I shook my head and made my way to my car. I didn't need Luke or Cassidy for my life to keep going. I'd just...party and...drink. Yeah, that sounded like a great idea. That's what I'm gonna do.
Life seemed to blur into one endless day for a while. I would sleep for hours on end, wake up hung over then go out and drink until late. I hadn't been sober in over a month and I hadn't been home for more than a week in a row. Random beds around the city and surrounding ones would house me for a night or two then I would move on.
I was examining myself in the full mirror in this dude's bathroom. I appeared to be malnourished, which I kinda was cause I never really ate. Pulling at my flesh, that didn't stretch that far, I noticed a bunch of bruises cluttering my whole body. Probably an iron deficiency. Oh well.
I was at another party, stumbling around and rolling my ankles in my boots. I'd just passed my limit of being able to be called tipsy so I was crashing into everyone around me. No one seemed to mind though as they were too preoccupied by those around them. Although, all too suddenly I had managed to slam myself into someone's chest; then looked up too see a familiar face.
"Mikey!" I drunkenly shouted; slightly slurring.
"Holy fuck Ashlynn!" he seemed so surprised to see me.
Well I guess I'd dropped off the map in the past few months. I'd done a one-eighty and fell back into my ghosting habits from when I was with Dan. And since I was always drunk I never really got around to checking my texts or calling people back. The only time I went home was to grab clothes but mum was always at home.
"Luke will wanna..." he began.
"Gotta go bye!" I rushed.
I weaved between people to get to the kitchen so I could have a few more shots and grab another drink. There were a bunch of shots lined up on the island.
"Ashlynn!" Arielle shouted in her smashed voice.
I stumbled over and we gave each other a squishy cuddle. We'd been couch hopping and pub-crawling since the beginning. She threw her arm around my shoulder.
"Let's do some shots," she drew out.
We lined up on either side of the island and downed shot after shot. Arielle gagged after her last shot but high-fived me from across the table. I filled a cup with Sunkist and downed that before pouring myself a JD and coke.
"Ashlynn..." a voice trailed off.
I turned around and saw Luke...and Arzaylea gripping his hand tighter than I'd ever seen anyone hold onto anything ever.
"HiLuke," I smiled flirtingly.
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I lifted myself up onto the island and took a sip of my drink while not breaking eye contact. Arielle stood by my side but dropped her smile when she spotted the couple.
"Who's his Lynn?" she asked with her bitch face.
"That guy I told you about. The one with the slag of a girlfriend," I continued to smile politely as my gaze shifted to Arzaylea.
"Ah," she sneered and looked them both up and down.
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"It's been a while," he spoke timidly; as if he was still scared of me.
"About six months," I shrugged.
"Not long enough," Arzaylea mumbled.
"Shut up fake tits," I snarled.
"Where have you been?" Luke asked.
"Ah bitta here bitta there," I shrugged and smiled.
"I went 'round your house a few times but your mum said she hadn't seen you in a while," he babbled on.
"I only go home when she's at work," I admitted. "Haven't slept there in like...ah four months I'd say."
"When was the last time you were sober?" he asked worriedly.
"These days I'm in a constant cycle of drunk then hung-over," I laughed.
"So you're an alcoholic," Arzaylea sneered.
"Zip it Botox," I shouted.
"Lynn, that's not healthy," Luke told me.
"You don't get to call me Lynn anymore," I slurred. "And I don't care. I'm living my life how I want to."
"Where do you even sleep?" he seemed to be getting angry.
"I couch hop oh my god. Why is it any of your business?"
"So you're Jenny from Gossip Girl?" Arzaylea attempted to use an insult.
"Shut it Photoshop!" I stated forcefully.
I jumped off the counter and got right up in her face. With heels on Arzaylea was about the same height as me. She didn't scare me. I may have had liquid courage in me but over these past months I'd developed a thick skin. I'd been in a few fights meth some meth heads that had tried to rob me at parties.
"I'd watch it if I were you," Arzaylea threatened.
"Your extensions better watch out," I sassed back.
"I got your back Lynn," Arielle assured me. "And who do you have skank?"
"No one. We're leaving," Luke butt in before dragging her away.
"Fuck you're tough," Arielle laughed then we high-fived.
I smiled and leaned my head into her shoulder. I could see Luke scolding his child of a girlfriend in the corner. He started to rub his face as she started screaming and throwing her hands around. I laughed.
"We're at Annabelle's flat again tonight," Arielle whispered as we observed the dysfunctional couple.
"Lele's tomorrow?"
"Yeah dude."
"Alright. But I gotta collect some clothes first," she nod then took a sip of her drink.
