Winter

Little Red Dress

KNOCK!  KNOCK! 

I barely even get the chance to squint my eyes before I hear the door open.  I realize that my limbs are tangled together with someone on a small single bed, and I momentarily jolt before I hear a familiar groan from beside me.

"Kenny?  Zaya?  Oh good, you're awake!  I'm really sorry, but I need you guys to leave.  My parents are going to be home in a fucking hour!"

It takes me a moment to process his words, but when I do, I sit up with a small whine, noting that Nathaniel has already left.  He probably has a lot to clean up and I would normally offer to help, but my brain feels like it was stomped on by an elephant last night.  

"Christ, I thought we would at least make it back to mine," Kenny chuckles in her croaky morning voice and I offer her a weak grin.

"I feel like utter shit.  How much did I even drink last night?  I don't think I even remember the whole party."  And I really don't.  I have hazy memories of some things, but almost everything after my fifth drink is blank.

"Hey, well mission accomplished, yeah?  After all, we wanted to forget for a night."

"Mmmm."

I unwillingly stand up and stretch, pulling at the hem of my dress so it covers my bum, not that it makes much of a difference. I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror and nearly laugh at how horrible I look.  My hair is tangled and sticking out at odd angles, my eyeliner is smudged under my eyes along with some mascara, and I'm wearing a scandalously short, red dress of Kenny's that would never, ever be appropriate during daylight hours.

"Let's get out of here, Z."

**

"I'll text you in a bit if Louis doesn't kill me as soon as I get through the door.  You're so lucky that you don't have to live with Zayn."

"Yeah, I'd probably be under house arrest 24/7 if I had to live with him.  I'll most likely just get a disapproving look from my dad because of the outfit."

"Lucky bitch.  Oh yeah, when does Zayn get out of the hospital?"

"Today, actually," I remember suddenly.  "Ugh, I hope I don't have to go and see everyone because I feel and look like I've been run over by a truck." 

"Well, get in there and have a shower at least.  I'll see you for school on Monday."

"Bye, Ken."

I hop out of the car, heels in hand, wincing at the cold pavement under my feet.  I ignore the judgmental stares of people as I type in the gate and breathe in relief when it shuts with a firm, metallic clang.  So what if I went to party last night?  I'm seventeen and should at least have the freedom to let loose, especially with the tight ship my brother tries to run.  The ivy growing on along the gate prevents further prying eyes and I finally stick my hand into my bra to pull out my key.  I twist the door knob slowly, hoping that my father is still asleep and sigh in relief when the house is relatively silent.  Thank god it's saturday and he decided to sleep in.  

"What the fuck are you wearing?"

My mouth goes dry when I see Harry sitting up on the couch, shirtless with a blanket pooled around his waist, rubbing sleep out of his eyes.  I attempt to tug the hem down a bit further, but it just causes the fabric to fall further down around my chest so I give up.

"Um...a dress?" I nervously twirl my hair and inch my way closer to the stairs, wanting to escape his strong glare.  His eyes are too cold for a morning spent only in a tiny dress and I wonder for a moment if stepping outside will warm me up.