River Horse

Chapter Five

I want to dedicate this chapter to my friends, for supporting me and protecting me like Eric, Gareth, Ivan, and Hans do for Alicia. Granted, most of my friends are girls, but that's a moot point. Love ya guys!!!

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We stumbled back into the apartment at about one in the morning, completely drunk. Well, they all were. I was only minorly drunk.

We were singing some random Kesha song completely off key until one of the neighbors banged on the wall with a broom. That was the least weird thing we did. All the guys took off their shirts and I doodled on Hans' abbs. Ivan gave Gareth a piggyback ride, and I danced the macarena for an hour while the guys tried to play Go Fish.

I vaguely remember falling on the couch exhausted and Gareth trying to jump on me. Hans knocked him away and kissed me. I remember kissing him back.

Everything after that was a blurry haze. I'm just praying that I'm still a virgin. By the time we all fell asleep, the sun was starting to rise. We all skipped school that day. Oh well.

I woke up on the couch sprawled with Hans. I winced as my brain registered my pounding head. Screw hangovers! All the other guys began to wake up, groaning.

Gareth looked over at me, his eyes barely open. They sudden sprang open and he turned bright red. "Um, Alicia...?" I blushed and looked away, seeing Hans next to me. I froze and blinked. "Where are your clothes?"

Uh oh. I looked down and realized that I had been even drunker than I realized. I was only wearing the black bra and thong. Even worse, everyone was waking up. That included Hans. He looked up at me, smiling until my lack of coverage registered in his brain.

It didn't bother me, really. I always walked around bare until my family and I joined the human world. I just sat there until I saw the two perverts staring at areas that shouldn't be stared at.

I began stuttering and jumped up off the couch, scanning the room desperately for my clothes. Unfortunately, now I was completely uncovered, which became painfully obvious as four pairs of eyes stared at me.

I finally spotted the jeans and tank top, and grabbed them. I tried to pull them on with limited success and began hopping to the door. What the hell happened? Why was I in bed with Hans?! Then, like a leaf drifting through a current, memories of kissing him floated into my mind.

I shook my head and began walking toward the door before Ivan reached out and took hold of my arm. I turned around to say something to him, but felt suddenly woozy. I tottered and began to fall.

A pair of strong arms lifted me up and held me close. I recognized the familiar smell; Hans. He smelled like spring, fresh and clean. I clung to his shirt and closed my eyes as another bout of dizziness passed over me. I snuggled into his flannel shirt and felt his heart beat faster.

"You can't just jump and leave after a night like we had." I gulped. His dark eyes were suddenly hard to meet. I'm sure what he meant: all the drinking and partying, or the.. other stuff.

I became very aware of the fact that I was still topless and my pants were on only to my knees. Hans carried me to the couch and laid me on it gently. "I'll stay here with her today. You guys head to school. Say we're sick or whatever." They all nodded and began getting ready. I rolled over and closed my eyes.

Someone pulled a blanket over me and I looked up. Eric smiled at me shyly and I smiled back in thanks. I kicked off my jeans and settled down to sleep.

I felt someone shake my shoulder and grumbled, turning over. I felt a hand run up my leg, stroking up and down my thigh.

I growled and bolted upright, glaring at a grinning Hans, who shrugged and said, "I had to wake you up somehow. Let's go out for breakfast, ok?" I nodded.