Chapter Five
Maya
Where am I? Did I die? Did all that bleach and peroxide finally see me off?
“Urrrg!” Fallon groans next to me.
No, not dead, just incredibly hungover.
“Why did we do this to ourselves? It wasn’t big, and it wasn’t clever!” I announce. One glass of wine turned into two. Which then turned into a bottle. Each.
“After that shit show last night? It was needed. But a paracetamol is needed more,” She mumbles, face down in her pillow.
As if we didn’t have enough to drink before all the Jake drama erupted. Cocktails, shots and wine do not mix. It seemed like such a good idea at the time, like it always does. An idea that we are both currently regretting.
“Waaaaater. I need water!” I plead as I attempt to roll off the bed, the room spins, just one of the lovely aftereffects of too much consumption.
“Grab me a bottle too, please, before I keel over,” Fallon begs.
When I finally drag my body into an upright position, I make my way into the kitchen. On my way, I notice the destruction we left during our pity party for two last night. After the dreaded phone call, we danced, ordered pizza, watched crappy TV and drank, drank far too much!
I really need to have a tidy round, but that can be a problem for later.
I grab the bottles and scurry back to the bedroom, needing to lay my head back down. The effort to keep it vertical is too much. Reaching across, I grab my phone and realise it’s still switched off. Do I even bother to turn it on today? Anyone who knows me well would call Fallon anyway, we’re almost always together. I’m not doing it, just the anxiety of staring at my phone when it’s not even switched on is making me feel sick. Or it could just be the hangover. Who knows.
“How are you feeling, Maymay? Other than possible alcohol poisoning,” Fallon asks, finally lifting her head to glance at me.
“Honestly… better than I should. I feel like this weight has been pulling me down for so long, and I can finally breathe again.”
“I can’t believe how much of a dick he was being. Has he always been this bad?” She asks sullenly. Like she should have known all along.
“He’s been nasty before, but last night was on a whole other level. I’m glad he’s shown his true colours now, though. It scares me to think of howmuch worse it could have got if I’d have stayed with him.” I’ve seen firsthand how bad men can get, just not directly aimed at me.
“Ooo, Gracie has texted the group chat. We need to meet for breakfast in twenty minutes. Reckon we can make it?” She asks.
“For greasy food? I’ll make sure we’re ready!”
After a quick shower and raiding Fallon’s wardrobe, we rush out of the apartment and head to the local café. We have only walked a few meters, and already the smell of food hits my senses and draws me in. Is there any better way to sort a hangover than greasy food?
As we walk into the café, the sisters are already seated near the window, waving at us with annoyingly perky attitudes. Just because they were the sensible ones last night. Before joining them, we head over to the counter to order our usual morning-after feast.
“Two vanilla lattes and two full monty breakfasts, please,” I order and pay quickly before Fallon can get the chance. The least I can do is buy her breakfast after last night.
I don’t even get a chance to sit my arse down before Fallon starts offloading all the drama from the night before.
“What a dick!” Gracie exclaims. I don’t think I have ever seen such emotion come from her before.
“You’re taking the piss! Did he really? Please tell me you broke up with him? That’s crossing way too many lines,” Blair rages, just as infuriated as Gracie.
God, these girls, they are so angered for me, and as strange as it may sound, I love them even more for it. Knowing just how much they care makes me feel validated. I don’t know how I would cope without them; my eyes are tearing up again just thinking about it.
Gracie studies me; she is always the one to notice our changes in emotion. Like she’s in tune with it.
“I’m not crying because of him now; it’s because of how much I love you girls. Also, I am incredibly fragile from drinking too much, and that’s making me a little overemotional,” I try to laugh it off, knowing she can see straight through me.
“Girl, that’s what happens when you’re already steaming drunk, and you decide to carry on at home,” Blair remarks, and we all laugh. She’s got a point.
“So yeah, I’m single. I’ve gotten rid of it, as I should have done ages ago.” I admit. “I think I’m going to stay with Fal for another night or two, just be sure he isn’t coming back. I’m not letting him keep me away from my home, I worked too bloody hard for it.”
