Hunters of Artemis

Chapter Two

❝ the past will haunt you ❞

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THE ONLY SOUND GREETING Eden the following morning was Alyssa's distressed moans as she woke possessed with a fierce hangover.

Eden was often jealous of Alyssa's skills. Of how easily she slid into the natural order. Alyssa could encounter a group of people and be immediately welcomed. It would only take a few kind words and a glorious smile of hers. Her personality was the epitome of liquid happiness. Anyone involved with her became enamoured with her, intoxicated by her. Meanwhile, people found Eden less approachable. She just didn't possess Alyssa's magic touch.

However, as of right now, Eden couldn't be happier at how different they were.

From her bed opposite Alyssa's, Eden smiled, "Good morning."

Alyssa groaned heavily. "Good doesn't exist!"

With her face pressed against the pillow, Eden assumed Alyssa would be stationary for at least a few hours. That hangover would be enough to immobilise the Incredible Hulk. Alyssa had a strong tolerance—but not that strong.

Eden dragged herself from her own cocoon and started to freshen up. She wrangled her dark mane into a ponytail, masked her undereye circles quite expertly and dressed casually in leggings and a hoodie. Not quite model-worthy but nor was Eden a complete slob.

She opened her drawers and fished out some aspirin and a water bottle, chucking them on Alyssa's desk. "Make sure you drink this," Eden advised.

"Is it vodka?" Alyssa mumbled.

"It's something better."

"You're a terrible liar."

Standing in the centre of their room, Eden scanned the mess of clothes dressing the floor in enormous piles. "And you're a terrible drunk," Eden countered, kicking at a dress by her feet. "And a terrible roommate."

Alyssa groaned loudly. "If I weren't in so much pain I'd kill you."

"If you weren't in so much pain I'd kill you," protested Eden. "Now do you want anything from Evie's?"

There was a short pause where Alyssa seemed to weigh her options. "Ask her for my will to live."

Hungover-Alyssa could be such a downer. Eden grinned wickedly—she knew she shouldn't. However, she found it mildly amusing to watch Alyssa face the consequences of her actions. What wasn't so amusing was when Alyssa returned to the very same antics the following day. Call her a mother hen, but Eden wasn't keen on mopping up Alyssa's messes everyday.

Eden grabbed her keys and phone, strolling to the door with a sigh. Just before she opened the door she turned, "And if they're fresh out of that?"

"Croissants!"

"Got it."

And Eden exited, undoubtedly soon to return to Alyssa bent over the toilet as the alcohol turned against her.

The life of college students was just so riveting.

_______

Evie's was a small diner a few minutes away from campus. It wasn't extremely popular among the small town, however, many college students advocated Evie's as the place to be. And to Eden it was. She adored the smell of coffee and crisp pastries that wafted in her direction whenever she walked in, or the old music played on an outdated machine stationed in the corner, gathering dust as days passed. Walking into Evie's felt like walking into a sliver of heaven.