Chapter 2: Hungover

"He's just so hot you know! He has these dimples, and these eyes that are absolutely memorizing."

The strange man chuckles, while putting my loose hair behind my ear.

My legs are on top of his, and I'm putting my head on his shoulder. This position is actually quite comfortable.

"Okay, angel. I think you're a little drunk. Do you have anyone here with you?" The strange man asks.

"Yeah, but she's probably with her soon-to-be boyfriend," I frown. Am I drunk? I feel fine!

He looks around the living room, like he's searching for something. Finally, those chocolate brown eyes meet mine. "Let's put you to bed okay?"

I nod, realizing how I am kind of tired. I lift my hands up, and the guy laughs before picking me up.

The first thing I saw was darkness.

It took a few seconds to realize that my eyes were still closed before slowly fluttering them open. A few moments passed until I could open my eyes as much as I could, only to notice that my head had a slight throb to it.

I cringed. "Great." I lifted up both of my hands, rubbing my temple with my thumbs to try to reduce the pain.

After my unsuccessful attempt, I took my time to glance to my left, only to spot a glass of water and a bottle of Advil. I was ready to thank anyone who would have stepped into the room at that moment, before opening the bottle to pull out two pills. I made sure the logo was on them as well.

Thank God, I thought as I swallowed the two pills before grabbing the glass of water so I could chug it down.

It took a few moments for the drugs to kick in before the zapping pain in my skull decreased. When my eyes focused, I took the time to look around the room, only to realize... it wasn't my room.

My heart jumped in my chest as I looked down, immediately thankful for the fact that my clothes were still on. Except my shoes.

I twisted my body, so my legs were hanging off the edge of the bed. By the time my head was moving to look around the room, shock was coursing through me when I realized how huge it was.

The bed I had been sleeping on was king size, and right across from it was a huge flat screen TV. A balcony stood on the left side of the bed while another door that seemed to be a walk-in closet stood on the left side of the TV. The opposite side of the wall was another door, and seeing that it was a crack open, I noticed that it was a bathroom. On the wall across from the balcony was a long, six-drawer dresser. Next to it was another door, but this one seemed to be closed.

Must be the way out.

I walked toward the door and carefully opened it. Once I managed to open it without a squeak, I moved my head around to see if I could recognize anything. When my memories came empty-handed, I walked down the hall carefully and came face-to-face with a grand staircase leading downstairs.

Carefully, I walked down. But I was only halfway finished with my descent when I saw the large, wooden front doors and I realized something.

I was still in the house the party was held.

I ran down the rest of the stairs and looked around my surroundings, but for some reason, my eyes were rooted to the entrance of the kitchen. There were several red solo cups on the tables scattered around, and empty bottles of alcohol. But the one thing that stood out to me most was a guy leaning his back against the counter, holding a black cup to his lips.

Hot would not be the right word to describe him.

Although he was slightly slouching on the counter, he looked to be over six feet, possibly six- three. With him only wearing a fitted white tee and grey sweatpants, it gave me full access to see how his broad shoulders stretched the fabric, as well as the lack of fat on his stomach.

My eyes stayed on his arms for a moment, admiring the muscle showcasing itself before lifting my eyes again. They immediately met his in seconds, and I couldn't stop myself from holding my breath.

Beautiful would be the right word.

"Rough night?" He asked with a smirk plastered on his expression when he noticed me checking him out.

I chuckled awkwardly as I rubbed my left hand up and down my other arm before looking down to my feet for a second. "I don't remember most of it," I answered honestly as I looked back up to him. Unintentionally, my eyes narrowed, feeling in my chest that this wasn't our first interaction.

"Oh wow, I'm hurt. Considering I remember every moment I had with you," He responds, faking a sad look.

My eyes widened when I took in what he said with realization. He was from my dream—or memory.

And if that was the case, that meant that he knew I was in love with Ben.

"Y-you're the guy who put me in the bed?" I asked cautiously while pointing my finger at him.

He smirked again before slowly nodding. "Glad to know I'm worthy enough for you to remember." He winked, but instead of feeling flustered, a wave of nervousness washed over me.

He knew, he knew, he knew. He. Fucking. Knew.

"Yeah, I know," he laughed with amusement, and my eyes felt like they widened more than they already were. The guy took one last sip of his drink—which was probably coffee, seeing how it stunk up the kitchen—before putting it back onto the counter

When I noticed that he was rounding the island in the center of the kitchen to walk toward me, I dropped my gaze so I was focused on my feet. Fear ran through my veins when I saw another pair of feet in my line of vision.

"Look at me," he mumbled as he gently held my chin with his hand. He helped lift it up, and when my eyes met his, I was starstruck when I noticed that his eyes were chocolate brown. His dark hair was messy, as if his fingers seriously harassed it with frustration.

My brows furrowed with confusion while he stared at me with interest before he slowly dropped his hand to take a step back.

He paused for a moment before cracking a teasing smile. "So, you're the famous Charlotte."

"How do you know me?" I asked slowly.

He shook his head with laughter in his eyes before focusing on me. "I'm Mason Reed," he said instead of answering my question.

My brows furrowed, not understanding how that was an answer. "Is that supposed to mean some—Oh!" My eyes widened in shock when I realized that he used to be our school's  quarterback. And Ben's best friend.

"I guess that means you know me." He bit his lower lip to keep himself from laughing.

I couldn't say anything at first, because just the thought of Ben's friend knowing that I was in love with him would ruin everything. After a few seconds, I managed to find my voice. "Are...are you going to tell him?"

He looked at me, and for those few seconds, we stood in silence.

Until he suddenly laughed. Laughed.

Anger filled me to my core as I crossed my arms over my chest aggressively. "Would you mind telling me what's so funny?"

Mason shook his head, and my heart jumped when I saw him grinning, flashing his straight white teeth. "Just the fact you think I'm gonna tell him." He stepped closer to hold my shoulders before looking me straight in the eye.

"I don't think of myself as one who gossips." He stopped to snort. "Hell, especially when it could ruin a person's life. And," he paused, tucking a piece of hair behind my ear, "I don't think I wanna ruin your life, Angel."

I sighed with relief, thankful he wasn't going to tell him.

He suddenly dropped his hands off of my shoulders before walking back to his cup of coffee. Once he was in his previous position, he took another sip of his drink, only to push it away from his lips with a grimace. "Damn, it's cold now."

He placed it on the counter as he stepped toward his huge fridge. "You want anything?" He asked while opening the right side.

"What do you have?" I made my way toward the island.

He pulled out something wrapped in aluminum foil. Once he gently peeled one part open, it revealed pancakes.

"Pancakes? I made them fresh yesterday," he offered, and I couldn't control myself as I nodded eagerly. Pancakes were my favorite thing on this planet.

He gave me a smile before putting some on a plate and placing them inside a microwave. During that time, I looked around to take in my surroundings before noticing something. "Where's your family?"

A dark look crossed his features. "They're usually gone."

"No siblings?" I asked, and he slowly shook his head with the same expression. I looked down to my feet again. "Wow, pretty depressing life you got."

Mason didn't answer for a few moments until I looked back up to meet his tight smile. "What can you do, right?" He questioned rhetorically just as the microwave beeped, indicating that the pancakes were warmed up.

He turned around to open it before pulling out the plate. With one hand, he balanced the plate on the palm of his hand before using the other to clench the rim of the island. In a swift movement, he swiped all the red solo cups onto the floor. 

Once the table was rid of cups, he placed it on the island before taking a seat on one of the few bar stools. He dropped his hand on the seat beside him and tapped it. "Come sit."

I couldn't hold back my smile as I moved to sit beside him. He set the plate between us and I eagerly picked up a pancake.

Not wanting to ask for a knife or fork, I rolled it into something similar as a burrito before taking a bite.

It was only a few seconds until he spoke up again. "So... You're in love with him, huh?" He pondered while I was in the middle of chewing. I gave him a curious look before nodding slowly.

By the time I finished chewing, I looked to my lap, not wanting to think about it any longer. "Are you planning on telling him?" I shook my head quickly as I met his gaze.

"No! I know for a fact that he doesn't feel the same way, and I don't want to lose our friendship." A sigh left me before I continued. "I don't want to risk it."

He was silent for the next few seconds until I asked, "What?"

Mason stared at me a little longer before finally speaking. "How are you so sure he doesn't feel the same way?"

I shifted in my seat a little, not knowing what to say. I never thought about it that way, I just immediately assumed that it would be impossible. "Has he told you he does?"

He shrugged, giving me a blank look. "He doesn't talk about you. A lot, I mean." That stung something in my chest, but I forced myself to ignore it as I watched Mason pick up another pancake.

It was seconds later when he looked at me again, this time with a dangerous glint in his eye. "I have an idea."

I glanced to the plate and followed his lead before answering. "Idea? For what?"

He waited until our eyes locked again beforesmirking wide.

"How about you and I date? What do you say angel?"