Chapter Nine: Escapades

"Ah shit." I hissed when I stumped my toe on the door frame. My head was pounding, and I was seeing double. The buzz from the amount of alcohol I had was still running fresh in my veins and it was safe to say that I was wasted. Not only was I wasted; I was also pissed off. I searched around for the light switch but eventually gave up when I couldn't find it. There was a dim light on the floorboards, so I used that to guide me around the humongous house. As I walked further into the house, I noticed that the kitchen lights were on and I decided to go there. I stumbled my way into the kitchen only to come face to face with the jackass himself.

"Of course, you're half naked." I mumbled dryly and stumbled past him, towards the fridge. He cocked an eyebrow at me and watched me with guarded eyes.

"You're drunk." He stated and I snorted.

"No shit Sherlock." I answered sarcastically and opened the fridge. I rummaged around until I found an open bottle of wine. Smiling to myself, I took it out and closed the fridge. I stumbled my way to the breakfast bar and set the chilled wine on the granite countertop.

"What are you doing?" he asked, and I rolled my eyes.

"What does it look like I'm doing?" I asked sweetly and hoisted myself onto the island. I took a huge swig of the crisp, delicious white wine and burped loudly. A giggle erupted from my lipstick smudged lips and I clutched my stomach.

"Azania?" he asked wearily, seizing my giggling fit.

"What can I do for you Principal Matthews?" I asked in a snobbish tone.

"Are you alright?" this time, the concern was evident in his voice. I stopped laughing altogether and glared at him.

"Of course, I'm fine. What? Are you a shrink too?" words were just tumbling unfiltered out of my mouth and I made a mental note to blame it on the alcohol later on. He didn't say anything after that, just sighed and continued snacking on his Nutella and Oreos. How old is he? Surprisingly, he let me drink the wine straight out of the bottle. My dad would have popped a vein by now. Speaking of which,

"The old man asleep yet?" I slurred and I watched as his shoulders slumped.

"He is. And it's a good thing because I wouldn't want him to see his little girl acting like this."

"Aww, how noble of you. And for the last fucken time Antonio, I am NOT a little girl." I growled and jumped off the counter, forgetting that I had 5-inch heels on thus causing me to lose my balance and fall flat on my face.

"Shit." we both hissed at the same time and he was next to me in a flash.

"Are you okay?" he asked worriedly as he attempted to get me off the floor. I angrily pushed him away from me and made an attempt to stand up by myself.

"I'm peachy." I grumbled and eventually stood up straight. The room started spinning and a wave of nausea washed over me, making me slap a hand over my mouth and drunkenly scamper to the bathroom as quick as my 5-inch heels and drunken stupor would allow me. His footsteps echoed behind me as I ran to the bathroom. I threw the door open only to lose the battle against my fast-coming vomit and puked all over the floor.

"Damn it Azania!" he cursed from behind me, but I was doubled over, with my hands clutching my stomach and releasing everything my petite body had taken in in the last 24 hours onto the porcelain tiles of the very clean bathroom. He came up from behind me once my first wave of nausea had passed and guided me to the open toilet, still cursing under his breath. I was about to tell him to get off me when another wave overtook me, and I doubled over and heaved into the toilet bowl. Jackass did one thing I never thought he would; he held my hair away from my face and rubbed my back soothingly. My body had gotten rid of all the solid substances that were stored in my body and instead, was letting all the liquids out. Flashbacks of the vodka and tequila shots I downed like water flashed through my mind. All the martinis and sex on the beach cocktails that had entered my body at some stage during the night was coming out in heaves that burned my throat. The wine I just had must have been the cherry on top because my stomach was empty by the time I was done. But for some reason, my body wasn't done punishing me because it was still in vomit mode, even though there was nothing left to vomit. My throat and eyes were burning; my stomach was churning, and my mouth tasted like shit. I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand and slumped down against the tiled wall. I rubbed my hands over my face and that was when I felt the wetness around my eyes. Fuck. Me. Now.

"You must have drunk a shitload to vomit like that; hey what's wrong? Why are you crying?" he changed his tone when his eyes met mine and immediately knelt in front of me. This somehow made me cry harder and before I knew it, my body was shaking with dry heaves and choked sobs. Jackass hesitated but eventually sat down next to me and slung an arm around my shoulders. He pulled me towards his chest and I finally let all of my emotions out into his chest. He rubbed my back soothingly, occasionally telling me to calm down and that it was okay. I didn't even know why I was crying. This thought alone made me cry even harder, nuzzle even closer to him, and allow his scent to envelope and embrace me. A few minutes passed and I had run out of tears to shed. Jackass still had his arms securely around me and was still rubbing my back. I untangled myself from his embrace and wiped my face with the back of my hands. Jackass asked if I was fine and I nodded, avoiding eye contact. He stood up and flushed the toilet and walked out of the bathroom, side stepping the puddle of vomit on the floor. I remained seated, with my arms wrapped around my still high heeled legs. I could hear him enter the room, but I didn't look at him. I had my face buried in my legs as I listened to him clean my mess. Fresh set of tears lingered around my eyeballs as I realised that I always let other people clean my mess. I never took responsibility for my own actions and it is because of this selfishness and self-absorption, that I didn't have a mother anymore. Who knows?

"Azania?" his voice was soft and hesitant. I didn't look up; I just carried on crying into my legs. I heard him sigh and take a seat next to me.

"Are you going to tell me what's wrong?" he asked, and I shook my head.

"Why not?" he pressed again, and I sighed and stood up, stumbling a little. He was on his feet and steadying me in a second. I huffed and straightened my back.

"I'm fine!" I snapped and stepped out of my shoes. He eyed me cautiously, not believing me.

"You don't look fine." He stated and I rolled my eyes and walked towards the vanity mirror. I looked like something that just crawled out of the drain. My hair was tousled and frizzy, sticking out in all directions. My make-up was smeared, giving me racoon eyes. My face was flushed, and my eyes were swollen and blotchy. A small humourless laugh escaped my guarded mouth.

"What's so funny?" Jackass inquired.

"I look like shit." he chuckled softly and came to stand behind me.

"That you do." He admitted and I rolled my eyes again.

"Way to make a girl feel better Principal Matthews." I muttered dryly and he hit the roof of his mouth with his tongue.

"Don't you think it's time to lay that Principal Matthews crap to bed? We're at home. You can call me Anthony." He said softly.

"Jackass works just fine." I stated and stalked out of the bathroom. I had sobered up a little but was still drunk and extremely hungry. Jackass followed me and I was getting a little annoyed with his presence. I sat down at the breakfast bar in the kitchen where my phone was buzzing like a vibrator on the counter. I sighed as I unlocked it and skimmed through the heaps of messages from Kevin.

"Trouble in paradise?" Jackass spoke from behind me, his breath tickling my ear. I jumped and my phone flew out of my hands.

"Bloody hell!" I hissed angrily and I turned to see a smirking hot man behind me who had his hands in the air defensively.

"Please don't shoot me." He cried out and a small smile flirted around my lips.

"Kiss my ass." I stated and stood up and rounded the bar to get a drink.

"I don't think that would be appropriate." he laughed. I must have drank a whole lot more than I thought. I shook my head and grabbed the wine I had abandoned earlier on and grabbed two wine glasses from the cabinet and set them on the bar. I poured equal amounts of wine in the glasses, emptying the bottle. I didn't even ask him if he wanted some.

"I think you've had enough Azania." He said and confiscated my glass. I glared at him and puffed out my chest, his eyes instinctively going to my bust.

"You're not my father." I said stubbornly.

"Thank George for that, because if I was your father, I would have spanked you silly by now."

"Good thing you aren't then. Give me my glass."

"Technically, it's my glass. And no."

"I'm not going to chase after you like a lovesick puppy. Just give me my glass." I snapped.

"I said no. What? Princess not used to not getting everything she wants?" he teased with a dangerous gleam in his eyes.

"You don't know shit about me Matthews." I said, already feeling the anger rise up in my body.

"Oh, but I do know that you are very disrespectful. And you have a very sharp tongue. I also know that you're a spoilt little petulant brat. You have major mommy AND anger issues. You have secrets, lots and lots of secret and you carry around a lot of pain that you try your utmost best to hide. You love Nutella, and you're with a guy who you think you should be with because of social standing, not because you love him." He held my gaze as he said these things, his tone getting softer and softer.

"Excuse me?" I asked incredulously. Who does he think he is? He ignored me and continued, "I also know that you had a rough night tonight, it probably brought back a lot of memories that you had buried. And I know that everything that I am saying right now is hitting home, because it is a 100% true. I know that you're shocked that I can see right through your fake façade, when people who have been around you for the longest time can't. I know you're probably thinking about whatever Kevin did to upset you. I know that you're in denial about many things, your relationship being one of those things and the fact that your mother left and abandoned you, and is never coming back, being the other. I also know that you're practically crying out for help, and no one can see you. But I can." His face was unreadable, his eyes even worse. He was way taller than me, so I had to tilt my head upwards to look at him.

"I also know that you're probably calling me an asshole in your head." he whispered, making me gasp because he was completely right about everything. He held my gaze, blue eyes to hazel and I allowed myself to get lost in their depths. The space between us had somehow decreased and our breaths were mixed. I fought the urge to flutter my eyes closed, stand on my tiptoes and press my lips against his. Even though every fibre in my body was practically screaming at me to do it, I shifted my gaze, cleared my throat and rubbed my neck. I took advantage of his distracted state and carefully snatched the glass of wine out of his hand and gulped it in one go. He frowned and made sure to keep his glass far away from me.

"Do you want to tell me why you're drowning your organs in alcohol or do you want me to drag it out of you?" he asked sarcastically as he took a seat at the breakfast bar.

"Believe it or not, this is the first time I'm drinking alcohol." I admitted and he looked at me with his mouth wide open.

"No lie?"

"Nope. It really is my first time."

"You don't drink like it's your first time though."

"I know, emotions kind of got the best of me and I followed the advice of many men on TV and drank my sorrows away."

"Your dad is going to kill you when he finds out." He said with a laugh, shaking his head.

"My dad can't find out. I snuck out, he'd punish me until I grew old and then I would die a virgin." I blinked when I realize what I just said. Why did I tell him that? He looked amused, with a smile that suggested he knew something I didn't.

"Do you want to go sit outside by the pool?" he asked suddenly, to which I cocked an eyebrow at him.

"Are you going to put on a shirt?" I asked, eyeing his abs. He chuckled and stood up.

"Do you want me to put on a shirt?" he asked with a smirk. I cocked my head and fully checked him out. He had a beautifully sculpted torso. Taking advantage of my drunken state, I said "Nah, you're alright." He laughed and grabbed a new bottle of wine from the bar fridge, along with a corkscrew and two glasses.

"I think I might like drunk Azania more than sober Azania." He said with a smile as he walked towards the back, I followed.