Hurry Up and Wait

Chapter 31

The party eventually wrapped up around 4 am.

Michelle and Clare's parents had headed home leaving the gang to fall asleep up in Erin's room.

Mary had been concerned about James staying over but allowed it because the girls would be there too.

Erin fell asleep curled up with James on her bed. They would still have to talk about everything but at least they were back together.

Erin woke up as the early morning sun streamed in through the window. It was just gone 8 am.

The gang were all still asleep. Clare and Michelle had slept on the floor while Orla had fallen asleep down the other end of the bed.

Even though she hadn't gotten much sleep Erin knew she wouldn't drift off again that morning.

She was too excited about being back with James and the future. Which would hopefully involve him.

She lay there and watched him for a while. God, she really had it bad. The fact of simply watching him sleep made her that ridiculously happy.

She was afraid he would wake up and catch her.

Eventually, she had to get up. She really didn't want to untangle herself from James, but she needed the loo.

She manoeuvred herself out of the bed without waking him. She went to the bathroom before heading down to the kitchen for some water.

She didn't exactly have a hangover. Well, at least she didn't think she did. She had never had one before.

She just felt a little groggy and her mouth felt like she hadn't drunk anything in a whole day.

If this was a hangover, then Michelle had been really exaggerating down through the years.

She was glad they were back friends. As much as she had been annoyed at her and vice versa that world had seemed at odds when they weren't talking.

The house was still quiet with everyone still asleep except her.

She poured a glass of water and sipped it as she looked out at the back garden.

A group of starlings were hopping about on the lawn.

She liked how their feathers appeared to be different colours depending on which way you looked at them.

She heard a faint movement on the stairs.

She could almost sense him looking at her before she turned around.

She spun around to face him: "I didn't wake ya did I?"

"No, I woke up and you were gone" He walked over to her: "This is giving me a strange sense of deja vu," said James.

Donegal felt like ages and ages ago. However, James still remembered every second of that morning.

"£120 by the way," said James.

"What is?" asked a confused Erin.

"A hot air balloon ride. I looked into after...," said James.

"Really? Like per person? Or for the whole thing?" asked Erin.

"Per person, I think"

"That is really expensive actually" replied Erin.

She hopped up to sit on the countertop and pulled him towards her: "I've missed this" she said as she pulled him into a hug.

"We fell asleep like this Erin?" said James.

"No, I mean. Me and you. I've missed this. I've missed you. I'm sorry about what I said" said Erin.