Tuukka had gulped down about 6 shots before, and he could certainly feel the effects. They got 10 times worse as he held Katie, he was stumbling but determined.

"Are we close?" he asked after another block, leaning down his neck to ask in her ear. Katie opened her eyes and looked at the street they were on before muttering that they needed to walk another block.

She readjusted her arms around his neck and put her head back against his chest and Tuukka readjusted his grip on Katie before walking again. God he smells good. Katie, you're drunk. Dear god I'm embarrassed, she thought to herself.

After a block, Tuukka stood in front of a brown apartment building, much like the ones around it. He walked up to the door.

"Katie. Do you have a key?"

"Yeah. In my clutch. I can get up, though." Tuukka put her down as she stood up, holding on to her arm for a minute to make sure she was balanced.

Katie reached into her clutch and pulled out the key to her apartment. She unlocked the door and turned back to Tuukka, who was staring at her with a strange look on his face.

"I... thanks. Nothing like this has really happened to me before... I'm really sorry. I probably ruined your night... after a huge win and all--" she stammered.

A faint smile crept across Tuukka's lips. She knows who I am, he thought. "No, no, please don't be sorry. I'm glad I could help you," he said, his eyes shining in the light from Katie's apartment.

"Well, th-thank you Mr. Rask... I guess I'll be seeing you---"

"Wait!" Tuukka exclaimed, sort of reaching out to her. "I, I was maybe wondering if you'd want to meet up some time... we could go for a walk together when we're both actually able to walk, or something.." he said, trying desperately to gain a chance to see this girl again.

"I.. yeah, sure..." she said.

Tuukka began to pull out his phone so she could put her number in it.

"What are you doing?" She asked.

"Oh... I was just wondering if I could get your number... so I know when's a good time.."

"Well, you know where I live," Katie said, a small smile forming across her face.

She walked into her apartment and shut the door quietly. Tuukka stood out front for a minute, staring at the door, then stared at the place she was just standing at.

Did she just reject me? Do I have to show up now randomly in a few days? What if I show up and she doesn't remember me? Why didn't she just give me her number? Tuukka's head swam with questions as he began to walk back to the club.

He had walked a few steps when he saw a light turn on a window away from the door where he had dropped Katie off. He stood there and looked at the window, and saw Katie through it.

She sat at her desk, her room completely white. Everything in her room was white, except for her dark curly hair that smelled like vanilla. When Tuukka had leaned his neck down to ask her where her house was, the scent of vanilla attacked his nose and he actually almost dropped her right there.

This girl was simply... intoxicating.

Tuukka watched her sit at her desk, now in a sweatshirt and shorts. She was brushing her hair and drinking a tall glass of lemon ice water. Something about seeing this girl, in this state, it made him almost... giddy, in a way. He'd thought this girl looked amazing in the club, with her dress and make-up and shoes. But seeing her naturally, in tight shorts and a sweatshirt, gave him something he couldn't put into words.

He didn't want to sound pretentious, but he was the reason why this girl was able to go to the club. He was the reason this girl was able to still brush her hair and wear those tight shorts he thought made her butt look amazing. He was the reason, and he knew it.

And he couldn't wait much longer to see her again.

---

Notes

8 more years with Tuukka!! Never been so excited.

--kind of a short chapter, i'm sorry!! more to come though... ;)