Enrique

I woke up feeling like I had been hit by a truck, my head throbbing as though an ice pick was being lodged into my skull and my stomach churning with what I was pretty sure were muscle spasms from not having any more contents to puke back up. Even an empty stomach sometimes didn't feel empty enough…

Rolling myself over, I made an attempt at taking in the lighting that leaked through my window, quickly giving up and shoving my head under a pillow. The back of my eyelids weren't dark enough, but neither was being under something. It wasn't physically possible for it to be dark enough to mask this sort of hangover. I had no memory of how I got back to my dorm or what had even happened at the party, vaguely recalling chasing down that exchanged student at some point. I was pretty sure I got a blow job, but it was also possible that I had sex with her.

Attempting unsuccessfully to nod back off and sleep the pain away, I tossed and turned several times. It was no use though, between my head, stomach, and the fact that I had major morning wood to take care of, it was unlikely that I wouldn't be forcing myself to get up, likely to rub one out in the shower and hope that warm water and a steam filled bathroom would make at least some of the aching go away.

Bringing my hands to my temples, I rubbed my head somewhat aggressively before stumbling to my feet like a newborn deer and grabbing a towel that was hung up on the knob of my bedroom door and draping it over my shoulders, making the slow walk of shame out into the hallway. I could hear the clinking of dishes in the kitchen, meaning that Ollie was in the middle of cooking something and I would also have different smells I would need to tolerate along with everything else.

"'Rique!" I heard Lars laugh from the living quarters, stomping like some sort of barbarian into the hall and smacking a hand into my back. "It's well past noon, mate, we were close to going in to check for a pulse. You look like absolute shit."

I merely groaned in response, only taking notice to the sudden silence within the kitchen. Ollie was likely eavesdropping, which I would have to remember to rip on him for later. It was admittedly strange, though. It was very rare that anything could pull him back to reality when he was in the kitchen, normally off on another planet while he cooked.

"If you insist on socializing right now could you at least make me a coffee?" I yawned, pushing my way past him and into the bathroom.

"Not my fault you got blackout drunk, I tried to cut you off last night; you're the one who insisted you wanted to keep going. Did you ever get that girl to bed after you guys locked yourselves in the closet?"

"I think..."

"You don't remember jack shit, do you?"

"Who asked you?"

"I sure hope not, she already has to do the walk of shame after getting caught sucking your dick, I can't imagine her having to stumble home not knowing where her knickers are."

Was that what happened? I vaguely remembered getting a hand up her shirt when we made out, but I couldn't remember anything about a closet, let alone whether or not I successfully got her into bed. I normally spent a few weeks fooling around before going as far as to try and sleep with someone new, check a few boxes that she isn't crazy or a stalker. There were a few rumors that had spread regarding my body count but in reality it was only four, I didn't bed every girl I saw.

"Fuck off." I mumbled, closing the bathroom door and giving my head a small shake. I felt sick to my stomach, had a killer headache and was dizzy, meaning I wasn't in the mood to listen to Lars try and get wanking material off of me. Turning on the shower water, I continued attempting to think back to last night. I knew I had a lot to drink and remembered bits and pieces of the party, but everything else just seemed to be a blur. There was a part of me that could have sworn I had taken a girl home afterward, even if I wasn't sure which base I made it to, but it seemed unlikely that she wouldn't either still be here or have run into one of my roommates. Ollie was an early riser and rarely remained in his room past seven in the morning, Pete I could see not noticing but if Lars saw anything I would definitely know about it. Hell, the whole school would know about it.

Rubbing at my eyes, I let out a damp sniffle before turning the shower on and playing a mental gymnastics in order to force myself to actually get into it. I wanted to pop some pain relief (legally, I should add) and go back to bed, yet I stood here instead, eventually undressing and coming to a pathetic compromise where I lay on the floor of the shower and let the water run over me, closing my eyes for a moment and just hoping I didn't throw up.

I didn't want to be stuck cleaning the bathroom out too…

xxx

Oliver was gone by the time I had finished bathing, shoes and spring jacket missing from the coat rack. It was actually a bit odd for him to be gone on a Sunday, not that it wasn't nice to see him making different friends. Either way, I shrugged it off, looking through my list of missed calls and messages and giving Bianca a quick ring.

"What's up?" I asked when she answered, being met with a less than thrilled sigh.

"You know I've been trying to call you all day, right?"

"I overslept."

"It's practically supper."

"I really overslept."

"Were you drinking last night?"

"Yeah… not my smartest idea, I should really just stick to Friday night keggers."

She didn't sound happy, which was how she always seemed to sound lately when I had the audacity to go out and do something fun. I knew that she was getting too big to move around much, but there was no reason for me to suffer too.

"I think you should come home for a bit."

"For what?"

She was joking, right? I had hardly been in school for two months, besides I had just seen her a few weeks ago.

"I've been having some complications… The baby is fine- he is fine, but my doctor is a bit concerned for my health. She wants me on bed rest for the time being and is worried I could go into early labor. Having you around a bit more would help take some stress off of me."

"What would me being there do?"

"Enrique, can you just do this for me please?"

I didn't want to… I really didn't want to, but she was guilting me into it now.

"Yeah." I sighed. "I'll come home for a bit… I need to talk to the dorm parents and my teachers and figure out what I'll be missing."

"Thank you, sweetie." She said with what sounded like some relief, "I'll make it up to you, I swear. We never get to spend time together anymore."

"Listen… I have some homework I need to get finished-"

"I get it." She giggled. "I'll let you go. Promise to call me a little more, though? We need to start thinking about names."

"Sure."

Hanging up, I brushed my fingers through my still damp hair, throwing a bit of product in before separating my curls and spraying myself with cologne. I still felt like shit, but I at least looked human again.

Grabbing my sunglasses off the counter, I made a break for the front door with my hands shoved in my pockets, hoping I looked less like someone Lars would want to speak to. I had to find some people from the party and fill in a few gaps of missing memory. I still couldn't shake the feeling that I had brought someone home last night, vaguely recalling having a girl in my bed.

Getting outside with no issues, I wasn't able to immediately locate anyone I had been with, only spotting a fidgeting Oliver on one of the benches smoking until his lungs gave out.

"You should cut back." I said while approaching him, catching him off guard as he began choking on his cigarette. "You've been tense lately."

He didn't look at me, immediately beginning to twist strands of hand around his finger while sinking into the bench, oddly unbothered at the prospect of being seen with bad posture. God forbid he ever be seen as less than perfect.

"I'm fine." He squeaked. "I was about to leave anyway."

"Where are you going? I'm gonna grab coffee if you wanna come."

"No, thank you for offering though."

Practically leaping to his feet, Oliver hightailed it out of there at a brisk pace of clear avoidance. Had he seen anything that had happened the night before? The more time that went by the more confused I felt, double checking my phone for any drunk texts I may have sent out, only coming across one conversation that I had only been buzzed during.

What would happen if we combined strip poker with truth or dare?

Dude, I'm not daring Lupe to go down on you.

Then dare me to go down on her, she'll owe me one.

Lupe, that was the exchanged student I had classes with. I had completely forgotten her name, but it seemed to unlock some of the hazy memory I had. We had played seven minutes in heaven and I had gotten to second base, Marco had opened the closet door to find her… on her knees I suppose you would say, and I had offered to sneak her into my room. I couldn't remember if I had done it, though… had I slept with her last night? I still had a condom in my wallet so it wasn't likely, but if she had brought her own it was possible.

God dammit how is this all that I remember? I cursed myself for how wasted I had gotten, making a mental note to hold myself back a bit more next time. I knew I had been going overboard since Bianca told me she was pregnant.

Maybe that was what the hangover was for.

Maybe it was just some higher powers way of showing me how she felt…

Shitty.

Xxx

I had finished packing up my things by early the next week, managing to get the assignments that I would miss before Friday and giving myself Saturday off before flying home. We always had our Autumn Festival the Saturday before daylight savings and even though it wasn't much, mostly food, some entertainment and kids trying to get you to join their clubs, it was an event worth going to. To be honest, I was at the point where a slower paced activity sounded great. Oliver had hardly spoken a word to me lately and I knew he was always up for going, he and Johnny always going a bit more of a cultural appreciation route that I was confident they used as an excuse to eat. The last two years consisted of Johnny stinking up the fridge with leftover haggis and Oliver making so many pastries that the obsessive use of flour made it look like he had been doing coke for a week straight.

Changing into something that wasn't too casual but also wasn't a school uniform, I took a few moments to eye myself in the bathroom mirror before making my way to Ollie's door and giving a quick knock. It went unanswered.

"If you're looking for Fancy Pants, he isn't here." Lars spoke, giving a rude looking smirk.

"You don't know where he's been going off to lately, do you?" I asked, choosing to ignore it.

"No idea, he's been locking his door though. I tried to borrow one of his English assignments and couldn't get in his room."

"He probably knows you're stealing his things to cheat."

"You do it all the time."

"That's different, I've known him since I was four."

He gave an amused snort before walking away as I gave the doorknob a wiggle. He was right that the door was locked, something that wasn't unheard of or even uncommon in school but that I didn't normally expect from Ollie. He practically always had an open door policy. He had been acting weird lately and I still couldn't seem to get an answer as to why.

Shrugging my shoulders, I decided to check to see if I could find him at the festival, pocketing my hands and making my way through the living quarters and outside. It was oddly warm out today, particularly for late October, something I didn't hate the idea of as it meant the girls who celebrated and dressed up for Halloween would wear less clothing, therefore leaving less to the imagination. The leaves were changing color and many had already fallen, coating the walkway in many shades of oranges and reds that would be picked up by mind winds, spinning as you walked by them.

It was oddly beautiful.

Relatively quickly as my feet touched the fairgrounds, I made my way over to Rosetta, who's version of autumn attire was a crop top sweater and a scarf, naval exposed and thong straps poking out of her low waist bell bottoms.

"You're a sight for sore eyes." I smirked, pulling a chair up before snagging a bite of her candy apple. She rolled her eyes at me, the smallest of smirks making its way out.

"You wish."

"I didn't even do anything."

We hadn't spoken much since having sex, mostly talking through our mutual friends. I had accepted that she wasn't interested in getting back together, but she couldn't deny the needs we both had and the others ability to satisfy them.

"It's going around school that you're having a boy."

"Yeah… Bianca is excited."

"You're not, I'm guessing?"

"I didn't have much preference either way. I'm staying with her next week in order to help her with some things, I guess she's supposed to be on bed rest; the doctor doesn't want her or the baby under too much stress."

"No hot date night for you two then, I can't imagine anything more stressful than being in your warm comfy home and suddenly taking a dick to the face, poor kid will either grow up traumatized or gay."

"Shut up."

"Make me."

Bringing my chair closer to her, I wrapped an arm across her lower back and pulled her close to me, kissing her lips not aggressively, but not passively either. When we parted, she was smiling.

"You're such an asshole." She giggled.

"You told me to make you."

"No I mean, you really will just fuck any girl who asks, huh? I can't help but smirk at the fact that you thought I still wanted you when school started."

"It wouldn't need to be a relationship, just a fling while we're here. It's our final year before graduating and it feels like a waste to not have fun with it."

"I'm not saying I pity Bianca or anything, I mean really she should have known better than to get with you, but the fact that she hasn't figured out yet that you don't give a single shit about her or this kid is just pathetic. It's almost sad."

"Who says I don't care?"

"That's a joke, right?"

"Look, I'm trying to make it work."

"You fucked me while she was seven months pregnant. Look I don't give a shit what you do, I don't claim to be a good person." She smiled, leaning her cheek into the palm of her hand. "I just think it's cute that you think you are."

I knew she was trying to get to me… It was a game she sometimes played, she liked messing with peoples emotions and was good at making someone second guess themselves and their motives, but I really was trying. I didn't ditch Bianca, my families money was helping to take care of her and she's grateful for it. This baby is gonna have food and shelter and people to tend to it, all the responsibility didn't have to just fall on me.

"You don't know what you're talking about."

"The only person you care about is that little poof who I'm pretty sure wants to fuck you."

"Now you're just being gross. I've known Oliver since we were kids, he's my best friend."

"He's a fucking poof who fantasizes about sucking dick, the whole school knows it." Her smirk widened. "You look so cute when you're starting to get pissed off."

She leaned in, kissing me on the cheek as I held back my annoyance. I knew she didn't truly mean the things she said; that she liked to tease me in order to get a reaction, but she was going too far today and I'd had enough of it.

"Mock me if you need to be a bitch that badly, Rosetta." I said with a roll of the eyes. "Leave Ollie out of it, though, I don't like you talking about him like that."

"I just can't believe he doesn't gross you out."

"Enough."

Rolling her eyes, she kissed me on the neck before getting out of the chair, throwing her apple core in the garbage and walking who knows where. I was irritated now… the things she had said hit a sore spot and I didn't like it.

Getting up, I made my way down to the displays, buying a kabob before wandering the different booths. Most had some sort of autumn theme and one even having a small Halloween display. Mostly it was culture clubs trying to raise funds they didn't need but were required to get by selling food. Still, the money would go to charity and that overall wasn't a bad thing. Although I expected to find Oliver among the other French kids who refused to let me just order in English, his presence remained unknown, still nowhere to be found within the festival or the school grounds.

Culture Clubs

Art Clubs

Music and Choir

It was all the same thing we saw every year, the smaller ones that were struggling to find enough members scattered around and ignored as they begged those around them to sign up. The only one that even garnered any attention was a small trio of girls, decked from head to toe in faux silk gowns and sporting masks and veils. I didn't recognize them and only one seemed to have taken up a speaking roll, making announcements in Spanish (which I spoke more fluently than French) and balancing a spinning plate on a stick. The other two seemed to only be there for moral support, staying away in the background and still appearing shy, even when only their eyes were visible.

Actually, even covered it was hard not to take notice of their beauty. The main leader had extraordinarily long hair that fell in two large braids over her shoulders. Had she been nude they would have perfectly censored her breasts. The other two had shorter hair, a redhead sporting long bangs that fell across her forehead, almost to her eyes. She wore no veil like the other two, only covered by a golden mask decorated in colorful jewels and a centerpiece that came out into the shape of a birds beak instead of sitting just above the nose as the other who did. Her and the third girl twirled ribbons, the final of the three being more petite with a head of lime colored hair coming just past her shoulders, the same shade Oliver liked to pretend was his natural color, and was decorated with gold colored pieces. Her dress had more flow than the other two, touching the ground in front of her with sleeves that attached to the waist, coming out like the wings of a butterfly. She looked oddly familiar… in fact the more I looked at her the more annoyed I became that I couldn't place her. We definitely had classes together.

She was absolutely beautiful.

As they already had a crowd forming around them, getting to the front of it wasn't the easiest task, involving being elbowed several times and having my foot stepped on. It was also proving to be difficult to get any of their attention… honestly just having one look at me would be nice.

Eventually the smaller of the three turned my direction, making eye contact as I attempted a charming smile. Instead of smiling back, she immediately froze. Looking like a deer in the headlights, she turned her head away, using the fabric of her dress sleeves to hid herself more than she already was. Her shyness actually intrigued me even more, a reaction of caution showing that she likely had little experience with men staring at her the way I was and leading me to assume that she was a bit more plain looking under her ensemble.

It wasn't until I truly took her reaction in that it clicked, a clouded memory finding its way to the front of my mind.

Saturday night…

I had taken her home.

Although it was cloudy, the memory was definitely there, my arms wrapped around her on the mattress of my bed, her tongue pressed against mine in an erotic battle it wasn't possible to lose. I wished I could remember her body, remaining unsure of how far we had gone that night and if it had been all the way. Her current nerves made me at least somewhat confident there had been exploration of bodies and I could no longer remember if I had woken up smelling like sex the next day. I did have an unused condom, something that made me less sure. With Bianca in the condition she currently was I wouldn't have gone skin to skin. Of course, if I was horny enough on top of being drunk it wasn't a complete impossibility; I did largely preference the feeling of not having one on and I was pretty sure women did too.

"You don't need to talk to me if you don't want to." I said somewhat shyly. "Don't feel awkward about what happened, though. I actually wanted to let you know how beautiful I think you are. I wish I remembered you more."

Alright, so admitting that I had little memory of our encounter probably wasn't the greatest pick up line… I figured it may make her feel less uncomfortable, though. Had she done something freaky she may feel better knowing I didn't remember it.

The long haired one made her way in between us as though protecting her friend.

"She doesn't know what you're talking about." She spoke. "You're making her uncomfortable."

"Look, I'm just trying to put together what happened. I was near black out drunk and I'm not a big fan of one night stands, especially with a girl as cute as you. Could you just… kinda fill me in on what happened?"

Okay, I was absolutely not making myself look very good right now…

Her eyes widened and she made eye contact with the vocal one, shaking her head like she'd just been caught with her hand in a cookie jar. Her friend raised an eyebrow to her, eyes dropping in judgmental disappointment.

"Seriously?" She said the way ones mother normally did had you been caught doing something dumb. "Seriously?"

She continued shaking her head and miming aggressively. I didn't understand why she didn't speak. Deciding I had likely caused enough trouble, I backed up into the crowd, finding my way to the back and turning to go back toward the other displays. I wasn't sure what the problem was. I mean, I knew I didn't have the greatest reputation with everything currently happening but I didn't necessarily have the worst. It was possible the tall one had a thing for me and that her friend had betrayed her.

Either way, I decided I would look for her again a different time, keeping my eyes more peeled in regards to finding her in one of my classes. It shouldn't be hard, not with eyes like hers. The only other people I knew with lilac eyes were Oliver's family, or at least him and his father and little sister, making me wonder if it was a genetic thing with green hair, kind of like redheads having green eyes.

Taking one more look over my shoulder, I found myself actually blushing as she stared at me, turning away as soon as our eyes made contact.

It was no question.

If I had anything to say about it,

I would see her again.