This is Euphoria

-16-

ATHENA

I wake up feeling oddly rejuvenated. It takes a second for my eyes to adjust to the beaming sunshine dispersed around the room. I find the other side of the bed to be empty, and I feel around for my phone, or something to tell me the time. It's 2 o'clock.

I walk across the room. Normally, I'd stop to look out of the endearing window, but right now, my head is throbbing and and neck is sore.

I stop in front of a mirror to assess the damage. My fingers instantly go to my neck, where small, hardly noticeable bruises scatter along my jawline. Images of Kai hovering over me and pressing his smooth lips against my skin linger over my mind. I can't help but smile as I look at them in the mirror.

I pull myself away from the mirror and wander the unfamiliar hallways. I find my way to the main room, and I instantly see Kai's tousled hair. He's wearing grey sweatpants and a practically transparent white shirt.

He hears me, and turns to face me. His eyes meet my face, then travel down to my neck, and he quickly averts his eyes. Oh. Does he think I don't remember?

"Where's Vera?" I ask, as an attempt to change the subject.

"She left, said she had something to do in the city. She took a cab. I offered to drive her, but she told me to piss off," he informs me.

"I can take you home. If you want," he adds.

"Yeah," I say, "do you have an extra toothbrush?"

"There should be one in the bathroom cabinet," he tells me.

There is a toothbrush in the cabinet like he said there'd be. It only takes me a couple minutes to get ready. All I did was brush my teeth, wash my face and tie my hair into a ponytail.

"I'm ready," I tell Kai.

The whole hour drive is stiff and awkward. We didn't even take his Jeep. I hope this isn't what it's going to be like now.

When we pull up to my apartment complex I look over to Kai.

"You can come in, if you want," I say.

"I shouldn't. I have a few things to do today," he says.

"Okay," is all I say. He waits until I walk inside to drive off.

AN: FILLER CHAPTER