Still Learning

Driving in my condition was completely out of the question so I decided to call a cab and just wait for it outside. To my luck it arrived quite quickly and I was able to leave the party without anyone noticing except Louis. The ride was a blur, but when I got home I became as quiet as possible in fear of waking up Jack. On my way to my room I saw Rachel laying on her bed, her eyes transfixed upon the screen of her laptop. I quietly slipped into my room and shut the door almost hoping that if I locked myself in my room the memories of the past hour will stay outside my bedroom door. After remving my combat boots I slipped off my ring and took out my little black bow earrings. My hands were able to find the zipper of my dress and it quickly pooled around my feet. As I stepped out of the gathered fabric I practically glared at it as if it still contained traces of Louis' touch weaved inside the wine colored material. A t-shirt was quickly pulled over my head and I put on some pajama shorts. I walked into the bathroom and brushed my teeth before removing my makeup and washing my face. Feeling the water splash on my face was refreshing and brought back some of my senses the alcohol had stolen from me. After I wiped my face on a towel I looked back at th mirror and saw my eyes quickly widen. Red marks were all over my neck, paticurarly right below my right ear. Purple was already starting to show up and I sighed at the physical reminders of my mistakes tonight. I quickly got in bed, but wasn't tired enough to sleep so I mentally lectured myself for being so stupid, so ridiculous, so irresponsible. Falling asleep became easier and the lecture to myself was quickly cut short.
***
Waking up wasn't a pleasant experience. My head was pounding even before I opened my eyes and the sunlight was excrushaitingly painful. I quickly put on a pair of sunglasses and left my room to go down to the kitchen. Rachel was there with Jack who smiled when he saw me. A smile grew on my face as I picked him up.
"No Jack," I said as he took my glasses off my face. "Give me back my glasses."
"Rough night?" Rachel asked from the table, a smile creeping onto her face.
"You have no idea," I muttered, remembering what Louis.
I sat down with Jack on my lap and he continued eating the bowl of cheerios that was in front of him.
"Where are your parents?" I asked as Rachel got up to pour me some tea.
"Grocery shopping," she answered, handing me the steaming cup before sitting back down. "Can you help me pick out an outfit for my date with Dylan later?"
Pink heat rose to her cheeks and her brown eyes quickly averted to the floral table cloth. I smiled at her embarassment and nodding before taking a sip from my cup.
"Of course. Let me just get some breakfast and we can examine your choices."
I lifted Jack off my lap and sat him back down on the chair. The box of Apple Jacks in the pantry was calling my name so I quickly poured myself a bowl and added milk. After breakfast Rachel, Jack, and I went into her room and stared at her closet.
"Where'd you say you're going again?"
"We're going to go to a movie and then Nando's for lunch."
"What about this?" I suggested, picking out a yellow, short sleeve dress. "You'd look very cute in it."
"It's a bit boring, don't you think?"
"Well that's when you add things. Like this brown belt and just throw on some jewlery and you'll be set."
"Thanks," Rachel said as she took the dress. "Holy shit! What happened to your neck?"
Rachel got closer and examined my neck, her eyebrows in a concentrated frown. I walked over to her full length mirror and gasped at the purple spots on my neck. Gifts from Louis. I didn't know they had gotten so dark so fast. Rachel walked up behind me and poked the darkest spot, the one under my ear.
"Ow!" I winced at her touch and she quickly withdrew her hand. "Please don't touch them."
"Sorry. How'd you get those?"
"It's a long story," I answered as I tried to fix my hair to hide them.
I parted my hair to that side so it's hide the marks. Perhaps I could put makeup on the marks to make them less noticable. Jack waddled over to me and I picked him up.
"So, um, do you need me anymore?"
Her gaze snapped from my neck back to my eyes. "Nope. Thanks for your help."
"No problem. Do you think you'll be home by six? I have a short shift today so I'm only going to work for an hour and close up. If you can't watch Jack I'll just ask your mum or dad."
"I should be home by then. Don't worry, I can babysit for a few hours."
"Thanks," I smiled before leaving her room and going to the bathroom.
I set Jack on the floor and started to apply cover up to the love bites. The color became less intense, but you could still see the purple circles on my neck. An exasperated sigh slipped past my lips as I gave up and put the makeup away. I grabbed a bottle of Asprin and took two pills to make my hangover a little more bearable. Seeing the marks on my skin was unsettling, a constant reminder of what I had done. I couldn't wait until they disappeared. What had I even been thinking? Louis. That's what I had been thinking about, but I just wanted him out of my head. Easier said then done.
***
Louis' P.O.V.:
The second I sat on the couch my phone began to ring and I groaned in annoyance. If it wasn't Liam I probably wouldn't have answered it.
"Hello?"
"Louis, it's Liam."
"Hey mate, you alright?"
"Yeah I'm good. Um mate, can you give me a ride back to my place? I missed my bus and I haven't got my car with me."
"Why haven't you got your car with you?"
"Because Sam had left her car and keyes at my house last night and I had to drive her car to work. Come on Lou, can you just give me a ride?"
Hearing Sam's name brought back a flood of memories from last night. I was still confused as to why she had abrubtly left, but I had just tried to push it out of my mind. Still, I did wish she had stayed the entire night. The possibilities of what we could have done that night were endless. She was definitely hot and she seemed like a cool babe, but what's done is done.
"Fine," I groaned. "I'll be there in a bit. See you later."
I hung up my phone and got up from the couch. I walked into the hall and stood in the doorway of Lottie, Felicite, Georgia, and Maddy's room. Lottie was sitting on her bed, doing homework, and Georgia was reading Maddy a bed time story.
All the girls had grown up so quick, it wasn't fair that they had to act like adults when they were just teenagers. Lottie had always been a bit more timid than average and she focused mostly on school. Georgia was completely different. She was loud and more interested in parties that any assignment. On the outside she seemed tough, but when it came to Maddy she was the best, most caring big sister. She was like that with all her younger siblings, but especially Maddy. I cleared my throat and all three heads turned towards me.
"Hey, Liam needs a ride home from work so I'm going to go take him home and I'll be right back. Daisy and Phoebe are doing homework with Felicite and the twins are asleep already. You know what to do if they wake up and call me if you have any problems."
"Got it, Louis," Lottie said before going back to her school work.
"Go to bed soon," I told Maddy before kissing the top of her head.
I kissed the top of Lottie and Georgia's head too and before I left I checked on the twins to make sure they were still asleep. I told the other three girls what I had told the first three and headed out the door.
The restauruant wasn't far so I was walking through the door within fifteen minutes. Sam was there, cleaning tables with a rag and I couldn't help, but stare. Maybe she sensed my stare or something, but something made her look up and the second she saw me her eyes fired up. In a matter of seconds she threw her rag down, walked over to me, and began hitting me.
"What the hell are you doing?!" I exclaimed, restraining her hands, and backing her into the wall to prevent her from trying to hit me anymore even though I'm pretty sure she couldn't do any real damage to me.
"You got me drunk, you asshole! I can't believe you got me drunk just so you could finger me."
She hissed the last part in fear someone would hear her.
"I didn't- I had no idea- Would you stop trying to hit me so I can fucking talk?"
She was certainly testing my patience, not that I didn't like her intensity, it was kind of hot that she was so fiery, but I was trying to explain something. She shot me an icy death glare that made her bright green eyes go dark, but she stopped struggling. I let go of her hands and she crossed them over her chest. Her eyebrows were furrowed and her mouth was in a straight line. Her foot tapped repeatedly, waiting for an explanation and I just couldn't take her seriously. No matter how pissed she was she didn't look threatening at all; she actually looked a little cute.
"I swear I didn't know there was alcohol in those drinks, I thought it was just juice."
She thought it over for a second, studying my face to see if I was lying. Her hand went to move her dark hair, but she quickly brought it back to it's original place. Why didn't she do it? Hesitantly, I lifted my arm from my side and moved her hair behind her ear. At first she was stiff from my touch, but quickly relaxed as I brought my hand back. Purple marks were on her neck, courtesy of me. She quickly moved her hair so it covered them again and dropped my graze.
"You swear you had no idea those drinks were alcoholic?"
"I swear I had no idea."
"Fine, I believe you. What are you doing here anyway?"
Liam had totally slipped my mind the moment I saw Sam.
"I'm supposed to be picking up Liam. Where is the bloke?"
"Cleaning up the kitchen and taking out the trash."
"While we're still on the topic of last night, I, erm, kind of wanted to clear some things up with you."
"Oh?" she questioned, picking up her rag and continuing to wipe the table.
"Yeah," I said as I began to rub my neck uncomfortably. "I just wanted you to know that the other night, i-it was, you know.."
"A one time thing?" Sam offered, a smirk on her face. "Don't worry Louis, I know it was just a heat of the moment kind of thing. It didn't mean anything."
"Good," I replied, pleasantly surprised by her reaction.
Most girls would want some sort of commitment, but I didn't have time for a commitment. My schedule was too busy and I had my sisters to take care of; it just didn't seem any girl was worth it.
"So are we friends?" I asked, just to make sure we were on good terms.
Sam scoffed, but nodded. "Yeah, we're friends. Just so you know, that could be considered rape," she added nonchalantly.
Just then Liam walked in and smiled at me.
"Hey mate. Ready to go?"
"Yeah, I just gotta use the loo. I'll see you out there."
He nodded and walked out the door. I walked over to Sam and leaned down.
"I don't think it could be considered rape, Love, because you never said no," I whispered hotly before jogging out the door.

Notes