when i turned 18

Amends {Chapter 12}

The first rays of morning sunlight pierce through the window, rousing me from a restless sleep. I groggily open my eyes, realizing I'm shirtless on the couch, one sock missing and one still on. The disarray mirrors the confusion in my head, and a pounding headache reminds me of last night's escapades.

I sit up slowly, the room spinning slightly. My mouth feels like sandpaper, and the remnants of the party are strewn about—empty bottles, discarded cups, and a general air of disarray. My memories of the night are hazy, but flashes come back in snippets. The balcony, the cool breeze, Leia...

I rub my temples, trying to piece it all together. Leia and I had a moment, a real moment. I remember pouring my heart out, sharing things I hadn't even admitted to myself. Her eyes, so full of understanding, her embrace that made me feel less alone.

With a groan, I push myself off the couch, stumbling towards the kitchen in search of water. My body feels heavy, weighed down by more than just the hangover. The emotional purge from last night has left me feeling raw, vulnerable. As I chug down a glass of water, I can't help but wonder if things will be different now, if I will be different.

I hear soft footsteps behind me. Turning around, I see Leia standing in the doorway, her expression a mix of concern and warmth. She walks over, sitting beside me on the couch.

"Hi, Andrew," she says softly.

"Hello," I reply, my voice raspy. I glance down at my mismatched state and back up at her. "Leia, what happened last night?"

She chuckles lightly, a gentle smile playing on her lips. "You got pretty drunk," she begins. "After we talked on the balcony, you were a bit unsteady on your feet. You tried to dance, lost your shirt somewhere along the way, and eventually collapsed on the couch. As for the sock... well, you took one off because you said it was 'evil."

I groan, covering my face with my hands. "Great. I made a complete fool of myself, didn't I?"

Leia grins, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "No more than usual."

I can't help but laugh, the sound easing some of the tension. "Thanks for looking out for me," I say, shaking my head.

"Anytime," she replies, standing up. "How about I make you some coffee? You look like you could use it."

I nod, feeling a bit more at ease. "Yeah, that would be great. Thanks."

She heads to the kitchen, and I watch her go, feeling a sense of comfort in her presence. As she prepares the coffee, I take a deep breath, trying to shake off the remnants of the hangover and the emotional turmoil of the night before.

Leia returns with two steaming cups, handing one to me. I take a sip, the warmth and bitterness grounding me. We sit in silence for a few moments, the morning light filtering in, bringing with it a sense of possibility.

"By the way," Leia begins softly, breaking the silence, "that Cassidy girl FaceTimed you right before you passed out on the couch. I think you answered accidentally because you didn't say a word to her. I couldn't make out what she was saying, but she sounded upset."

She continued, looking like she was holding back laughter. "Trouble in paradise, I see?"

I groan, rubbing my temples. "Great, just what I fucking need," I mutter. "What time was that?"

Leia shrugs, still smirking. "Sometime around 2 A.M, I think. She didn't seem too happy about being ignored."

I shake my head, feeling a mix of frustration and embarrassment. "Perfect. Now I've got that shit to deal with too."

Leia's teasing smile softens a bit, and she reaches over to pat my arm. "Hey, don't worry about it too much. You can smooth things over with your lady later. For now, just focus on getting through this hangover."