Vendetta

Chapter Twelve: Till Fake Death do Us Part

I wake up when Rachel hits me across my face with her forearm. She grunts into my ear and I realize that she had been using me as her makeshift pillow for the night. She is still in her sparkly blue dress, though I had removed the heels from her feet and threw her alcohol smelling black dress, which she loaned me, into the washing machine last night.

I have showered and pulled on a fresh shirt when she groans.

'Hangover?' I ask, pulling my hair back into a pony.

She closes her eyes. 'The light is killing me.'

I shrug. 'There's Tylenol and a cup of water on the dresser if you need those.'

'You are a godsend,' she says, reaching over for Tylenol. 'Why are you not hung up?'

I want to say I don't drink but I can't risk it, not with the drama I had with Christian. He really thought we both were drunk out of our minds and got us to our dorm.

'I am not a lightweight,' I say. 'You want something?'

'A taco? Thanks.'

I wave at her and walk out the door.

I first move to Baristas. Christian's not there, so I happily order a frap. Frap in hand, I walk to the cafeteria.

'Hey, Sea Rock!'

I see Jared, and I drop next to him.

'How's the hangover going?'

He tilts his head. 'All the same. The entire NYU population was dead drunk yesterday, and today, all of them are hung up with headaches.'

He places his head in his hands. 'I don't know why I drink. I mean it's not worth it.'

I raise an eyebrow at him.

'How's Rach?'

'Sleeping. She told me to get tacos, though.'

Jared smiles. 'She absolutely loves tacos. Her likes are weird.'

'Yeah,' I say. 'I know a couple of things she likes, and they are not worth her time.'

Jared continues smiling slowly before dropping his head down on the table with a bang.

'My head feels like lead.'

'There's nothing I can do about that.'

He looks up, blinking.

'Hey, Coral. Can you do me a favor?'

I eye him warily.

'C'mon, I am not going to ask you to strip.'

I raise both of my eyebrows.

'It's just. I forgot my phone at my room.'

'So?'

'Please be a darling and get it for me?'

'And why should I do that?'

'Because I am your friend?'

'And that's a valid reason because?'

'Because you are sweet and caring and you love your bestie.'

I snort. 'Please. I barely know you.'

'Fine. What do you want?'

I think for a minute. 'Free food. For me and Rachel.'

Jared gestures to the cafeteria. 'Help yourself.'

'Not here.' I wrinkle my nose. 'I want a restaurant dinner.'

Jared gives me a pointed look. 'I am seriously contemplating getting my phone myself.'