I'm Just a Puppet and She's Holding the Strings

"Where do you live Rachel?" Chuck asked as he got into the car after successfully getting all of us in and belted up.

"Um..." My eyes rolled up to the ceiling in thought.

"You don't even know where you live?"

"No, I do, I do, I just need a second to think about it,"

"You don't know," Pierre sung in a teasing voice.

"I'm sorry Chuck, all I can think of right now is the lyrics to 'Don't Stop Me Now',"

"Do any of you guys know?" Chuck questioned the car full of drunks to no avail.

"That was a stupid thing to ask, they're all as pissed as you," He sighed exasperatedly.

"Mia!" I cried out suddenly.

"Huh?" He frowned.

"Mia, she's my best friend, she'll know where I live," I grinned proudly for thinking of this idea.

It wasn't exactly Nobel Prize winning but I was off my face; Getting out of the car would've seemed like a fantastic idea right now.

I found my bag and rummaged about in it, grinning triumphantly as I pulled my phone out.

I flipped open my phone and searched for Mia's number.

I pressed the call button before placing it to my ear.

"Wait, won't she be asleep?" Chuck asked quickly as he realised the time.

I waved a hand dismissively, waiting for the phone to be picked up.

A few seconds later, a sleepy voice came over the phone.

"Hello?" Mia was tired. But then again who wouldn't be if they'd just been woken up at two-fifteen am?

"Mia-a-a-a-a!" I spoke excitedly.

"Rachel? Is that you?" She suddenly seemed a lot more awake.

"Yes it's me, silly," I giggled.

"You're giggling," She stated, "How much have you drank woman?"

"Um, four..." I paused, "... Teen," I added.

"And the rest," She snorted, "You better not be driving love,"

"I'm not, Chuck's taking me home,"

"Who's Chuck?"

"Sebastien's friend,"

"Are you sure that's a good idea?"

"It's a fabulous idea!" I squealed, "But I don't remember where I live," I admitted.

"Christ, you've drunk way too much," She sighed, "Put Chuck on the phone,"

"No, you just tell me and I'll tell him,"

"Rachel, put him on the phone,"

"But-"

"Stop being a difficult drunk and give Chuck the damn phone!" She snapped.

"Fine!" I huffed, "Here, she wants to speak to you,"

"Thanks," He gently took the phone from me.

"You know what we should do?!" Pierre announced.

"What?" David turned around in the front seat.

"We should go to France!"

"Yeah!" The three of us agreed.

"Wait..." Jeff paused, "Why?"

"Um... Cause... It's got good cheese?"

"I thought Italy was the place with the cheese?"

"Oh yeah... Well, it's got gorgeous French girls!"

"Wahay!" The two lads chorused as Chuck handed me back my phone.

"I don't like French girls, I like men," I frowned.

"It's got gorgeous French men!" David clapped.

I showed him the rock symbol with my hand and smacked the edge of Chuck's seat as he started the engine.

"To France, Chuck!" I directed.

He laughed slightly, "On our way,"

_Ten Minutes Later_

"I am the music man, I come from far away and I can play!" I sung loudly.

"What can you play?!" Pierre, Jeff and David sang back.

"I can play the... Flute!"

There was silence.

"The flute isn't in the Music Man," David frowned.

"It's in my Music Man!" I shot defensively.

"Well your music man is crap!" David insulted.

I shot him a glare, "Your face is crap!"

"Your comebacks are crap!"

"Shut your crappy mouth!"

"David! Rachel! Shut up! Stop arguing like you're three years old," Chuck snapped, "I'm not your babysitter so don't expect me to act like one,"

David and I looked down.

"Sorry," We mumbled.

"Here we are Rachel," Chuck pulled over to the side of the road.

"Thank you," I grinned at him as he got out.

I turned to my left and saw Jeff, then turned to my right and saw Pierre.

"I can't get out," I stated giving up automatically.

"You have to stay here forever," Pierre concluded.

"But I don't wanna stay here, forever," I pouted.

"Tough, I'm not letting you out, Jeff's not letting you out, you're stuck,"

My eyes rolled up to the ceiling and landed on the sunroof.

I got up from my seat, still crouched so I didn't hit my head and I started to unwind the sunroof.

"Rachel, what're you doing?" Jeff frowned in confusion.

"If you're not gonna let me out I'll use my own door," I retorted.

I stuck my head out and Chuck's eyes went wide.

"Rachel, what the fuck are you doing?!" He hissed at me, replicating Jeff's words but with an extra colourful word.

"Jeff and Pierre won't let me out," I spoke innocently, frowning slightly.

I thought he was going to shout at me.

I was always scared of people shouting at me when I was drunk, I always felt like a little kid who's just been caught eating glue.

"Rachel Marie Morgan!"

And that's why...

Mia's voice shot through my drunken body.

"You sit your backside in that car seat right now!"

"But-"

"Do it!"

"But they-"

"I don't care! Sit down and close the sunroof!"

I huffed, "Fine," Then sat back down.

"Sorry, shouting at her is the only way to make her do something when she's pissed," I heard Mia tell Chuck.

"Don't worry about it, I might try it next time," I heard Chuck reply as I closed the sunroof.

"Is that your mum?" Pierre asked when I sat back.

"No, stupid, she's the same age as me," I replied.

"She's pretty," He gazed longingly out of the window.

"She's taken," I mimicked his tone and snapping him back into reality.

"You're pretty," He beamed.

"I'm not that drunk," I smirked.

"Yes you are," He disagreed.

"Okay, maybe I am," I shrugged, "But still, don't even think about it,"

"Too late," He winked.

I laughed and slapped his leg, "Shut up,"

He grinned at me and his car door was opened from the outside.

"Pierre, let Rachel out please," Chuck spoke in a commanding voice but nicely.

"She can't go," He shook his head.

"Pierre let her out," Mia said authoritatively.

"No,"

"Pierre," She had a large amount of annoyance in her tone.

"Pretty lady," He mimicked her tone but didn't know her name.

Mia was unable to hide the smile she was desperately trying to suppress.

"Even though she's smiling, you really still don't wanna mess with her," I warned.

"But we're having fun," His forehead crinkled adorably.

"Gimme your phone," I stated.

He shoved his hand in his pocket and fished about for a second before pulling out his phone and handing it to me.

I typed in my mobile number and my home number (taking a while because the letters were blurring slightly).

"There," I spoke finally, "We can have fun again,"

He grinned at me and took my phone from my hands, typing his own number in and handing it back to me.

"Speak to you soon," I smiled as I unbuckled my seatbelt.

He let me out of the car this time.

As I got to my feet, Mia grabbed my arms so that I wouldn't go flying.

"Hiya," I beamed at her and she shook her head at me.

"Thanks Chuck," Mia smiled gratefully as she hauled my arm around her shoulder.

"You're welcome, take care," Chuck replied.

"Bye Chuck!" I waved profusely with a huge grin on my face, "Bye guys!"

"Shh, Rachel, people are sleeping," Mia hissed in a hushed tone.

"Sorry... Bye guys!" I whispered happily.

Chuck got into the car and started up the engine before we watched them drive off, waving frantically out of the window.

Once they were out of view, Mia turned me around and we headed for the front door.

"What did you do to your head?" She asked as we went inside.

"I hit myself with the pool cue," I answered as she closed the door.

She laughed, "You're an idiot,"

"I know," I grinned and eyed my surroundings, my smile falling into a confused frown.

"This isn't my house," I announced.

"Well done, Einstein," She said, locking up the doors, "You're staying at my house tonight, I don't trust you on your own with so much alcohol in your system,"

"Ooh..." I sighed, "Where's my bed?"

She looked over at me and rolled her eyes, "Come on you drunken idiot," She put my arm around her shoulder again and helped me up the stairs into the spare room.

I fell onto the bed and snuggled into the duvet.

"Rachel, take your coat off," Mia yawned.

"But I'm sleepy," I sighed.

She sat on the end of the bed and I felt her begin to take my shoes off.

She got up and pulled my coat off me, without any help from me, before she went into the cupboard and found a blanket.

"Night Rach," She greeted before placing the blanket over me and leaving the room.

As I closed my eyes and snuggled into the blanket and pillows, my thought's drifted back to the party... And the shivers that shot through my body just from Sebastien's touch...

_The Next Morning_

"Good morning Sunshine," Mia spoke loudly as I plodded into the kitchen.

She held out a glass of water and two headache tablets for me to take, which I snatched eagerly from her hands.

"Shh..." I whispered as I sat at the table, downing the tablets and the glass of water.

"Hey, listen, Drinky-Drinkerson, don't tell me to shh just because you had ten too many last night,"

"My head is killing me," I complained.

"Well, that could either be the excessive amount of alcohol or the bruise from when you smacked yourself in the head with the cue,"

"What cue?"

"The pool cue,"

"I did that?"

"According to you, yeah you did," She replied as she sat down beside me.

"I don't even remember much of what happened last night,"

"I'm not surprised, you were completely wasted,"

"How wasted?" I asked with a frowned.

"Wasted enough to try to climb out of the sunroof of Chuck's car because Pierre and some other guy were on either side of you and wouldn't let you out,"

"Oh God..." I groaned.

She laughed slightly as she stretched.

"How was your night with Zach?" I murmured.

"It was great,"

"Did you get up to anything much?"

"We just watched some movies and cuddled on the couch, talking mainly," She replied, "It was nice," I could see her trying to hide her smile.

"You really like this guy then huh?" I smiled slightly.

"So much," She sighed happily.

"It's good to see you happy,"

"Thanks," She rested her elbow on the table and then her head in her hand, "Did you meet Sebastien's fiancee last night?"

"Who? Oh, um... Yeah I think so,"

"What's she like?"

"She's pretty,"

"Is she nice?"

"Yeah, she seems it," I nodded, "She was always calling Sebastien over though, every three seconds she was shouting him and stuff, it got quite annoying,"

She chuckled slightly, "Well every couple has their annoying points,"

"Tell me about it," I sighed.

Mia knew that that wasn't directed at her and Zach so she didn't mention it.

"Ugh, I have to work tonight..." I whined, rubbing my hands over my face.

"Well it's only from six to ten; I think Jason's taking the late shift tonight so you can have a nice lie in,"

"But I don't wanna go to work," I grumbled.

"Well you have to so get over it,"

"Thanks for your words of sympathy Mia," I rolled my eyes.

"You're welcome," She grinned as she got up, "You never know, something exciting could happen at work,"

"In that pit? Are you having a laugh?"

She shrugged, "Well you never know do you?" Her eyebrows rose as she left the room.

I shook my head and drank the rest of my water.

Exciting?

Yeah... Right...

_8.43pm_
_Saturday night_

One of the busiest night's in pubs.

But, luckily, this wasn't one of the big pubs so although it was busy, it wasn't overwhelming.

I was serving a customer when I spotted him.

At first I thought I was going insane and imagining things but then he came up to the bar and tried to get my attention.

"Rachel," He waved me over.

"I'm busy Sebastien,"

"I need to speak to you,"

"I'm working," I stated simply as I smiled at a customer while handing him his change.

"But-"

"Sorry Sebastien, but you're going to have to wait," I replied sternly as I served another customer.

I heard him sigh as I continued smiling and taking money.

After about ten minutes, the crowd eased up and soon I was standing face to face with Sebastien's innocently smiling face.

I took a deep breath and let out a large sigh.

"And here I was thinking that I wouldn't see you again," I smiled slightly and rested both my elbows on the bar before putting my head in them.

"Now whatever gave you that idea?" His eyebrow lifted and he smirked playfully as he took a seat on a bar stool.

He looked so... Unbelievably gorgeous...

No, no, bad thoughts! Stop it Rachel!

I bit my lip, trying my best to stop this uncontrollable grin from stretching across my face.

"What do you need to talk to me about then?"

"Well... I need your advice," He spoke cautiously.

My smile dropped, "Have you and Beth argued again? What did I tell you about asking my advice when things like this happen?"

"That I shouldn't, but it's nothing like that," He reassured.

"So what's up?"

"Well, it's Beth's birthday tomorrow and I wanted to set up a big romantic night for her,"

I nodded, "Right,"

"And I was just wondering if you could help me set it up and give me some ideas on romance,"

"You do know that I know nothing about Beth so I don't know what her ideas about romance are,"

"But you're a woman," He stated.

"Oh you noticed did you?"

"You know what I mean," He waved his hand dismissively.

"I really don't and if you're gonna want to do an amazing job then you're going to need more than a day,"

"But the guys are helping too and with six of us we can do it in a day, right?"

"Do any of the other guys have girlfriends?"

"No," He frowned in confusion.

"So you expect five men, four of which are single so they haven't a clue about romance right now, to plan a romantic night for your fiancee?"

"No, I expect five men, four of which are single so they haven't a clue about romance right now, and you to plan a romantic night for my fiancee,"

"Why do you need me?" I asked in confusion.

"Because we need a girl to help us get into a woman's brain, women all have the same ideas about romance,"

"What makes you think that?"

"I... Don't... Know?" His eyebrows rose, "Oh go on Rachel, help me,"

"No," I shook my head.

_Sebastien's P.O.V_

"No?" I frowned.

"No," She repeated.

"Why?" I sighed.

"Why?" She let out a dry laugh.

"Yes, why,"

"Okay, we need to stop repeating words 'cause I'm getting confused," She added, "And because it's impossible to do it in a day, no matter how many people you have,"

"Why is it impossible?"

"Because there's so much to do,"

"Like what?"

"Like finding a place to do it, buying all the stuff, keeping Beth away all day, sorting it all out in time, getting it all perfect, it's a hard job Seb,"

For some reason, I had to stop a smile from spreading across my face when she called me Seb.

I crinkled my forehead and pouted, "Please?"

_Rachel's P.O.V_

One word: Adorable.

How on Earth could I say no to that face?

I sighed dejectedly, "Fine,"

"Rachel, you are a complete angel!" He grinned widely.

"You owe me,"

"Sweetheart, I owe you my life," He beamed at me.

"So what's the plan then Romeo?"

"Ah... See, I was hoping that you could help me with that too..."

"You're completely unprepared for this," I scoffed, running a hand through my hair.

"And that's why you're here," He smiled.

I shook my head.

So, Sebastien and I spent the rest of the night planning this thing for Beth.

And two things were on my mind the whole time...

He called me an angel and he called me sweetheart.

But the one that made my stomach turn was the thought that scared me slightly.

Because all I could think about was wishing that he was doing this for me...

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God damn my spinning head
Decisions that made my bed
Now I must lay in it
And deal with things I left unsaid
I want to dive into you
Forget what you're going through
I get behind, make your move
Forget about the truth

Maroon 5- Makes Me Wonder
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