Eye of the Storm

Chapter 33

My head stings as I try to open my eyes, light piercing my vision. I’m not sure if it’s morning or afternoon, all I know is that my head is pounding. If it weren’t for the fact that I feel like I’m about to throw up, I’d be in this bed for a lot longer. I haul myself out of my bedroom and groggily make my way towards the bathroom, falling onto the toilet, letting last night’s regrets fill up the toilet bowl.
“Rough night?” I hear Claire’s voice from behind me. I try to turn to her but instantly throw up again and cling to the toilet for dear life. I groan back at her. “Come on, let’s get you sorted out,” Claire walks up to me, picking me up so that I’m on my knees over the toilet, holding my hair above my head and patting my back. My head feels hot and cold and my fingers shakily hold my frame above the toilet as I throw up a couple more times.

Claire hands me a towel to wash my face with and a glass of water, helping me over to the couch.
“How much did you drink?” she asks, placing a blanket over my shoulders. I squint up at her, slowly sipping on the water.
“Half a bottle,” I choke out. The moment I speak my throat burns like fire, with the same sandpaper feeling that my throat felt when I first woke up on the island. Claire sighs, coming and sitting down next to me.
“Esme, please don’t start this again,” it’s the first time I’ve drunk since that party, the one where I first met Leo. “Listen, I’ll help you out here… what’s your priority at the moment?” she asks me.
“Leo,” I say, without skipping a beat, but Claire just raises an eyebrow at me, before shaking her head in disapproval.
“I know young love is so fresh and exciting, but he isn’t your top priority,” she begins to brush her fingers through my hair, neatening it up. “your heart may hurt a lot, which means you can’t think clearly, but I think our top priority is the two men in our own family,” she smiles at me softly and I know that she’s right.
“…okay,” I nod, finishing my water. The water is soothing going down my throat, clearing my mind and pulling me out of my sludge.
“Anyway, get dressed, Lorenzo’s ready to see us, Nate’s there with mum,”
“Where’s dad?” she looks at me with tired eyes.