the alternate us

o11 | romantic dates

o11
romantic dresses
   

    It felt like someone was drilling a screwdriver into my head.

It had been a mere ten minutes since I'd sufficiently been yanked away from my deep slumber, and I was already having withdrawals from my bed. I slipped into the kitchen silently in my fluffy slippers and turned on the coffee machine like it was second nature. I opened the fridge and cracked open an ice cold bottle of water before nearly downing the entire thing in only a minute. My throat felt like sandpaper from the night before.

I heard the bathroom door closest to the kitchen fling open, revealing my partially nude brother. I shielded my eyes as I pivoted away.

"Put on some clothes Izzy." I demanded, too tired to scold him for his indecency.

He chuckled, "I have a paper towel covering the goods. Besides, it's my house, I can walk around naked if I want to." He argued, as I heard a band snap.

Still facing the opposite way, I added milk to my coffee and stirred it slowly, watching the milk dissolve. Izzy shuffles from behind me.

"I'm clothed now, you can turn around if you must."

I turned around to find him at the dinner table, wearing just socks and a pair of jeans. He was shirtless most of the time, it was a trait he carried throughout childhood as well. He munched on a piece of buttered toast as I pulled out the chair across from him.

I sipped from my mug in a zombie-like fashion, fighting to keep my eyes open. It was already ten o'clock and I had to get to the post office before eleven. My head felt like it was pounding in sync with my heart. I made a mental note to stop at the store and pick up another bottle of Advil too.

Izzy peeked up from his phone at me, "You went out last night?" He asked, his eyebrow raised in skepticism as though he couldn't believe I was out drinking.

I nodded stiffly, "Nadia dragged me out to a party. I think I may have had one too many to drink." I replied regretfully, wincing as my headache worsened.

He wriggled his brows, "You're really growing up huh? What ever happened to sitting around in your room reading all night while all your friends went out partying."

    I scratched my head and slumped back, "That girl realized how fun it was getting drunk and dancing with strangers." I muttered, wishing I could go back to last night. I only remembered bits and pieces of it, but the parts that I could recall were a blast.

    "Huh," Izzy breathed as he stood up, "Well, I gotta go. I'm meeting this girl for brunch and then I'm hitting the gym." He rushed out before shoving the rest of his toast in his mouth.

    My jaw slacked tiredly, "A girl?" I repeated in disbelief.

    He rolled his eyes, "Yes a girl," he confirmed, "I met her the other night at a bar. She thinks I'm twenty one." He let out deviously as he slid his shirt on.

    I snorted, "Well good luck."

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After sending the weekly amount Izzy and I typically did to my sister, I walked down to the nearest drug store. I plodded along the pavement, my warm boots heavy as it flurried. It was even winter yet and it already felt like we were in subzero temperatures. I tried blowing air directly onto my nose for warmth while my hands were securely in the pockets of my jacket, but it hardly helped. I glanced around to make sure no one saw me looking like an idiot. Fortunately the street was vacant.