My Italian Nightmare

Chapter 12: Hangover

"Did I not speak clearly? Get the fuck away from Ari!"
It was Winter who had stepped into the room, grabbed Luca by his arm and pulled him away from me. Luca stared at Winter, visibly shocked and mumbled something I didn't understand.
"If I see you near him ever again I'll cut off your fucking balls. And now leave or I'll–", before Winter could finish her sentence, Luca was already hurrying out of the room, a look of guilt and fright on his face.
"Damn Winter...", I mumbled and fiddled with my belt to close it properly, "Luca looked like he's seen the devil."
Winter came to me, pulled me up in a sitting position and eyed me closely.
"Ari, what the hell happened, why would you leave with a guy like this?"
"He's not a bad guy, he was just drunk", I said and shook my head, still not believing that someone I knew would take advantage of me like that.
"Ari, don't be stupid, you know that him being drunk is not a fucking excuse. And he's always been a creep, ugh. Who invited him, anyway?"
I shrugged. "As if you could keep an overview at this party, the pope could be here and you wouldn't notice it."
"Or Angelo", Winter joked and I breathed in sharply.
"Oh Ari, get a grip. Did that sober you up?"
"Fuck you."
Winter raised one brow.
"Sorry", I added quickly and sighed.
"All good. Alright hun, let me grab Freyja, you guys will go home."
"No, Winter, listen I think Freyja wants to hook up with Nick tonight. I can't stand in her way, he's a really good catch."
"I don't fucking care, you're a mess, Ari."
She picked up my shoes and handed them to me. "Freyja would never pick a guy over you and you know that. So put on your shoes and come." I nodded and secretly rolled my eyes. I had too many mom friends. I followed Winter through the door and was hit by a wall of noise, that I kind of had disregarded while I was almost passed out in the room. Winter navigated us straight to Freyja, who sat on Nick's lap and was just laughing really hard.
"Freyja, you need to take Ari home." Winter commanded and shot Nick a quick glance.
"No, I'm good really", I contradicted, "I'll just walk, it's not far."
"What happened", Freyja said, ignoring me and looking worriedly at Winter.
"I just found Ari half-unconscious, drunk in a bedroom with Luca trying to get into their fucking pants without their consent.", Winter said through gritted teeth. I buried my face in my hands and sighed.
"Oh my god Ari, are you okay? This fucking asshole, I'll fucking take him out", Freyja swore and got up from Nick's lap.
"So, are you gonna take Ari home?", Winter asked and Freyja nodded. "Of course." She looked at Nick who observed me, also looking worried.
"I'm sorry really, I didn't want to bother you guys", I mumbled to Freyja and Nick.
"Ari, please, you have nothing to apologize for", Nick said and stood up as well. "Please, get home safe and text me." He looked at Freyja, smiling a little. "I'll see you on Wednesday?"
"Yeah!", she replied and smiled back. He winked and kissed her on the cheek.
"Get better soon Ari, yeah?", he said and patted my shoulder quickly.
"Thanks", I mumbled and followed Freyja into the hall to get my jacket. Winter came to the door to say goodbye and hugged both of us.
"Damn Freyja, he's a keeper", she muttered and grinned.

***

Tuesday, 4th of October 2021

"Fuck me", I groaned and drowned an entire bottle of water down my throat. I coughed and squinted my eyes against the bright stream of light flooding my bedroom. I had a really, really bad hangover.
And you deserve it, I thought and sank down into my pillow again, sighing loudly. Ugh, my head felt like it was about to burst. This was the worst. I kept laying in my bed a couple minutes, just staring at the ceiling and questioning all my life choices. Then I got up, very slowly, to fetch a pill against my headache. My phone vibrated and I checked my lock screen.

"Pizza?"

Freyja could read my mind. My stomach was growling loudly and demanded something cheesy and oily right about now.
"Please", I texted back and stretched my arms over my head. "Mhhhhhh", I made and looked for some sweatpants. I was an insufferable person when I was hung-over or sick. I tottered into the living room and saw Freyja lounging on the couch, looking not much more vital. "Hnhnhhh", she made and I nodded.
"Alter ohne Spass...", she started and I sat myself down next to her, "Speed hang-over, so unrewarding."
"Yeahhh", I agreed and massaged my temple with my index finger.
While Freyja looked for a place to order pizza, I checked my messages and sent some out as well. I had already texted Beth, Winter, Cleo and Hanna last night, saying I was home safe and explaining what happened. They were all glad that Winter had kicked Luca out before anything worse could have happened. I was still kinda convinced that he wouldn't have actually tried to force me to have sex with him – this was insane. It was true that I had been actually scared for a second, but I just couldn't imagine someone I've known for so long behave like this. Now I looked at Stephan's chat, indecisively, not knowing what to text him. His last message to me had been last night when I had already been home.

"Hey Ari, are you okay? I didn't find you at the party anymore. Please text me that you're fine."

I don't know why I had not texted him already, but I just felt a little overwhelmed by his attention and interest towards me.

"Hey Stephan, sorry I that I didn't text you. I felt really sick and drunk and Freyja took me home. Sorry I didn't say goodbye."

Stephan really didn't have to know about the incident with Luca.
"Pizza will arrive in 20 minutes", Freyja stated and I sighed in relieved.
"Thank god", I said and sank deeper into the couch. My phone vibrated again and I picked it up, expecting a message from Stephan. But it was from Cecile, who sent me a screenshot and I quickly unlocked my phone.

"Are you ready?", was the caption of the screenshot and I gasped loudly, staring at my phone.

"Oh give me a fucking break", I exclaimed and closed my eyes, burying a hand in my hair.