Scratched

Seventeen

SEVENTEEN

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My eyes creaked open like they were rusty door hinges. I was sure they wouldn't open at all, but then I found myself staring up at the bottom of a bunk. Urgh. I brought a hand to my head. It felt like it was splitting in half. I had, had some hang overs in my life but never anything like this. I looked around, wincing as my head protested. Where was I? How did I get here? What time was it? I was sure I'd been out for hours.

It was then my eyes caught movement. I looked beside me to find Toad sprawled out next to me. His red hair was mussed and his mouth was opened as he snored. What in the hell? Why was I sleeping with Toad? I found so many things wrong with that. I couldn't even think about it. Toad! Of all people! I poked him in the side. Maybe with a little more force than necessary. He didn't even stir. I fell back into my pillow. You've got to be kidding me. I jabbed my elbow into his side. He groaned, sprawling out even more. I wasn't even sure how that was possible. "Urgn..." he said.

I sighed, struggling to get off the bed. I scrambled over top of him, nearly falling and hitting the other bunk. My knees were already weak as it was. I didn't need Toad to add to it. I stumbled out into the main section of the bus to find Reed, Luke, Callum, and Ian all passed out on the couches. It was perhaps one of the stranger things I had ever seen. Callum and Ian were sharing the same couch, leaning against each other. Reed and Luke, on the other hand, took the strangeness to a new level. Luke was slouched upright on the couch, cradling Reed against his chest.

I shook my head. I wasn't sure being drunk was excuse enough for how they'd ended up. I staggered to the coffee machine, setting it up to brew. I'd have much rather preferred to get something from the coffeehouse, but there was no way in hell I was stepping out. I planned to sleep. A lot. But first I coffee. I dropped down at the table, leaning my head against my hand. I almost dozed off again as I waited for the coffee to finish. But the smell of it brought me out of my waking sleep. And it appeared it had worked on some of the others as well.

Ian groaned, rubbing a hand across his face. He looked up a Callum who he was sleeping against. Callum hadn't even stirred. "I feel like hell," he grumbled. I wasn't sure if he had directed it to me or himself. Either way I stayed silent, staring blindly as I mixed my sugar into my coffee. I dropped back down at the table. Ian drug himself off the couch and over to sit across from me. He pointed to Reed and Luke who were just now starting to come around.  "What the fuck?" I just shook my head.

"Coffee," Reed called out.

"Seconded," Luke said too.

I stood up, not even bothering to protest. I pulled out two cups, pouring the coffee into them. I glanced over at the two of them. They were still half asleep. I could tell the exact moment when they woke up. Luke blinked, looking down at Reed on his chest. He made a face, and Reed smiled up at him sleepily. He reached up, tapping his cheek affectionately. "Good morning, beautiful," he said. Luke shoved Reed off of him, causing him to tumble onto the floor. Reed burst into laughter, rolling around on the ground. "And here I thought last night was good. Wasn't it good for you, Lukey?"

I finished mixing their coffee, traveling across the room. I first handed Luke his cup, and then I made my way over to Reed. I bent down, holding out the cup to him. "How about you, Piper?" Reed asked as he snatched up the cup. He took a big swig. "You had a much better night, didn't you? Luke is a bit of a cold fish." He stayed where he was, not even attempting to drag himself off the floor.