"American Hangover"

Chapter Four




Lydia trotted to the kitchen her eyes not even open. She pulled herself to make it to the kitchen where she sat at the table. She put her head down and grunted. It was five in the morning and she was incredibly tired. It had been yet another couple days since she had spent the night playing Candy Land with Kiral in her living room and they had had yet another three dates. He was the first thing on her mind in the morning and the last person she thought about before she slept.

“Lydeeeee” Chrissy said causing her to raise her head and fully open her eyes.

“How dare you be this chirpy so early in the morning?” Lydia said her voice crackling.

“Lyd you said you wouldn’t complain. You said you would get up and you’d come shopping with me. In return I would do your hair for that thing with Kiral’s boss. We had a deal Lydia.” Chrissy said moving around the kitchen so fast Lydia only saw a blurry figure that resembled her adopted sister.

“But I never said anything about waking up at five in the morning to began shopping preparation. I never said anything like that.” Lydia said. “But what ever… FINE! I’m up and I’m going to shower and I’ll be ready by six thirty.”

Lydia got up and retreated to her room. She sighed and jumped onto her bed. She laid there hoping she had imagined it all and Chrissy wasn’t moving around in the kitchen. Lydia sat up and looked around her room. She wasn’t anything close to ready to get up. Her body was protesting and her eyes refused to even stay open for at least a minute. Lydia gave her room a slow scan.

Lydia looked at her desk and saw the picture. It had been there for a couple of days and she had yet to touch it. She had yet to shred it or reframe it. She wasn’t exactly sure she needed to destroy the picture. Surely it wasn’t the possession of a picture of him that decided when she was over him right? Maybe she also didn’t want to forget him. Getting over an ex boyfriend didn’t mean forgetting them completely.

Lydia got up and walked to her desk. Reluctantly she reached for the photo. She finally held it in her hand and she looked at it. What was she going to do? When Kiral sat in front of her she was so sure of what she wanted. She was so sure that Kiral would replace the void. She was so sure that she didn’t need the photo and that she’d have a new photo of her and Kiral. Now she wasn’t sure of anything.


One thing she adored about Kiral was that she felt sure of herself around him. She felt like her life was stable and she knew where she was going when she was around him. When she was with Ahmet she had never felt that there was a future in her life. She was always running on the adrenaline of today and the mystery of tomorrow. With Kiral she had the concrete feeling of knowing that today she would like him and tomorrow she would like him and in a year she would like him. Her heart was sure she wouldn’t encounter moments she hated his existence in her life like she had with Ahmet. She was sure!

For the first time in her life Lydia was alright. She knew where she was going. She knew how she was getting there. IT felt good to her. It felt like nothing she had ever felt in her life. Lydia looked down at the photo and crumpled it in her hands. She crumpled it slowly and when it was its final wrinkled up ball she held it in her hand tightly. “I’m done.” She said then threw the ball into her mini trashcan.

At exactly six thirty Lydia came trotting out of her room. She had showered and dressed and applied the little make up she wore. Her lips wee glossed and her sneakers fit right. She wore nice fitting jeans and a comfortable t shirt. The t shirt had a Yellowcard symbol on it and was a memory of her first yellow card concert. Lydia’s hair was curled through use of gel and watch resting on her left wrist. She wore the minimal jewelry and her usual earrings.

“Good Job you’re ready at six thirty. We’ll be at Jo’s by seven.” Chrissy said to her keys in her hand and purse over her shoulder.

Lydia grabbed her own purse and walked out the door with Chrissy. Chrissy led the way down the steps making light taps every time her foot hit a step. Lydia followed her feet heavy and stomping every time she stepped down a step. Lydia exited with her looked at the grey sky. At this time she loved to lye in bed. She loved the look of the sky and she found it just perfect to cuddle with her blanket.

Lydia had changed her classes and arranged everything for the fact that she hated waking up early. Why on a Tuesday morning would Chrissy do this to her!? Lydia sighed and jumped into Chrissy comfortable small car. It was small in it’s owns cute way and it was painted this cute turquoise color. Chrissy turned it on and pulled out of her parking spot.

Chrissy spent the next twenty minutes picking up breakfast at McDonald’s while Lydia day dreamed about Kiral and drank juice. Lydia stuck to her diet as did Jolene. She never ate breakfast, enjoyed a good lunch and ate a light dinner. It worked for her as she had gone from a size twelve to a size seven. Lydia was proud of the size she wore. She had some final weight to lose but she certainly wasn’t aiming for a size one.

By 7:09 they were at Jo’s house. Chrissy eagerly jumped out of her car while Lydia slowly pulled herself out of her side of the car. She dragged her feet to make it to Jolene’s front door and rang the bell. Jolene opened the door before soon and of course as always she and her darling daughter were up early. “Doesn’t any one ever sleep?” Lydia mumbled.

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Danny sat on his and Jolene’s bed staring ahead. Sounds came from downstairs where Lydia, Chrissy, Jolene and his daughter spoke and moved around. The house was screaming with early morning family joining. Danny sat there considering the thought of going down stairs to the four females. At this moment Jolene was quite disappointed with him. Days ago he had came home late and she demanded to know where he was. He could only promise it was nothing bad but he refused to tell her where. How could he? Danny’s mind ran on memories of what had occurred.

Five O’clock and Danny was ready to go home. He thought of entering his home and seeing the beautiful faces that greeted him each day. He continued and turned the corner to find his car. On his car sat a man with his back to him. Danny sighed at the thought of making another person scurry away like a roach when you turned on the lights. He hated when they sat on his car.

Danny was at his car on the driver’s side when he knocked on his car and said “hey!” The man turned around and Danny knew immediately who he was. Even the mans long hair and stubble beard could not hide his identity. His baggy clothes and long trench coat added not one bit of a mystery. It was Ahmet.

“Wow, if it isn’t a dead man walking.” Danny said shaking his head. Where in the hell did he come from??

“So does that mean that you thought I was dead or that you are going to kill me??” Ahmet said a smile forming on his face. Ahmet stood up and walked around the car. He stood in front of Danny and held his hand out in a hand shake offering.

“I’m not going to kill you. I’m not going to shake your hand either. Where the hell did you disappear to??” Danny said frustration in his voice. The man in front of him lead Lydia on an emotional roller coaster for years on end to then direct the ride straight into a ditch. He definitely wasn’t a friend.

“And I was expecting an ‘I’m glad you’re ok welcome home!’ sort of thing.” He said even more of a smile on his face.

“Well aren’t you feeling disappointed? I’m not glad that you’re ok and you aren’t welcomed to come back.” Danny said. Ahmet crossed his arms and leaned on Danny’s car. Ahmet was a good couple inches taller then Danny but Danny was never intimidated by him.

“I think I would be welcomed back if Lydia wasn’t with this other guy. I’ve been following her around some… Who is this guy anyway?” He asked.

“Why is it any of your business?”

“Because she is my girlfriend that’s why!” Ahmet said releasing his arms from their previous position.

“She WAS your girlfriend. Now she’s his. Listen go back to where ever you were before. Lydia is better now and she’s with a nice guy.” Danny said pushing Ahmet off and away from his car. Danny opened the car door and Ahmet watched his jaw clenched. Danny jumped into his car and turned on the ignition. He rolled the window down and said to Ahmet “By the way, he’s Turkish.” Danny smiled and pulled away.

Driving away Danny looked into his rearview mirror and watched as Ahmet jumped into his car and began after Danny. Unsure of where this was going Danny pulled his phone out of his pocket. He dialed his friend Shack’s number and waited till he picked up the phone. “Hey man, I’ll be over there soon.”

“Yeah D? aight. We’re all here. Guess the Mrs. Finally let you loose huh?” Shack replied.

“Funny...” Danny said hanging up and looked at his rear view mirror. Still behind him and smiling was Ahmet. What in the lord was he doing??? Danny drove to Shack’s house checking his mirror often Ahmet still tailing him. A block before he reached Shack’s house Danny hit the breaks. He couldn’t take it! Danny angrily pulled off his seat belt and opened his car door. He was out and walking to Ahmet’s car in seconds.

“What are you doing?!” Danny yelled. “Are you following me?!” At this point anger rushed through Danny’s veins his temper uncontrolled at the annoyance Ahmet was.

“Why? Does it bother you?” Ahmet’s amused smile gave Danny the urge to punch him.

“Go home Ahmet.” Danny said.

“I have no home!” He replied.

“Well that isn’t my problem. Stop following me…” Danny said walking off.

“No!” Ahmet called out from his open window.

Danny stopped dead in his tracks and almost looked back at him. If he really wanted to follow him then he could, Danny decided. Danny Returned to his car and continued the rest of the way to his friends house. Quickly he was there. He turned off his car and continued to his friend porch. His friend opened the door and they exchanged hand shakes.

Ahmet pulled behind Danny’s car and waved at them. “Who’s that?” Shack asked.

“Some one who chose to follow me. Some one who’s not welcomed to follow me home.” Danny told Shack. Danny looked at Ahmet and shook his head. He entered the house and closed the door. He needed to be with his boys anyway. He hadn’t hung with them in weeks and it was about time.

“Do you need help with him?” Shack asked cracking his knuckles.

“Nah man. Don’t worry about him. If he knows what’s good for him he’ll pull away from this house and never come in contact with me or my family.” Danny said nodding his head then heading to the living room where the rest of the gang awaited his arrival.

“Danny!!!” Jolene’s voice called to him from down stairs. “You planning on coming down anytime soon???” she questioned.

Danny shook his head and rose from the bed. He walked out of his room and to the staircase. “On my way sunshine.” He said to her leaving any thoughts of Ahmet behind.

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


Kiral lay in bed his hands under his head, his chest bare and his legs free as he wore boxers only. He looked up at the ceiling and thought about how much his ceiling resembled his mind at the moment. Blank. His ceiling was blank, his mind was blank, and his writing ability was absent. He was assigned something new today and he was stumped yet again. He was hoping his muse would give him a call. His last article on police work was a hit and most of it was Lydia inspired. Maybe she could help him out once again.

Just then the phone beside his bed rand and he grabbed it. He hit talk and greeted the person hello. “Hi darling.” Lydia said her voice sounding tired.

“Hey! How was your day?” he said excited now to hear her voice.

“It was good. A little on the crazy side but it was fun also.” She said her voice softer then usual.

“You sound tired.” He said to her.

“I am very much so… I woke up at six O’clock! We got to Jo’s at seven... spent hours looking at bridal gowns that were possibilities. Then went out and looked around, hours of shopping. Oh how I hate shopping baby. I hate it so much. But we found it, the perfect dress. You should have seen Chrissy’s eyes. It’s beautiful and just perfect.” She said sighing at the end.

“That’s good. I’m sure Chrissy is excited.”

“Hysterical…” Lydia replied. There was a short comfortable quiet moment. Neither of them said anything but for those moments neither of them wanted to. It was the perfect silence. “Oh, I’m sorry. How was your day?” Lydia finally came to say.

“It was ok. Boring really. I wish I had gotten to see you though. What has it been... almost two days since we were last together? I’m having Lydia withdrawals.” He teased. Lydia giggled a bit and he knew she was smiling.

“Don’t be silly. We’ll have lunch tomorrow promise.” She said. “So did you get a new assignment?” she asked.

“Yes I did and once again I am stumped. Boss says he wanted this one just as good as the last. I think you’re my lucky bit of inspiration.” Kiral said to Lydia.

“Well I think you’re my tiny bit of sanity.” Lydia said to him.

“I consider that a compliment.” He said to her. “And if we were in person this would be the part that I kiss you.”

“But we aren’t… that’s alright... I’ll save you one for tomorrow.” Lydia did a bit of a giggle and they continued their conversation.