A Summer Fling (Aris x Reader AU)

53) The Afterparty

The world was too bright the second I opened my eyes, shining directly in my face. When I raised my arm to block it, I was met with a deep pounding behind my eyes. It echoed in my skull, leaving me helplessly paralyzed. My stomach was no better somehow, apparently having been repeatedly punched.

I could smell fur and bacon. I just have no idea how I got back to the place that smells like that. I should have died in the woods with the way I was laughing and stumbling like a maniac.

"I think the bike's there,"she slurred from under me. Raising my hand another inch, I blinded myself as I carefully opened my eyes. Gripping the sides of whatever I was on, I reluctantly looked over to find myself staring at the television that belonged to the living room. A blanket was pulled over me, protecting me from the fan.

When I moved my gaze down, I found Y/N on the floor, a pillow under her head and a pile of blankets over her. Her eyes were half-shut, like she was trying to block out the ability to be alive. The carpet floor looked especially hard after last night, cold and uncomfortable.

"Sorry. I didn't,"I tried to get up, raising my head. I failed the second I moved, holding it in my hands as I tried not to die.

"Don't wanna move anyway,"she mumbled, turning away and back to the television. I couldn't even nod as I laid on my stomach, trying to escape to a world where I remembered anything from last night.

"Here. This'll perk ya' up,"she promised, setting something on the table beside me. The simple action was echoing, every sense around me intensified from last night's bad idea.

"I know, I know. Believe me, I deal with one of ya' every year,"she assured me, patting my shoulder. I heard her uncap something, probably an Adderall. I'm past the point of caring though. I'd drink Cyanide if it would make my head stop hurting.

I managed to sit up enough to see a nice cup of water and breakfast sandwich. Letting out a completely justified groan, I grabbed the small pill, carelessly plopping it in my mouth. The water instantly followed, hydration I didn't realize I was lacking filling my throat.

"Food helps,"she mumbled matter-of-factly. I glanced down to see her on her side, watching a show I finally paid attention to. It was the kind of low saturation that was impossible to find now, dark lines outlining everything. I never really appreciated that particular sponge my dad hated until I just stopped watching.

He hates everything though. He doesn't even like his own kid.

Laying my head on the couch while taking a bite of the breakfast, I tried to erase the world again. I found plenty of ways to do it, but I don't think I've actually watched a show in so long. That makes it too easy to go back in my head, to zone out and come back to reality. The reality that the house I live in is hell, the reality that I missed the one place I belong, the reality that being enough was never something I'd be able to do for them.

"Aris?"she whispered, grabbing my hand that was dangling off the couch. I let her open it, revealing my palm. Her fingertips went over the shared scar, gently going back and forth. It doesn't make sense all the time now. I'd groan accustomed to the opposite, to disguised insults and rough pats on the back that made me flinch. I hate it when they touch me, always have. And I don't know which option is worse. Either he didn't know or didn't care.

"Hm?"

"I love you."

She's so, so, so genuine when she says it. She's always said it in a way nobody else can, even when it was platonic. It's hard to explain, but there's something in her eyes. It doesn't matter whether they're full of tears or shimmering from the sun. She means it to the fullest, believes it deep in her heart.

"I love you too."