Noelle shook her head no and frowned. “Head hurts, I can't think.” She mumbled.
“Right…” Akarsha awkwardly said. She reached in her pocket again, searching for her phone. “Damn it, where is it?” She hissed. Her hand touched something familiar and she pulled it out. “Finally.”
With her free hand, she began typing in her passcode and went to the phone app. Scrolling through her contacts, she stopped at Min-seo’s number, the picture of Min holding Diya by the waist and smiling, and called it. Placing the phone to her ear, all she heard was her phone’s ringtone, which was softly playing the opening of her favorite anime, Lucky Star. After a minute, Min finally picked up the phone.
“Hey, Akarsha,” The voice greeted. In the background, Akarsha could hear barking.
“Heya,” Akarsha responded. “Mind picking us up from the bar really quick?”
“Us?”
“I’m talking about Noelle and me.” There was a pause for a moment, with some loud, but inaudible whispering.
“Noelle drank??” Min asked, a hint of amusement and curiosity in their voice.
“It’s cold as hell out here, man,” Akarsha sighed. “I’ll tell you about the details once we’re nice and cozy.”
“Fine, fine,” Min sighed before the call ended abruptly. Akarsha pulled the phone from her ear and checked the time. It was nearly 2 AM.
Akarsha felt some shuffling from her side and turned. “Frenchman?”
Noelle groaned as she reached up and pushed back her hair. Akarsha gulped as she watched Noelle’s hair fall back into place. Suddenly, Akarsha couldn’t feel the cold anymore. Her face warmed and her heart hammered in her chest. Noelle turned to face Akarsha and before she knew it, Noelle leaned forward and kissed Akarsha.
Everything began to go off in Akarsha’s brain as she stood there in shock, not even bothering to kiss back. Noelle pulled away, her face even more flushed than usual. She darted her eyes away and covered it with her free hand. “Fuck… why did I do that…” she turned her head back towards Akarsha. “Sorry… I don’t know what came over me — I just-.”
Akarsha cupped Noelle’s cheek with her hand. Her eyes still widened, but now with anticipation. “Can you kiss me again?” She whispered, loud enough for only Noelle to hear. Before Noelle’s mind began to register the request, she nodded her head and their lips made contact again.
And again, and again. Until the only thing on their mind was each other.