Chapter 2★

★·.·✶·.·★·.·✶·.·★
Char

I woke up with the worst headache of my entire life. It felt like the world was spinning off its axis.

Maybe if actually was.

I breathed heavily to myself as my make-up stained pillow reminded me that alcohol wasn't the real solution to fun.

I attempted to orientate myself, although it became apparent that my vision still felt slightly distorted.

The bedroom in front of my eyes was still blurred around the edges. A random pattern of blue wallpaper humoured my senses as this room felt familiar.

"Oh shit, where am I?" I croaked to myself.

The familiarity of a hangover is never something my mother told me to be proud of.

Thanks Mum, I could almost hear her voice echo around my ear drums.

Her bare image made me want to drink more and vomit her suffocating presence away. My grumpy mood usually came about after consuming too much alcohol.

I tried not to panic, as I fought to remember the previous evening.

I decided to take a moment of calamity to orientate my surroundings. I felt comfortable in the familiar double bed and I was quick to realise that someone was cuddling me from behind.

I could smell the familiar eggs and bacon combination and could hear a male voice humming ever so slightly which comforted my disorientation.

The masculine voice kissed my anxiety away as his tune was surprisingly soothing. His tunefully singing bought a smile to my face and  I felt as if I was encased in a bubble of unknown.

"Let's apprehend the antics of last night, shall we?" I soothed reassuringly to myself.

Lisa and I went to a concert - I remembered that part precisely; it was one of the best nights of my life up to that point.

Then we used her fake ID in the off-licence and bought another bottle of vod... hmm, we took the Tube back to Notting Hill and ...

My thoughts were again interrupted by the continuous humming. "I've got sunshine on a cloudy day." I heard the same soothing male voice under his breath.

The noise was coming from the direction of the kitchen.

Who's singing? I buzzed to myself.

I was hungry to explore the body that was inciting my ears and interrupting my thoughts.

Ah that's it, we met a hot twenty-something year old by her house, his name was ... Hmm. What was his name?

But all that really matters is that he looked like a methodical God and Lisa got his number, (one nil to Lisa I sighed. Nothing really changes does it?)

I remember his smile was like the breeze on a scorching hot summers day. It refreshed the sweat that licked over heating pores. I wanted to drink in his appearance until I could longer quench the thirst I felt my mouth urging to refuel on.

"When it's cold outside, I've got the month of May." The same voice proceeded to entice my attention.

I wonder who's singing?

My heavy eyes snap back shut as I was still trying to piece the evening together.

And then we ...

Wait, a second I'm not sure if that did actually happen. My mouth tasted sour. It made me want to gag at the thought of how much I'd consumed that previous evening.

The soft groan of the welcoming body beside me was surprising. I felt warm in the arms of the unknown figure that was wrapped around my torso.

The person behind me rubbed my skin gently to reassure my awakened slumbered predicament.

Feels so good I thought.

Oh, that's it, I got it. It wasn't Lisa he wanted it was ...me, that' seems out of the ordinary. Lisa's perfect.

Lisa is physically perfect! Who wouldn't be attracted to her?  If I was into any females, she'd be top of my list. I still don't understand the male mind or logic, do they have any?

Now that's set straight in my mind.

I realised that a hand was dangled in my knotted hair and gently caressed my back in a circular motion.

It felt calming to be touched by this pair of unknown fingers. My brain relaxed as my nerves fermented peacefully and I lost myself for a few moments.

There's a more important underlying question, I pulled the covers around my semi-naked body as I began to question my whereabouts.

Who am I in bed with right now?

Why do I feel so comfortable in bed with them?

Who's cooking breakfast?

And why does this all seem like déja Vu?

I tried to obliviously get a peek of the big spoon warming my backside. Their warm body was clinging onto my torso for dear life; peering my head to the side in itself was a challenge.

Brown hair, tanned complexion and a cheeky grin presented across their face.

It was Lisa.

I left out a sigh of relief at the realisation.

She seemed unfazed by my intrusive scrutiny.

The tension in my muscles began to relax as I pulled my arm away from her body which was sprawled across the bed, she groaned in response.

She was such a grumpy teenager, I loved it.

"I guess you'd say, what can make me feel this way?" As I slide into a more conscious state I realised that the voice belonged to Harvey, Lisa's brother. He had a fine set of pipes on him, that was for sure.

"My girl." I heard Harvey mutter under his breath as there was a light knock on the door before Harvey popped his figure into sight.

"Good morning you two, still in bed I see." Harvey cocked his head to the side. He was the spitting image of Lisa. They shared the same fiery gaze.

"She's still sleeping, as usual." I casually yawned at him. I wasn't self-conscious around him at all, probably because I knew brothers were off limits.

"Good night then?" He raised his eyebrows in anticipation, "Heard you guys get in at around 3AM, that's always a good sign." He ruffled his damp hair cheekily.

"Yeah you could say something like that." The sides of my mouth curled upwardly.

"I'm sure she'll tell me every minute detail, I'll be looking forward to it." He rolled his eyes playfully.

"I'm sure you will too." I giggled inwardly. I had to admit Harvey was eye wateringly attractive, it was difficult not to flirt with him and he was only a year older than both Lisa and me.

"Get up to much last night yourself?" I was surprisingly interested in his agenda all of a sudden.

"You could say that." He left out any pieces of information that were actually useful.

I'd taught him well at keeping responses minimal. We were practically siblings considering the amount of time we'd spent together growing up.

"Hey, it's only fun when I tease you." I rubbed my eyes sleepily.

"How about I tell you over breakfast?"

"Maybe later, thanks anyway Harvs."

"Anytime Char." Harvey winked in my direction and closed the door quietly.

"One more thing Harvs."

"Yes, Char?" His voice wobbled slightly.

"I've missed you. You know that school hasn't been the same without your presence." I bit my lip.

"I missed you too, Char but Uni is so awesome. I'll fill you in later, yeah?"

"Yeah, see you later Harvs."

Oh, thank you, guardian angels. We got home; that's the most important fact.

Now I can go back to some positively required sleep. I feel absolutely shattered. Last night has really taken it out of me.

Harvey was already in his first year at Uni and already he loves gloating about his new conquest to both Lisa and me.

I'm not really a fan of hearing about all the girls he slept with. He's more than a friend to me. He's my best friend.

I envy his new girlfriend, Sophie. Their relationship was so close, occasionally I felt jealous. But I wouldn't ever admit that out of my pride.

As I shut my eyes for round two, my phone screen illuminated with a message which caused my breaths to shorten as I pulled it into my line of vision.

4:39AM
Unknown number:

I've decided the only reason my mind is still buzzing from the alcohol I didn't drink last night is because of you.

Meet me tomorrow for coffee?
I'll assume it's yes if you don't reply and I'll assume the same if you do.

Buenas Noches Hermosa.
(Good night beautiful) x

I continued to smile on the inside, as his image appeared at the back of my retina.

I hadn't forgotten our encounter, I chided with myself.

It would have been impossible to eliminate the most beautiful human being from my mind or my imagination for that matter.

That would be a promise I'd make to myself.

I decided that bumming around in bed until the late afternoon was pretty unpractical since I  wouldn't have to actually move and meet my newly found admirer.

Although this motive would definitely sabotage my chances with my spicy admirer. There was no way in hell that I was letting him hit on anyone other than me.

Wow, apparently having the attention of a hottie had given me a confidence makeover last night.

Finally. I pulled on a pair of boyfriend jeans and cute oversized sweatshirt. My hair was slightly tousled but I knew that it looked reasonably attractive in that style.

Then I tried to improve the mess that was caked all over my face. I don't even want to consider what this looked like whilst I was drenched in the rain.

After about twenty-five minutes of real elbow grease and a shower, I looked faintly acceptable to be seen in the public. I glanced in the mirror and smiled cheekily back at myself. I didn't look too bad.

As I grabbed my phone, which chimed in my hands as I picked it up. He was good, I had to admit it.

8:08am
Unknown number:

Meet me at Le Pain Quotidien, Covent Gardens. Bring your sexy self. P.S. No bad breath allowed x

Before I jetted off, I wrote Lisa a note which I know she won't read until about 4PM -tomorrow if we're lucky. I pecked her forehead before legging it to the Tube Station.

"See you later Char." Harvey tuned.

My mind was already out the door before I'd even left. I flushed at the thought of being reunited with that guy. I knew it was a good sign.

As I strode down the practically empty streets I felt this buzz of adrenaline pass through my body.

Thankfully today wasn't filled with any more rain showers, which my hair didn't enjoy a couple of hours ago. I bit my lip at the thought of his eloquent physique.

After reaching the proximities of my destination, I followed the cobbled stone path and spotted him whilst he was examining the menu at his table, he looked so serene.

The cafe was full to the brim, but somehow I failed to pay attention to any of the others who surrounded him. I felt so fixated on him alone with my tunnel vision.

He still hadn't noticed my perverted stare and I took the chance to drink in his appearance: his leather jacket and black tight fitted jeans and the stubble left on chin looked irresistible.

Thinking about it reminisced my senses of his addictive cologne, that wavered around his presence. I needed to get another taste.

I made a mental note before I'd let fate do its job, to continue my confident performance; which he had enjoyed so much last night.

As I strode over to his table I couldn't help but beam at myself for being spontaneous for a change, maybe a breath of fresh air would be good for me.

Something about this moment just felt right.

"Good morning beautiful." He whistled as I planted myself in the chair adjacent to him, carefully allowing my shoulder to become exposed as I sat down.

Just a reminder to him about my intentions of this meeting. I needed to know he liked me as much as I did. I need to know the feelings were mutual, it was clogging any other thoughts.

"Are you feeling slightly more sober than you were in the early hours of this morning?" He joked gently,"wait, don't answer that. I'm just pleased you came," a grin grew ravishingly above his stubble, I was already addicted to staring at this realm of his face.

"I'm still feeling a little high." I beamed at his welcoming gaze.

"How come?" He cocked his head to the side as his eyes examined my body first time as the pit of my stomach felt nauseated by his charm.

"I've been better physically but mentally I don't think I've ever been so stimulated," I whispered almost to myself, but I knew he had heard my gentle voice as his leg brushed mine under the breakfast bar.

"That's what I like to hear." He smirked.

"Well ... you didn't give me much of a choice, did you? You assumed I'd come, I didn't even need to reply. Did? "I rebutted in a charming tone.

"Well, what can I say, when I see something I like and it responds to me in the manner that you did last night, I assumed I was entitled to see more of you." He brushed his fingers through his unkempt bed hair.

His smile had already stolen my attention and I blushed in realisation as he winked to bring me back into reality.

"You seem so sure of yourself." I speculated. My eyes wanted to roll in a shy gesture.

I didn't realise he could read me so well.

"Was I right to do so? Act like I've known you for years when clearly we're just acquaintances?" He qualified to my question with a gleaming smile, which fed the butterflies raging in my stomach.

He appeared so intellectual, it hurt my head so much that I fluttered my lashes in response.

Every ounce in my body fought to choke the word of confirmation from leaving my mouth, I couldn't resist.

"Yes." My lips pinched together in defeat; it was impossible to disagree with someone when they had a glisten in their eyes every time you spoke.

His jawline became more defined as he cocked his head in agreement.

★·.·✶·.·★·.·✶·.·★

✶ Thoughts on how in sync Char & Mysterious guy are? He's such a smooth talker. I bet you all thought she was in bed with him initially. :)✶