One Way Ticket | a love story

Chapter Five

A very bad headache woke me up in the morning, causing a groan to escape my mouth. I forced my body up in a sitting position and rubbed my eyes and cheek. The cold air hit my naked torso, sending shivers down my spine. Slowly I recalled what happened the night before and proceeded to look around the room. John was laying in bed next to me, snoring quietly with his head on the edge of the pillow. Liam was laid on the couch in the same room, curled up on his side and hugging his own body. Arthur wasn't in the room, but the connected bathroom door soon opened, revealing him wrapped in a white fluffy towel. His damp hair sent drops of water down his face and neck, then down his muscular torso. I promise I wasn't staring, just describing. My head was hurting a bit too much for me to stare at my best friend.

-Good morning to you too, Noah... - Arthur said semi quietly, his voice raspy and dry.

My response was a hum as I laid myself out on the bed, but watching out for John so I wouldn't wake him up. A glance of my eyes landed on him and his messy brown hair, his perfectly straight nose as if some professional sculptor constructed it. Just pure perfection. His full lips made his face look much more manly which counteracts his deep black eyes. They sparkled all the time and made him look like an innocent little child. He's the oldest, 24 years old. Then comes Arthur, Me and Liam. We attended the same school since we were small, and when he left to London for college, I and Liam were left alone. When I finished high school, I agreed to wait a year for Liam so we could start college together.

My eyes closed in hopes of sleeping through the headache but there was no use. It was hurting too much. So I got up and went to the bathroom, washed my face and as I looked in the mirror, I noticed a large hickey on my collarbone. I stared at it for a few moments, then blinked, thinking it was a hallucination or shadow. But no, it was a real damn purple and red hickey.

What the hell happened last night...? 

It's like the event just disappeared from my mind, and wouldn't come back. There is no way I slept with John or any one of the boys, so it must've been someone from the party. But Arthur saw it and hasn't said a thing. It's so obvious and any eye would stick to it. I had to believe I just got into some bathroom while I was drunk and received a hickey from someone and nothing besides that.

After washing up in the sink, I pulled my shirt on and started fixing the collar to try and hide the mark. It was hell of a challenge but I managed after moving the shirt around. Then I exited the bathroom, seeing Liam sitting on the couch, typing on his phone. Just now I notice how bad the room smelled, like alcohol and without any fresh air inside. The bathroom smelled like a chocolate washing gel which I wasn't even noticing until now. Liam had looked up at me, but my head was in the clouds, zoned out so I didn't notice him. Arthur made his way over to the window and opened the curtains, then the window, sending in a wave of fresh air along with sunshine. But it hurt all of our heads, including mine. But I didn't make it as obvious as Liam did.

-Oh god please close that, I cannot stand it! Please! - Liam exclaimed loudly while covering his eyes and whining out.

-Shut up already, your whining hurts more...- John said from the bed, now having everyone's attention. -Stop being such a child, as if it's your first time being hungover.

I left the bedroom, too hungry to want to talk to anyone. In the fridge were some cold water, fruit, three cheese types and some meat. Since a sandwich wasn't an option, I wasn't feeling like it, I grabbed the fruit and made myself a fruit salad. I started with an apple, then a banana and some strawberries. The digital clock showed 9 am. Why was everyone up so early? Just as I thought of him, his voice broke the silence.

-Can I have some? - Arthur was standing next to me, looking at me with his hazel eyes.

Instead of talking, I just nodded, continued cutting the fruit and placed it into two bowls. I grabbed my own and a fork before going to the living room. We were at John's place and I forgot to mention that. He has a big house that his parents gifted him for his graduation when he was 22. We have sleepovers here when it's not studying time or exams. He is a very dear person and had our backs at all times. All we needed to do was ask and he always found solutions. I always looked up to him even though he is two years older than me.