ASHLEY

44

   My head throbs with an unbearable pain. I squeeze my eyes shut. I bask in the silence around me. Normally Angela would be up blasting her music. She must have had cheer practice or something. Good for me. After the pain becomes unbearable I stumble to the bathroom in search of asprin. Nothing. Absolutely nothing.

   I know. Aunt Jackie's room.

   Despite the pain I make my way down the stairs and to her room-

   "Where are you going?" I pause with my hand hovering over the door handle. Things begin to slowly start clicking into place. I don't have an adjacent bathroom with grey wall painting and black and silver decorations. Neither do I have stairs. I look down at the unfamiliar red sweats and black shirt. These are way too baggy to be mine. I turn on my heels and head straight for the kitchen. Kenneth is watching me tentatively. A hesitant smile plague his features. "Where are you going?" He ask again.

   "I-I...how did- did anything happen-"

   "Between us? No. Despite how sexy and thick you looked in that dress and the long boots I did not smash."

   Relief. Nothing happened Between us that I would have to spend my whole day regretting. I take a seat at the table. I scratch at my tattoo to distract myself from the fact that he isn't wearing anything but basketball shorts which make it easy for me to see everything he has to offer. Now is not the time. Not that there would ever be an appropriate time. "Got any aspirin?"

   "I got something better. Made especially for you." The thick green drink he hands me looks repulsive. It has no smell to it. As odd as that sounds. "If you hold your breath and drink it fast enough you'll be able to get it down. You have to drink it if you want to feel better."

   "What is it?"

   "Its a hangover smoothie. My dad use to have to make these for Andrew. My brother may have been quiet but he was anything but."

   My gaze flicker back to the tall glass. "What's in it?"

   "...stuff."

   "Stuff?" I question skeptically.

   "Bria, just drink it. I promise you'll feel better."

   "Ugh," I groan and put the tall glass to my lips. It gets downed as quickly as possible. The liquid is just as thick as it looks. Despite holding my breath the taste is still awful. "Eww."

   Memories of last night come flowing in bits and pieces. All too fuzzy to make out. Hard to believe I consumed so much alcohol last night. I told Kayla I didn't want to go out and she basically forced me to. I know I'm still responsible for my actions at the end of the day but that's still doesn't mean I can't blame her.

   I rest my head on the counter. The silence nearly causing me to slip into oblivion. Kenneth is there to pull me back just in time. I groan when he calls my name. "You can get back in the bed of you want. I'll bring you breakfast once I'm done," his voice is soft and soothing. Conern. He's concerned about me despite the way I blew him off. He didn't deserve that.

   My eyes travel over his slender body, observing every nook and cranny. Every detailing on his beautiful tattoos that surprisingly stand out against his dark skin. Thick lips moist from being licked.

   I pull myself back from staring and switch my gaze somewhere else. The counter suddenly looks very interesting. I clear my suddenly parched throat before speaking. "I'm sorry for blowing you off the way I did. It's just that we were high and things escalated quickly. I wasn't expecting it to happen. I mean we use to be best friends it-" I say in a rush.