pt 1: here
pt 2: here

When she arrived at the venue, she was greeted by Anna and Sarah, both looking gorgeous. Anna had her husband in tow, and Sierra greeted him as well, all of them having become good friends over the years.
She felt the stares and remembered why she had wanted to wear this back when the plan had been made. It seemed like a different person had made that plan and she hurried over to her plate and plopped down, hoping to just hang on till after the food, then she could sneak home.
“Si!” a male voice made her jump and she looked towards Brad who came with two drinks “here!” he said, giving her one “you are late, I thought you would arrive with Sarah and Anna? I thought you had stayed home” he said, a note of worry in his voice.
“Oh no, I just lost track of time” Sierra lied, not needing to let him know that she had cried over the simple thought of leaving the apartment.
“Good! Let’s have a party!” he exclaimed and raised his glass. She mirrored his action, perhaps the alcohol could help the pills to calm her down a little. She wasn’t supposed to drink on the meds but right now she would do anything to get back home without breaking.

The food was amazing. The venue looked better than ever. How Anna and Sarah had pulled it off with so little help from Sierra was a mystery and Sierra felt some of her anxiousness fade as she drank and laughed with her coworkers. For a brief moment it seemed she was back to normal.
The music kicked in, people dancing and Sierra laughed as she spotted Anna and her husband dancing, their silly grins totally dedicated to each other. Sarah was dancing with a few others, chatting with them in a loud giggly voice. Things were good and Sierra smiled. A feeling of peace filled her, as if she had found something that had been missing.
When she emptied her drink she got up to get a new one and stretch her legs. Brad was by her quickly, asking for a dance, but she reclined. He kept pestering her, and she got annoyed. He was drunk, that much was clear, and normally she would have given in, danced the night away – but she didn’t want that. She didn’t want to spend time with him, and it annoyed him greatly it seemed.
“Brad” she exclaimed in annoyance as he tried to poke her in the side, a playful way of getting attention and be physical. “Come on Si! You promised” he replied and she sighed.
She had promised him a dance, 6 months ago. “I know” she mumbled taking a sip from the drink. “It’ll be quick!” he promised and she sighed “fine..”

The dance was close, she felt his grip around her waist and forced a grimace down. As the music ended she pulled away but he didn’t let go “just one more” he pleaded with a grin. “No” she replied “Si Pl-“
She had expected him to protest. To argue but then give her, her space. She expected him to be annoyed and maybe a few pointed comments at work the following day. She did not expect the hand on her shoulder, gentle but firm, pulling her back and a large frame stepping in between her and Brad.
“She said no” a voice that made her heart flutter. Who the hell was he? Brad looked at the stranger with a confused expression. “Who are you” he asked, and Sierra stepped sideways to get at better look at the strange man. And what she saw made her eyes go wide. A face she had last seen sleeping soundly as she snuck out the door. She had pictured it so often that it was almost familiar. How was he here? How had he found her? She had never given him her name or address. No numbers had been exchanged. Nothing left behind.

“Si? Do you know this man?” Mark was there now, acting on the intrusion to the party. “N-no” she whispered, her eyes glued to the guy. He looked hurt, but understanding, and just looked at her, with eyes that seemed to scour her soul.
“Please mister, you have to leave” Mark continued but the man did not move. He looked at Sierra, no one else. As if waiting for her command.
“Do you want me to leave… mate?” he asked, a smile tugging at the corner of his moth. She felt her knees tremble at the mere sight of him, an unfamiliar feeling of love and safety filling her. “no” she whispered with out even knowing it. She blinked, embarrassed. “I.. I have to… t-to go” she muttered, backing up. She had to force her body to move, to distance herself. The feeling of amusement and longing felt her, but it didn’t hurt. It was so fricking weird!
As she stumbled out the door her heel caught the carpet and she fell forward, only for a strong set of hands catching her. Her skin seemed to be on fire where he touched her, and the cologne he was wearing drove her senses mad. “P-please I… I have to go home” she whispered as he leaned towards her after helping her get to her feet. That he had followed her was not something she thought about.
He smiled, the green eyes glinting with mischief. “Then why did you leave?” he asked stepping closer, causing her to take half a step backwards “do you know how worried I was?” he asked, reaching out, swiping the concealer she had used to hide the scars away. “You must have felt it. The pain. The worry. The sadness” he continued, yet she just stared blankly at his lips.

“You dampened it. The bond” a note of annoyance laced in his voice and he met her gaze. “I understand. I had hoped for time to explain, but when I awoke you were gone. I searched for you. Everywhere. I travelled from north to south. East to…”
“West” she replied and he smiled. Somehow it made sense. It shouldn’t. How ever, the feeling of tugging she had felt made her think that it was him – traveling. Looking for her. But why? That didn’t make sense! She blinked rapidly and shook her head. “No” she said trying to affirm the logical sense she clung to “no?” re replied with a curious look.
“I.. I have to go!” she said, but her body did not move “We.. have to go” he corrected her, letting his hand travel up her neck, cupping her cheek letting his thumb caress her lower lip. She felt dizzy. Felt hot.
“Si?” she was brought back to reality as Anna’s voice sounded and turned her head to find her.
Anna and Sarah was standing a few meters away, with Annas husband. Sarah stared at the stranger with the same look as a starving man would stare at a buffet – and it pissed Sierra off. Why? That was a thing she and Sarah had in common so why would it bother her this much?
“Are you alright?” Anna continued and Sierra nodded and stepped away from the warm hand, and the stranger lowered his hand while looking at the newcomers.
“Y-yeah I’m.. This is…” she didn’t even remember his name. He smiled, stepping towards her friends
“Lucas López García” he introduced himself, sparing her the embarrassment.

“Sounds… Southern” Sarah replied with a knowing grin shaking his hand as he offered it, and stepped closer to Sierra “say – that wouldn’t be the reason for your sudden disinterest in the guys?” she teased and Sierra felt her cheeks bloom with heat, as she looked away. “I knew it!” Sarah squeaked and stared at Lucas with newfound interest. “God, I thought there was no man in the world who could make her settle” she laughed and Anna rolled her eyes
“Sarah its none of our business” she said with a smile of her own “we just wanted to make sure you were okay. Brad said some stranger had taken you away” she explained and Sarah cooed by her side
“stranger for him perhaps, Si seems to know him!” she winked teasingly at Sierra. Luckily Lucas seemed to sense her desperation and laughed lightly “well I wanted to surprise her, I wasn’t supposed to show up before tomorrow. But now I must whisk her away. Unless you wish to stay dear?” he looked at Sierra who was dumbfounded “n-no” she replied, not really knowing what she said no to. Staying or going? He was a stranger.
“Alright, have fun. Si, I expect a full report on Monday” Sarah said, as Anna dragged her away.
Sierra looked to Lucas and felt dizzy looking into his eyes. He reached out once more “It’ll fade dear. Distance makes it worse” he said lovingly, stepping closer “So.. Si.. What is that short for?” he asked, interlocking his fingers with hers, placing brief kisses along her knuckles. “Sierra..” she whispered “Sierra Williams”