Things We Don't Normally Do

SIXTEEN

Alex's head was pounding, but she had promised Stella some girl time, so she decidedly went and tried to be a trooper. They sat outside, at the diner's little patio, the sun shining bright above them.

Her sunglasses did very little to protect her eyes from the sun's assault, especially with the headache brought on by the hangover from the previous night. She rested her head on the table, her forehead against her arm.

"You look terrible." Stella commented just as the server left, bringing them some water and a pair of mimosas.

"Thanks." she said sarcastically, lifting her head, her eyes brightening at the sight of drinks.

"Babe," Stella said, a trace of hesitation in her voice, "Are you sure you're good?"

Alex looked up at her best friend, not exactly sure what she was on about, "Yeah?" She chugged the rest of her drink, "Just a bit of hangover."

Something odd came over Stella's face, but it was gone as soon as it came, that Alex just shook it off. She wasn't in any state to really get into any real conversation at the time anyway.

"So you and Harry then?" Stella asked, her expression back to being all smiles.

"So you and Ethan then?" is how Alex dodged the question.

"We're just having fun I think. A holiday fling." she smiled, "I can't do anything serious anyway. With my whole family situation in Texas."

Alex nodded, giving her friend an understanding look, "Does he know?"

It was Stella's turn to stall with a sip of her drink, flagging the server down for another set of mimosas before she could even get halfway through her glass. Stella had always been a bit of a lightweight. Something Alex constantly poked fun of, often calling her a cheap date for only ever really ordering a maximum of three drinks even when it was Alex's turn to pay.

Stella eventually shook her head, "Nah, that's too much of a mood killer. I'm okay with just a little bit of temporary fun."

"That's new from you, no?" Alex teased Stella, "I'm used to you diving head first into relationships."

"Yeah I think I'm done with that." Stella laughed.

Alex scrunched her face, "About time you've smartened up."

Stella slapped her arm playfully, "Asshole."

Stella was plastered just after noon. At three drinks within the span of an hour and a half, it was probably the fastest alex has seen Stella drink. And drunk Stella was equal parts funny and annoying. For one she has no filter to begin with, but when she's drunk she just gets absolutely obnoxious and loud.

"Alex, say hi." Stella was pointing the phone at her.

But instead Alex just flipped her off, taking a few gulps of her drink (switching to good old beer after the second mimosa), "You're too loud, I swear I'm about to off myself."

"You're so moody!" Stella whined as she continued to play on her phone.

It wasn't long before her phone pinged with a new notification. It was Instagram.

Stella had posted the video of her in her story, tagging her with the caption, "Grumpy because she's stuck with me instead of..."

Alex threw a piece of hash brown at Stella, after watching the video. She laughed before she could stop herself, "Shut up."

"You are so smitten." Stella teased, "Don't even try to play it cool. It's cute, the two of you."

Alex just rolled her eyes. She wasn't used to being the subject of these sort of conversations, not even with her very best friend.