The Golden Rule 2: The One That Got Away

Hangover

" Aren't we in such a good mood this morning? " Mia teased Melissa who was humming Olivia Rodriguez' Drivers License as she entered the dining room for breakfast.

Marco looked up from his coffee and watched as his sister sauntered in the room all cheerful as if nothing had happened last night

" I am in a good mood, " Melissa grinned as she took her seat across Mia at the dining table. " I'm going to the Winter Ball with James. "

" Of course you will, " Mia rolled her eyes. " You two have gone to all the dances together this year. What makes this one different? "

" The difference is, it's a tradition in this school for girls to ask guys to be their date to the Winter Ball, " Melissa told her as a matter-of-factly. " So keep that in mind for next year. "

Mia shuddered at the idea, " I will probably skip that ball next year than ask a guy out. "

" No one skips the Winter Ball, Mia, " Melissa told her pointedly. " No one. "

" I'd probably be the first, " Marco muttered as he drank his second cup of coffee that morning.

" Good morning to you too, big brother, " Melissa greeted cheerfully. " Ari awake yet? "

Marco shook his head as he raked his already tousled hair. " Dead to the world. "

" She was pretty wasted last night, " Melissa said thoughtfully as she took the carafe from the centre of the table and poured coffee on her mug.

" You were there with her. Why didn't you stop her from drinking?  " Marco eyed his sister disapprovingly. " I don't even get why she got drunk. She doesn't drink. "

" Like hello, do I look like Ari's babysitter to you? " Melissa rolled her eyes. " Besides, it was her idea to drink. "

" You could have said something to her, Iz, " Marco insisted shaking his head at her.

" Marco, stop, " Melissa said as she held out a hand to him. " Ari may not always be as stubborn as you are but if she's set on doing something, even you can't stop her. She was dead set on drinking last night for I don't know what reason. "

Marco grunted something under his breath as he held his cup of coffee with two hands. He, himself, was suffering from hangover. Last night's victory party at Matt's house was overflowing with booze. And everyone was wasted.

But when Melissa called him a little after midnight to tell him that Ari was drunk and was dancing nonstop on the makeshift dance floor, Marco temporarily forgot about his intoxicated state and was climbing down the Michaelson's staircase in seconds. He found Ari slow dancing with someone from the football team. But it wasn't their proximity that irked Marco. It was the fact that they were slow-dancing to Pharell Williams' Happy and the football jock had his arms all over her.

" Was she really wasted last night?" Mia asked in an incredulous voice, unable to believe that Ari got drunk.

" Pretty wasted, " Melissa confirmed as she filled her plate with pancakes and sausages. " It was actually kinda funny if you think about it. She was such a happy drunk. She was talking endlessly, had loads of stories to tell. She was singing and dancing her heart out. She was acting crazy but it was all fun. Well, until Ryan whisked her away to the dance floor and started taking advantage of her. "

" It wasn't funny, " Marco reacted grimly. " Not a bit. "

" Ryan Quinn? From the football team? " Mia clarified and earned a nod from Melissa. " I never liked that guy. "