Kylie & Jack 1: Humble Beginnings

28. Sophie's Hen Night

Saturday Mar 30th, 8:21 AM

Jack was startled awake by a relentless pinging on his phone. Groaning with one hand rubbing his face, he rolled over in bed to check the time and see who was messaging him.

But his PIN code didn't work ... frowning, Jack rubbed the sleep from his eyes and studied the phone then took note of the lock screen.

This isn't my phone ... he thought, squinting at the picture of four beaming women – two of them he recognised as Kylie and Sophie.

How – where's my phone? Jack thought wildly, quickly surveying his bed. He was undeniably alone and there wasn't another phone in sight – nor any indication that anyone else had been in the room.

It took him a few minutes to remember that after finishing work, he and Kylie went to the pub with Kate ... and Kylie got drunk. Of course. It finally came back to him, that after a hilarious drive home, he left Kylie to sleep off her five vodkas on her lounge and must have grabbed her phone by mistake. Jack smacked his forehead and dragged his body out of bed.

After a shower and a rushed slice of toast for breakfast, he borrowed his housemate Marty's phone to call himself, hoping Kylie was up.

Kylie heard the painful ringing somewhere near her head, which was throbbing. She groaned loudly, cradling her head with one hand, patting herself down searching for the source of the noise, then dragging her fingertips along the floor, feeling something vibrating.

She picked it up and answered the call without looking at the phone or the caller ID. Instead of the usual 'hello' greeting, Kylie just groaned, keeping her eyes closed and arm over her forehead to shield her eyes from the morning sunshine streaking through the living room window.

"Kylz? Kylie, that you? You alright?"

Groan.

"Hey mate, look I think I took your phone last night by mistake – is it alright if I come over so we can swap our phones back?"

"Huh? Nah I have my phone ..."

"Mate, look at the caller ID – you've got my phone and I have yours –"

Kylie clenched her jaw, squinting painfully at the caller ID. "Who's Marty?"

"– well your phone's locked, so I had to use Mart's phone. My roommate. So you're alright if I come over?"

Drawing a long breath, Kylie nodded and slowly muttered, "yeah, sure ..." before hanging up.

She staggered to her feet and unlocked the door, then stumbled into the kitchen, flicking on the kettle and returned to the lounge, where she fell asleep again.

Fifteen minutes later, Kylie frowned in her sleep. She could hear a persistent tapping and a voice but was sure she was dreaming. Outside on her veranda, Jack was knocking on her front door and repeatedly calling out "hello? Kylz?"

Sleep wedged in the corners of her eyes, Kylie blearily sat up, rubbing her face with both hands, staggered to her feet yet again, the blanket Jack had thrown over her the night before, pooling around her feet.

Kylie stumbled towards the door, heaving it open and leaning against it to find Jack smiling softly at her.

"How's your head?"

"I'll tell you when you stop screaming at me ..." Kylie groaned, wedging her eyes closed and letting Jack inside. To her surprise, he didn't laugh at her.

"What brings you here? Dragging me outta my coffin ..." Kylie groaned again, falling into a seat at the dining table, resting her head on her folded arms on the table.