Matched in London

2.

The next morning, Kalina woke with a hangover that no amount of McDonald's could cure.

"Ugh," she moaned, sitting up and pressing her right palm to her forehead. "Fuck me."

A tangle of stray, blonde hairs hung in front of her face. Annoyed, she aggressively pushed them back.

God, she must have the worst bed head right now. Kalina was afraid to even touch her hair. It was probably a tangle of –

"Good morning!" Amber's bright, smiling face popped over the top bunk railing, her strawberry colored hair hanging in beautiful tendrils. The expression on her face was one of delight – her friend had always reminded Kalina of sunshine. She was the embodiment of happiness.

Perhaps that's why they were friends – Amber was a beacon of light and Kalina was the wall that light beat its head against.

"I for sure thought you'd gotten dicked down and killed by Joe Goldberg last night," Kalina remarked. "I thought I'd see your pretty face all over the news this morning."

She paused.

"American college student butchered by British serial killer," Kalina went on, moving her hands as though she were seeing the headlines flash across the television screen.

Amber rolled her eyes.

"The reference to You is unnecessary. Jack was a perfect gentleman last night," she replied.

"So was Joe Goldberg in the beginning."

"K, it was a one-night stand," Amber droned, her nickname for Kalina revealing how badly she wanted her to get off the topic of serial killers. "And besides, we're studying abroad. I want to sample a man from every country."

Lying back down, Kalina stared up at the wooden planks of the top bunk.

She'd had the same kind of mentality as Amber the first time she studied in London her sophomore year. Now, almost two years later, she found herself back in the city working for a local college as a marketing intern.

The first time she had tried dating abroad had ended badly enough...

"Kalina?"

"I think I've had my fair share of foreign men. I just want to focus on work and get through –"

The bedroom door flew open.

Cristina, their roommate and friend, bounced into the room – all five foot two of her. Her toffee colored eyes were alight.

"How are my two club goers doing on this wonderful London morn – er afternoon?" she asked, entering the room, grinning from ear to ear.

While Kalina and Amber had known each other since freshman year, they'd only recently met Cristina. They had all known of each other of course... social media and all. Their private university wasn't that big.

However, over these past three months, the three of them had become quite the infamous trio. So, it didn't come as a shock when the three of them wanted to room together in London.

"We were just marveling at the fact Amber didn't get herself killed last night," Kalina remarked.

"I wish I could've been there, but I had that paper to finish," Cristina said moving toward her bed.

Cristina was the biggest procrastinator Kalina knew.

"Don't worry. I already told Kalina that I wouldn't go out with him again," Amber chirped. "You really didn't miss much... except Kalina nearly knocking out a French guy."