Page 66 of The First Time
Chapter Ten
Piper
It's bright in here. And loud.
What is that horrible noise downstairs? I brush my teeth and wash my face in the bathroom, but the splashes of cool water aren't doing anything to ease my pounding headache.
Drinking sucks. You feel dizzy and out of sorts when you're tipsy then you feel like shit the next day.
The lowered inhibitions are a perk. As much as I hate that Rory and I aren't friends anymore, I'm glad I got everything off my chest.
After I dress, I make my way downstairs.
Ethan is fixing coffee in the much-too-bright kitchen. His spoon smacks into his ceramic mug at an ear-bursting volume.
He pours me a cup of coffee then gets out the half and half and sugar. "Still don't know how you drink it as sweet and creamy as you do."
It's too bright for banter. "Thanks." I fix my drink normally but it tastes too creamy.
"You slept late." He nods to the time on the microwave—almost noon. "When did you get in?"
"Before you, obviously." Fuck, is it really noon? Auditions ended an hour ago.
"You look like shit."
"Thank you." I top off my cup and take another sip. Better. "What was she this time— blond, brunette, redhead? Did you even notice?"
He cocks a brow. "You really want to know?"
"UCI is on spring break."
"And?"
"NYU might be on spring break."
Ethan shoots me a death glare.
"You could call Violet. Apologize for dumping her because she was mourning her brother."
"She's the one who left."
"You forced her to leave."
"Even if that was true, and you know it's not, she's the one who left."
"Do you even enjoy fucking strangers?"
He stares at me."This didn't work over winter break. It didn't work last summer. Why do you think it's going to work this time?"
"I believe in true love." I flip him off as playfully as I can. It's still bright. And loud. And I'm remembering something about promising to take Kit to get his bike.
I know hecanhandle it on his own, but it's my fault he's parked on some random street in Long Beach. I want to help him fix it.
Ethan shakes his head at me.Oh, Pipes, don't you see that's not how things work in the real world where the grown-ups play.
I'd let it go if Ethan really seemed happy. But I can tell he doesn't get anything out of sleeping with strangers. I can tell he misses Violet—the two of them were together for three years and they were the happiest couple anyone had ever seen.
Violet is practically my older sister. She taught me how to do smoky eye. She taught me how to blow dry my hair. She taught me how to pick out shoes that are cute and comfortable. My mom isn't around to help with girl stuff and Ethan and Mal aren't exactly experts.
