Captivated

Chapter Eight

I stirred my mind moving in and out of sleep as I slowly began to wake from my dream. I couldn't fully remember it, just bits and pieces as my brain tried to catch up and make sense of everything. The sun beat in through the large window casting a golden glow over the bedroom. It didn't take me that long to realize that it was Lacey's, with her king size bed and all light brown wooden furniture. I rolled over to look at her sprawled across the bed in a deep slumber her dress discarded on the foot of the bed. I tried to piece together last night racking my foggy brain and forcing myself to sift through the things I did remember.

I could remember going to the club and ordering drinks at the bar. The bar tender was cute and flirtatious in a faltering way that wasn't overpowering. Lacey hadn't wanted to drink all that much but I pushed her, deeming that since she has forced my hand at going out she should have to drink with me. I remembered ordering shots and drinking and that's where my mind gets foggy, blurred like you can see the memories just of out reach behind a wall of subconscious. I sighed and slid out of bed careful not to wake her, not that I thought she could be woke up by me getting out of bed. I could feel my head spin a little as I sat on the edge of the bed getting my barring straight. The slight headache I had pounded lightly and constantly against the back of my skull a reminder that I defiantly had too much to drink last night. Lacey was never great at holding her liquor and I could bet money that she had a hangover that was ten times worse than the one I could feel brewing as I began to move.

My dress from the night before was still on, soaked with sweat from being under the covers. For the life of me I could never understand why Lacey had so many sheets. She even had a duvet that she had on her bed all year round. She always says it's because she's cold and has bad circulation but it seems like a lot to me. I smiled to myself at the thought before getting up and heading out of the bedroom.

I moved down the hall and into the kitchen to grab something to drink. Lacey's apartment is similar to my own. A single bedroom layout with a large eat in kitchen, separate dinning room and expansive living room. The large widows let in huge amounts of light and hers, unlike my own; has a balcony off the living room that overlooks part of downtown and the beach. I pulled a cup out of her cupboard and moved to the fridge pouring myself a glass of orange juice, easily my favorite drink in the morning. I was never a coffee or tea person, hot chocolate was my warm beverage of choice growing up and it just stuck as I got older. Nothing could beat a cold glass of orange juice in the mornings and it's even better of it's freshly squeezed, not that anyone has the time for that.

I opened the cupboard above her double sink and looked around for the Tylenol that she always keeps there, along with every other medication you could possibly need. From pain meds, to allergy pills and cold medicine, she had it all. I always bug her and tell her that there are so many alternatives to over the counter medications, like honey and cinnamon for colds or and aloe and eucalyptus salve (poultice) for pain. Of course she is stubborn and always finds my apothecary alternatives to be a waste of time. I took two of the Tylenol and used my juice to wash them down before grabbing an apple from her fruit basket and taking a seat at her table. It was a beautiful oak table, carved and stained to a light brown with a semi-glossy finish.

They say apples are better at waking you up in the morning than coffee, not to mention they have so many health benefits. I took a bite and reveled in the silence of the morning. The clock on her microwave read half past ten which for me was late to sleep in but I couldn't even tell you what time we got home. I could barely remember how we got home let alone the time. I enjoyed Lacey's house, I always have; she likes her peace and quiet as much at the next person, it's something we have in common. She also enjoys her music but this morning the radio was off and the house was dead.

I finished my apple and headed back to the sink tossing the core into the garbage and putting my empty glass in the sink before heading back towards the bathroom. I could feel the sweat sticky against my skin and the already form fitting dress was clinging to me now more than the night before. Lacey's bathroom is large, slightly more than my own with a shower-tub, where my bathroom only has a shower. Her vanity is made of wood with a beautiful inlaid stone sink to match the bath. Her towels all match each other making it seem like a showroom rather than an actual lived in bathroom. I glanced at myself in the mirror my makeup smudged from last night and my hair a mess around my head. I could see the knots that were going to be a pain to get out but with an extra wash and some conditioner it would be back to normal in no time.