Right Where You Left Me

hangover pt 1

When I wake up, my head is exploding. I stumble out of bed, sheets tangled in my legs, bleary eyed and groggy. I manage to make it to the bathroom before last night's dinner and alcohol comes speeding up my throat.

I've never been great at handling alcohol.

I turn to stare in the mirror. There's grass in my hair. And all over my clothes. My mascara is smeared all down my face in streaks. Was I crying? I barely remember anything from last night.

Sighing, I push open the door and grab a clean towel from the linen closet and a change of clothes. I turn on the shower and let it steam up as I strip off my clothes.

There's a knock at the door. "Adya, honey, are you okay?" Nancy says through the door. "I heard you were out last night."

"I'm fine," I say. "Just gonna shower."

"Alright, my dear," she replies.

I step into the shower and let the water wash away last night. I rub off my makeup and sweat and tears. I pick out the grass from my hair and lather shampoo. At one point I lean forward and throw up again. I wrinkle my nose in disgust and watch as it swirls down the drain.

My head is still pounding when I get out of the shower, but at least I feel clean. After I brush my teeth and pull on some socks, I feel good enough to head downstairs and grab some food. I pick at my cereal, but I don't really eat it.

I sit back and close my eyes. I don't really like being alone, because that means I'm alone with my thoughts. It's like each thought is a new voice, layering over in my head, getting louder and louder and louder until I can't even focus on anything at all.

But I have no one to call. Kate is still asleep, and Alex is shopping in the city with her mum today. I don't feel like talking to Nate, and I don't want to have an awkward alcohol conversation with Nancy. I sigh in defeat and sink into my chair, tipping my head back and letting my thoughts consume me.

the summer before eighth grade

"So she asked you out?" I ask.

We're walking down main street, eating ice cream. I'm in my bikini top and boys swim shorts with little sharks on them that hang loosely around my hips. Nate is shirtless, and it takes everything in me not to stare. Has he always been this muscular?

"Yup," Nate says, taking a lick of his strawberry sorbet. "I didn't take up her offer, though."

"Why not?" I look up at him. He's had a sudden growth spurt that leaves him at almost six feet, and he's barely fourteen.

He glances at me and looks away. "Don't know."

I want to question him further, but I don't. Instead we head back to the beach and sit on our little blanket. I stretch out and let the setting sun wash over my body, sighing contently and closing my eyes. Nate shifts.

"Sorry, am I taking up too much space?" I say apologetically, opening my eyes and shifting my leg to move.

"Nah, you're good," Nate says, wrapping his hand around my leg and gently tugging me back onto the blanket. I laugh and turn to face him, licking my ice cream as I do so. We fall silent as we stare at each other.

He reaches out and tugs on a strand of my hair. "It's wavy today," he murmurs.

"It's always wavy," I giggle.

Grinning, he turns onto his back and squints at the lake in front of us. "I'm gonna go for a dip. You in?"

I am on my feet before he finishes his sentence. "Race ya."