Next Story in the American Lifestyles Series

"American Hangover"



Chapter One


Lydia sighed and crossed out the date. It was exactly the 365th day since Ahmet was last seen. It was also exactly a year since Jolene had given birth. Lydia looked at the date she’d crossed out and felt over whelmed. Eight months ago she had decided that she would give him a year to return. If he returned they were meant to be. If he didn’t then she would move on. And so today was the day she let him go.

Lydia put her pen down on the desk under her calendar and tightened her grip on her bag. She was headed to the park and bat up some. Afterward she would shower and get ready for Jolene’s four o’clock party for one-year-old Adyli.

Lydia had grown so close to the baby. She had come to call her Ady and passed down her Hispanic background to her. She played with her and babysat many time. The little girl had even come to call Lydia titi. Lydia smiled and pressed her fingers to her lips. She passed her hand over a picture of Lydia and Adyli.

Glancing at the other side of her desk she grabbed a picture of her and Ahmet framed. The frame was decorated in hearts and was a picture of him and her on Valentine’s Day. Ahmet had birthday cake on his cheek. She loved that his birthday was on Valentine’s Day. They never celebrated Valentine’s Day. She sighed yet again and put the picture in a draw. If she were to get over him she had to rid her room of his presence.

But now was not the time. She finally walked away from her desk and out of her room. The apartment was empty and quiet. The previous night Chrissy had chosen to sleep over Jo’s house. Lydia had declined their offer for her to come and said that she needed to study. Indeed it was hard to juggle school and working and she needed all the study time she could handle.

She slipped out of her apartment quickly and walked down the steps. In her hands she held her purse and her bag with her bat and glove. Since ahmet had gone she spent some time in learning about the game he despised. With Zhi around she played a lot of family games. Now it seemed it was her outlet for stress.

She walked out of her apartment and stalked to her car. She opened it up and loaded herself and her things into the car. Within twenty minutes she was at the park. She parked her car in the lot across from the field and jumped out. She trotted onto the field and set herself up in front of a pitching machine that was attached to the ground. She began hitting some bats and releasing her tension.

Tenty minutes later Lydia was sweating under the suns rays. Her arms burned and her heart beat almost out of her chest. Lydia was tired but continued. The machine blinked yellow and she positioned herself. She waited a second or two concentrating on the slot that would throw the ball out full speed. The light turned green and Lydia swung. She tipped the ball and it flew upward. Lydia followed its movements only to watch it bounce off the fencing above her head and ricochet back. The ball made a clunk sound making contact with her head and Lydia stood there shocked for a moment. A second past and the field was spinning. Lydia’s eyes rolled back and she was on the floor.


Lydia’ eyes fluttered open and she watched the roads past and the streets move. She watched the car come to a stop at the red light and took a second to glance at the wheel. A set of hands nervously tapped its thumbs on the wheel. She moaned at the pain and raised her hand to her face. She touched the side of her face and winced. She looked at her hands that now had blood on it. She thought for one agonizing slow second and then jolted up her eyes now completely open. “Oh my god!” She said. She looked ot her side and jumped at the sight of the man driving the car. “STOP!” she yelled.

“Wait calm down!” He yelled back his hands raised as a sign of surrender and peace.

“I can’t calm down I’m in some weird car with my head slashed open! What the hell is going on!?” Lydia screamed then held her head wishing she hadn’t screamed so loud.

“I’m taking you to the hospital.” He said returning his hands on the wheel and continuing on his way.

Lydia sighed and leaned back in her chair. Her head was killing her and she couldn’t take an argument. She relaxed in her seat and watched as the car drove. The movements trouble her stomach and she had trouble controlling her gagging. The car came ot a stop and Lydia let her stomach settle.

“I’m never returning to that park ever again. It’s just a bad luck kind of park for me.” Lydia muttered.

“What do you mean?” He asked her.

“Just around this time… last year. Some Asian kid broke my window. He’s engaged to my friend now. So I guess it was a bit good he broke it… but he broke it! And now here I am all hurt from THAT park.”

“How do you know this incident wont bring you love?” he said to her. It was then Lydia actually turned and looked at the man who was talking to her. His eyes sparkled blue and his chiseled chin fit his strong boned face. His smile was teasing and sexy. His hair was short and a strand of it fell over his head. He was amazing.

Lydia swallowed and said “I guess I don’t really know.” The next hour went by quick. Lydia had some staple work done and she agreed to be careful. She was luckily and thankfully out soon enough for her to go to her apartment and get ready for the party. She would be maybe an hour or so late but she wasn’t as late as she had thought she would be.

Her new male friend escorted her through out the entire thing. She had come to talk a lot with him and had much time to dwell and admire his amazing eyes. They stood together in the parking lot standing near Lydia’s car, his car not to far away.

“I know I was a bit rude in the beginning. I was just shocked. Last thing I’d expect in this world is to show up in the hospital with some guy I don’t know. I’m not like that at all. But my point to this all is that I want to thank you. It was great to have some one there.” Lydia smiled up at his 5’9” figure.

“It was no problem. I’m happy you’re ok.” There was a moment they looked at each other and he glanced away. He looked beyond her out into the sun and said “well I guess I should go then.” His eyes yet again glistened and sparkled in the lighting. They were amazing! His eyes were fantastic and Lydia was ecstatic. It wasn’t everyday she met some one from the good Bronx with eyes like that.

“Yeah, I guess so.” Lydia said disappointed.

“Hopefuly see you around.” He shook her hand looked at her four staples for a moment and then moved on.

Suddenly Lydia knew she couldn’t let this man just walk off. “Wait!” He turned around and raised his eye brows at her. “I think that you should tell me your name. I can’t believe I haven’t asked before and I also think that you should come to my niece’s birthday party later today if you possibly have nothing to do.”

He shook his head and said “I’m Kiral, Kiral Maximus the third.”

Lydia laughed and looked around “The third? Well that’s adorable. I’m… wait I think you heard my name in that hospital like a million times!”

“yeah, I did. But I wouldn’t mind hearing it one last time.” Lydia couldn’t help but blush. It had been so long since she’d flirted with a man!

“Lydia, Lydia Rosario the first!” Lydia smiled and he nodded his head.


***************************************

Kiral Held the gate handle in his hands but made no move to open it. He listened in on the conversation between to women. “Jolene he is gorgeous! I had to invite him. What was I supposed to do after he helped me?”

“Say goodbye? Lyd, you already have a million people from your family here who we can’t feed!” The voice responded. Kiral guessed it was Jolene.

“FINE! I’ll go get pizza! But we will not deny the fabulous looking man entrance to my niece’s party!” Just then the door flew open and hit Kiral in the head knocking back a couple steps to stumble and fall.

He landed with an oomph and a stinging pain in his head. He touched his head afraid they would have to return to the hospital but felt no blood. “Oh wow! I’m so sorry!.... what were you doing behind the door?” Lydia held her hand out and he lifted himself using her help.

“I was entering the party or at least considering it.” He said brushing off his pants.

“Considering it?” Lydia questioned.

“yeah, I might have over heard a bit of a conversation.” He admitted.

“Oh…” Lydia’s eyes softened. “Don’t worry about it you’re-“ Lydia was cut off by a female who had been watching the entire time.

“You can stay! Lydia hasn’t introduced us so I’ll say I’m Jolene.” Jolene shook his hand.

“Kiral” he said in response as Jolene shook his hand enthusiastically.

“I’m going ot need to introduce you to a couple people here and there if you don’t mind?” She said letting go of his hand and signaling for the party past the gate.

He was about to say yes when Lydia jumped in. “Actually he’ll come with me to get pizza and you can do introductions later.” Jolene agreed to it all and Lydia and he were off. They were in his truck and he was driving when they pulled away from Jolene’s home.

“If ever I gave you a chance to leave it would be now. Did you see that crazed look in Jolene’s eyes? Sheesh.” Lydia said shaking her head then saying ouch and raising her hand to her staples.

He shook his head and responded “no, I don’t want to leave.”

Lydia smiled at him and said “Well, if you are going to stay I should give you a quick summary of what you might face in there. I think the best way I could explain it is telling you the way I like to think of it. My life is like a good old fashion American Hangover. A major head ache, everyone is always yelling, and the pain and nagging never ends. Plus there is never any brand of aspirin that actually works.”

“In the end… all hangovers are worth the fun.” He said to her.

“Yes! I think you’re getting it.” She smiled up at him. He smiled back. Lydia was irresistible.



Message From the author:
Sorry for the typos! too busy to edit it all. hope you enjoy!
I love you all!!!
-Mizz Lyd