MARATHON UPDATE TIME
(48)
RAQUEL
"Raquel," shoulder shake. "Raquel!"
Being violently shaken brings me from the world of unconsciousness back to life.
"Raquel!" a demanding whisper reaches my ears, but I don't want to open my eyes. "For God's sake, wake up!"
I squint, closing the other as I get used to the light. A figure is leaning over me.
"What..." a hand covers my mouth and I slowly blink, trying to see who is almost on top of me.
Black hair falling on the sides of her face...
Dani.
"Shhh! I need you to get up very carefully."
I give her a "but-what-the-fuck-is-going-on" look, even though she looks desperate.
"I'll explain later, but I need you to get up carefully and be quiet."
"Wait a second, first of all. Where the fuck are we?"
Last night...
My mind flashes through a series of images that are too embarrassing: margaritas, vodka, dancing on top of the club table, Gregory stripping, Ares and I kissing in front of everyone, Dani and Apolo giving each other "be-careful-or-else-i-will-fuck-you-tonight" glances.
Oh, Virgin of Abs, I'm going to hell.
Basically, I committed too many sins in one night. And not only that, we had to come by taxi to Marco's house, which was the only house without adult supervision. More alcohol, even more stripper shows, even more sexual glances between Apolo and Dani, and even more kisses between me and Ares.
Dani releases my mouth and I sit up, because my stomach churns and my head throbs.
"What's wrong?" My throat burns, dry, hurt by so much alcohol.
Dani raises her index finger to her lips and gestures to my side. Ares is sleeping next to me, lying on his stomach, his head facing away from us. The sheet up to a little above his waist, he's shirtless, his tattoo is visible and that messy black hair points everywhere.
God, waking up next to such a man has to be a privilege, I may be spending all the luck of my life with this guy, but it's worth it.
Dani brings me back to reality, shaking her hand in front of my face.
Carefully, I stand up, the mattress creaks and we both look at the Greek god, but he is in the afterworld. I get a little dizzy, Dani holds me up waiting for me to steady myself.
I won't be drinking ever again.
I know, I said that last time.
Alcohol is like an ex you haven't gotten over, you promise not to fall again, never to try it again, but it seduces you and you end up back where you started.
I look for the heels I was wearing last night, which are lying in the corner of the room, and a memory comes to mind:
"Spell me, witch!" Ares shouts, as we awkwardly enter the room. He grabs me by the waist to kiss me lightly.
I let out a chuckle.
"You are so drunk."
He looks so cute with his red cheeks and narrowed eyes.
Ares points his finger at me.
"You are not the embodiment of sobriety either."
"Wow... Embodiment. How does your intoxicated brain manage to say words like that?"
Ares gives me a big smile, touching his forehead.
"My coefficient is..."
"The highest in the county," I finish for him. "Smart and handsome. Why are you so perfect?"
He shrugs and caresses my cheek.
"Why are you so perfect?"
And I remember in detail everything we did after that, God.
"Earth calling Raquel!"
With blood rushing to my cheeks, I snap back to reality. Dani gestures with her hand for me to follow her to the door, I shake my head.
"I can't just walk away and leave him like this."
Dani whispers.
"You explain everything later in a text message; I need to get out of here."
"Don't you think he'll feel a little used?"
Dani gives me an 'are you serious?' look.
"You'll explain later, let's go," she says, but I hesitate. "Please."
"Good."
Both of us with our heels in hand left the room, closing the door carefully behind us.
"Now, can you explain to me what's going on?" Dani shakes her head.
"I'll explain on the way, be quiet, there are many people sleeping in these rooms."
The hallway is long, with doors on both sides. I want to protest, but Dani starts walking in front of me, and my eyes fall to the back of her costume top and I see the label. Is it on backwards?
Oh, oh, beginner's mistake.
"Dani, did you have sex last night?"
"Shhh!," she covers my mouth, putting me against the wall.
I free myself.
"Oh, my God, you fucked Apolo."
"Raquel!"
"Deny it!"
Dani opens her mouth to say something and closes it again. I can't hold my surprise in my body.
"By the Virgin of Abs, you did!"
Dani furrows her brows.
"First of all, that virgin doesn't exist, and secondly, shut your mouth, Raquel, don't say another word."
"Okay, I didn't expect that," I say, amused.
Dani grabs my arm.
"Walk, don't make this Walk of Shame any worse than it already is."
"What?"
Dani rolls her eyes.
"The walk of shame, you know, the day after you fuck someone you shouldn't, there's even a movie and everything."
I let out a chuckle.
"I knew it! I told you I gave you a month to fall for him!"
Dani gives me a murderous look.
"Get moving, it's nine o'clock and your mom is off her shift today at eleven."
"Oh, shit, you should have started there."
We started down the hallway when we heard a door handle turn.
"Oh, shit, shit, shit," Dani mumbles and we both walk back and forth without knowing what to do, bumping into each other several times.
Finally, we freeze and see Samy coming out of one of the rooms very carefully, with her heels in her hands as well, and her attitude very much the same as ours.
Don't tell me that...
Samy sees us and freezes for a second, waving with her free hand. We approach and Dani takes her by the hand so we can run away together.
"No one judges anyone."
When we came downstairs, we found Andrea. Yes, Gregory's I-don't-know-what, at the door, opening it carefully.
"Are you kidding me?"
Dani, Samy and I share a look and smile, I sigh.
"This has to be the most popular Walk of Shame ever."
Samy laughs.
We leave the house, stopping in the garden, Samy checks her phone, it looks out of battery.
"Does anyone have a battery to call a taxi?"
Andrea smiles at us.
"I brought my car, I can drive all of you."
It's a very nice and small car. Samy gets in the passenger seat and Dani and I get in the back. Andrea starts the conversation.
"Don't you find this situation very peculiar?"
Samy nods.
"Too much, I would say."
Unable to help myself, I open my mouth.
"I'm sorry, but I think we're all curious to know with whom..."
Dani agrees.
"No one judges anyone, let's say the names."
Andrea laughs.
"Gregory."
Samy blushes.
"Marco."
"What?" I say, surprised. "I didn't expect that."
Samy sighs.
"Neither did I."
Andrea narrows her eyes.
"Is no one surprised by my revelation? Was it that obvious?"
We all say at the same time:
"Yes."
"Ouch." Andrea pouts.
"You're obvious too, Raquel. Ares, who else?"
I stick out my tongue at her and she sees me in the rearview mirror and gives me the finger. The fact that we found ourselves in such an embarrassing and vulnerable situation has created a very nice atmosphere of trust between us.
Samy turns slightly in his seat.
"And you, Dani?"
Dani lowers her head and whispers:
"Apolo."
"What?" Samy and Andrea's scream makes me grimace.
I touch my forehead.
"No screaming, hangover. Remember?"
Andrea stops at a red light.
"I didn't expect that."
Dani runs her hand over her face.
"I know, I fucked a someone younger than me."
Andrea looks at her like she's crazy.
"No, not because of that, but because I didn't know you knew each other so well."
Samy nods.
"Don't tell me you're feeling bad about your age, Daniela," The guilt on Dani's face is obvious. "Apolo is much more mature than many guys our age."
I am glad that Samy thinks like me. When a guy is older than the girl is cool, but when a girl is older than the guy, suddenly everybody has a opinion about it. Ah, society.
"That's what I told her, she's paranoid about age and what people will say."
Samy gives her a comforting smile, and reaches out to squeeze Dani's .
"Don't give yourself a hard time, Daniela. Okay?"
Andrea drives into the main avenue.
"I'm sorry to interrupt the romance, but do you mind if I stop by the pharmacy? My head is killing me, I need something for the pain."
"I need a Gatorade to hydrate," Samy whispers.
"Did you lose a lot of fluids last night?" Dani jokes and we all grimace.
"Dani!"
Andrea parks her car at the pharmacy and we let out a long sigh. I have a feeling this is the beginning of new friendships; after all, there is no better way to start a bond of trust than by having a walk of shame together, hydrating and dealing with one of the worst hangovers of our lives.