Dreaming Is for the Free

Seven

I don't want to move. I don't want to open my eyes. I don't want to breathe. All I want to do is lay here. My body isn't capable of doing anything today. I'm just going to stay put all day, and I have no shame doing that. It's necessary.

I guess I have a hangover. I don't have a killer headache. It's just my stomach feels like it's going to erupt at any second. I've already thrown up, but this nauseous feeling won't go away.

I wonder how Maya's doing. I haven't heard anything this morning. She's probably stuck in bed just like me, unable to move a muscle. I'm worn out. Once I'm able to feel my body again, I bet I'll be sore. I was on my feet for a majority of the party. I was never able to sit still. Something was always happening. There was no time to stay put.

Ring! Ring! Ring! Ring!

"Ugh." I groan.

I search around my bed for my phone. As soon as I find it, I tap a few times to accept the call. The whole time my eyes are still closed. I don't even know who's calling but there's no way I'm about to open my eyes to a bright screen. Hell no.

"Hello?"

"Is this Halo?" My grandma asks cautiously.

My voice does sound groggy and hoarse. I wouldn't have recognized it either.

"Yes ma'am. I'm just now waking up." I reply.

"Girl, it's almost 3. Get your behind up. And did you take your medicine?"

"I'm about to." I lie.

"You sound bad. What the hell happened to you?" Grandma asks.

I tell her as much as I can in under 20 words because let's be real, I'm in no mood to talk. She knows that I went to a party. Some details are obvious, others aren't but it's enough for her. She doesn't pry. I'm sure she hears the irritation in my voice. I'm not trying to hide it at all. She lets me get back to feeling like shit so I roll over and fall back to sleep.

Some time later, I'm being woken up to something cold pressing against the back of my neck.

I jump up, and see KJ grinning like a little kid.

"Here." He's holding two bottles of ginger ale. "This'll help."

I sit up on my bed feeling a little better than I was before. I drink the ginger ale. I don't even want to take a breathe in between gulps.

"We wanted to see if you and Maya wanted to go eat at the cafe, but I guess not." KJ plops down beside me.

I shake my head. "I don't feel like eating anything."

"Maya said the same thing."

"Well at least we had fun. Next time, I'll stop at one drink." I make a promise to myself.

"Yeah, please. But it is like a ritual for every freshman to get drunk at their first college party. Welcome to Lennon."

KJ pats my head and I scour. I feel him get up and seconds later, I hear the door close.

I'll just continue resting so that I'll be rejuvenated for class tomorrow. That's the plan. And I carry out that plan like a pro. Maya does as well. But around midnight, both of us somehow end up gathering in the entrance area where some of our snacks are placed on the counter. Our stomachs are on E. We're scrambling through snacks and at the same time replaying all we remember from last night. The only thing I don't remember is the drive back and how I got in bed, but I remember everything else.

After we decide we've eaten enough we say goodnight and prepare for bed. I still have on my outfit from last night so I need to hop in the shower. I don't want to have to take one in the morning and I really need one right now.