Bittersweet Serendipity

Chapter 6 - Lingering and Lovebites

I wake up with a throbbing head, eyesight a bit blurry, sore muscles, and dizziness. The hangover. I don't exactly remember everything, but flashes of last night are appearing in my brain: Jay and I kissing roughly, self-told autobiographies -- all not-so detailed. I blink a couple of times for the drowsiness to sort of subside and I realise I'm in a hotel room. A grande suite to be exact, shoes off and body covered in the duvet.

I look around me. Tom and Arielle, Siva, and Max are on beds. Nath's sleeping beside (...or possibly slept with) Sadie. And Jay... Jay is sleeping on the floor, adjacent to the bed I'm currently on. Honestly, I do not remember how I got here. I take a long time to look at myself in the mirror beside me, on the side table. There are red blotches on my neck and collarbones. Shit.

Taking my phone, I text Sadie, Hi, love. Didn't wanna wake you up cos it seems like you had an amazing night with Nath. ;) Heading to my flat today. Mason might get mad. Love you! x Then I grope around for Jay's phone a few secons after Sadie's phone buzzed, and I add myself to his contact list, and work my way to get his number. Once I get it, I text him, Hey Jay. I hope you don't mind me touching your phone and putting myself in your contacts. I'm sorry I have to leave. You know...Mason. Just text/call if you need anything, okay? Last night was...great. You didn't have to sleep on the floor because of me tho. x

His phone buzzes to signal that he received the text but everyone is still asleep. So I pick my boots up from the floor and quietly slip out of the suite and ride a cab hime. Obviously, Sadie would not like it if I take her car with me.

Mason approaches the cab as it rides up our cul-de-sac, the tires squealing to a halt. I pay the cab driver and swiftly wear my boots again and hop out of the cab.

"Where've you been?" he asks suspiciously and impatiently.

"Hi to you, too, Mason," I greet sarcastically. "Concert. Then I went clubbing with Sadie and the lads."

I walk up the front porch of my flat and he follows me. Sniffing me, he grits his teeth and says, "You smell weird and different. Like alcohol, beer--"

"Well, obviously we've been drinking. I'm bound to smell like that, Mason. Don't be so thick."

"--and men's perfume."

I sniff myself. What Mason is saying is actually quite true. I reek of liquor and a familiar, er, "masculine" scent -- Jay's body spray. His kisses left me smelling like beer, and they skin contact got his scent on me. Double shit.

But I shrug it off like it's no big deal, though I am quite not sure if it is. "Yeah, so? There were a lot of guys there. And not to mention, I hung out with The Wanted." I open the door and he enters, following me.

Mason raises his eyebrows tauntingly. "Really? Which one did you fuck, Caleigh? Is it that Ice Age sloth bloke? Or is it that other druggie chav? Maybe that curly-haired wimp loser?"

Normally, I'd laugh at his insults because they are actually funny. But he's being an immature tosser and that is where he crossed the line. "I didnt fuck anyone, Mace," I say. "You're being a prat."

"How am I being the prat, Caleigh?" he questions, his tone raising. "Are you cheating on me? With five other dicks who probably don't even care about you?"

And everything whips around me.

Me: God, no! What would make you think that? Just one night I was gone, Mason. You're being so fucking immature! And excuse you, they're the most caring lads I know. They love all of their fans and they take time to interact with them. You're overreacting, you slimy prat!