The Anderson's House, Rodeo Drive - Beverly Hills (Wednesday, November 1st, 2023 - 01:30pm)
i opened my eyes to the sight of ashlee's bedroom ceiling and the distant smell of coffee wafting from the kitchen. my head was pounding, and from the groans echoing around me, i wasn't the only one suffering. scattered across the room, camila, mia, and daniela were all in various stages of post-party recovery, sprawled out on sleeping bags, blankets, and even an air mattress that was half-deflated.
i rubbed my temples, trying to sit up when my phone started buzzing, the screen lighting up with a facetime call from austin. i rolled my eyes, of course he'd pick now to call, knowing exactly the shape i'd be in after halloween.
i swiped to answer, and his face popped up, looking bright-eyed and annoyingly chipper.
"morning, sleepyhead," he smirked, clearly taking in the disaster that was my post-party self.
i groaned, squinting at him. "is it even morning? barely feels like it."
"well, it's actually the afternoon there, and you look... refreshed," he joked, clearly enjoying himself as he caught sight of the messy bun and smudged mascara i'd somehow managed to sleep in.
"stop," i muttered, pulling a blanket over my head. "i know i look like a train wreck. why do you think i answered with the camera facing away?"
he laughed. "hey, no complaints here. i like the real, raw, half-dead version of you."
i peeked out from under the blanket, rolling my eyes. "you're so lucky you're all the way in new zealand. i'd throw a pillow at you if you were here."
"worth it," he grinned, leaning closer to the camera. "i just wanted to check if my favorite halloween cop survived the night," he teased, clearly relishing in my day-after mess. "so... did you?"
"barely," i sighed, sitting up. "and this is the part where you pretend i don't look like death warmed over, got it?"
he just laughed, his grin a little too wide. "hey, just for the record, you still look cute. but i'll keep the teasing light... this time."
mia groaned from the other side of the room. "tell your boyfriend he's a sadist for calling you right now."
i shot her a look, mouthing, not my boyfriend, but austin had clearly heard it because he snorted. "oh, i heard that, and i'll take it as a compliment. tell mia she's got competition."
