I'm baaaaaacckkkkkk...! After 8 years, I am here. Longest time to wait for a new chapter? Probs. But here it is. I am a bit rusty with writing for leisure, but I am really happy with the way this chapter turned out. Stay tuned for more! I am determined to finish this story.

Rachel slowly opened her eyes as she tried her best to lay as still as humanly possible. Her head was pounding, no, throbbing - and it reminded her exactly why she didn't regularly drink. Why did she drink last night? Despite having a job that might cause others to question her morals, Rachel prided herself in maintaining complete control over her emotions and actions. It was rare that she gave in to peer pressure or was persuaded to act uncharacteristically.

She felt grimy and overheated. She squeezed her eyes shut in an attempt to slow the throbbing in her skull. Bringing her hands to her face, she felt something shift beside her and heard a soft sigh. Taking a deep breath, she turned towards the sound and opened her eyes, smoothing her hands back to her hair. She exhaled slowly as she examined the sight next to her. Kori was passed out on the futon next to her, her red hair strewn across the pillows. Next to Kori, was a familiar looking pale man with dark hair, who was very naked. Rachel could feel her heart rate increase as she continued surveying the room. She wasn't in the apartment she shared with Kori and Jenna. Nothing looked familiar. She slowly dropped her arms as she came to the realization that she was naked under the large green comforter she and Kori were sharing. Her hands began to shake as she struggled to focus on the events of the night before.

Think, think, think... Where did you go last night? Work. What did you do while you were there? I served drinks and danced like usual. Who did you serve drinks to? A group of three men who were friends, they were out, for a party. Is that all you did? No, I drank too, and so did Kori... Weren't they celebrating something? I - I think - maybe? A bachelor party? Yes, that's what it was...

Closing her eyes again, she replayed the first song she danced to in her head. As she reached the chorus, glimpses of the night before flashed before her. Watching Jenna give a lap dance to a handsome blonde man...taking a body shot off Kori...grinding against the handsome blonde man...a muscular African American man stuffing her garter with cash...taking a body shot off Jenna...the blonde man accidentally ripping her new fishnets...Kori sitting and giggling in the lap of a striking man with dark hair as he whispered in her ear...more cash being stuffed in her garter by the attractive blonde as she gave him a lap dance...the man with dark hair snaking his arm around her waist as his other held Kori close...

She looked at the man sleeping next to Kori again. She moved as close to the man as she could without making too much movement and waking Kori. It was him. The dark-haired man from the night before, naked as the day he was born, but certainly not as squishy. She tried to swallow, but her mouth and throat were dry; it felt like she was swallowing sandpaper. Slowly, she wrapped the comforter around her naked torso and inched closer to a large plum t-shirt she spotted thrown over the back of the couch. As the comforter dragged over Kori's sleeping frame, her arms twitched and she pulled the blanket from Rachel's hands with such strength Rachel toppled backward onto the futon, her back colliding with the metal frame. She clenched her jaw shut and squeezed her eyes, stifling a pained scream with her hands.

Completely exposed, her back burning with the sensation from the fall, Rachel stood up on shaky legs and walked over to the shirt. Slipping it over her head, she scanned the room in search of her own clothes. She tiptoed around the room, searching every corner but found no items that were her own. Everything she picked up belonged to Kori and presumably, the handsome man sleeping next to her. Plopping onto the couch, she cradled her head in her hands. The throbbing in her skull returned, making her nauseous.

Rubbing her eyes with as much pressure as she could stand, images began to resurface. Fragmented scenes played in slow motion behind her heavy lids, producing goosebumps on the young woman's arms. She gasped as her eyes flew open, wide as saucers. Images from the club were fuzzy, most of that part of the night was black. Everything after the arrival at the apartment she was currently sitting in was now clear as day.

Rachel needed to shower, immediately. She needed to scrub the night off of her skin. She took another glimpse at Kori, sleeping peacefully against the chiseled chest of the man who had persuaded both women to drink excessively with him. Convincing herself that Kori could hold her own if the man became aggressive, she slinked down the hallway to find the bathroom.