Imprinted Hearts

Chapter 14: Drunken Confessions

Hope: Hiiiioiio Luciennn Im erunk hahaba

Lucien looked at his phone for a moment, then blinked. Hope was drunk texting him? Why?

Lucien: You're not driving, are you?

Hope: Noim at teh park. u should come I haev lits of booze.

Lucien: Which park?

Hope: Pville

Lucien: I'm on my way

Hope: YEAJJJ!!

Lucien checked the time. It was ten thirty in at night on the new moon in December. Louie had plans with Alexis and couldn't come hang out as per usual, and Leo was soundly asleep by ten every night.

Sneaking out of the house at thirty years old sounded ridiculous, but here he was, glad that the hybrid vehicle he drove didn't rev the engine when it started up. In fact, it was completely silent. Lucien drove down the driveway without turning on the headlights until he was pointed away from the house. Then he opened the gate, pulled out into the empty street, and headed for Pellville. Thirty minutes passed, and he pulled into the Pellville Park, and spotted Hope's van on the greenery area where she wasn't supposed to be, underneath a tree in the field where music was blasting. She was sitting alone on the back of the van and held up a beer when he pulled up and cheered.

Turning off his car, he got out and walked up to her, asking her what she was doing out so late like this.

"I'mmmm drunk!" she said cheerfully. "Ethan can't drink cause his blood sugar gets messed up, but you can drink, right?"

"I can," Lucien said hesitantly. "Hope, why are you drunk?"

"Because I'm no longer pregnant and I can do what I want," she stated firmly. "And I don't care who tries to do mean things to me anymore. I'm a free chimken."

"Free bird?"

"That's it!"

Trying not to laugh, Lucien sat beside her. "You're hitting the mark where I think you should ease back some before you get alcohol poisoning. How many have you had, exactly?"

"Immmm a lightweight," she said. "I've only had this many," she said, holding up four fingers.

"That's still enough," Lucien replied. "You're tiny and alcohol affects you more."

"You callin me short?" Hope accused, squinting at him.

"I'm calling you done," Lucien said, taking the unopened beer from her hand. It was a mike's hard lemonade. Not that high in alcohol content. And yet she was plastered. "How are you plastered off this?"

"I may have also had shots of this," she said, holding up an empty bottle of Amaretto.

"Hope what the fuck?" Lucien blurted out. "Give me that!" he said, snatching it from her. "No more for you tonight. You're no lightweight, you're a madwoman!"

"You're no fun," Hope complained, but let him take the alcohol away.

He stored it in one of her travel bins and looked at her again. Something was nagging at him, and he couldn't place it. Something about the smile plastered on her face. It didn't seem real. Almost like she was doing her best to hold it in place and the alcohol was making it hard to do so.

"What's got you like this? And don't tell me you're finally allowed to drink," Lucien said.

"Mmm, well, part of it is that," she said. "So."

She didn't elaborate further, and Lucien tried again.

"Hope," he said.

"Hm?" she asked, turning her face towards him and slow blinking.