FALLING in love

Chapter 16 - New year...

Hadrien

I wake up relatively early and start making breakfast. I never get hangovers, I can't explain it, it just never bothers me no matter how hard I've partied the day before. I know some of the others are gonna feel like they are dying when they wake up. Tonight is New Year's and we're gonna party our asses off despite doing the same damn thing yesterday. They'll need a good breakfast. I've seen both Nate and Angie being really miserable over Christmas, but at least they tend to drink away their hangover. I chuckle to myself as I start making pancakes.

Three pancakes in I hear someone coming down the stairs, and I'm happy to see Zahir's tired face and his black messed up hair.

"Morning," he mumbles.

"Rough night?" I ask him with a sly smile.

"You know what, I have a hard time believing that any of you actually study. You guys party hard!" He grabs a big black plastic bag and starts collecting bottles, cans, and plastic cups.

"Christmas break took an unexpected turn," I agree.

Zahir cleans the whole house, and I'm practically done making pancakes, eggs, bacon and blueberry smoothies, when Nate and Angie stumble down the stairs. Nate is wearing sweatpants whereas Angie is still in her normal clothes. She slept over last night, because of some agreement with Nancy who never showed up. She chose to stay in Nate's room, and it bothers me. I know it's silly because I haven't claimed her yet. We're not even really dating or anything. I just wish that she felt safe enough around me to choose me. Last night her and Nate were inseparable, and I ended up chugging whiskey shots until it stopped bothering me and I went to bed. I know she has a history with Nate, and I'm not worried that anything will happen between them. That's what I tell myself anyway, but still...

"Breakfast?" I offer. My voice sounds more secure than I feel seeing her all sleepy and cute. Her hair is even more messed up than Zahir's and her mascara is smudged a bit around her eyes, but all I see is cuteness.

"Awesome," Angie says and smiles. "But can I start with a beer?"

"Sure thing. You too?" I look at Nate.

"Nope. If I drink anymore, I'll die."

"You say that every day," Zahir points out, and we laugh. Angie tries not to laugh but fails.

"This time I mean it," Nate says and grabs a smoothie before sitting down at the dining table. We all dig in and share funny stories about last night. Apart from the body shots there was a guy stripping, and he really didn't have the body for it, and some girl with pigtails kept insisting that she took classes with Zahir and was very upset that he didn't recognize her.

And then the front door slams open, and Luke walks in looking all sober with an annoyingly happy smile on his face.

"Hi guys," he smiles and sits down next to Angie. "How y'all feeling?" He has been spending too much time with Kacie and has adopted some of her vernacular. He has this huge grin on his face, and at first I don't get it.

"Not as good as Nancy, I guess," Angie says and winks at Luke. Ah! So that's why Angie couldn't go home last night!

"You and Nancy?!" Nate and I burst out almost in perfect unison. "You finally locked that down?" Nate asks further.

"Please... They've been an item longer than Pretty Face even knows," I answer for Luke.

"Make fun all you want," Luke says and starts eating bacon like a savage.

"Grab a plate, please," Angie says. "And do tell me; am I gonna find a happy Nancy when I get home?" She says lowering her voice not wanting us all to hear. I guess she fails 'cause we're all listening in intently.