EDITED

After four shots of tequilla and a can of beer, I had to drag Hannah out of the party as it was almost 11 and her parents were supposed to be back around 12.

"You are going to be so hungover tomorrow," I said glancing at Hannah while driving my car.

"Uhh..."

"Just don't miss school, okay? We have rehersals for the debate competiton tomorrow." Miss Quinn would kick her out of the team if she missed the rehersal. Our school had won consecutively for the past three years and Miss Quinn made sure that that was not about to change.

"Yeah, don't you worry," she said poking me on the shoulder with her finger. Her words were slurring and I hoped that her parents were not yet home, or else she would be dead meat.

I parked outside her house and took her inside. Suprisingly, Kevin was still up playing some video game. "Go to sleep, you little shit!" Hannah shouted at him. Boy, she was harsh when drunk!

"Are you drunk?" Kevin gasped. Hannah ignored him.

"No Kevin, she's...just a bit...off. And you should be in bed now. Come on, off you go," I said trying to ward him off.

I took Hannah to her room and made Kevin promise that he wouldn't say anything. Just like his sister, he wasn't easy. And there went 20 bucks that I would never see again.

*****

As expected, Hannah wasn't there in the class the next day. Our first period was Literature in which all three of us were together. Sarah looked hungover too with her droopy eyes, but atleast she was here. She sat with both hands massaging her head and I was sure she had no idea of what was going on in the class.

Then my eyes fell on Amelia who was sitting on the second last bench in the far corner near the window. But she looked normal as ever, though I was sure I had seen her drinking. And suddenly I remembered what had happened yesterday. I know it was just a smile but it was completely out of nowhere. Well, Sarah and Hannah aren't so bothered so why should I be. I pushed aside the thought and concentrated on As You Like It.

Hannah did not come even during lunch break. I was sitting with Sarah who looked much better now.

"Did she say she wasn't going to come?" Sarah asked nibbling at her sandwich. She hated the cafeteria food except the cheese sandwich, which to be honest, did hit your taste buds in the right spots.

"No. I just hope she comes for the rehearsal." We had never bunked school without informing each other and mostly we used to do it together to go for a movie or shopping. So this was pretty unusual of Hannah. "I don't know why she drinks so much if she cant handle it! Maybe I should call her," I said reaching for my phone.

"Oh come on," Sarah said waving her hand in front of her face, "she's probably still sleeping. If she cares so much about the debate then she'll show up." There was a slight hint of irritation in her tone when she said that so I decided to let go of the topic and we started talking about the upcoming Homecoming Dance which quickly changed Sarah's mood and she excitedly started talking about some 'mind-blowingly pretty as F' dress that she had seen.

******
After school I went to the auditorium for the rehearsal and I was pretty much expecting to see Hannah over there, waiting for me with a puppy face and the lamest excuse she could ever come up with for missing school. But no no, still not here!

Miss Quinn started giving out instructions to everyone as we all gathered around her. "Okay so today we are going to practise on topic number three which is in your sheets," she said, "I want Laura, Max, Hannah and Amanda on one team. Come on, quick."

"Miss Quinn, Hannah's not here yet," I said making an apolegetic face as if I was the reason behind her absence.

"Well, where is she?"

"I don't know. Let me just call her."

"You do, honey."

I dialled Hannah's number and went aside. Ringing. Ringing. Voice mail. Great.

"Where the hell are you? Stop lazying around at home and call me. Or just text me!" I said after the beep.

I went back to Miss Quinn and told her that she wasn't picking up and was probably sick or something. Miss Quinn sighed, stared at the wall behind me for a few seconds and then turned and told the others to continue anyways.

The rehearsal went on for an hour or so and after we packed up Miss Quinn gave me a look which I interpretated as, "Better tell Hannah to be there tomorrow," to which I simply just nodded.

As I sat in my car, my phone vibrated. It was a message from Hannah to our group chat.

Hannah
Sry guys! Was gonna call u, but totally forgot!

I started typing but before I could press send, Sarah replied.

Sarah
Where were u?!  >:(

Me
I left u a voice msg. Didnt u get it? Ms Quinn gave me some weird, angry looks!

Hannah
Yeah i got it. And i promise to never miss rehearsal again. Ill handle it tomoro ;)

Sarah
Umm hello? Still havent answered my question!

Hannah
Yeah bout that...

Me
??

Hannah
Not here. Can u guys come over? Like now, please?

Me
Everything alright?

Hannah
Kindaa...

Sarah
STOP STALLING N TELL US!

Hannah
Somethin weird happened. Just come over n i promise ill tell u everything.