Reborn From Oblivion

Cameron felt a bit embarrassed and decided to steer the conversation elsewhere. "Where are you headed?" Nathalie didn't beat around the bush. "If it's not too much trouble, could you drop me off at the Sunlight Bar?" Cameron's good-looking face fell slightly.

It was clear Nathalie was worried about Nathan. As a fellow guy, Cameron knew all too well about Nathan's little schemes-he was using the excuse of being drunk to cozy up to Nathalie.

How

hameless.

Even though Cameron looked down on Nathan for it, he still drove Nathalie to the bar.

The car had barely come to a stop when Nathalie flung the door open and rushed inside. She was clearly in a hurry.

Cameron watched her dash off and couldn't shake off a feeling of emptiness. There was a time when she had been just as concerned about him.

Inside the bar, Nathan was really out of it, slumped over the table. Nathalie could smell the strong scent of alcohol wafting from him even before she got close.

Nathan's friends started ribbing her. "Nathalie, what took you so long? This dude's downed a few more bottles, and we couldn't hold him back. He was puking all over the place a bit ago, and now he's totally smashed. Now that you're here, we're leaving him to you and heading home."

One friend couldn't help but add, "We should be celebrating your arrival. It looks like Nathan's going to be out a ton of cash tonight."

Right on cue, Nathan slurred out, "Nobody's leaving! We're all drinking tonight, and no one's going home sober."

His voice was a thick slur, heavy with alcohol.

Nathalie reached out, lifting Nathan's chin. "Nathan, how'd you get this wasted? Do you even know who I am?" Nathan's eyes were bleary and unfocused as they locked onto Nathalie. Suddenly, he seemed to sober up a bit.

"Nathalie?" He cupped Nathalie's face, trying to confirm.

"You're back?" He shot up to his feet.

When Nathalie found out Nathan calling her here was part of some bet, she was not amused. "How much did you lose?" Nathan played dumb. "Lose what? Nathalie, you know I don't gamble. I keep my nose clean..."

His friends all turned away, avoiding his gaze.

When he realized his pals had sold him out, Nathan's face turned beet red, and he hung his head, looking like a kid caught doing something naughty.

One guy quickly explained, "Nathalie, Nathan said you were far away, and even if he got plastered, you wouldn't come back for him tonight. So, we all bet that if you did show up, he'd owe each of us $100,000."

Nathalie counted the heads and smacked her forehead. "I should've just stayed away."

Nathan stood to lose nearly a million.

He grinned sheepishly. "Nathalie, I'm just glad you came to get me."

Nathalie shot back, "Save it for when you're sober. You really made a fool of yourself tonight. Big-time loss." The friends scattered.

Supporting Nathan with one arm

and gripping his jacket with the

other, Nathalie helped him out of

bar. They both wobbled a bit as they walked.

Nathan, spotting Cameron's car, plopped his head onto Nathalie's shoulder. "Nathalie, I feel awful." "Just hang on."

Nathalie walked up to Cameron. "Could you give us a lift home?"

Cameron's face turned icy. "Oh great, now I'm just a chauffeur?"