There was a strange noise filling the room around me, it was almost as obnoxious as the sunlight peeping through the window. Whatever my body was lying on was uncomfortable, it was soft or smooth like the bed in the hotel should have been. The moment my eyes fluttered open, my head began to pound and my stomach began to flip. My mouth was dry and my throat was begging for water. What the fuck happened last night?


I sat up slowly and placed a hand on top of my pounding skull. From here, I could see why my body was so stiff. I'd fallen asleep on the floor of a bar, which had ugly, purple carpet where the tables were - Where I was. The irritating sound making my ears hurt was a vacuum cleaner, and pushing it around the room was a skinny, big busted redhead. She noticed my head poking up over the tables and smiled at me, killing the vacuum as she did so. No one else was here, why the fuck hadn't I been kicked out? I don't even know how I ended up here. Ember and the guys must have left me.


"Hey, Jack," the girl greeted me, going behind the bar to fetch me a glass of water. "Come over here. I always keep extra advil stocked up."


"Thank you," I murmured, standing up to drag my feet to the bar. She must have known me, to have known my name, but I couldn't figure out who this chick was to save my life. "Uh?"


"Yeah, you were pretty wasted last night," she giggled, sliding me two pills and a tall glass of water. "I'm Bri, in case you don't remember."


"Well, thank you, Bri."


Said girl smiled and began to wipe down the bar. As I tossed back the pills and drank the bitter taste out of my mouth, I tried really hard not to stare at her chest as it wiggled with her arms moving circles around the bar. For some reason, I felt really uncomfortable around here. Ember wasn't even here to catch me staring, but I still felt like she'd kill me if she knew. As I chugged the rest of my water, I tried to recall the events from last night, but all I felt was shame.


"So am I going to see you again tonight or are you heading back out on the road?"


"I told you about the band?"


"You told me everything, sugar," she winked, tossing the rag over her shoulder. As the wind pushed back her red strands, I noticed a large, purple hicky on her neck. It was the same kind I would give Ember when we had really rough sex. "Remember, we thought it'd be best if you crashed in the bar so you wouldn't have to face the bitch?"


The bitch? Oh God, that's right, I had called Ember a bitch before I left. And then, I stumbled away. This was the only bar on the entire strip that was still open and there were only a few people inside. That's when I met Bri, because she was working until noon, until the bar fully closed for the day. Everything else was a blur, though.


"So, we were right last night? Is your back killing you today?"


"My back.. ?" I closed my eyes tightly and tried like Hell to remember why the fuck this chick seems so cool with me. The only memory I had that would cause my back to hurt was roughly falling against the bar, or was I pushed? Wait a minute, oh shit. "Did, uhm, did something happen between us last night?"


"What? You mean aside from you walking in the bar bitching about how long it's been since you've gotten laid?"


"I'm sorry," I sighed, forcing a laugh. "I was really drunk."


"Trust me, I know. But I'd said it paid off, wouldn't you?"


Blinking a few times, I swallowed the lump in my throat. Not only was I feeling shameful and guilty, but now this woman was telling me we shared more than what I thought last night. That couldn't be true though. I would never cheat on Ember, no matter how pissed or drunk I was. Still, my back did hurt and this girl did have that crazy look in her eyes.


"You definitely turned my world upside down last night. That thing you did-"
"I'm sorry, I have to go. If I don't remember it, it didn't happen, and frankly, I have no clue what you're talking about. Thanks for the water!"


She was lying, she had to be. I told her I was in a band, she knew I was drunk and she wanted a hook to stay on my radar. There was no possible way that I would do something so horrible to Ember. I was just upset, that's all. Upset, and coming down from my pills. Nothing more, nothing less.


Then why I did feel so shitty?


Before I knew what was happening, I was back at the hotel. Matt and Alex were sitting outside, both of their phones out and they looked pissed. Trying to call me, no doubt. I let out a loud sigh and made my way over to them, ready to get screamed at.


"Jack?" Alex noticed me first. He stood up and ran over to me, wrapping his arms around my body. "We were worried about you dude. You were drunk as fuck last night. Ember came looking for you at like, seven in the morning. Where did you go?"


"A bar, apparently," I forced a smile. "I'm sorry. Where's Ember?"


"She went to grab us some coffee. You're in trouble, you know that?"


"Yeah. I think I figured that out when I woke up. I'm going to go shower, okay?"


"Please do. You stink of skunked booze."


Waving Alex off, I started the journey back to my room. What Ember didn't know, even what I didn't know, wouldn't hurt her. Now if I could just make it through this day without screwing up again, I'll be able to let this go. I just hope Ember could, too.

Notes

What happened at the bar?! Mwahaha. Love you guys. <3.