Ice Tea

Chapter II

Chapter II

When you wake up, you are in a disoriented state. You cannot distinguish between the panes of reality and the fuzzy corners of a dream. When I wake up with the bright midday sun clawing on my face, I am in that disillusioned state. However, it doesn’t take me long to find distinction between situations.

As the reality of the previous day sets in, my heart sinks and my stomach falls into an icy pit. However, it is a dull ache behind my eyes and head that demands my attention. A hangover is overtaking my system and I can do nothing but groan out loud, massaging my temple while simultaneously trying the roll the crick in my neck.

“Owwww” I groan, as I massage the nape of my neck to no avail. I can hardly turn to my right without any infliction of pain.  I grunt out loud in frustration but the vibration doesn’t help my lingering hangover.

“Why did I drink so much last night!?” I question myself rhetorically. I know the answer. It’s because I am an idiot.  

I can even barely hold myself steady as I move towards the bathroom. My mouth tastes foul from the bitter aftertaste and I can’t help but mime a cat puking out a hairball. Cat…hmm.I should probably get one and turn into a crazy cat lady…

As I expected, I look lovely—better than lovely—when I look in the cabinet mirror of the bathroom. The mascara has left my eyes and now coats my cheeks. My eyes look wonderfully puffy and tear tracks cut through my skin. One of the fake eyelashes has fallen off while the other is stuck to my cheek. The lip stick has left a small smudge towards the corner of my mouth and I resemble everything I feel. Hideous. I could die of shame. I probably should.

Fresh tears well up in my eyes but one splash of cold water solves me of that problem. Good riddance! I’ve only just woken up!

I look at my wedding dress, dirty, dragged at the bottom, and drinks spilled on it. I unzip and step out of it. It falls to the ground anticlimactically. I stare at the heap of white, a growl rips through my throat. I stomp to my kitchen to get a garbage bag. I stuff the dress and tie the ends . I stare at the bulbous black plastic bag. I want to throw it out of the window and out into the dumpster but something stops me.

I can’t do it. Everything, every event, every word shared comes to my mind and I lean against the wall, helpless…

I start the shower with the ominous bag still in the bathroom and I stare at it till I feel the hot water run out only to be replaced by the cold water.

Its 2:35 pm when I am done taking a shower, I look like a prune. Without glancing at the dress ,I move out in a towel.

The red light is blinking on my answering machine and I can only imagine the messages it has recorded. I disconnect it from the landline and shove it inside a drawer.

It’s surprising how my mobile phone hasn’t rung yet. Only then I realise its nowhere in the flat. Overturning the couch cushions and unnecessarily turning the rug on the floor, I turn up empty handed.

I close my eyes and sink down on the couch, massaging my palm over my eyelids.

I have a vague idea where my mobile phone could be but I have no intention of going back. No intention at all.

 Yes, I take that back.

“Um, excuse me?” I ask the bartender currently filling the beer mugs under the tap.

The bartender turns around with a big bright smile. “What can I get for you miss?”

He narrows his eyes a little then enlightens with recognition. “You are the one from yesterday!”

I wince inwardly. Why did he have to recognize me! Looks like I made a bigger scene than I can recall. But this is good. At least I won’t have to explain a lot. I can just ask for my phone and be gone.

“You in for another ice tea?” He asks flirtatiously or I think flirtatiously. I was never good at this. He is a decent looking guy though.

“Umm, No. Thank you. I am just looking for my phone which I might have left here…yesterday.” I wince again in embarrassment. “It’s a Samsung. Touch screen. This big.” I indicate with my fingers.

The bartender cocks his head sideways in thought, scrunching his mouth before turning around and calling for his colleague.

“Gill! What happened to that phone you found yesterday?” He yells across.

Gill, I presume answers, “Which one?”

Apparently, a lot of people leave their phones at bars. Who would have thought?

I give the description of my phone to Gill, that is after he is done recounting me of last night’s events. All the while my cheeks are burning. He does say my ex-fiancé is a bastard so that kind of makes me feel better. Kind of…

“Somebody asked for that phone this morning and took it.” He says.

“Are you sure? Who?” I ask instantly. Who could have taken my phone?

“Um, some chick. Hot. Umm. Tall… blonde, short hair.” He says before shrugging and moving away to tend to a customer.

I groan out loud because I can’t think of anyone who fits that description. Not someone I know at least.

A drink is placed in front of me. I look up to find it’s the bartender that I couldn’t earlier decide whether was flirting with me or not.

“Bloody Mary. Helps with the hangover. On the house.” He says grinning. “Plus you were very generous with the tips yesterday”

I smile ruefully but mentally groan. I should have checked my credit card before I came. I have a bad feeling about that.

I sip tentatively at my “free” drink. I look around the scant number of customers but my eye catches the glimpse of two couples coming in hand in hand. I want to barf and I unconsciously mime a sick face. I turn around and refocus on the salt on the rim of my glass. That seems like the safer territory.

 “That won’t last. He’s gay and she is an alien.” Someone whispers in my ears and I turn around in a knee-jerk reaction. The glass wobbles slightly before finding balance but thankfully nothing spills. I am actually not really worried about the drink as much as the girl standing in front of me. Tall, with short blonde hair. She gives me a large smile.

I narrow my eyes in suspicion and impending confusion. She continues smiling, showing off her perfectly straight pearly white teeth. I open my mouth to question her when I feel a sharp prickling sensation in my neck. The world starts to turn blurry and then I fall into darkness.