The next morning, Trudy woke up with the worst headache she ever had - and that was saying something since she had to endure old people talk in her father's business meetings.

But it doesn't make any sense. Trudy could swear she didn't have one drop of alcohol - she could remember as clear as the blinding sunlight that was burning her eyes that when she opened the fridge to fetch herself a drink she found it empty.

Holding on to her throbbing head, Trudy rolled over so she wouldn't have to blind her swollen eyes with the bright sun. She contemplated the thought of changing her bed placement or replace the sheer curtains with thicker ones now more than ever but that was effort - besides, it was Sandra's idea to use fengshui or whatever the fuck that was to wake up every morning with positive energy.

Positive energy my ass, Trudy grumbled, rolling on her side so she wouldn't have to face the sun anymore. Trudy wasn't expecting Evangeline to be sleeping right next to her, the redheaded girl breathing so peacefully as her lids - covered in thick, brown eyelashes - were hiding the clearest hazel eyes there was. Trudy took this time to ease her headache by thinking about her best friend and analyzing her like the creep who didn't have a life she was.

Evangeline was the most serene yet, her clear skin glowing as her red hair cascaded to her shoulders. Her hair was naturally silky unlike Trudy's which was brutally burnt everyday to achieve the perfect waves. Eva was wearing Trudy's loose shirt yet it looked tighter on her, enhancing her healthy body and thick boobs. Trudy glanced down at her own chest - it wasn't small but it wasn't average either, somewhere in between and Trudy hated that.

If it was up to Trudy, then she would have made her insecurities all vanish with the help of injections and fillers. Unfortunately, Trudy's mom would never approve.

Evangeline stirred in her sleep, her hazel eyes fluttering open and focusing on Trudy next to her. Evangeline's face brightened in the most beautiful smile, stretching her arms over her head. "Good morning," Her voice was raspy and thick from sleep - it sounded more alluring than sex, but it was pure and innocent all at the same time. Trudy found herself wondering about the future man who would be lucky to wake up next to Eva every day.

Eva let out a tiny squeal as she finished her morning stretch in Trudy's king-sized bed. "How are you feeling?"

Trudy sat up, her brain spinning in her head. She clutched at the nightstand next to her, hoping it would provide some sense of balance. Trudy was in such a bad shape that she didn't care about her frizzy hair, oversized pyjamas that made her body look more soggy than ever. "Ugh, I feel awful. My throat is dry, my head is killing me, and I feel like I was dragged by a truck on the highway."

"That bad, huh?" Eva's delicate hand brushed a strand of hair behind her ear. "Well, let me see what I can do to help." Eva swung her bare feet over the most luxurious bed she probably had the honors of sleeping in and ran to Trudy's bathroom. A couple of seconds later, she came back with a small bottle of Voss water and a pill of painkillers.

As Trudy shrugged down the medicine in hopes of reducing her suffering, images of Eva escorting her into the mansion, changing her into her pyjamas, washing her dirty feet, and tucking her to bed - Trudy realized that no amount of painkillers would be able to reduce the throb of her heart. It was only then did Trudy realize the gravity of what she had done - she wanted to destroy Eva. Trudy reached the realization that she could never do such thing. Evangeline was just too innocent and pure that even cursing in front of her would feel like crushing a puppy with her favorite Louis Vuitton boots.

Eva played the half consumed bottle of water on the fancy nightstand, sitting cross-legged on the bed. "What about now? Are you feeling better?"

"Well, I wouldn't know yet since I just swallowed the pill, genius." Trudy snapped before she could stop herself.

Eva blinked, blushing as she unconsciously shifted away, making Trudy regret her rudeness. "Yes, you're right. I'm sorry."

"No, I'm sorry," Trudy groaned, rubbing at her temples. "It's just that my head is killing me and - ugh, just bear with me, okay?"

Evangeline's freckled cheeks rose up, intensifying her big eyes. "That's okay," Eva beamed, a smile tugging at her delicate lip, "You're actually trying to be nice, that's more than enough."

Despite Eva's comfort, her words stung Trudy. Trying is improvement? She must've been more horrible than she thought.

"Can I ask you though?" Eva's smile fell, her hands tugging at the cotton sheets in nervousness yet her gaze was heated. "Why were you crying in your sleep?"

Trudy's puffy eyes widened for just a second - am I crying in my sleep again? No, she couldn't let this happen, she wouldn't be weak again, never!

Trudy locked her snaky eyes with the poor soul, her slumped shoulders broadening and her narrowed jaw setting. "I was intoxicated," Trudy hissed, "People don't act like their selves when that happens, so you got nothing on me."

Eva shook her head, her lack of self-esteem fueling Trudy's own. "No, I didn't mean it like that-"

"Ugh, I know," Trudy groaned, losing her confident posture and collapsing on her bed. She straightened herself again, coming to an important realization. "But I didn't drink anything yesterday, Eva, how could I been so wasted?"

"Maybe you did and forgot?" Eva offered, "That tends to happen. You said it yourself."

"No, I was perfectly sober until..." Trudy's brown eyes widened, jumping on her wobbly feet and pulling at her tangled bed hair. "Oh my fucking god, it's Justin. The goddamn water, he must've spiked it - ugh, that bitch."

Eva flinched at each curse words. "Justin? I don't think so, the guy is sweeter than a lollipop."

Trudy cringed. "Okay, Eva, never use that analogy again."

"Why?" Eva shook her head, readjusting her priorities. "No, but seriously, the guy is such a cutie, there's no way he'd do that."

Trudy frowned. "You're supposed to have my back." Honestly speaking, Trudy couldn't even blame Eva for her obliviousness towards Justin since she was oblivious towards her, and she was her best friend.

"Yes, I totally do, don't get me wrong, Trudy," Evangeline frowned. "Wait, is that why Zarek hit him-" Eva gasped. "-to defend you?"

Trudy got up and rushed to the bathroom, the movement too quick for her rusty body that the world shook for a second and a faint whistle went off in her ears. Before Eva could comprehend what happened, Trudy looked the door on herself. I made a fool out of myself yesterday. Not only did Eva and Justin witness her devastation but Zarek as well. RIP social image.

Evangeline's rushed footsteps echoed in Trudy's spacious room before she reached the bathroom door. Eva knocked, hesitance in her voice. "Are you okay? What's wrong"

Trudy bit on her full lip, silencing her whimpers and enduring her awful headache. She forced a grunting sound out of her sore throat that sounded close to a confirmation, not trusting her shaky, stuttering voice. She had no idea what was happening to her, what was wrong with her, or why she was reacting that way. Just like she had no control over the twist of her stomach, it seemed like she had no control over the rest of her body and emotions as well.

Sometimes she felt so distanced from her own self, hiding in the closet as her shell made all the choices for her. It wasn't the rightest ones - they were awful most of the time - but she played along, too afraid to step in and ruin whatever left of her.

Eva twisted the golden doorknob, but it didn't open since Trudy somehow managed to lock it in her freak-out attack. "Is everything okay? Why is the door locked?"

Trudy knew Evangeline was just trying to help, that was why Trudy was putting space between them. Trudy knew that she wouldn't be able to control herself from spitting hurtful words, especially around Eva - words just came out naturally because she knew Eva would never protest and swallow them down.

"Y-yeah," Trudy's shaky voice was so humiliating. "I just need to pee really bad."

"Oh, okay." Evangeline shrugged, buying the smooth lie and walking back to the bed.

Trudy sat on her diamond embellished toilet seat, needing a minute. She closed her eyes, taking deep breaths and counting to ten - it was something she learned in those psychological classes that wasted an entire summer of her childhood. The technique wasn't enough to calm down the raging storm in Trudy's chest as snippets of her memories kept popping up in her thoughts, weighting her down with the countless mistakes that she could've prevented but didn't.

She tried telling herself what she would tell someone else in her position, but she had nothing to say. Trudy would make a sassy reply in a no time, convince or threaten someone to do whatever she wanted with ease, pick out a designer item from a knockoff with a glance, but when it came down to emotions she was truly clueless. All what Trudy knew about feelings was how to bottle everything in her chest, acting all strong and independent while breaking and dying from the inside.

Instead, she tried thinking about what other people would tell her. Evangeline, for example, would say something along the lines of you don't have to be powerful all the time, it's okay to be weak too. She might even encourage her to hug her and cry claiming that it would cleanse your soul and heart when you let it all out. Trudy would rather die than show weakness, so hugging and crying was so not gonna happen.

Well, Sandra on the other hand, might come up with something like let's hook you up with the next hot guy and all your problems will disappear or let's ask some of Sanderson's friends to jump him at night which was up Trudy's alley a little more. Just thinking about Justin's already bruised face get bloodier and more broken made the slightest hint of satisfaction sooth her horrible headache.

However, her mind somehow got drifted to him - her first. The memories of him were awakened yesterday thanks to Justin and his god knew what drug. Trudy had suppressed any thoughts of him because she knew that if they were loose than she would never be at peace, always thinking about the what-ifs and the awful was-it-me questions, but the worst was the horrible choices she had made. Yes, she was a very young at the time - and apparently naive and stupid as well - but she was just kid. No kid deserved to go through that.

Deciding that she grieved enough over her pathetic life, Trudy opened her eyes. Her gaze landed on her golden, custom made iPhone next to the sink. She didn't know how it ended up so close to the water, but she figured it happened somehow in last night's messiness.

Picking it up, and ignoring all of the inquisitive messages she received due to the scandal of Hunter's party, Trudy dialed a specific number. With each beep of the call, Trudy's heart accelerated. When the person answered, Trudy forgot how to breathe for a second.

"What?" Despite Zarek's rude and annoyed tone, Trudy had a shameful moment where she marveled over his rough and thick voice.

"Hello," Her voice sounded raspy and out of breath. Ugh, I'm such a loser.

"What do you want?" Zarek was colder than ever, sounding detached and careless. He didn't sound like the guy who rescued her from getting assaulted and punching her predator. "Fucking get it over with, I got shit to do."

"Yes, right," Trudy fiddled with her oversized t-shirt, picking at a loose thread as words slipped far away from her along with her confidence. "I'm just calling to ask you to keep what happened last night a secret between us, and to, eh, thank you for last night - for defending me. "

"Listen, if you think we're friends now over last night, you can forget about it." Zarek hissed, his voice seemingly harsher coming out of the phone, "What I did last night had nothing to do with you, Justin and I had some unfinished business. I didn't do it for you, I did it because Justin deserves it. Truth is, I don't give a shit about you and neither does anyone."

Before Trudy could think of a snarky comment, Zarek - not for the first time - hung up on her, cutting off the line as well as the only rope to her self-worth.