An obnoxious ringing startles me, and I jerk awake sitting upright. This is a big mistake because my stomach instantly protests the movement with a rumble. I fight the nausea, searching for the cause of the awful fucking noise. Lucas is the culprit, his phone lighting up and vibrating in his pocket. I grab a pillow to launch at him, but before I can Emma shoves her foot in his stomach.

"Shut it the fuck up!" She screeches, her voice hoarse.

"Too loud," Jade whines pulling the blanket over her head. 

The ringing stops, and the room falls blessedly silent. Lucas sits up and glares blearily around before retrieving his phone. 

"Oh shit," he groans swatting at Jade's head. "Get up! We overslept, my mom needs the car."

She mumbles something unintelligible at that, but it sounds like a curse.

"I have to babysit Keiran while she works, so get up!" At his prodding she rises and looks at me with tired eyes. I feel bad for her, but that doesn't stop me from ganking her covers.

I thank the universe for being an only child while I watch them hurriedly get ready. Checking my phone, I see a message from my mom. She works until this evening, but wants to know when I will be back so I shoot her a quick text before laying back down.

I say goodbye to them when they leave, Emma grunts her farewell before quickly passing back out. I debate on getting up, but the pulsing headache tells me that's a terrible idea. I close my eyes, and we waste our day away sleeping.

●●●

When I eventually wake up, my mouth feels like it's full of fur and I'm disoriented. Rolling over, I see Emma's bed empty. I don't have long to wonder where she's gone, when the door opens and she comes in carrying a glass. Her eyes are squinted against the yellow ceiling light as she hands me the cup and flops on the messy bed.

"I'm never drinking again." Her voice sounds like death is knocking on her door.

"That's what you say everytime," I grumble before gulping the water down. I wholeheartedly agree with that statement though. Never again, the letdown is too awful.

I check the time to see it's after five, and Emma's mom should be home soon. Fuck, we wasted the entire day, but I still want to go back to sleep. My bladder urges me to the bathroom though, and I teeter as I walk more off-balanced than normal. After I pee for what feels like an eternity, I glance in the mirror at my ruined reflection as I wash my hands. My hair is sticking up haphazardly, and my skin is sickly pale. My eyes are dark splotches and the bags underneath announce to the world my lack of peaceful sleep. I look worse than normal and I quickly avert my attention to the task at hand and then head back to Emma's room.

She hasn't moved in my absence, still slung across her bed with an arm over her eyes.

"This is all your fault," I hiss as I rub my pounding temples. 

"Don't blame me, you're the one who decided to get drunk with new girl," she says in an amused voice.

"Olivia," I mutter as I sit on the edge of her tiny bed. I have to shove her legs over to have enough room, making her groan, before she moves her arm to peek out at me.

"I know her name. It's funny that you do, since you never talk to anyone and avoid conversation at all costs."

I ignore her accusation, and concentrate on my fingernails. They are jagged, my nerves constantly causing me to bite and tear them off. I pick at them and pretend I don't feel her watching me.

"So what's up with that," she inquires sitting up and leaning against her pillows. Emma looks as awful as I do. "You finally decide to listen to the rest of us and come out of your shell? We are very wise."

"You look like shit," I observe, to change the way I think this conversation is heading.

"Why thank you, you don't look much better yourself," she sticks her tongue out at me. "Don't ignore my question, you hag."

"It's nothing. There was this guy at the party who was being an ass, and she chewed him out for me." I say casually.

It's not nothing, but I don't feel like discussing anything in my current state, this least of all.

"Why didn't you mention this last night?" She looks concerned, "I'm sorry for ditching you, for real. I'm the worst. I can't be upset if you never talk to me again."

I groan, but smile at her melodrama. "How will you ever make it up to me?"

"Oh, I don't know," she acts like she's thinking, "Well, Olivia seems like a good replacement for your BFF until I figure it out."

My smile disappears. Fuck, I walked into that one.

"Oh shut up. You are definitely not my best friend, by anyway." I stare at her solemnly, "I hate you."

"The feeling is mutual. Stop dodging the conversation," she bops me with her hand, "She seems cool, Jade likes her. Justin is also great. We could use some new people to hang out with, don't you think? Oh stop with that face," she pokes me in the cheek. "You guy's seemed to get along decently last night."

I ignore her and resist the urge to ask what all she knows about Olivia and Justin, keeping my opinions on the two to myself.

"So don't be a baby if we all hang out. We talked about doing something soon last night." She adds and ignores my surprised look.

"Um, what? When did that happen?" 

"While we were outside smoking, and you were getting tanked." She waggles her eyebrows. "How are those schnapps treating you now? You regretting any life decisions?"

"I don't think four shots is really that much." However, I don't tell her that I feel like someone lit my insides on fire and my stomach is turning at the thought of that vile peppermint liquid. 

"Oh, it's not. But you usually hardly drink at all, and you obviously feel like shit. As much as you say Lucas is a lightweight, you aren't much better yourself."

I shove her shoulder, and she has to grab on to me to not fall off the bed. I count not getting sick as a win, but the day isn't over yet.

"Ugh, my mom should be here any minute," she pulls out her phone. "Do you want to stay for dinner?"

I would love to not go home, but I've already been gone all day. 

"Nah, I need to head home. I need to change and shower." She leans closer and dramatically sniffs me.

"Good plan, you stink. You can wait and mom can give you a ride?" 

"It's all right. I can use some fresh air, and it's a short walk." I push her out of my space so I can stand up.

"Fine, but text me and we can hang out tomorrow? I think Lucas is babysitting again, not sure what Jade is doing."

I nod and get up, collecting my few things before saying goodbye.

The sun is already going down, and the streetlights don't offer much light when they kick on. I wrap my arms around myself, trying to stay warm, and move quickly as my breath makes puffs in the darkening dusk. It's windy, and my ears are cold as my hair whips around my face, bitting against my cheeks. I need to start remembering to bring my damn hat.

I make it to the house, mom's car isn't there yet, but I pass the rusted truck on the way up the drive. I check the time, and she should be home soon, however it's too cold for me to stand out here on the creaking porch. Praying that my dad is preoccupied, or that the walk at least has helped me look less like the undead, I twist the knob and head into the darkened living room.