The word ‘hangover’ didn’t quite cut it. Lorelai and Joanie weren’t strangers to a night of drinking but there was something about drinking while feeling sad that intensified the ‘morning after the night before’ feeling. Lorelai came to, bleary-eyed, to the sound of the shower running. The only good thing about falling asleep when intoxicated was that the night was often dreamless, with no nightmares to shake her awake from her drunken stupor.
‘Urghhhh,’ she groaned loudly.
‘Urghhhh,’ Joanie groaned in response from the bathroom.
Lorelai peeled herself off her sweaty bed sheets and clung to the walls as she made her way to the bathroom. The door was ajar and Joanie was sat on the floor of the shower, under the jets of steaming water, still wearing her floral pyjamas.
‘You’re ruining your pyjamas,’ Lorelai said, running her dry, fuzzy tongue over her equally fuzzy teeth. Her voice was deep and husky, and her stale breath wafted up from her mouth, sending a wave of nausea through her. Lorelai sat on the closed toilet seat and took a few deep breaths.
‘By the time I realised, I was already wet.’ Joanie shrugged, and tucked her head between her knees, massaging her temples. ‘I genuinely feel like something in here is about to explode.’
‘Good night, though,’ Lorelai said, smiling.
‘Which bit? The bit where I laughed until I cried, or the bit where you laughed so hard you farted?’ They both giggled, before groaning again and clutching their aching heads.
‘Don’t make me laugh,’ Lorelai begged.
‘No more impersonations then?’ Joanie tipped her head back and let the water wash over her. Lorelai was pleased to see a playful smile on her face.
‘Not until my head has stopped banging.’
‘As much as it cheered me up, your Alan Rickman’s gotten worse. Much worse.’
‘That’s worrying. That’s the best one I’ve got.’ Lorelai gently shook her head and closed her eyes for a moment. ‘Turn to page three hundred and ninety-four…’ she said in a voice very much unlike Alan Rickman’s.
‘Your Christopher Walken is better.’
‘I’m gonna have to come up with a few more, just for you.’
‘Can’t wait.’ Joanie looked over at Lorelai. ‘Don’t suppose you called the cinema? We’re meant to be at work.’
‘Oh no.’ Lorelai couldn’t believe she hadn’t clocked the time. ‘Wesley is going to kill us.’
‘We could say it’s a stomach bug?’
‘Better off saying it’s food poisoning from a bad takeaway. Riggs will just have to pull his finger out and cover for us for a change.’
‘Fat chance.’ Joanie rubbed her eyes, smudging yesterday’s mascara.
‘He’s not got a choice.’
‘Bagsy not calling Wesley.’
‘That’s fair. You’re the one with a broken heart.’ Lorelai stood up slowly, hoping the room would stop spinning soon, and then realised what she’d said. ‘Oh god. Sorry, Joanie, I didn’t mean to bring it all up again.’
‘That’s alright. It’s not as though I’d forgotten. I’ll just have a little weep while you call Wesley.’
‘I thought I’d cheered you up!’
‘You have! If it wasn’t for you, my little weep would be hours of wailing.’ Joanie gave her a half smile, which was enough for Lorelai to feel comfortable leaving her alone for a bit.
‘That’s more like it. I’ll make some dry toast.’ She made her way into the hallway and then yelled, ‘Take your pyjamas off, dickhead.’
Wesley was less than pleased. Lorelai knew, though, that this was less about them not being there and more because Riggs would have to take over for the day. Riggs always managed toscrew up even the simplest of tasks. Lorelai had wondered if it was a tactic, some kind of masterplan to ensure he was never entrusted with any significant responsibility, but then she’d come to the conclusion that he was just a bit useless. Lorelai knew she was condemning Wesley to a stressful day but they had no big events planned so it should be a quiet shift.
An hour or so later, Lorelai and Joanie were on the sofa, freshly showered, and Joanie was in a new, clean, and dry pair of pyjamas. ‘I forgot to ask, how did the book club go?’ Joanie said as she handed Lorelai a pint glass of water and two paracetamol.
Instantly, memories of Grayson flooded Lorelai’s mind. She gulped down the water, enjoying the icy tingle as the liquid made its way down her fiery throat, buying some time. She exhaled loudly, trying to knock away thoughts of his warm skin and soft eyes. ‘I did have to kick two people out within the first half an hour for not really buying into the point of the club, and everyone gave me a round of applause so…’ Lorelai held up two thumbs and Joanie did the same. ‘Therewasthis one guy though.’
