So What Now? | TSLOCG

hangover

I took a sip of the coffee I'd just ordered to wash down another Advil as I headed back towards my dorm. My head was throbbing from the night before, the sunglasses Nico had lent me were so polarized in a shade of green, and the coffee I'd received tasted horrid. Luckily for me, though, my classes weren't starting for another day.

The door to the dorm was already cracked open, and I could hear a conversation coming from inside.

"And last night, I was worried that Leighton Murray got sex trafficked!" I heard someone exclaim as I swung the door open. Leighton was standing a few feet from the doorway, and everyone else was sitting on the sofa.

Their attention turned to me as I clicked the door shut.

"Jesus! Did literally everyone but me get laid last night?" Bela asked, looking me up and down. I thought I'd done a decent job of covering up my evening, but apparently not.

Leighton and I both rolled our eyes. "And you! You're just as bad as Leighton!" Whitney turned her lecture in my direction. "Do none of you people know how to check your phone?"

"Oh, shoot," I shot her the realest looking smile I could muster given the fact that the room was spinning. I reached into my pocket to grab my phone, and spotted more than a few missed notifications as I pulled it out. "Sorry."

"Yeah, well, I don't think how I spent my evenings is any of you guyses business," Leighton huffed, fixing her hair with her hand. "However, I do suppose I might be able to give you some notice when I will not be returning that night."

"And you'll give us all the details when you get back!"

"No, Bella. I will not be giving ANY details when I get back," Leighton quipped, before marching off to our room.

I nodded along and followed her. "Yeah, what she said."

"You've at least gotta tell us if it was good!" Bela called back.

"It was!" Leighton and I yelled back in sync as I slammed the door shut.

"So, did you find your phone?" I asked as I pulled off the hoodie Nico had lent me.

She scoffed, digging through her closet. "You're real funny," She said in a blank tone.

"I try."

"So, who'd you bang at Theta?"

Her question caught me off guard, and I felt my cheeks growing hot as I pulled out an outfit for the day.

"Don't even try to deny it. I know those are the hoodies they gave out at initiation last year, I helped pick them out," She giggled as she noticed the red tint on my cheeks. "Never mind that, then."

I rolled my eyes as I slid on a sweater and a matching skirt. "Well, who'd you find that was so great they kept you from even making it back?"

"Maddy, Maddy, Maddy. Let's stop for a moment and think before we speak. Do you really think that I'm going to be sharing that information with you any time soon?"

"Like, yes. I suppose I should have known better."

She giggled, sliding on a red plaid outfit. "What's your first class today?"

"Ha ha," I shot her a look. "Very funny, Leighton."

"Are you, like, having a stroke?"

"What? No. Classes start tomorrow, that's all."

She stared at me for a moment before bursting out laughing. "You are so fucking stupid," She paused, trying to catch her breath from her laughter. "Oh, God. It's the 4th, Maddy."

"You're kidding!" My expression dropped. "Oh, I'm so fucked. I've got calc at eight."

Leighton was still recovering from her laughing fit as I ran out the door and to my class, head pounding.

✩✩✩✩✩

"I still can't believe they just let you walk out, without even raising your hand!" Bela exclaimed as we ate. "And I still can't believe I'm going to a naked party."

Whitney shot her a look, clearly stifling a laugh. "That does not get any less weird the more you say it."

"You guys are just lame!"

"Well, I'd go with you if I didn't have so much studying to do," Whitney replied.

"Personally, I'd rather be hung," Spoke Leighton. "And no, I am not exaggerating."

"As much as I hate to agree with Leighton, I'm afraid I must," I added.

"Whatever. Losers!" Bela picked her tray up off the table and marched off, presumably to get ready for her party.

Whitney followed suit as she finished eating, leaving me and Leighton at the table.

"Do you have any plans tonight?" I asked, half in an attempt to make conversation and half because I myself did, in fact, not.

She shrugged, picking at her plate. "Yeah, I'm probably just going to meetup with a friend."

"A friend, or a 'friend'?" I asked with a raised eyebrow and a smirk.

She rolled her eyes. "What is it with you people and never minding your own business?"

"Just trying to make conversation," I replied, throwing my hands up sarcastically in defense, which received another eye roll from Leighton.

"I'll see you later," She smiled, heading off towards the door.

I basked in the background noise of the dining hall for a while, until I was interrupted by a male voice hovering at my side.

"It's Maddy, right?"

I spun around so fast I nearly fell off my chair.

"Oh my God! Nate?"

He grinned, and my face grew hot as I ran a hand over my skirt to fix any wrinkles.

"Surprised?" He chuckled, kissing the top of my head.

"What- what are you doing here?" I stuttered, making my best attempt at a smile.

"Well, I was up skiing a couple miles away, and Noah's been begging me to come to one of his frat's parties, so here I am. Figured I'd check on you while I'm here," I must've looked as horrified as I was feeling, because he added, "Or have you replaced me already?"

I forced out a laugh. "Oh, no! Of course not! I'm just, you know! Surprised!"

"So, you wanna show me your dorm, then?" He asked with a smirk as he grabbed my hand.