Deception

Chapter 36

I've been gone for an eternity and I'm so sorry. I've been extremely busy but I return with hopes of finishing this book before summer ends.

34 days before

I found it sweet that he closed the blinds and kept the lights in the hallway off after he finally got out of bed at noon. I faintly remembered him kissing me good morning and walking out but my thoughts couldn't push past my headache. I slowly sat up, hanging my head for a few seconds before I stood. One of Niall's t-shirts and a pair of too-short shorts found their way onto me before I dragged myself to the bathroom.

Slightly bloodshot eyes, tangled hair, this taste on my tongue. "How many times do we have to go over this, Anna? Drinking is not for you." I sighed to myself, squeezing toothpaste onto my toothbrush. I waited until I couldn't taste whatever that was on my tongue to try to get my thoughts together. I remembered the cloudy bottle of liquor and the shot glass with a picture of a snow-capped mountain on it. A black and silver dance floor with his hand up the front on my shirt. Four shots. Fucking Alex.

I took my time, edging down the stairs before I stopped at the bottom, holding onto the wall for support. Alex turned to me from the couch, a remote in her hand. She smiled sympathetically, or deviously. I'm not sure. Niall followed her gaze from the opposite side of the couch, raising an eyebrow when I scowled at him.

"Nice hair." Alex grinned. Niall lightly pushed her, both of them laughing a little too loud for my taste. Everything suddenly sounded like fingernails against a blackboard, Styrofoam on Styrofoam. I wanted to hit the next thing that made a sound.

"I look fucking punk rock, shut up." I turned to the fridge, pouring a glass of water before searching the counter for anything stronger than children's Tylenol. I turned to Niall, pointing a finger. "And you. Who just lets me get drunk? Me, of all people?"

He shrugged, standing from the couch and wrapping his arms around my waist. "If it helps, you're really cute when you're drunk." he whispered.

"No, it doesn't help at all." I pouted, feeling my cheeks heating up a little. He kissed my neck, chuckling into the fabric of my shirt. "I feel like a teenager. I hate it." He laughed again, leaving a trail of kisses down to my shoulder.

Alex gagged from the couch, rolling her eyes. "Get a room, will you? Some people are still terribly hungover and trying to find some decent television without having to watch you two." I looked at the clock, reading a little after three before I swallowed the strongest thing I could find. "Anyway, today's my last day and I'm hoping my baby cousin planned something for me."

"As wonderful as you have been, ruining our weekend alone and all, I did not." Niall mumbled. Alex sneered, staring at us for a few more seconds. Her arms crossed over her chest.

I laughed as they stuck out their tongues at each other, examining the almost empty box of frozen pancakes. I slid the last three into the toaster, turning back to their ongoing silent argument. "Wouldn't it be cute if we made s'mores? I think the little fireplace on the porch still works." Alex suggested.

"How is fire glass going to stop working, Alex?"

"You know, just because my head hurts, it doesn't mean I can't hit you." she shot back, furrowing her eyebrows. She stood up, closing her eyes for a while before approaching the counter. She rested her head in her hands as I slid a pill and what was left of my glass of water across the island. She nodded her thanks, waiting a moment before looking up.