C2 Two

Mia's POV

When I woke up the next morning my head was pounding, not to mention I wasn't even in my bed. I was lying in the doorway of my ensuite and the entire room smelt of puke — I really don't want to have to clean that and who knows if there's puke anywhere else, I freaking hope not.

It was just before five in the morning — yes, ridiculously early but my splitting headache made it impossible to sleep. After brushing my teeth about five times and rinsing with copious amounts of mouthwash, I had a quick shower, got changed and went to see if anyone else was awake. We do have school today, it is a Tuesday, so I hope everyone can get up.

When I enter the living room the stench of alcohol hits me like a ton of bricks — mum is so going to make me deal with all this, urgh! Eli, Lincoln, Ava and Mason are all passed out on the sofas and carpet. If my memory serves me correctly, Chase and Jordan went to the bathroom and never came back; Rebekah and Oliver had a fight — like they always do — and disappeared into another room and Jess, um, if I'm honest, I can't remember what happened to her.

Wait, where's Max?

Just as I think this, I see his broad shouldered figure waltz into the living room, an apple in his right hand. It looks as if he's had a shower too, he has a few spare clothes at my house because he used to sleep over a lot. "Ari, thank god, glad to see someone is up," he says, walking over to me and taking a bite out of the apple.

I smile at him. "Yeah, my head hurt too much to sleep any longer," I tell him as I walk towards the kitchen with Max following closely behind.

"Yeah, hangovers are a bitch, you alright?" Max asks, a frown of concern on his face.

"I'm sure I'll be fine after I have some paracetamol," I tell him as I open the cupboard to grab some. "Could you grab me a glass of water please?"

"Sure," he says.

After swallowing the pill with some water I ask him, "what about you, how come you're up so early?"

"The sofa isn't the most comfortable place to sleep," he shrugs. "I think I twisted my back," he says with a pout.

"Aw, you poor baby," I say with mock concern lacing my voice.

He rolls his eyes at me. "At least I can handle my alcohol better than 'some people' so I don't have a massive hangover," he says, sticking his tongue out at me.

I wasn't sure what to say to that because he's sort of right so being the mature person I am I copied his action and stuck my tongue out at him and rolled my eyes.

After a few minutes of talking I started to think about everyone else still at my house. I don't want to wake them up until absolutely necessary but at the same time if I don't they won't have time to go back to their houses and get ready. "Max, do you think we should get everyone up so they can go home and get ready for school?"

He looks off into the distance with a look of thought on his face and after a few moments of contemplation he replies, "nah, I don't think we should. We'll have to deal with a grumpy Jordan otherwise and he's a right git when he's hungover. How about we go get them all some coffee from Starbucks instead?"

That's probably a way better idea — I don't want to have to deal with a hungover Jordan, I'll tell you that much. "Sure," I tell Max as I grab a pair of shoes and follow him outside to his car — it's a mutual agreement with most of my friends that they drive instead of me because, as I'm sure you're aware by now, I'm not the best driver out there.

Most of the journey there we discussed random things. Max had asked me another one of his stupid questions. 'If an orange is called an orange, why isn't a lime called a green or a lemon called a yellow?' I mean, what kind of question is that?! An absolutely and completely idiotic one.

We argue about this for ten full minutes before I can get Max to finally drop the subject. "Ari," Max says after a few moments of silence but there's something different about his tone of voice.

I hum in response, silently praying he's not about to ask another stupid question.

"Do you remember much of last night?"

I have to think about this. To be honest, last night is a bit hazy but I do remember most of it, unlike last time I got drunk. "Yeah, most of it. Why?"

"Well," Max starts unsteadily and then decides not to continue.

"Well what?" I ask, impatient to know what he's getting at.

"Do you remember the very last question Jessica asked you?" Max asks, his voice now filled with dread and worry.

What's wrong with him? What could possibly be s—

Shit.

"Fuck. Crap. Bollocks," I curse.

"I'm assuming that means you do."

I groan and let my head fall into my hands. "Max, how could I be so stupid? How could I tell her? Even drunk me should know better than that. Crap, Max what should we do?" I say in panic, fear bubbling in my chest.

"Ari, calm down. She probably doesn't even remember."

"How can you be so sure?"

"I can't," he tells me honestly. "But I damn well hope so and if I'm wrong we'll just have to deal with it."

I sigh. "You're right. Let's just hope it doesn't come to that."

~*~*~

By the time we're back with coffee everyone is awake, even Jordan. My mum, being the wonderful woman that she is, has made everyone pancakes — hell yes.

"Hey guys," I say as Max and I walk into the dining room. "We brought coffee."

Everyone cheers as we hand out the drinks.

Once everyone is finished, there's no time for them to go home and get changed. All the girls had to borrow some of my clothes and Oliver managed to fit into some of Hugo's clothes but everyone else is just wearing what they wore the day before.

When we're all ready to leave for school and I'm about to get into Ava's car a large hand on my shoulder stops me. I turn to see Lincoln looking at me. "Come with me instead, green eyes."

I'm about to protest but Ava not so subtly nudges me in his direction, winks, quickly gets into her car and drives off before I can even open my mouth — sly little bitch.

"What about all the people who'll see us?" I ask as I walk with him to his car, I feel like a broken record by this point. I know it's useless to keep asking the same question but I can't seem to stop myself.

He sighs. "We talked about this, green eyes. Screw the attention and be confident."

I'm about to argue but something in the back of my head stops me, urging me to agree. "Alright."

Lincoln smiles a gentle smile as we reach his car and he starts the engine.

"Isn't Eli coming with us?" I ask.

"Nah, didn't you see him slide into your blonde friend's car just before she drove off?"

"Ava?"

"That's the one."

"How? I didn't even see him."

"That's Eli for you. He's a cunning little bastard."

The drive is pleasant. We talk about trivial things but the entire time the same thoughts are eating away at the back of my mind. However, I've promised myself and Lincoln that I'd ignore them. I can't let fear consume me. As difficult as it is, I'm the one who wanted to change so I have to do this, not just for James but for myself as well.

Once we're at school I take a deep breathe to calm myself. I feel Lincoln's hand clasp my own and give it a comforting squeeze. "You can do this green eyes. I promise, soon you'll look back at this and be so glad you've done it. You can finally be yourself, just ignore them all."

I nod at him and send him a grateful smile before sliding my hand out of his much larger one. Lincoln exits first. A few people glance at him as he does, people always stare at him, he's probably used to it by now. People sometimes stare at me too, no where near as much as Lincoln but if he can do it so can I.

With one final deep breath I slide out of the passenger side of the car. I can feel stares burning into the side of my head but I pay them no attention as begin to walk with Lincoln towards the school.

I can do this.

I can do this.

I can do this.

~*~*~

"I can't do this," I tell Lincoln in the corridor, on my way to third period. Ever since Lincoln and I parted ways to go to class, people have been bombarding me with questions. Some of these people I've hardly even spoken to before. I've even been threatened by some random year eleven girls to 'stay away from Lincoln or else'.

Don't get me wrong, it's not the threats that bother me, I know they're empty ones. It's the constant questioning and the numerous stares. People suddenly go quite when I walk past and I know it's because they were just talking about me. This is all too much.

"Yes you can," he tells me gently. "You can do this because I believe you can do this but, more importantly, you yourself have to believe you can do this."

"But—"

"No buts," he starts, cutting me off. "Believe in yourself."

I'm about to protest but the thought of James in the back of my mind stops me. He dumped me for being too boring. I was always reserved, even around him. Lincoln is right. If I ever want to prove James wrong I have to believe in myself and not care what others think.

"Okay. I believe in myself," I say, looking at him directly in the eyes.

He smiles, making the breathtaking blue colour of his eyes glimmer in the light.

The bell rings, signalling the start of period three. Lincoln and I go our separate ways but this time I'm determined.

I can do this.

I will do this.