Love and Life

Hangovers and Hope

Chapter 4

Finn's POV

"Please."

Her hand felt so small in mine; small and soft.

My thumb had rested over her wrist where I could feel her pulse racing against my calloused skin.

It was like having a baby bird in my hand; fragile, warm and fluttering.

I intertwined my fingers with hers and gave her hand a gentle squeeze.

When she didn't respond to my touch, I slowly looked up to meet her eyes.

Her eyes had softened since the last time I had gazed into them. In fact, her whole face seemed more relaxed now which only intensified her beauty.

"Please. At least tell me your name."

At the sound of my voice, the girl snapped out of whatever trance she had been in and snatched her hand out of mine.

"What? You don't recognise me? I'll give you a clue. You could consider me one of your mindless minions," she had said in such a manner than it felt like she had been rehearsing those lines to say to me for years.

But that was impossible. We had never met before in our lives.

"I think you might have me confused with someone else, Miss...?" I prompt.

She looked even more enraged than before. Her ivory skin had considerably reddened and a small bulging vein had popped out on her neck.

She was beautiful even when mad.

"Oh no, Crawford. I know exactly who you are. A stuck up, smart ass, womaniser who is only popular because of his mummy and daddy's bank account. Feel free to stop me if I'm wrong."

I felt a spark of indignation form in my chest. There was more to me than what she had said. I wasn't that shallow.

A faint hum began to echo in my ears and my vision had started to blur slightly.

"Then I'll stop you because that's not who I am," I drawl, feeling slightly dizzy.

God. How many drinks did I have? Maybe my tolerance wasn't as high as I had thought...

But I was still sober enough to see the look of disgust in her face as she watched me starting to sway on my feet.

"Add drunken idiot to the list as well," she muttered.

I had wanted to retaliate but I was beginning to go in and out of consciousness and the pounding in my head had gotten stronger.

The last thing I saw was her face twisted in worry as the blackness consumed my sight.

***

I woke up the next morning with a throbbing headache and sore limbs.

I slowly sat up in my bed and had to blink several times before adjusting to the sunlight that had flooded into my bedroom.

I grabbed some headache medicine and the pitcher of iced water on my dresser, and poured myself a glass.

After swallowing the green pills, I immediately felt better and leaned against the headboard of my bed. I squeezed my eyes shut and tried to recollect the memories of last night.

Booming techno music, drunken dancing, lots of alcohol, an intoxicated Nikki (I still shuddered when remembering that particular memory) and... Her.

I could still picture her beautiful face at the back of my eyelids when I closed my eyes. It was as if the memory of her was permanently etched into my mind. And my heart.