A New Chapter

Chapter 8

I wake up with a pounding headache. Honestly it feels like there are tiny people having a rave inside my skull.

I groan as I roll out of bed and proceed to face plant the floor. Great start to the day.

I finally manage to get myself to the bathroom to shower away any remnants of alcohol off my body.

As I stand under the warm water flowing down my body, memories of last night come flooding back in.

I remember drinking a bunch then playing truth or dare and oh god I gave Ethan a hickey.....and I think I danced after that. I don't even know...

How did I even get home?

I throw on an old baggy t-shirt and a pair of shorts and stumble down stairs following the noise in the kitchen.

As I enter the door I abruptly stop when I spot Ethan eating breakfast at the table. My table. Plus he's shirtless.

"What are you doing here?" My voice comes out a bit ruder than it was supposed to. Well there is a half naked man in my kitchen. I have rights.

"Aren't you just a ray of sunshine in the morning Merritt." He replies sarcastically while I grab some orange juice form the fridge and drink out of the carton.

"Whatever, but seriously though why are you here?" I repeat my question.

"I stayed here last night-" seeing my horrified expression he continues; "-on the couch."

I let out a sigh of relief before joining him at the table, laying my head on my crossed arms.

"What the hell happened last night?" I mumble against my forearm.

He chuckles before asking; "You don't remember huh?"

My incoherent groan of words makes him laugh.

"I'll take that as a no. Well after you gave me the very noticeable hickey on my neck, we kept playing truth or dare and that blonde girl was being bitchy so you proceeded to throw a lamp at her and told her to and I quote; 'lighten the fuck up'. It was pretty damn hilarious if you ask me." Ethan bursts into laughter at the memory of last night while I mentally face palm myself.

"Jesus. Drunk Ashley needs to stay in her cage." Sophie's amused voice exclaims from the door of the kitchen.

"Oh god, you heard that too." I mumble, embarrassed by my drunk antics.

"Oh yes I did, but I brought breakfast! Bagels anyone?"

My head shoots up so fast at the word 'bagel' I think I got whiplash.

~~

"So you gave Ethan a hickey huh?" Sophie asks midway through Marley and Me while we stuff our faces with popcorn. Ethan left a few hours ago after devouring a breakfast bagel.

"Oh god, it was a dare. You know I don't do stuff like that." I mumble shovelling yet another hand full of popcorn into my mouth.

"Yeah, but did you like it?" I don't really know what to make of Sophie's question.

Did I like it?

I mean, I gave him a hickey he would have liked it more than me.

"I don't know Soph, it's not something sober Ashley would even consider. Not after everything. Being that close to someone terrifies me." I whisper the last part, but apparently Sophie heard it since she lets out a defeated sigh.

"Ash, I'll never be able to express how sorry I am. I never thought he would be capable of something like that. Jesus he-"

I cut her off. I can't listen to this.

"Stop. Please, I-I can't talk about this Soph. I'm sorry."

She notices my eyes brimming with tears and gives me a sympathetic smile and a tight hug before we go back to watching the movie.

~~

"So, did you have a good time last night sweetheart?" Mom asks as she stirs the bolognese sauce.

"Oh god, don't even mention last night. I'm never drinking again- I mean I wasn't drinking! I would never touch alcohol!" I panic as I realise my mistake.

Mom let's out a chuckle; "Sweetheart it's fine. A few drinks are fine. My mother always said that it's better to know about your teenager drinking rather than have them sneaking around behind your back."

I let out a sigh of relief. I've got a cool mom.

"Thanks mom. I'm gonna go see how Amelia's doing. From what Ms McCall said, I hear we've got the next Picasso on our hands."

I make my way up to Amelia's room where she's sitting in front of her pink easel with her small tongue sticking out as she concentrates on a series of lines and colours.

"Hey little monkey, what'ya painting?" I ask as I crouch down and inspect the art.

There's a boy standing outside with a soccer ball at his foot. He has dark brown hair and blue-green eyes.

"I painted Ethan!" She exclaims with a toothy grin.

I find myself smiling back at my daughter, "Wow, he's gonna love it!" I give her a sideways hug and she lets out a loud giggle.

"You think? Can I give it to him?" She pleads with those puppy dog eyes I can never say no to.

I let out a defeated breath, "Yeah sure baby girl. How about tomorrow, I can ask him if he wants to go to the park."

Her eyes light up and she excitedly nods her head, mumbling about making the painting perfect.

"You can finish the painting after dinner, come get cleaned up." I pick her up and position her on my hip carrying her to the bathroom.

I hope Ethan likes paintings.

Authors note:
This chapter is pretty much just a filler chapter but I hope you enjoyed it nevertheless :)
Thank you for 200+ reads Xx