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In the stillness of the evening, Laura's hotel room was an oasis of order amidst the chaotic pattern of distant laughter and music that wafted from the Eurovision festivities. Her laptop hummed a soft tune as it processed the final markings on her student’s test papers, the screen casting a cool, blue light across her focused features. The faint scent of mint from her tea mingled with the lingering aroma of hairspray and perfume, remnants of her earlier preparations.
Sure she was about to represent her country in the biggest song competition in the entire world but the world of her 9-5 job as a music teacher still called her back, even in the midst of this glam and glitz. She had 31 papers to mark, it would’ve been 30 if it weren’t for Kyle kindly asking for tutoring, and who was she to say no to such a sweet little guy?
Her phone buzzed on the side table, interrupting her thoughts. The screen glowed with a name she hadn’t expected to see, JJ. What could the Austrian possibly need from her at 2 in the morning? Inspirational words? Comfort for an emotional breakdown? An update on his boyfriend’s test scores?
But as she picked up the phone, the voice on the other end was slurred and unmistakably female. It took Laura a moment to realize it wasn’t JJ at all, it was a different Austrian, a more notorious Austrian in Laura’s world.
“Tynna, I know it’s you on the line” Laura said with a sigh, recognizing the sloppy speech of her not-so-secret lover.
“L-laura, oh my gosh, you won’t believe what just happened!” Tynna’s words tumbled out, a drunken jumble of vowels and consonants. Laura’s eyes narrowed, her heart racing as she set down her pen and leaned closer to the phone.
“Tynna, slow down. What’s going on?” Laura’s voice was a tightrope between concern and irritation.
“I, like, totally kicked this guy’s ass at the club! He was such a creep, Laura, you should’ve seen it!” The pride in Tynna’s voice was palpable even through the static of the bad connection and her inebriation. Laura felt a knot form in her stomach, her fingers tightening around the phone. She’d known Tynna’s penchant for drama, but this was a new level.
“What do you mean you kicked someone’s ass? Are you okay?” Laura’s concern grew as Tynna giggled in response, her words barely coherent.
“Oh, I’m fine, baby, but you should’ve seen his face. He thought he could fuck with me but I handed him one”
Tynna’s laughter was cut short by a cough and Laura’s worry spiked. “Where are you? What club?” Her voice was firm, her eyes scanning the room for her shoes and her bag.
“Oh baby you know it’s uhh…the same one they always host the pre-parties in, uhhh I didn’t catch the name” Tynna hiccupped, and Laura rolled her eyes. She knew where they were, and luckily it was across the street, lucky they hadn’t gone on some pub crawl either.
“Stay put, I’m coming to get you right now, okay? Don’t go anywhere and don’t do anything stupid, got it?” Laura’s voice was firm but laced with a hint of exasperation.
“Yeah yeah, I’m just gonna grab another drink and wait for you, lover girl!” Tynna’s laughter trailed off as she apparently stumbled over something, the sound of shattering glass piercing through the line before the call ended. Laura felt her heart drop to her stomach. She couldn’t leave Tynna like this, not in a foreign country and definitely not in a state like this.
The Eurovision pre-party was in full swing when Laura arrived at the club, the bass thumping through the walls and the air thick with the smell of alcohol and sweat. She scanned the neon-lit room, spotting a sea of glammed-up fans and contestants mingling. She spotted a few familiar faces but ignored the waves and smiles, her eyes searching for the one that needed her the most tonight.
After searching around for a while in this unfamiliar crowded place she decided it would be better to have someone point her in the right direction, she saw Kyle waving to her from a discreet corner of the room. She approached him, trying to ignore JJ who was snacking on the Norwegian’s neck like a starved cannibal. "Hey, have you seen Tynna?"
"Who?" He said with a smirk. Laura rolled her eyes. “I haven’t seen her in over an hour” The brunette giggled, pulling his boyfriend off of his neck. “Have you?”
“Sissal said she was probably spilling her guts in the toilet” The opera singer slurred, Laura had never seen JJ drunk, the man wasn’t even looking at her, keeping his eyes trained on Kyle.
She thanked them before turning on her heel and pushing through the crowd, navigating past the flashing lights and the throngs of people. She had to find Tynna before something worse happened. The bathroom was a blur of glitter and high-pitched giggles, but she spotted the familiar brunette head slumped in the corner, her eyes half-closed, and her makeup smeared like a Picasso painting gone wrong. Laura’s eyes narrowed as she approached, her stomach in knots.
Zoë was sat with her, a bottle of water in her hand as she listened to the woman’s drunken rambles, a mix of apologies and half-remembered gossip. Laura’s heart softened a bit at the sight of her friend. Zoë had always been the reliable one, the sensible one, the one who would sit with you when you had too much to drink and needed someone to hold your hair back.
“Thanks, Zoë. You’re a lifesaver.” Laura said as she knelt beside Tynna, taking the water from her and gently waking her up.
Zoë gave Laura a knowing look. “No problem, she’s a bit of a mess tonight. What’s the plan?”
“Get her back to the hotel, obviously. She can’t be in this state tomorrow, she’s got to be fresh for the performance.” Laura’s voice was a mix of frustration and care as she spotted the black eye that Tynna now adorns.
“Let’s go, Tynna.” Laura’s grip on her arm was gentle but firm as she helped her stand. Tynna’s eyes fluttered open, and she blinked a few times before a sloppy smile spread across her face.
“heyy there lover girl…” Tynna leaned into Laura, and Laura could feel the warmth of her breath, smelling faintly of mint and alcohol. She sighed, gently pushing Tynna’s hair out of her face.
“Come on, let’s get you out of here before you do something else stupid.” Laura said, her voice a mix of affection and exasperation.
•
“Make sure to give her lots of water and put some ice on that black eye to reduce the swelling” Zoë went down her list of ‘tips to deal with a drunk person’ as Laura nodded along, Tynna was now lying face down on the bed, slipping between a state of consciousness and slumber.
The hotel room door clicked shut behind them, leaving Laura and Tynna in a bubble of silence. Laura took a deep breath, trying to calm the adrenaline still pumping through her veins. She walked over to the bed, setting down the water bottle and the bag of ice on the bedside table. She looked at her lover, feeling a mix of worry and annoyance.
Tynna stirred, her breathing deep and even. Laura moved to the other side of the bed and laid down next to her, staring up at the ceiling. Her mind raced with thoughts of the competition ahead, her responsibilities as a teacher, and the woman beside her who had a habit of finding trouble like a moth to a flame. Laura felt a hand slip into hers, and Tynna mumbled something incoherent before her breathing evened out again. Laura's grip tightened slightly.
“Mmm sorry for makin’ you come ‘nd get me” Tynna mumbled, the words would’ve gone unheard if Laura hadn’t been listening out for them.
“It’s alright, just don’t make it a habit.” Laura’s voice was gentle, her hand stroking Tynna’s hair. “You know you have to be on your best behavior tomorrow.”
“I know, I know.” Tynna’s words were slurred, but there was a hint of contrition in her tone. Laura sighed, sitting up and reaching for the water bottle. She knew she had to get Tynna to drink some water before she passed out completely.
“Come on, sit up.” Laura coaxed, propping Tynna up with a pillow. The brunette complied, her eyes fluttering open as Laura held the water to her lips. She took a few sips, wincing at the cold, before her eyes searched Laura’s face.
“You’re not mad at me, are you?” Tynna’s voice was small, and Laura felt a twinge of guilt for her earlier irritation.
“Mad? No, just concerned. You can’t keep doing this to yourself, Tynna. You’re here for the Eurovision, not to start bar fights and get hurt.” Laura’s tone was firm but caring as she helped Tynna finish the water.
Tynna leaned her head against Laura’s shoulder. “I know, I promise I won’t do it again.” Her voice trailed off as she closed her eyes, and Laura felt a surge of protectiveness wash over her.
“What was it about?” Laura asked, trying to keep the conversation going as she gently laid Tynna down and covered her with a blanket.
“Some guy was just being weird towards Kyle and JJ...” Tynna’s voice was a lazy murmur as she cuddled into the pillow. Laura couldn’t help but chuckle, despite the seriousness of the situation.
“Can’t resist playing the hero, can you?” Laura kissed her forehead, feeling the warmth of her skin. Tynna’s only response was a sleepy smile.
Laura waited for a few moments, making sure she was truly asleep before she gently placed the bag of ice on the swollen area around her eye. She watched as Tynna’s face contorted briefly before relaxing into the cold embrace. Laura’s gaze softened as she studied her lover’s features in the soft glow of the lamp. The sharp angles of her cheekbones, the fullness of her lips, and the way her eyelashes fluttered slightly with every breath. Even in this state, she was breathtaking.
After fixing the mess that the hotel room had become, Laura decided to give in to her own exhaustion. As she slid into bed beside Tynna, the mattress dipped slightly under her weight, and the brunette rolled over, throwing an arm over Laura’s waist. Laura stiffened for a moment before relaxing into the warm embrace, Kyle’s exam papers left forgotten on her desk.