I Say The Damndest Things When You're On Top Of Me//Christian 'CC' Coma//Part Three//

'Liquid Confidence' was situated only a few blocks away. A bar that Emma and I frequented quite often after work and on weekends. I pulled my cropped leather jacket tighter across my chest to keep out the gentle night breeze as we walked. The thought played on my mind that perhaps CC had originally been en route to our place despite being told to stay away, before his detour to join Ben and Danny. Ashley walked a few paces behind me, the loud pop of his bubblemint the only movement that interrupted the distraction his Blackberry was currently providing.
"I swear to Satan if you're tweeting pics of my ass..." Iwarned playfully in the hopes of getting him to speed up. I was all too well attuned to his reputation.
"Whaat? i'm texting Andy that we found CC so he can quit worrying and get on with more important things" he paused to wink for effect. "speaking of which, you're looking a little tense sweetie, maybe you need a long, stiff...drink".
Ashley and I laughed simultaneously, brushing off the playful flirtation in denial of the fact that both our minds had wandered to a place where that sentence did not end with the word drink. A drink was an idea in itself though. We picked up our pace as though nothing had happened, making a pit stop at a nearby liquor store to avoid paying over the top prices for a few shots at the bar, where they generally refused to serve Jack by the bottle as a ploy to make more money.
"Time is it?" I stumbled over my words slightly as we finally arrived at Liquid Confidence a little over half the bottle of Jack later.
"Time for another drink!" Ash responded unhelpfully with a giggle.
Ben, Danny and CC eyed us depreciatingly as we approached their booth.
"CC..." I began, noticing something akin to hurt flashing behind the pools of brown in his eyes.
"Its not what it looks like right? save your breath, it's not like we're exclusive or anything. You could at least have been honest with me though, he's one of my best friends"
"It's really not what it looks like, and you're right we're not dating which means you have no right to be angry at me for this".
Ben and Danny fidgeted awkwardly beside us. The disappointment in CC's voice was worse than if he'd started yelling.
"No, no CC's right. I mean we should totally do a pregnancy test, what with all that unprotected hugging and arm holding" even Ben and Danny sniggered at Ashley's sarcastic humour.
"You can be a real d**k sometimes Ash. Just because we're not dating doesn't mean I don't care. Happy birthday by the way". CC tossed a crisp white envelope across the table.
My fingers trembled slightly as I carefully peeled back the seal, my eyes not to affected by the alcohol to see the contents. Two tickets to Vegas, one each for me and Emma for the weekend, along with tickets to the Black Veil Brides show and a suite in their hotel. I felt tears prick by the back of my eyelids, but not with joy.
"I can't take these, its too much. You can't keep doing this, just showing up and showering me with expensive gifts. I was never in this for money or status or any of that crap. All you're doing is making it harder for me to let you go".
I slid the tickets back across the table, the air all of a sudden feeling extremely suffocating.
"You just turned down a free trip to Vegas? wow, you really are drunk. We got your text, thanks" Emma addressed Ashley with a small smile as her and Andy joined us.
"Look, we're all pretty smashed, or most of us anyway. I think we should go home and sleep it off, and you should make the decision about Vegas in the morning" Andy advised being less than subtle about his enthusiasm for Emma to come along so they could spend the weekend together.
"Beaucoup problem, we weren't planning on staying the night so we have no hotel, where do you propose we sleep?"