Between the desks

Chapter 23

Elizabeth's POV

I have no idea how I got home, but when I woke up, my headache was already there waiting for me, pounding behind my eyes like it was punishing me for all the tequila shots. I groaned and shifted, feeling the sheets tangled around my legs. I'm not a big drinker, at least not usually. That night had been an exception. When I turned over in bed, I saw Scar sprawled out next to me, her hair a wild mess on my pillow. I gave her a gentle shove, trying to move without making my head throb worse.

"What...?" Scar grunted, lifting her head slightly before flopping back down, "Ah, my head." She groaned, pulling the pillow over her face as if that could block out the pain.

I tried to sit up, but my body felt like it had forgotten how to function. Every movement was a battle. "Need aspirin," I mumbled.

"Yeah, yes please," Scar grunted from under her pillow.

Stumbling out of bed, I made my way downstairs like a zombie, my legs wobbling under me. I managed to grab some painkillers from the cabinet, along with two glasses of water, and staggered back up. Scar followed me, looking just as wrecked, her eyes half-closed as we both downed the pills like they were the elixirs of life.

"Damn, Liz, we're getting old," Scar muttered with a weak chuckle, rubbing her temples.

"Stop it," I mumbled, pushing her shoulder lightly as I collapsed onto the kitchen stool.

She smirked and winced at the same time. "This was nothing compared to college, you know. We used to party way harder."

"I know," I groaned. Memories of college nights and hangovers drifted through my mind like a distant echo, but this felt worse somehow. The coffee machine gurgled in the background, finally finishing its job. I poured two cups and handed one to Scar.

"Thanks," she muttered, stumbling over to the sofa, still clutching her head. She flopped down and closed her eyes. "This is gonna be a rough day."

I sipped my coffee, hoping it would bring me back to life. "Yeah, no kidding. But we'll survive. We have to. It's not like we're twenty-one anymore."

Scar peeked one eye open at me. "True. But I'm not doing anything until I'm fully human again. Coffee and a shower first. Then we can face the world."

"I'm showering first," I said with a groan. I needed to wash the sweat, smoke, and traces of last night's alcohol off me. The scent clung to my skin like a reminder of everything—of the club, of Amren, of everything I couldn't quite shake.

"Fine, but don't take forever. I feel like I'm dying," Scar mumbled, pulling the blanket over herself.

After about an hour, we were both showered, fresh, and ready to at least pretend we were normal again. I started making breakfast—scrambled eggs with spinach and a smoothie packed with ginger, hoping it would wake us up. Scar wandered into the kitchen, sniffing the air dramatically.

"This smells like porn," she said, dead serious, leaning on the counter.

I laughed at her comment, shaking my head. Scar always knew how to make me laugh, no matter how awful I felt. "You're ridiculous."

She grinned, plopping down at the table as I handed her a plate. We both devoured the food like we hadn't eaten in days, the food soaking up whatever was left of the alcohol in our systems.

"This is hella good," Scar said, her mouth half-full, not caring about manners at this point.

I smiled but didn't say much, too focused on the familiar anxiety gnawing at the back of my mind. The peace of the morning felt like a fragile shield, and I knew it wouldn't last long. After a while, the silence grew heavier, and Scar broke it, her tone softer now.