Turning 18

Chapter Four

April 23

"Chi-Chi, wakey- wakey!! The sun is shining, sparrows are outside, candies are in the fridge...."

My sister using her special screechy voice while saying random mumbo-jumbo? Not a good wake-up call, and the bum knows it! For some reason the best my voice could drag out was a hoarse, "Go die". This was seriously disturbing.

She just laughed. "Arra, I know you aren't feeling well sweetie, but I'm getting late for work. And you need to get up, 'cause the water will be coming soon and I can't wait that long".

As I twisted my way out of the sheets, I started to realize that not only was a massive headache was soon coming my way, my entire body was all sore and ache-y. But the worst part was: for the love of all that is holy, I couldn't remember why I felt that way?

"Holy shit! You look like you got run down by one of those huge trucks on a tar road!"

My hand automatically went to my hair to check if I had any chance to salvage it. Nope, its gonna look like a mixture of Bob Marley and Jim Morrison with a bit of Baba Ramdev thrown in as well. Damn!

"Li-" I began, but then stopped. What was that god-awful smell? It smelt like vomit and... air freshener? WTH?

"I know, you stink right? I kinda had no choice. I couldn't get you cleaned up properly 'cause you just slumped over the toilet and refused to get up, and pop was going to get up soon? So, you know, what was I s'posed to do?"

I stared at her blankly. OK, so I do remember getting dressed up for something, but anything that had happened before and after that doesn't seem to be in my brain. Which felt like slush. My brain, I mean.

"Oh god! You don't remember, do you? Nothing at all?! Shit! This is bad, this is so bad. This is beyond bad. Disastrous, that's what it is! You know what? I won't tell him. Yup, that's it! I won't tell him". My sister is talking to herself...Huh, I always knew she was nuts.

Hearing the click-clicking of her heels on the marble floor as she marched over to the shut and drawn windows made me turn to watch her. Bad move. My head felt like it was going to explode and my body protested like the first time I went for that ill-fated aerobics class.To make things worse, she pulled the curtains across, letting in the bright and already too-hot sunlight in. Bloody hell!!!

"Look, Arra, I really have to go now. I've made some breakfast, its on the kitchen table; and if you get up now, you'll get at least 20 minutes of shower time. Try to remember what happened last night because I really don't want to tell you. Anyway, I'm going. There's some painkillers for that headache you must be having right about now. Bye!" Nearly shouting the last bit out, she left the house. Right. I'm all on my alone-y. Might as well do as she said and take that bath.

After pulling out of this weird combination of a cotton slip(where did that come from?) and my jeans, I trod carefully to the bathroom. 15 minutes later, I felt quite human again- my hair was clean and fresh and that awful smell was gone. The only thing I had to get on with was to brush my teeth, and then, food here I come.

Half an hour later I was standing in between seven filled buckets of water trying to balance my cup of coffee(bless my sister!) while trying to push another empty bucket under the tap, when I heard my phone ring. There is nothing like hearing a Maroon 5 song when you least expect it, so I Iet it continue to ring. Besides, its the summer vacation, whoever calls at 8:30 in the morning is just plain dumb. The phone rang again, I diverted it to voice mail, put it on silent and for charging.

Time to figure out what happened last night. So, 1) I must have gone out somewhere local because I didn't have any money in my pockets; 2) I must have had company going there since I wouldn't have been able to get back quickly on my own; 3) There was definitely hard liquor at the place, so it must have been on someone's terrace because I distinctly remember the cool night's breeze.

A knock at the door startled me out of my reverie. I went to open it, and outside was the one person I definitely wasn't expecting to see. Aden. Bringing my memories of last night and the early morning with him. Oh freaking hell!!!!

God, what was I thinking?! Last night... Damn! Looks like a certain JD and I were best friends until around midnight. I guess I dumped him for that flashing Absinthe. And dancing on a table! No doubt my body hurt like hell!

"Bloody shit!" I ground out. I so do not want to see him right now, especially with him smiling like the proverbial serpent.

"What. Do. You. Want?" I bit out, keeping the safety door closed so that I had at least that as protection, however stupid that maybe.

"Looks like someone had too much to drink last night. Aren't you going to let me in?" The Ass was trying to hide his smirk. Jerk.

"Nope. You just stay right where you are. I don't trust you right now".

"You're mad at me? That's just mean dude. After all, I got you home safe and sound..." He looked vaguely hurt.

"Our versions of 'safe and sound' seem to differ. Feeling me up while pretending to hold me upright is not considered 'safe and sound' in the general context, you pervert! "

Now he was smirking outright, "So what? Its not like you didn't like it! In fact, I think I remember a certain someone saying," Ooh, that feels SO good"; she quite liked it, I think".

Uh-oh. Now that's not good. "I got you mixed up with my ex, that's all. I was drunk, remember? Or..... Wait a minute, you didn't think I was actually interested in you, did you?" I congratulated myself on my quick thinking.

"Whatever", he muttered, looking faintly embarrassed.

"Oh this is too funny! Damn, dude! Sucks for you!" I was full- out laughing by now. Jeez, this was so hilarious.

"I wouldn't be laughing so much, if I were you. I can make your life pretty miserable", he said threateningly. If it weren't for his tone, I would still be laughing my guts out. But I stopped and looked at him closely. There was something genuinely bad about his expression.

"I have your attention now, don't I? Good. 'Cause you better be listening or this'll be much harder for you to take in." He was watching me now, all my expressions carefully monitored.

"What are you talking about? Why are guys so dramatic anyway? And they call us drama queens..."

"You want this to be outright? Fine! I want you to do whatever I tell you from now on. If I say I want you at a party, I want you there. If I say to go get me a Coke, you'll do it. In short, I'm the boss. 'Kay?"

"And why would I do that....?" I asked him slowly, not knowing where this was coming from. To tell you the truth, I was freaked by now.

He smiled now; not arrogant, sympathetic more like. "Because I have this", he said, holding up his cell phone.

As I stared expressionlessly at the screen, my mind went completely blank, except for one thought that stayed with me from that day on:

OH. BLOODY. SHIT.

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Okay, I know I've taken a really long time to update. So sorry Anusha!! Anyway, from the next update onwards, the real story begins.

Comments are invited :-)

P.S. Let me know if you spot any errors