Everything was a ten minutes' ride in Berkshire, even on a busy Friday night. The cab pulled outside the bar that was booming with loud music. Queues lined up outside. Girls stood in skimpy dresses and open-toed heels on a freezing January night. Norah walked towards a short, blonde woman who had a clipboard in her hands and was chatting away to an enormous bouncer.

"Hi, we're here for Rafe Ferreira's party," Norah said.

"Hi! Sure! Can I get both of your names, please? And I'll need some IDs," she said. As soon as she got them she began scanning her list of names. The bouncer scrutinised their IDs. Benny shuffled nervously. They were both already eighteen, but he hadn't got used the fact that they could legally enter bars and order alcohol. They were by law- adults.

"Great! Found you both, my colleague will take you upstairs. Please put these on your wrists so you can come and go through the VIP area."

"Thanks," Benny muttered and followed the hostess into the loud bar. "VIP area? Seriously?" He whispered sarcastically. It was the only decent, chic bar in the whole town but compared to bigger, flashier places in the city this place was tame.

The dance floor was alive with people dancing to the rhythm of the music. The long bar was lit up in different colours and the whole place was decorated with a variety of Vodka bottles. The front bar had trays of different coloured shots. Some of her classmates were drinking, talking or dancing. She realised after seeing so many familiar faces that the whole upstairs area was hired out for the party.

Norah spotted Rafe surrounded by people only half of whom she recognised. The confidence she had only a minute ago seemed to diminish, and she was tempted to turn back and put on her glasses which felt like her mask and put up her hair and remove the clothes that made her look like a completely different person.

Before she could even think of turning, a similar voice cut in loudly through the music.

"You clean up nicely," William said, approaching her. Norah smiled and made observations of her own. He looked so effortlessly cool in jeans and a white polo shirt. Somehow even the style he had screamed good boy. Someone you'd meet in a posh country club and who'd be one to drape his sweater around your shoulders should you get cold.

"Thanks. How's the party so far?" Norah asked.

"Good. Amy from the year below already got drunk. I'm actually on my way to bring her some water," he said, gesturing at the bottle of water in his hands. What a gentleman.

"How did she get in? Is she even eighteen?" Benny asked, shyly standing behind Norah.

"Heard of fake IDs mate?" William said not unkindly.

"Oh right..." Benny murmured behind her and she could feel his embarrassment. Benny followed rules diligently so trying your luck with a fake ID didn't even occur to him.

* *

Rafe patiently listened to his close friend, Mason, who told him about the latest crazy holiday they had in Mykonos, with new hot girls and dramas. Rafe would be lying if he wasn't a little jealous, missing out all the fun. When he still had his freedom, he was the initiator and the host of these crazy trips and parties. It sucked knowing the rest had moved on when he thought he was always the life of the party. Turns out a party is a party, with or without him. His eighteenth should have been something crazy. It should've taken place in Dubai, Mykonos, Ibiza or on a private island somewhere. 

But he was stuck here in this village, listening to events that he had missed out on. His eyes searched for the girl who helped him get back up on his feet. Where was she? He thought with annoyance. Did she really decide not to come after all?

His eyes landed on a girl with long jet black hair wearing a classy dress, her legs out long and shapely. His head moved an angle to get a closer look on this babe. His predatory smirk disappeared as soon as he saw that the beautiful girl was in fact the same nerdy sensei he saw every day. His sensei. To make matters worse, he saw her flirting away with William fucking Manuel.

Rafe mentally counted the amount of drinks he had. Was that really Norah?

Tentatively, he moved closer and observed her. Of course it was her. She was gorgeous, but he knew that before. Tonight however, she looked different, and something stirred inside him. He always wondered what body she hid underneath her baggy school uniform, and tonight's dress gave him a very good idea.

Relief and pride washed over him, because as soon as she saw him her face greeted him with a wide grin. Couple of months ago, she'd barely crack a smile and make eye contact. She approached him confidently and gave him a quick hug. She shoved a gift bag into his hands.

"Happy birthday! This is from me and Benny," she said, gesturing at the bag. He shook hands with her awkward friend, but didn't find the strength to get his eyes off of her.

"Who are you and what have you done with my sensei?" He shouted through the music.

"She took a break from being a teacher for one night," she said boldly. William whispered something in her ear and left. She looked in his direction, which left Rafe momentarily annoyed.

"Happy birhtday, thanks for the invite," Benny said, "looks fun."

"No problem. There're drinks, food, girls or er- um, lots of people, have fun," Rafe said giving Benny a friendly smack on the back.

He grabbed Norah by the hand and pulled her closer. "Thank you for coming."

"Thank you for inviting us."

"I'm flattered you made so much effort. Finally, you ditched those disguising glasses," he said into her ear, running his hand across her waist. She punched him in the chest in response, and he grunted.

"I like my glasses."

Rafe rubbed his stomach.

"What did you get me?" He asked looked inside the bag. But the gift was wrapped.

"It's not a big present, but I think you'll find it useful," she said.

"Want to meet my brother?"

"If he's not busy," she said shyly. He grabbed her hand. It was soft and tiny. He pushed through the crowd of people and found his brother Emile sitting back and talking to the bartender.

"Emile, this is Norah, she's my tutor. Norah, my brother Emile," he said. Norah stretched out her hand, and Emile's large one enveloped hers.

"We finally meet. Rafe wouldn't shut up about you," he said with a grin. Rafe reddened and said something sharply at him in Italian. Emile ignored Rafe. 

"We didn't think anyone could help this stupido to study. You have my respect and admiration." Norah couldn't help but laugh. He was a handsome guy in his thirties. He had the same confidence and charisma as Rafe. But whereas Rafe was lean and tall and carefree, this was a well stocked man with a sense of authority around him.

"Rafe is very smart if he sets his mind to it," she said.

"Well, I'm glad someone set his mind right. I heard you're a future lawyer?"

Norah tried to look confident, but in the presence of not one but two good-looking men who listened so closely to her every word, it was proving difficult to be bold. "That's the plan," she said sheepishly.

"I hope you've applied to our company? For work experience?"

"Yes, sir. I'm applying this summer. I'm a big fan of your company and the work that you do."

"Sir? He's not fifty. And he's not an English lord. Just call him Emile," Rafe burst out.

"She has respect cretino," Emile said shoving Rafe away like a twig. "Butt out of our conversation, you understand nothing anyway."

Rafe said something back in their native tongue, but by his grin she could see they were both goofing around. He left them to get another drink.

"You have any interest in our current cases?"

"Yes," she said, finding her voice, "your latest case with Greenpeace. Socially maybe it's not the most ethical way to go about the case, but according to the law, your case is bulletproofed."

Emile's charming smile widened. "I like her already," he said to Rafe who came back with a drink.

"Okay, can we stop talking about school or work for one night and get hammered. Norah, here's your drink," Rafe said handing her a glass of wine.

"Saluti, to my little brother. And to you, the best tutor in town," Emile said, clinking glasses with her and Rafe. Norah beamed.

"Saluti," she chorused back.