Taking Control

Chapter 3

Mellow is the man

who knows what he's been missing

Many many men can't see the open road.

- Led Zeppelin, Over the Hills and Far Away

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Chapter 3

The alarm woke me up the next morning to the most obnoxious headache I've had in a long time. Disoriented, I reached over Jason's dead asleep body to grab my phone, not understanding why I was being woken up at such an ungodly hour. 8 am. Why was my alarm set this early on a Saturday? Oh, right, dance practice.

I groaned and pulled the covers over my head. There should not have been enough alcohol in my system for me to be this hungover. I felt like an elephant was sitting on my head and we didn't even go out last night, as far as I remember.

Oh no, yep we did. A little after midnight, the unwelcome freshmen kicked the keg and the party pretty much died out. This was our cue to go off gallivanting through the city and hopping from bar to bar.

I forced myself out of bed and stumbled around the room until I found my bag and threw on spandex shorts and a t-shirt. My body ached almost as much as my head. Unfortunately, this thought made memories from the dance floor at JR's Pub come flooding back. I vaguely remembered daring Lacey to dance on the bar. I hope she didn't do it, because then I would've been right up there next to her, forced by the rest of our friends. Honestly, it wouldn't be the first time. I'm also 90% sure I did cartwheels down the street. That would explain the scrapes on the palms of my hands, unless I just wiped out. How mature, Scarlett.

Practice was not going to go well, at all. I needed to have a serious talk with the coach. Co-captain had to have some say in practice times, right? Who in their right mind would willingly schedule a practice for college kids on Saturday morning at the crack of freaking dawn? If I'm really honest though, I don't have any room to complain. Practice was this early every Saturday. The lesson should have been learned my freshman year, the first time I showed up to practice hungover. Nope, this bitch still parties like it's 1999. Good move, Scarlett.

As I threw on shoes and grabbed my keys, I recalled my conversation with Luke. He had promised to give me guitar lessons. And not only had I agreed, but I swore him to secrecy. Yes I was drunk, but I was also completely serious. Hopefully Luke wouldn't come to his senses and take back his offer. Guitar lessons were exactly what I wanted. I think I am a musically-inclined person; this wouldn't be a waste of his time.

I really need to talk to him about this.

*

Almost four hours later, I shuffled in the entrance of my apartment after practice. I barely survived the three hour rehearsal and was severely dehydrated. I probably sweated out every ounce of alcohol that I drank last night, so at least the hangover was officially gone.

Desperately wanting a shower, I headed straight for the bathroom but hesitated when my phone rang. I glanced at it, expecting a good morning text from Jason, but it was a text from Luke.

You still serious about guitar lessons?

It was surprising that Luke remembered the agreement. I truly didn't expect him to follow up with this. A huge smile spread across my face and I immediately texted him back.

Completely serious. Are you still up for teaching me?

I jumped in the shower while anxiously waiting for his answer. I was convinced that my chances were slim to none of him saying yes; unless he really did enjoy teaching people. He had said he loved teaching his brother, so maybe he wasn't kidding. My phone rang again, so I rushed to finish my shower in record time.