Chasing You

14

BRADEN

I have a wicked headache. I can't really blame anyone but myself for it. Last night was a bit of blur that got better at the end of the night. I roll over in bed and slam down on my phone for my alarm to shut the fuck up. I have one class today while the rest of my roommates have the joy of no classes. I lift my head from the pillow and grab the half drank water bottle from the table next to my bed.

I finish it off and sit up in bed. I really hope my keys and wallet made it back last night. Can't have that happening again. I groan again sitting up in bed leaning against my headboard. I rub my eyes still groggy from just waking up. The only class I have on Fridays is my worst class. Not that I am bad at it or anything but I hate it, the professor fucking blows. It's a business law class for my major and man is it harder than I thought it would be.

I push my covers off of me and head towards my door. I can shower after class and lifting. I open my bedroom door and see that it really is like The Walking Dead out here. Jeremy is stumbling towards the stairs while Rae is headed back into Robbie's room clutching a bottle of water. No one acknowledges each other and I am kind of glad for that. I am not the best morning person especially when I am hungover. I push open the bathroom door and shut it behind me. I brush my teeth and take a piss before I go back to my hole.

I grab a pair of black sweatpants and a black UNC basketball sweatshirt with Nike Blazers. I grab my backpack once I am changed and head out the door. I don't hear anything as I make my way down the stairs and towards the kitchen. I try not to laugh when I see Jeremy face down on the counter with a bowl of cereal sitting next to his head.

I grab a water bottle and a Gatorade. I grab the bowl of cereal from Jeremy and spoon some into my mouth before setting it back down. I grab my gym bag from next to the door and toss the Gatorade and my keys from the key rack. Today is not a day I will be walking to class. The cold morning air nips at my skin and the sky is dark and grey. It definitely looks like rain is coming, which makes it even better for me to not walk to class. I walk across the street to my sleek black Audi. Which Carter makes note of how she is going to buy and customize one just like this when she is rich. But, I bought a used one, while still pricey a lot less pricey. Totally worth every fucking cent.

I unlock her and slide into the front seat. I toss my gym bag next to me and drive to campus. My business law class is on the other side of campus from where our practice gym is. My engine purrs to life as I pull away from the curb. My music plays lowly over the speakers of my car as my head pounds again. I need Advil or something, actually anything.

My business law class does nothing to help my increasing headache. I keep sunglasses over my eyes and my hood over my head the whole class. I also could barely keep my eyes open in the class. Lifting helped, after I dug up a granola bar from the bottom of my bag and with the Gatorade I drank. I think I sweat out all of the alcohol from my body and the shower at the gym also made me feel better.

I am currently on the way to McDonald's for a Big Mac to really cure my hangover and get me ready to drink again tonight. I texted in our big groupchat to see if any of the hungover idiots wanted everything and every single one of them minus Lacey said they wanted something. It started raining the minute I left to go to McDonald's and now it is raining pretty hard.

I furrow my eyebrows when I see familiar blonde hair and that blue jacket she loves so much. I slow down near the sidewalk as she whips around. I roll down my window and smile at her, she does not return the favor and continues walking.

"Lacey? Do you need a ride?" I ask her following her slow place. She ignores me and continues walking. I sigh, "C'mon, I'm going to McDonald's."

Lacey still doesn't turn around or stop walking making me frown. I go around a car that is pulled up to the curb and meet her steps again. She is dripping and I am worried that she is going to get sick.