The vibration of my phone under my back is what drags me out of a hazy dream featuring an R rated run in with the Arctic Monkeys. I groan, pushing the hair out of my eyes and bringing my phone close to my face to see the screen; three missed calls from Molly and fifteen from my little brother. Rolling my eyes, I throw back the blanket and get out of bed. It takes a moment for the room to stop spinning, and I stumble over to where my tank top is lying on the floor. I spot my jeans hanging off the end of the bed, and I pull them on, trying to keep my balance in the process.
"Carter, what are you doing?" A sleepy and confused voice says making me jump.
I turn around, twisting my messy black hair up into a bun. The guy- who's name I can't recall- is sitting up and rubbing his eyes tiredly. "I um...I'm going home..."
He blinks, still appearing confused. "I thought we could go for breakfast or something."
"Ah, right. See the thing is, I uh...I don't really do breakfast. So...I'm going to get going. It was nice meeting you, um...?" I say, feeling really awkward.
The guy sighs and shakes his head. "Noah, my name's Noah."
"Noah," I smile. "Last night was great, and I had fun. Maybe I'll call you sometime." I call as I hurry out of the bedroom, snatching my purse off of the table as I pass. I hear Noah shouting after me, but I'm out the door before I can fully comprehend what he's saying.
I walk a couple blocks before I realize that I have no clue where I am. These streets are not familiar; I'm definitely a long way from home. With a frustrated sigh, I dial Molly's number and plop down on someone's front lawn. The sun is ridiculously blinding today so I slide my sunglasses on and pop a Tylenol to get rid of the pounding in my head. Molly picks up on the fifth ring.
"Where the hell are you!?" She shrieks, sending a stab of pain through my head.
I glance around, squinting to see the name of the street I'm on. "Pine Avenue. I don't know where the fuck that is, but I'm there."
"I'll be there in ten minutes." She snaps and then hangs up.
I slip my phone back into my pocket, then I drop my head into my hands; this headache is killing me. Bits and pieces of last night slowly start coming back to me as I sit in the sun, waiting for Molly to find me. The Noah guy was pretty attractive, and I feel sort of bad for forgetting his name; he had scored me some blow last night, I should have been a little more grateful. I did sleep with him though, and if that doesn't count as thanks, then I don't know what does. A strange gnawing feeling in my stomach makes itself known at that thought, but I ignore it. There is nothing wrong with having sex. But sex in exchange for drugs...I push that thought away with the shake of my head, heaving a sigh of relief when I hear Molly's truck come around the corner.
She shoots me a glare as I slide into the passenger seat and crank up the air conditioning, but remains silent. I can practically feel the waves of pissed off she is emitting. Whatever I did last night, certainly rubbed her the wrong way. I watch her out of the corner of my eye, waiting for the explosion that is sure to come, but Molly doesn't say a word. I can't decide if I should be happy or afraid. We pull over a block away from my house, and Molly still hasn't spoken to me so I get out, muttering a thank you over my shoulder as I hop the gate into the alley. I hurry down the narrow space until I reach the fence of my backyard; tossing my purse over, I climb up and over, dropping down onto the damp grass. I hide behind the shed as I text my brother to open the window in my room, then I sneak passed the dinning room window where my mother and father are sitting inside, drinking coffee.
"What happened to you last night?" Jeremy wonders, sitting down on the desk chair. "Molly said you got in a scrap with some chick, then you and Noah took off."
