Chapter inspiration: I’m Like a Lawyer with the Way I’m Always Trying to Get You Off (Me & You) – Fall Out Boy

Reaching over the side for her pillow to grip, Victoria brushed her fingers over an unfamiliar object. She then realized the heavy mass she was leaning on and the unusual hard surface where she was sleeping. That left her with only two conclusions: 1) she was not in her bed and 2) she was definitely not alone.

She groggily lifted one eye open, spying her fingertips lingering along Alex’s stubbly jawline. She sat up, pulling the blanket up to cover herself as she looked around the room. She racked her brain to what led her to the predicament she was in now, but the hangover in her middle temple rose.

She was naked. He was naked. It wasn’t that hard, she finally figured.

“Fuck,” she muttered under her breath while rubbing her eyes.

“Morning, sunshine.” Jack flashed a grin as he walked right past her and into the kitchen, a fresh pair of clothes on. She watched him walk away with swollen and makeup-smudged eyes. It took him about five seconds to finally back-track his steps and look back at the scene in their living room. He looked from the sleeping Alex to Victoria. “You’ve got some major explaining to do.”

“How many beers did I drink last night?” She pinched the bridge of her nose.

“I don’t know. I lost count after nine.” He rubbed his forehead as he sat on the couch. “But you’re asking the wrong guy.”

She sighed. “I’m so fucked.”

“What’re you going to do when he wakes up?”

“It’s kind of hard to think of a plan with a hangover, Jack.”

He put his hands up in defense. “I got plans with Zack, so I’m out.”

“You’re leaving me with this mess?!” She scrambled from the floor, grabbing another blanket to cover herself.

He lifted his brow. “Are you talking about the apartment or Alex?”

“Both.”

Jack made a pouty face, walking closer to her and putting a comforting hand on her shoulder. “Yes.”

Victoria scoffed and stamped her foot as Jack walked through the threshold and to the door. “But your promise!” She whined. Just as he opened the door, there, with her hand raised to knock, was Lisa.

“Oh, well―” Jack threw Victoria a nervous look “―have fun.” He then bolted out the door.

Victoria looked to where Lisa stood waving at the doorstep and to Alex being hidden behind the couch. Just as Lisa was about to step through the threshold, Victoria ran to the doorframe, stumbling on her way, and blocked the doorframe. “Hey, Lisa, how ya doing?” She nervously ran a hand through her hair.

“Oh, just came by to wish you both a good morning.” Lisa smiled brightly. “And to compliment you on your … new outfit?” She released a giggle as she stared at the sheet wrapped around Victoria’s curves.

“Thank you, you’re such a sweetheart!” Victoria was almost doing a mock impression of the girl in front of her. “Okay, bye-bye!” She almost had the door closed before Lisa’s elbow stopped it.

“I can see you’re still a little sleep deprived from Jack’s party last night.” She smiled, even though Victoria could see a hint of suspicion in her eye. “But I was wondering if you had enough energy to go to lunch? I remember you saying you hadn’t been to Panera since you were young.”

Victoria looked down. Her guilt became too much of her. She couldn’t even look Lisa in her bubbly and loyal blue eyes. Victoria was such a bad person. Lisa and Alex were happy together, and here she was, fucking it all up. Not to mention she also screwed her friendship with Lisa. Last night really couldn’t have happened, right? There was a way to reverse time?

A battle seemed to rage in her head. She wanted to take back last night, all of it. But, if she were being honest with her desires, she didn’t want to take it back at all. She wanted to preserve it in her memory, or better―she wanted it again.

Victoria finally answered with a simple “I don’t think I can, sorry.”

“It’s alright. Get some sleep. We can another time!” Lisa glanced down at the ground, confused at why Victoria was doing so.

“Sure,” Victoria nodded, eyes now trained on the doorframe as she started to close the door.

“Oh! One more thing!”

Victoria looked at Lisa from the crack in the doorway, staring deep into her friend’s concerned eyes.

“Do you have any idea where Alex might be? I’ve been calling and texting but he hasn’t answered since last night.”

“No idea.”

---

Victoria managed to throw on a pair of sweats to finally cover her bareness instead of with a blanket. She kept running her hands over her face, the memories of the night before coming back piece by piece as she made a pot of coffee. Last night wasn’t like how it was in high school, no―it was even better. She wanted it again, with him, especially.

Maybe she just wanted him in general.

The coffee maker finally dinged and she pulled out the fresh pot to pour her a cup. A creaking of the floorboard hit her ear and she turned to see Alex running a hand through his hair while securing a blanket around his waist. He blinked his eyes a few times at the light, muttering, “Turn off the lights, would ya?”

Victoria turned back to her coffee, pouring some cream in it as she said, “It’s morning. There’s always light in the morning, if you didn’t know.”

“Your sarcasm is noted.” He sneered and leaned against the kitchen counter next to her. “Where are my clothes, by the way?”

She dropped the spoon instantly in the cup. “Are we really not going to talk about it?”

“I think me asking where my clothes are qualifies us talking about it.”

“Alex, I don’t think you realized how much I fucked things up.” She finally faced him, frustrated. “The universe was kinda perfect, you know. You and I had managed to become at least acquaintances again, Lisa and I became friends, I got to hang with the guys again, and you and Lisa were happy together. And then we had to get drunk and sleep with each other. A.K.A.: fucking everything up.”

“Actually, I don’t recall me ever saying I was happy with Lisa.”

“And another thing, I―” Victoria stopped mid-sentence and glanced up at his mischievous brown orbs. “Excuse me?”

“On-again, off-again relationships get boring when ALL you do is get together, then break up, and then get back together. It’s like an endless cycle.” He sighed and shook his head. “Besides,” he then grinned, “you can’t say you didn’t enjoy last night.”

She crossed her arms over her chest, frowning. “I shouldn’t say it.”

“Fine, whatever.” He swiftly turned and walked across the kitchen to the bathroom. “I’m taking a shower.”

“Why can’t you take a shower in your own apartment?” She snapped.

“I don’t know,” he shrugged. “I guess I’ve always wondered what shampoo Jack uses.”

She scoffed, turning back to her almost-cold coffee and stirring sugar into it. “Your clothes are next to the sink.” She muttered.

“You’re too sweet to me, Hamilton. Honestly, it’s getting to be too much.” He smirked.

She didn’t respond, just stirred her coffee and tried to hold in the small laugh about to erupt. She heard the noise of the shower a little bit too clearly, and she looked over, noticing Alex had cracked the door half open. What the fuck is he doing? she thought to herself as she slowly walked over to the door.

She abruptly stopped in her tracks as he emerged in the crack of the door, his naked form clear even though it wasn’t that visible. He gave a small smirk, enough to understand what he was trying to egg on.

“Wanna go for round two?”

She bit the edge of her fingernail, looking back at the cold coffee and then to him. She thought the word “no” over and over in her head, almost enough to say it. But her feet were moving closer to the bathroom, almost as if a force beyond her control wanted her there with him.

Or maybe it was just her.

Notes

I had so much time to write this so I made it long :) I love you all so much<3
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Rock on \m/