Almost Too Well

It doesn't take you too long to locate your friend once you have entered the venue, relieved your fake ID worked. Maisie doesn't even need any, since you altered people's perception of her to believe she is whatever age she claims to be without question.

She is not naked for once. A bar full of drunk and sleazy guys would not be the safest place for her to be if, for any reason, the nude but clothed illusion broke. But, as ever, she is looking absurdly hot.

You start to think to yourself what a terrible idea this was. No way can you pull Maisie's challenge to you off. You are going to crash and burn, and publicly humiliate yourself. To make matters worse, you kind of recognise her friends, and you fear they might kind of recognise you too. Luckily, it won't be enough for them to see anything amiss in your best friend not knowing who you are. They aren't people you grew up with or anything, and you and Maisie barely share any mutual friends these days. But it still feels like an added complication.

As you are thinking through the logistics of how you are going to do this, Maisie unexpectedly turns her head and locks eyes with you. She doesn't react much, just pushes her hair back a little then turns towards her friends again. But she definitely caught you looking. You remember Maisie's tips from yesterday. Your window to approach her before making yourself look like you lack confidence is tiny. All of your plans to ease yourself into this with a couple of beers for your nerves, while waiting for a perfect moment where Maisie is alone to make your move, are out of the window. It is go time now or it's game over already. You walk nervously towards Maisie who seems to be enjoying the music. She at least is in great spirits and smiles at you as you approach.

Perhaps she is impressed you had the nerve to do this. You probably don't look like the type who would. You really don't know what to say. Maisie's rules are reverberating in your mind. No pick up lines. No telling her you are nice or different from other guys. No asking her politely to allow you to talk to her. What the fuck else is there? You have seconds. Maybe something about the band? She seems to like them.

"These guys are awesome. Kind of remind me of The Strokes"

A total shot in the dark. You barely know what The Strokes sound like, but you do know they are Maisie's favourite band. You are two sentences into your cold approach and already cheating. But nothing else came to mind.

"Oh wow, they actually do sound a little like them in the 'Is This It?' era now you say it" she lights up with enthusiasm "Are you a fan of theirs?"

"Absolutely!"

A lie.

"Favourite album?"

Luckily, Maisie talks about the music she likes to you enough that you are able to pass this test of hers. In fact, you even know what her own favourite is for extra points.

"Room on Fire"

Cheating and lying. Again. Maisie will definitely pick you up on all of this skullduggery tomorrow. But she challenged you to get a kiss from her tonight, and she doesn't give those away easily. You have to use every tool in your arsenal here.

"Holy shit, mine too. This is incredible!" Maisie seems beside herself with excitement now "I'm Maisie"

"Can I buy you a drink, Maisie?" you ask.

"I have a full one already" she lifts her cocktail glass up and giggles, seemingly not put off by that blunder "You can hang with me and buy me my next one if you want?"

Wow. This actually seems to be going well. You quickly steer the conversation away from music to another passion of hers that you are able to talk about all night if you need to - gaming. Soon it is like Maisie has forgotten her friends are even there and is only interested in you. You and her can talk effortlessly together for hours under normal circumstances, and that is what this feels like now. Except she is looking at you a little differently, and in a good way.

After a while, one of her girlfriends leans into the conversation.

"Hey, don't you two know each other?" she asks.

"We've never met before, right?" Maisie checks with you.

"I would definitely remember if I had met or even seen Maisie before" you tell her friend as the girl in question shoots you an approving smile.

"Oh, must just be great natural chemistry then!" you notice Maisie's friend give her an encouraging wink as she and her other buddies move away to give the two of you space.

"Come on, let's dance!"

Maisie takes you by the hand and leads you right in front of the stage where the band are playing. She is a great natural dancer while you tend to move like someone who has been stood up and given electric shock treatment. But this isn't the kind of music you need to move too smoothly to, and you can hold your own. You are now dancing with the most beautiful woman in the club in full view of everyone there. This is like a dream you don't ever want to wake up from.

At some point between songs, Maisie smiles wordlessly at you while maintaining eye contact a little longer than seems normal. You think you can read the signs, and remember one of her tips she equipped you with in case you got this far. You look down to her lips then back into her eyes. Still continues to hold your gaze and smiles, now almost expectantly. You know this is your moment and lean in for the kiss. Your heart almost explodes as she returns it. Perhaps Maisie should consider becoming a dating coach. This is incredible!

As the night draws to a close, Maisie's friends have gone. She told them she was good to sort her own ride home and wanted to stay for the encore. As you leave the bar together she turns to you.

"I'm not sure I have the money for a cab back to my place. Any chance I could share one with you and crash at your place for the night?"

Now Maisie is the one lying. And she is doing so because she wants to fuck you. Tonight. This is almost beyond your wildest dreams. But you are not quite sure what to do here. If you wake up in bed with her tomorrow when she suddenly remembers everything, you have no idea how she will react. You have had the perfect evening, achieved all you set out to and. if you are a perfect gentleman, decline and give Maisie the cash for her ride, your report card tomorrow should be positively glowing. But what if you never get another opportunity like this again?