The Suburbs

Chapter six

Throb. Throb. Throb. Is it normal to feel your pulse in your head and ears? Jesus, I haven't been this hungover in a long time.
Mental note, maybe ask what Ouzo actually is before sipping away at it and grinning like a Cheshire Cat when offered more. I can't even seem to get a clear answer from google. It's basically some strong shit from Greece.

I squint through one eye trying to focus on my phone. Eurgh. It's too bright. Everything hurts. I'm going back to sleep. I literally don't want to wake up until this hangover is gone. Actually first, I need to drink a bucket of water because my mouth is dry and feels like cotton. But then, I'm sleeping this off.

Knock knock. "Mia...?"

What in the world? Is that...is that Elle?

I reluctantly drag myself from the bed and carefully use my hands against the wall to steady myself as I shuffle out of my bedroom and down the stairs. My hair is a mess, my eyes are puffy and my mouth is painfully dry I feel like Billy from Hocus Pocus when he is brought back to life from his grave after a hundred years.

"Elle?" I manage to croak. The sunlight hits my eyes straight away which makes me squint and try to shield the brightness with my hand but I can just about make out Elle. She looks like she's ready for a day at the races. Dressed in a blue midi tight dress with her red curled locks all neatly styled to one side.

"Morning Mia." She smiles, annoyingly perky.

"Shitting hell, Elle. Where did you go to school? Xavier's school for gifted youngsters?"

"Huh?"

"Well look at you. You look...like you've been at a spa weekend. How do you do it? Weren't you drunk last night? When I left your house you were asleep on a sun lounger with a straw hanging out your mouth and now look at you. You look totally unaffected. You have got to be at least part mutant?"

"Oh Mia!" Elle giggles as she tosses her hair back from her face.
"You do make me laugh. But no, I just don't get hangovers much. Oh? You poor thing are you hungover?"

Apart of me wants to lie and pretend that I'm completely fine too but I think the fact I look like I've caught the plague and I've also just noticed that one boob is hanging out of my bra makes it obvious that I really am not okay. I cover myself up with my dressing gown in hopes Elle hasn't noticed.

"Just a little headache, yeah. But I'll be fine in a few hours." I answer casually, trying to play down the fact my head is spinning and I feel like I could fall over at any second.

"Ok, good. I'd hate to think my special cocktails made you poorly. Anyway, you left your purse at the house, so I thought I'd better return it."

"Oh! Thank you so much. I'd been looking for it all morning." Which is a barefaced lie. I hadn't even realised it was missing but I don't want to sound like a complete disaster.

"Well I best be off, I'm having afternoon tea with some friends. Maybe we could do drinks again soon, yes?"

"Sure." I answer politely.
"Maybe you and Jacob could come over here next time?"

"Yes. We'd like that. Thank you Mia, it's so nice to have a friend in the area." Elle replies so confidently before spinning around and heading towards her black Range Rover. Of course it has tinted windows and a personalised number plate. Elle certainly likes to make a statement wherever she can.

I close the front door behind her, grab a bottle of water out of the fridge and head straight back up to bed. I'm hoping the next time I open my eyes, I'm feeling a lot more human than I am now.

Somehow I manage to sleep through the majority of the day and by the time I open my eyes again and glance at my clock on my bedside table I can see it's nearly five o'clock in the afternoon. Wow, I can't remember the last time I have slept all day. Probably a time back when I was at university. I feel a lot better, but I know my chances of sleeping tonight now are very low.