Rylin Riddle: After The War

chapter twenty five

July 9, 2000 (Saturday)

I woke up, the sun shining into the room. My head was pounding as I opened my eyes. Why the hell is the sun so bloody bright? I squinted and groaned, throwing the blanket over my head and rubbing my forehead. I'm hungover to the point of death.

I regret drinking at all last night. Drinking never does anyone any good ever. It's fun for a while but then your whole body wants to shut down.

Like last night. Nothing good came out of the drinking part. It would've been enough to just be with my friends, but no, we had to drink five times our body weight in alcohol.

All I remember was a lot of dancing, screaming, drinking, and-

Holy shit.

Enzo and I kissed.

No, not just bloody kissed, made out. We fucking made out. Like full on, hardcore make out.

Why? Why the hell did we do it?

This is exactly what Theo was talking about. I get it. I get his whole argument.

I just proved the biggest fucking point of the century.

I got up and found a reasonable outfit, aka a t-shirt and athletic shorts. I just love the idea of hot weather mixed with being hungover on a terrible day. I'm not even in my own home. I took my pile of clothes and my toiletry bag in my arms and wandered out of my room to the bathroom.

Oh my.

        I stopped in front of the mirror after throwing my stuff onto the counter, staring at myself. I look like a shit show.

         My makeup was smeared around my eyes, my eyelashes clumped together. My hair wasn't even fully straightened anymore, it was falling out of its ponytail in every direction. I didn't even bother washing my face or actually getting ready for bed last night. All I did was put on a sweatshirt and sweatpants.

I really do look like shit.

        I turned on the water of the shower, turning the handle to the hottest setting. I need to burn every bit of shame and clubness off of my body.

        I got into the shower, letting the water run down my body, my skin numb from the heat. I scrubbed my face with the water, trying to keep my head from destroying my every thought.

I'm such an asshole.

Worse actually.

          I cheated on my boyfriend, who I'm crazily in love with, with one of the only people he was worried about. I proved his point and fucked it all up.

Does Enzo even remember it happened?
Does he care?
Was he too drunk to remember it?
What if he's spiraling the same as I am?
What if he's not?

         I got out of the shower after Merlin knows how long and dried my hair with magic, keeping it perfectly curled. I don't have the energy to do much else.

Why are hangovers so gruesome?

         I picked up my ball of clothes and went back to my room, putting on mascara. Anything to look a bit more put together and alive.

        After I finished wiping the extra mascara off my eyelids, I focused on my face in the mirror. I can't believe I actually did something while I was with Theo.

I can't believe I fucking cheated on him.

         If Theo made out with anyone, no- if Theo even kissed another girl, I'd be done.