Perfectly, Imperfect // JJ MAYBANK

chapter fourteen

Arizella Carter

I AWAKEN TO THE SOUND of someone throwing up, the sounds of it hitting the toilet and the groans that escapes them— One of the guys no doubt. The sounds alone is enough to make my own stomach turn.

The sun shines in my face, my head throbbing against the pillow I'm laying on. A painful sigh leaves my throat as I push myself up onto my elbows, running a hand down my face.

I glance around at my surroundings, realizing that I'm in an unfamiliar bed with a sheet draped over my body and a very familiar scent haunting my nostrils. JJ is all around me, his scent trapped on his sheets and I'm wrapped in a tee shirt that definitely doesn't belong to me.

I don't remember much of anything... After Zander— Zander.

The imagine of his face flashing before me, the reminder of the way JJ stepped in front of me with an arm extended to keep me out of his reach.

My flushes a deep crimson, but I can't decide if it's from embarrassment of Zander's actions last night in front of people I'm finally starting to view as my friend, or from the way JJ suddenly grew protective of me. Was that protective? I don't even know.

"This is all too much."

The thought of Zander going to Paris, telling her where I am... That thought terrifies me. As if on queue, my phone starts ringing causing me to jump.

I reach for my phone, eyes widening and heart plummeting as my mother's contact flashes back at me. It takes me a second to swipe, placing my phone to my ear.

"Hell..." I stop to clear my throat. "Hello?"

"Arizella? Why do you sound like you just woke up?" Paris' voice blares through the line.

"I uh... I did just wake up, I'm sorry. It was a late night." I respond, biting my lower lip as my eyes twitch from the throbbing of my temples.

"It's nine in the morning. That's quite lazy of you." She doesn't sound impressed, but I'm quick in my response suddenly more secure in the fact that she doesn't know about my whereabouts, or what I was doing last night— She would have already been screaming at me or down here herself.

"I'm sorry, it's a one time thing. Sarah, Kie and I were up really late watching a movie..." I mumble, squeezing the bridge of my nose.

"Hm... Okay. Are you at Sarah's then?"

My brain short circuits for a moment. "I.. Uh, no. I mean, yeah. Yeah we're at Sarah's."

There's a pause down the line, a sharp inhale. "Well are you or aren't you? You sound unsure of yourself. Are you lying to me?" She bites.

"No! No, we're at Sarah's. We might go to Kiara's later on, though. We haven't decided yet, they... They're still sleeping." I mentally facepalm, the bitter feeling of guilt creeping up my spine. I've never been a great liar, especially when it comes to my mom.

"Very well. Will we be expecting you for supper?"

I glance around the room and towards the closed door. "I'm... Not sure. Can I text you later?"

"I don't like last minute plans, Arizella." She snaps.

"I-I know! I'll message you as soon as I know... If that's alright? Can I hangout with the girls today?"

She sighs deeply. "Okay. But on Monday the Goldslock are hosting a supper, and I've already accepted the invitation for all of us to attend."

"Mom—"