Chapter 3 Reunion Revelations Part One

• My throbbing hangover feels like Super Sonic slamming headfirst into a brick wall, I mused upon awakening.
• I had only roused myself from slumber about five minutes ago, and while my senses were still hazy, at least I could see again, albeit not very clearly. I remained at the frat house from the previous night, sprawled on a soft couch that would forever bear the imprint of my sunken-in posterior. I gingerly attempted to sit up, but an oppressive weight on my stomach sent me tumbling back down. I closed my eyes briefly, reaching out to remove this rock-like object. To my surprise, instead of a rock, my hand encountered something lengthy and slender—a hand.
• Upon opening my eyes, I discovered that this hand belonged to my good friend Noah Evans, who was conked out on the nearby table. Emitting a groan, I swiftly liberated his arm from my midsection, inadvertently smacking him in the face and jolting him awake.
• "It wasn't me, honest!" Noah sputtered with wide eyes, before realization dawned, and he groaned, "Duuuuude, what time is it?" he muttered, more to himself than to anyone else. Unaware of my presence, he rubbed his hands over his face in an attempt to shake off sleep, only to eventually spot me and squint.
• "Is that you, Isabella?" he inquired, squinting at me.
• Exhausted, I tilted my head back slightly and responded, "Where are the others? Did we leave alone?"
• A faint smile curled my lips. If I weren't so inebriated right now, I might have teased him a bit, but my current energy levels didn't permit it.
• "Look around, G," I whispered, and his gaze slowly roved around the room. "They're still passed out. You and I are the early risers," I added, followed by a breathless chuckle.
• Struggling to speak, he managed to utter, "Ha! We've got better hangover stamina than they do."
• Noah typically had a higher tolerance for alcohol than most, so if he was struggling, I dreaded to think how wretched I must sound right now.
• "A dying whale," he suddenly quipped.
• Puzzled, I responded with a baffled "Huh?"
• Noah clarified, "You sound like a whale that's on its last breath."
• Realizing that I had indeed uttered that phrase, I groaned in frustration.
• "Can we just wake up the others and get out of here already? Memories are starting to flood back, and I'd rather be anywhere but here when my brain fully recovers all the footage," I said, tapping my temple with a finger.
• "Nice try, but you still licked Max Blackwell's hand," Noah casually pointed out. "Just thought I'd remind you of that little detail, in case it slipped your mind."
• Painfully, I let out a weak laugh, joined by Noah.
• "Help me up, jerk," I said. "We need to rouse the others and escape from here."
• Noah effortlessly rose from the table and assisted me in getting up from the couch. Together, we went to rouse Samuel and Charlotte, who were in charge of waking the twins. Meanwhile, Noah tended to Caleb, and I had the joy of dealing with my best friend, the ever-sleepy Avery Carter, renowned for her ability to snooze more than anyone else.
• I abstain from using any disparaging terms right away since I know they won't work; they never do. Instead, I prepare my hands for the task at hand. Just as I'm about to assist her in expelling the remaining alcohol from her system, Avery suddenly rolls over and starts muttering incoherent phrases.
• "Well, of course, Channing Tatum, I'll make sweet love to you," she declares, and the rest of us exchange glances, suppressing silent laughter. "But perhaps we should consult Jensen Ackles about a potential threesome. After all, he did approach me first."
• I cover my mouth to stifle my laughter.
• Noah makes a valiant effort not to laugh as he pleads, "Someone, please tell me you're recording this!"
• Henry's voice emerges from behind me, saying, "I knew she'd say something ridiculous the moment she switched sides," and we all turn to see him brandishing his phone.
• "Yes! I'll play this at her wedding someday."
• Following her threesome musings, Avery lapses into silence, prompting me to reach out for her.
• "What the hell?!" She jolts awake immediately, making all of us laugh this time, and I'm ecstatic to discover that Henry has also captured this on video.
• It takes Avery only a moment to grasp the situation, and once she does, she moans in agony, just as the rest of us had upon waking.
• "I can't decide what's worse," she laments, gazing at the ceiling, "this pounding headache that feels like my brain is staging a revolt, or the fact that you had to stop me from potentially experiencing the best post-party escapade of my life."
• Before Noah and I help her off the couch, we all share a laugh at her expense. We assist her in standing, propping her arms over our shoulders for added support. Once she's steady on her feet, she points an accusing finger at me.
• "You know, Isabella, I'm most disappointed in you. I was just about to invite you to join us for a foursome," she quips.
• I retort, "Perhaps when you're not sloshed," and we continue to laugh uproariously as we make our way back to our dorm, where the hilarity shows no signs of abating.
• "Are you sure you don't want to come with me?" I inquire of Avery as she stacks my pillows beneath her head, making herself even more comfortable in her bed. "It's such a beautiful day.”
• Monday night's here. Sunday, we chilled to recover. Come Monday morning, we helped our pals pack up for their journeys home. Sad goodbyes, but not as messy as last summer's farewell. My hunch about what Samuel thought of our "summer fling," as Avery playfully calls it, was confirmed when he privately apologized for bringing Charlotte, thinking it might've made me uncomfortable.
• I sensed Avery might've nudged him about it.
• Let me repeat it: Samuel and I are still the best friends we've always been, even though we decided to end things before they began. Can't blame Avery; she's always had my back, and that weekend was no exception.
• After our friends left, Avery and I took it easy. Avery's still resting, but I went job-hunting around campus. Asked Avery about it earlier.
• Avery, closing her eyes and nuzzling my pillow, said, "The weather's beautiful, but my bed's too cozy to leave."
• She smiled, making me feel bad, and set down a forgotten pillow, which I was about to toss at her.
• I said, "Do what you want," and grabbed my backpack with essentials and some Sour Patch Kids Noah got me.
• Avery, eyes still shut, teased, "What's with the walk? You don't do much exercise, unless it's casual sex," making a joke, I guess.
• I grinned and said, "You're right, but I need a job sooner or later, so I'll look before classes start."
• Avery said, "Makes sense," then opened an eye and said, "Check for me too."
• Her look cracked me up.
• "Yeah, yeah," I said, waving her back to sleep. "I'm on it." I locked the door and ventured deeper into campus.
• After an hour and a busted Sour Patch Kids pack, nothing panned out. Tried the library, the only hiring spot, but thought Avery's love for romance novels suited it better. Also tried restaurants, stores, and even hall and apartment front desks. New school year's approaching, so positions filled fast.
• Don't get me wrong; Netflix and Sour Patch Kids sound good, but bills to pay. Only insurance and phone, but my two hometown jobs cover it. Mom and Alex aren't worried. Free college 2000 miles away won't change it. Might be lazy, but I'm responsible, a bit at least.