But Ruby isn’t beside me. And these aren’t Ruby’s seashell-patterned blankets — they’re navy. The room smells like deodorant — men’s deodorant.
Oh, no. No, no, no.
I jerk up into a sitting position. Through the window, I see the smooth water of Heller Lake. A framed AFL jersey hangs on the wall across from me, the fabric covered in thick black autographs.
There are two books on the bedside table. One of them isMacbeth. The other is …Pride and Prejudice?
The good news is that I know whose bed I’m in. The bad news is I’m ina boy’s bed.
I lean against the headboard and pat the tangled mess that is my hair. I’m not wearing the clothes from last night, but an oversized t-shirt and athletic shorts. Which means someone changed me.
I wonder what Mum would think if she knew about this.
Does she know I’m here or think I’m at Ruby’s? Does Ruby know where I’ve gone? Why didn’t I go home with her?
The blankets are crumpled, but I don’t think anyone else has slept in it. I roll onto my side and find my purse on the bedside table. The movement makes my head throb. Oh god, do I have a hangover?
No, I can’t have one, because I barely drank.
Trying my best to ignore my headache, I dig through my purse before finding my phone and check the time. Holy shit, it’s noon. That’s almost as concerning as the fact that I have no messages or missed calls.
While I’m double-checking whether anyone has tried to get into contact with me, the door opens. I draw the blankets over my body, though there isn’t anything to hide because underneath my clothing I’m still wearing my bra and underwear.
Noah closes the door behind him. He’s dressed, hair brushed and face clean-shaven, but despite his neat appearance, his eyes look dead. His under-eye bags are the colour of plums.
“Noah,” I say.
“Hey.” Though he’s trying to hide it, I can hear the emptiness in his tone. “Are you okay?”
I don’t know what to say. There are too many questions swirling around in my head to choose from.
“I guess? I’ve got a headache … what am I doing here?”
He sits on the bed. “I brought you home. I know you were supposed to leave with Ruby, but she had already left the party. And I thought bringing you here would be a better idea than taking you to yours. I didn’t want to get you in trouble with your mum.” His expression changes to uncertainty. “Are you upset?”
I shake my head. “No, that was a good idea. But … why would Ruby leave without me?”
He cocks his head. “Do you remember much of what happened last night?”
Of course, I can remember — I wasn’t wasted or anything. I remember arriving at the party … talking to people … drinking … dancing with Ruby …
“I remember you with me on the couch,” I say.
“Anything after that?”
I remember Oliver coming over, and how excited I was to see him. I remember the smell of alcohol on his lips. My heart stops. I don’t remember the details, but I can make inferences. “Did I do something stupid?”
“You wouldn’t classify it as stupid.”
“What was it?” My heart sinks.
“You kissed Oliver.”
“Kissed?” I echo. As in, kissed once?
Noah hesitates. “More like made out.”
Made out? That means multiple kisses. My stomach swoops, but it’s not full of giddy butterflies. I feel sick.
