shuhaige
38
As we stumbled out of the ballroom, the blaring music and bright lights seemed to amplify the chaos of the night. Ace’s grip on my arm was firm, his frustration evident in the way his fingers dug into my skin. With each step, the scene before me seemed to blur into a swirl of colors and laughter.
“What were you thinking?!” Ace hissed, his tone a mixture of concern and exasperation. His hold on me tightened, a physical reminder of his disapproval.
“What do you mean?” I asked innocently, the alcohol still clouding my judgment. I could feel a bemused smile tugging at the corners of my lips as I tried to decipher his anger.
“You let a stranger kiss you!” His words cut through the haze, and a flicker of realization swept over me. I glanced back to see Alex carrying Cher, her giggles and slurred speech a testament to her own level of intoxication.
“He didn’t kiss me,” I protested weakly, my words slurring slightly as I struggled to defend myself.
“He almost did!” Alex’s voice joined the conversation from behind me, his words a mixture of frustration and amusement. I could practically feel his eyes rolling at my antics.
“You belong to us!” Ace’s grip on my arm tightened even further, his frustration seeping into each word. The seriousness of his tone momentarily sobered me up.
“Right? But the whole night you two were entertaining Penelope,” I retorted, bitterness coating my words like a sour aftertaste. The name tasted like vinegar on my tongue.
“Penelope?! She’s just a friend,” Ace’s voice held a note of disbelief, as if he couldn’t fathom how I’d come to that conclusion.
As we reached the car, Ace opened the door and practically pushed me inside. The force of it made me wince, a mix of pain and embarrassment washing over me.
“Aww!” I winced, rubbing my arm where his grip had been particularly tight.
“Cher said she’s an ex. I’m not the first girl you two shared!” I blurted out, my emotions bubbling over. The alcohol had stripped away my inhibitions, leaving only raw feelings in its wake.
Alex settled Cher into the car next to me, his eyes locking onto mine. “You’re the only girl we care about,” he said softly, his voice carrying a sincerity that cut through the noise of the night.
His words hung in the air, a heavy declaration that sent a rush of warmth through me. Despite the alcohol clouding my thoughts, his sentiment was clear. In that moment, amidst the chaos and confusion, the truth shone brightly.
As the car door closed, I found myself in the midst of an emotional whirlwind. The night had taken unexpected turns, revealing the depth of feelings that had remained hidden beneath the surface. Cher’s slurred words and my own drunken retorts seemed trivial in comparison to the connection that had just been laid bare.
The engine roared to life, and the car began to move, carrying us away from the ballroom and the whirlwind of the night. With each passing second, the sounds of the party grew fainter, and the reality of the situation settled in.
As the car swayed with the road’s twists and turns, a queasiness began to twist in my stomach. I glanced at Cher, who looked equally pale and uneasy.
“Oh my god, I’ll vomit!” I cried out, my voice tinged with panic as the motion grew unbearable.
In an instant, the car came to a sudden stop, and without thinking, I flung the door open and stumbled out, my stomach revolting in a desperate attempt to escape the motion sickness. The sound of retching filled the air as Cher succumbed to the same fate, her vomiting accompanying the symphony of chaos.
“What the hell?!” Ace’s voice cut through the turmoil, followed by the clamor of doors opening and Alex’s horrified exclamation.
“Ew, she vomited all over the car seat!” Alex’s disgusted voice added to the disarray, prompting me to feel a mixture of embarrassment and sympathy for Cher.
“Disgusting, grab the towel and water from the trunk, Ace,” I heard the rustling of the trunk as Ace complied, fetching supplies to deal with the aftermath.
Once the ordeal was over, and I had finished retching on the side of the road, a sense of relief washed over me. Breathing in the fresh air, I looked up at the sky, the moon casting a soft glow that contrasted with the events that had just unfolded.
As I turned around, my eyes fell on Alex, who was now gently holding Cher’s hair back as he cleaned her up as best as he could. The sight was both heartwarming and bittersweet, a testament to the bond between them.
“The whole car smells like vomit!” Ace’s disgruntled complaint signaled that it was time to get back in the car. We piled back in, the scent of cleaning products mingling with the lingering stench of vomit, creating an oddly surreal ambiance.
As we continued our journey to Cher’s house, exhaustion weighed me down. Leaning my head against the window, I closed my eyes and drifted off into a fitful sleep, the events of the night still replaying in my mind.
I awoke to a sensation of weightlessness, as if I were being carried by a gentle breeze. My groggy sounds filled the air as my senses slowly reoriented themselves. Blinking my eyes open, I found myself on a bed, the softness beneath me a stark contrast to the motion of the car.
Ace and Alex stood at the end of the bed, their expressions a mix of relief and concern.
“You’re awake,” Ace’s voice held a touch of warmth, and Alex chimed in, “And sober.”This is property © of NôvelDrama.Org.
The little sleep I had managed in the car had done its job, clearing away the fog of alcohol-induced haze. My head was aching, but my thoughts were clearer.
“Undress and take a shower. You have a long night ahead,” Ace’s instructions were stern.