For the second time this week, I wake up with a horrible hangover.
Last night I got home at around one. Nate drove us all home safely. I didn't even change; I just stumbled into bed and shut my eyes.
When I wake up it's past noon. I sorrowfully gaze at my dress in the bathroom mirror; it's torn, smells like rain, and has stains of grass and dirt and strawberry liquor. I toss it into the washing machine on the most delicate setting before hopping into the shower.
It's the same process; wash, throw up, cry, and wash some more. When I get out of the shower I slip on a pair of bright green sweatpants with a white tank top. Then I brush through my wet hair, braid it out of my face, and put on a little bit of makeup.
When I get downstairs, Nancy is drinking whiskey in a glass. I wrinkle my nose and turn away. "God, I can't even look at alcohol right now," I say.
She grins and swirls her glass around. "I take it you had a fun halloween?"
I shrug. "Yeah." My night was a blur, but I remember a few things. Lots of rain. A red devil dress. A boy whose face is blurry in my mind, dancing with his body close to mine, swaying to a song. mirrorball. Taylor Swift.
"Nate," Nancy says, greeting the boy who walks down the stairs. Nate is wearing black sweatpants and a white shirt with his chain, and he looks fresh out of the shower. His hair is wet.
"Haven't seen you in a while," he says, smiling and embracing Nancy in a warm hug.
She pats his hand. "My work sent me out of town for a few days. Did you two have fun last night?"
Nate and I are both silent. We meet each other's eyes and I try not to laugh. "Sure," I finally say.
Nancy looks between the two of us and raises her brows. There's an awkward silence, and she takes a sip from her glass before talking. "Are you two being safe?"
At first I think she's talking about being responsible with our cigarettes and alcohol. Then I see the way she awkwardly shifts her gaze and the way Nate's cheeks bloom red.
"Oh," I say, clearing my throat. "I haven't, um, done anything. With anyone. And if I did, I promise I'd be - uh, safe."
Nate nods. "What she said."
Nancy raises a brow. "I trust you guys to make to the right decisions."
Nate and I awkwardly exit the kitchen. I'm about to turn down the hall to get back to my room when Nate stops me.
"Hey," he says, scratching the back of his neck. "You remember Cole, right? Cole Hunt."
I nod slowly. "Yeah..."
"He mentioned you last night. Said you guys hooked up."
I blink. "We didn't hook up. We just kissed."
Nate's eyes flash bright with anger. "That little shit."
"It's fine," I say. "I need him to tutor me. Don't piss him off."
"Tutor you?" His voice is skeptical. "In what?"
"Just leave it alone," I snap, still cranky and hungover. I spin on my heel and walk away.
A couple of days later, I cross my arms and raise a brow as I watch Nancy search through her cupboards.
"What in gods name are you doing?" I ask.
"Looking for the wine," she replies, digging far back into one cupboard. She straightens up, this time with the bottle in her hand, and grins. "Want some?"
"I've drunk so much this week," I say, but I don't stop her as she pours me a glass. She hands it to me and we clink glasses before taking sips of our drinks.
Nate lazily ambles down the stairs, shirtless with grey plaid pajama pants on. His eyes flicker to me, then to my glass of wine, before traveling up and down my body.
"Nice pants," he says, his lips tipping upward in a devious smirk. I look down at my pajama pants, which are dark blue with little orange cats on them.
"Nice shirt," I retort, my eyes flickering to his abs before staring into my wine glass again.
"Thank you," Nate says.
In response, I dip my finger into my wine and flick it at him. His tongue darts out to lick the bead of wine that lands on his lower lip. He rolls his tongue in his cheek, grinning.
When we get back to the kitchen, Nancy's got her feet propped up on the sofa as she watches a cheesy soap opera. I plop down on the carpet and Nate sits next to me, stretching his long legs out. His arm brushes mine and he doesn't move it. I tense and look at him, but he's oblivious to my nerves as he steals a sip of my wine.
"Get your own wine," I tell him.
He tilts his head to look at me. "But yours tastes so much better."
For some odd reason, I flush red at the sentence. I turn away and down the rest of my wine quickly, shuddering at the taste. The wind whistles loudly outside, the snow whipping violently around.
Suddenly, the lights go out.
"My soap opera," Nancy complains.
"I'll get the candles," Nate offers. We always have extras in case of blackouts. "Ahmed, you coming?"
"I can't see anything," I reply.
"None of us can," he says. "That's why you have to come with me. If I fall down the stairs and break my neck, then at least you'll know."
"You're too paranoid," I say, but I stand up anyway.
A warm hand that can only belong to Nate gently grips my waist and tugs me towards him. His body is familiar and he smells like vanilla with a hint of cigarettes and a dash of wine.
"Follow me, yeah?" he murmurs, his lips next to my ear.
I nod, then realize he can't see me. But I don't trust myself to speak, so I simply let him lead me through the dark.
author's note
okay i'm sorry i haven't updated in so long LOL
guys i watched the last episode of euphoria last night and i was sobbing so hard
also this is not a nate jacobs fanfic LMFAO i hate that guy so pls don't think this book is abt him i literally had this book and the name nate planned out for weeks before euphoria even started trending so yeah 😟👍
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Right Where You Left Me
Romansa𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊 "What?" I ask. He brings his hand to my face. His fingertips brush my lips. "What would you do," he says, "If I kissed you right now?" "I'd probably push you away," I say, and huff out a nervous laugh. I've never been a good liar, and...
