( Alys Prov)
"Alys, wake up."
I pulled the sheets over my head and rolled on the bed. I looked at my imaginary clock. It's only 7 am! Why is Dane waking me up?!
He kept on calling my name and so I gave up.
I sat down on my bed and glared at him. "You just woke me up in such an ungodly hour, Dane. What's wrong?" I said with face of annoyance. I brushed my hair with my hand and watched my brother shake his head. "What?" I asked him.
He shrugged. "Nothing. You look weird yesterday night, by the way. Good thing Mom didn't see you. You look stupid drunk."
Aish! Yes, of course. I partied till late night with Tofer. God, Dane even saw me come home looking like that! What kind of sister am I? I'm such a bad influence on my brother, I've never done anything but study. Tsk.
"Sorry..." I whispered.
"It's nothing. Anyway, Mom said take care because they will be gone for a while."
"Huh?"
Dane stood up and picked a strawberry from my night stand. I put frozen strawberries on the table every morning. Why is that how I have breakfast? "We'll go to a resort in Alegria, I don't know. That's it. They're just telling Mom because they can't come home here."
I pouted. "Are you going to leave me, Baby Dane?"
He nodded. "You don't need me, anyway. You need Drake. You look stupid, Alys."
And there, he walked out on me.
I need Drake? Huh! I survived for years without him. What difference does it make now that he's gone? And besides, which one can't people get? He's getting married, for Christ's sake! Is that hard to understand?!
I decided to take a nap since Dane disturbed my sleep.
"This is what you call beer, okay?"
I just nodded and took the beer that Jane handed me. Awesome! Even though Jane is younger than me, she knows a lot. She was one of the first friends I made here in Paris and she introduced me to what she calls the night life.
I reached for the beer and tried to drink it. "Ugh!" I threw up the beer. Yuck! What does this taste like! Disgusting.
I heard Jane and Faye laughing at me.
"Hahaha! Such a baby, 1 year old. Can't handle a beer?" they teased me.
Tsk. These girls!
"I don't like the taste of this one. Give me another drink."
Faye shrugged and then shouted. It's so noisy in this club! I can't hear anything anymore. People are just dancing, actually, they're not dancing anymore, they're just dry humping. Hmmm. I'm not new to this. Here, everywhere I turn, someone is kissing. It's okay, I'm used to it.
"Three rounds of tequila on my tab!" she shouted to the bartender. After a minute, a tray of tequila arrived at our table.
Faye gave us each a shot of tequila and lemon. "To girls!"
My throat hurt!
I looked at Faye and Jane who took the lemon first then drank the tequila and then the salt. These two are really bitches! I wasn't even told that it was supposed to be like that!
"Another round?" Faye said and raised her eyebrows.
Jane took a shot and held it up. "To boys, may they be forever damned!"
Another shot.
Another shot.
"Where are we? Hahaha."
I tried to stand up but I just can't. My vision is so blurry.
"Hey, b-itch. Where are you going?" Faye number 1 said to me. Why did Faye have three heads?
I answered yes to one of Faye's heads. I don't know which head asked me. It's up to the heads who heard my answer.
My path seemed to zigzag but I ended up in the middle of the dance floor. I don't know hahaha! I want to dance now...
"Hey girl!!"
"Ugh! What is that guy sleeping for!"
I rolled over in bed and tried to sleep again. After a few seconds, I heard the sound of a pot clanging. WHAT THE?! Where did the pot come from?!
"Wake up, Alys! Wake up, Alys!"
I woke up and saw Tofer marching around my room like a madman while holding a pot and a ladle. He was going crazy again!
I stood up and took the ladle from his hand. "What the heck is your problem?!"
He was fighting over the ladle with me. Wow! "What the heck is my problem?! Hey, girl! You woke me up at three in the morning to pick me up from the bar! My beauty rest is ruined!"
Shems. I was at the bar last night! Where are Faye and Jane? They were my companions last night, weren't they??
"Where is my companion?" I asked Tofer.
"With you?" he said then spoke again. "You mean, those two blonde drunks?" I nodded. That's what Jane and Faye were like. "Ah, they left you at the bar yesterday. You were losing your mind so they sent you home. That's what your friends are like, Alys. They'll leave you when you're no longer useful."
I just ignored him and went to the kitchen to get some water. I was thirsty. If you're wondering why I'm with Tofer, we live in the same apartment. I don't know why he came with me here, he seems to be fine in NY. But it's okay because at least I know someone.
He handed me some water. "Drink, drink, it's not like that."
I just took it and drank it. "That's why I drink to get used to it, right?"
That's just the way my life is here. Maybe in a week, Tofer picked me up from the bar four times so he just thought of coming with me. He doesn't drink, nothing, he just wants to gossip with the people here. I think he's really gay.
I went to my class first and then I had a meeting with my groupmates. They were smoking but I really couldn't do that so I went outside. Tripp called just in time.
"Why?"
("Woah. We're hot-headed, huh?")
I sighed. I didn't want to yell at Tripp. He was the only one there for me, was I going to be rude? "No, sorry. I just feel a little bad," I reasoned.
("Bad? Have you checked up yet?")
"Nah. I'm just feeling under the weather. How about you? How's life alone?"
I sat down on the pathway. No one was passing by this curve so I felt okay. ( "Still the same. You? Have you adjusted yet?")
I wanted to say that I was very adjusted. I was able to get to the bar and go home early, eh. But of course I wouldn't tell Tripp that. I was too much of a bother to him before, I don't want to anymore.
"I'm okay here. Okay, I'll do something else," I said. The truth is, I don't want to talk to him because all I'm saying is lies. He deserves better and I am not better, I am worse. He doesn't deserve the end of a shmick stick.
I went inside and tried one of those sticks. It's awful. Not my thing.
I woke up feeling still light headed. Nevertheless, I stood up and prepped myself up. Mom won't be around for days and I have the house all to myself! Will they agree if we sleep over here? We haven't done that in ages!
Some lipstick and mascara and I'm ready to go! I got my keys then went to the garage. I was about to leave when I caught up with Drake. He was standing on the path way.
I pressed the honk loud enough.
I rolled down the mirror because he wouldn't move. "What's up, Drake?!" I shouted. Not today, Drake. I want a perfect day. Don't ruin this for me.
He moved towards the car and then suddenly opened the side door. Son of a jerk! I forgot to close it!
"Where are we going?" he asked.
"Where are we going your arse! Why are you here? Let's be close?" I asked, finally unleashing my inner sarcasm.
He gave me a smile. "We were pretty close. You're my ex, remember? We used to hug, to cuddle, to---"
"Ugh!" I stopped the car and faced him. "What the hell, Drake?!"
He leaned back in his seat and put his hand behind his head. The nerve! He even managed to relax?! "Chill, Alys. You'll grow wrinkles if you keep on frowning."
"What if I get wrinkles? What do you care?!"
He gave me one of those annoying smiles of his. Ugh! "Tripp doesn't like ugly girls. Anyway, go drive."
Inhale, exhale.
Calm down, Alys. Calm down.
Ugh! I can't!
I stepped on the gas. Good thing we were on a pretty secluded road because I might run over someone at my speed. Drake? Well, I don't care. Where's his fiancé?!
I slowed down the car then reached for my phone and dialed Cristine's number and put on my Bluetooth earplugs. "Hello, where are you?" I asked.
("Uhh, I'm here in my office. Why?")
"Nothing. Thanks!"
I looked at Drake who was sitting quietly in the car. I was driving to his fiancé's office. Why am I here? I'm still the one taking him to his fiancé! I must have left my brain somewhere!
" Go Down"
He turned and looked at me. "Are we here yet?" he asked then he yawned. "Oh, why are we here?" he asked as he saw the building where his fiancé was working.
"Go meet your fiancé. Drake, please stop bothering me. We're done. Remember? Four years ago? In front of the hotel you were staying at? Remember, me, Alys Perez, the girl you destroyed?" I pointed myself. "Look at me now, Drake. I'm better, and I'm doing good without you. I worked for this for years. Don't pull me back to the pit you've created for me."
He sighed then unbuckled his seatbelt.
"See you tonight."
UGH!