Leo

Chapter 3- The Next Morning

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Hi guys. Sorry I keep posting such long chapters. I just have a lot of details I was to add to bring to the plot. I really want to make this story good. Haha. Enjoy the chapter!
~Jenna
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The first thing I notice is the bright light. I open one of my eyes slightly and the shock and pain is so sudden I shut my eye immediately. I would have to explore my surroundings with my eyes closed.

I was in a very soft bed. I stretch my arm out and feel the silk sheets under my fingertips. Despite being in a completely unfamiliar setting, for some reason I'm not afraid.

I roll over onto my stomach groaning loudly. This small action makes me dizzy, very dizzy. I also become aware that my head is pounding as though someone had been smashing drum sticks on my brain all night. So this is what being hungover felt like.

I squeeze my eyes shut in concentration. My memory of last night is foggy, and some of the the images I have in my head make no sense at all. My dreams must be mixing with my actual memories.

Caroline grabbing my arm to steady me while she laughed in my face. "Well here's my cousin guyssss."

Stumbling out the front door, someone hitting me in the back with my purse.

My glasses falling off and dropping to my knees to shove them into my purse.

Throwing up in an outdoor garbage and pulling my dress back up to recover my boobs.

Rain. Soaking me to the skin. Someone tapping me on the shoulder. "Excuse me?"

I attempt to open my eyes again and squint down at the shockingly white bed sheets, trying to bring them into focus. But of course I can't, I'm not wearing my glasses.

I pull the tightly tucked covers off of myself and I'm able to make out the fact that I'm wearing the same dress from last night. My purse is at the foot of the bed, and upon opening it I find my glasses.

It still hurts to look at the light (I now realize it's just sunlight streaming through the slightly opened blinds) but now that I don't have to squint to focus my vision, the pain in my head is a bit less.

My eyes widen as I glance at my surroundings.

Everything is white. I was seated upon a king sized bed. Across from me a silver 60 inch t.v. gleams. A large white couch to the right has smooth, white towels on it, clearly meant for me. A fireplace is in the corner, with a clear glass mantlepiece. On the mantle there is a glass vase with a single white rose. And the most stunning of all are the crystal light fixtures on the ceiling.

I desperately try to think back to who that was who tapped me on the back... If that was even real.

I rush across the room to where the blinds are letting in steams of light. Looking out the window may help me realize where I am.

Bracing myself, I open the blinds all the way and squint my eyes again. The bright light makes my eyes water and through my teary eyes I see that I'm looking down at the center of the apartment complex, the complex my cousin lives at. I see that I'm in the apartment directly to the left of hers.

Seeing that center of the path starts to bring memories back to me. These I am fairly sure must be accurate.

Caroline picking up the purse that someone had thrown at me, and pushing it into my arm as I go out the front door.

"You called a taxi?" I slurred my words so badly I didn't recognize my own voice.

Caroline didn't reply, just slammed the door behind me.

I threw up in a trash can in the middle of the square and then sat down to put my head between my legs.

The rain started harshly and suddenly and I was immediately drenched. My hands fumbled for my phone but I couldn't push the numbers properly to make a call.

A tall man with short brown hair and a small beard, just covering his chin, rushed out of a nearby apartment. It struck me as funny that he had on an old gray hoodie and sun glasses at this time of day.

He looked oddly familiar, and I was sure I'd met him before. Like he was an old neighbor or someone who worked in the grocery store. I couldn't put my finger on it.

He gently took the phone out of my hands and spoke to me but the rain was pounding the pavement and I couldn't hear a word he said. He took my arm and guided me into the house. And then...

Then what!? My mind goes blank again. Oh god. I had gone into the house of a stranger (?) and I couldn't remember what happened after that! This is the kind of stuff you see on Criminal Minds or Law and Order:SVU! College student gets drunk at party and then kidnapped. I can see the headline now in my head.

I quickly glance over my shoulder and re examine the room. It didn't look like the kind of house a kidnapper would own, and even if it was, it's not very likely that I, the kidnapped, would be left in such a fancy room.

I start to relax. I'm so close to Caroline's house, I could just slip out the door and head over to her apartment without the man even knowing. I could explain to Caroline what happened. Then come back with her to this strangers house and thank him for giving me a place to stay overnight. 

Okay, I've decided now. The only problem is getting there. I'm still very dizzy but slowly I walk towards the bedroom door and reach for the handle. 

Just as I open the door the rest of the way, I am overwhelmed with nausea and rush back into the room to a garbage I hadn't noticed before, located conveniently next to the bed.

After I finish puking, there are three sharp knocks on the door and I freeze. My heart starts to pound.

"Excuse me? Can I come in?" An extremely familiar voice comes from the doorway, though I can't yet see his face. "I'm sorry to be introducing myself like this, I heard that you were up, and I wanted to explain what happened last night... I'm sure you have no idea what went on."

My mind is whirring around and around as I try to think of where I know that voice from.

My heart starts beating faster and faster. The man with the beard and brown hair. In the hoodie. And the sunglasses, despite it being late at night. The sunglasses hiding the stunning blue eyes.

I suddenly remember who Caroline said her next door neighbor was.