3:26 am

t h r e e

t h r e e

I woke up slowly and winced as my eyes opened to a brightly lit room. My head began to pound and I groaned as I turned into my pillows, blocking out all the light by burying my face in them.

"God," I whimpered as I brought my hand up to my head. I slowly looked over at my nightstand to see it was already seven minutes past noon, and I quietly cursed under my breath. Knowing I couldn't let myself fall back to sleep, I began to stretch. I had plans to go shopping today, so I would have to try out a couple remedies to wake myself up and get myself ready for the day.

I was shopping with my mother, and shopping with my mother was one of the most painful things you could ever put me through. The last thing I needed was a blinding headache while listening to my mom's nagging.

I pushed myself off of my bed and ran to my windows. I quickly shut my curtains and turned my back to them as I rubbed my eyes, and continued to stretch. I felt something soft run across my feet and I let myself smile as I looked down at my cat: Finn. I leaned down and picked him up, bringing his small face close to mine and kissing his forehead gently. He meowed and brought his paw up to my lips, pushing me away.

I let Finn down before walking out of my room and down the hallway of my apartment. I walked into my kitchen and started to make some coffee, knowing I would need it.

I heard my phone begin to ring and my eyebrows furrowed. I followed the noise and ended up in my bathroom. I saw it lying on the floor and I looked around skeptically before bending down and picking it up. It was my mom calling. I cleared my throat in hopes my voice would come out clearly, and answered.

"Hey, mom," I said, answering quietly as I continued to look around. I started to realize that I couldn't remember anything that happened last night and I became worried. I turned to look in my mirror and I jumped as I saw myself. I had fallen asleep in the clothes I wore the night before and my mascara had ended up on my cheeks.

I had never looked so awful in my entire life.

"Bonne après-midi, Quincy!" I heard my mom's chirpy tone and felt my head pound at every single syllable. "We're leaving at half past one! Are you going to be ready? I have been calling you all morning."

"Yeah, I'll be ready. I haven't had my phone this morning," I told her, careful not to completely lie. "I'll see you then, okay?"

"Yes, I'll see you then! You're picking me up, missy, so you'd better be on time! I love you, darling. M'bye, bye!" My mom ended the call and I rolled my eyes slowly as I sat my phone down on the sink. I yawned as I brought my hands up to my face and looked in the mirror to observe my hungover state.

I grabbed my phone and unlocked it, wanting to text Ellie to figure out what had gone down last night, and why she let me drink myself to the point of forgetfulness.

I went to my messages and absentmindedly pressed on the first conversation, thinking I had talked to Ellie last. As I looked down at my screen, my eyes widened and I suddenly began to regain the memory of last night. I scrolled through the messages with Holden and my eyes continued to get wider.

I messed up last night.

My phone began to vibrate in my hands and I jumped in surprise. I saw that Ellie was calling me and I quickly answered, bringing my phone up to my ear.

"Ellie," I answered, sighing quietly.

"Jesus fucking christ, Quinn! I have called you over twenty times. I almost called your mom, I was so desperate! Where the fuck did you go last night? I have been worried sick! I went to your house last night and you weren't there, where are you?"