Tea & Biscuits

Beth awoke to the sound of Alan's voice on the 'phone. Her eyes were closed but she knew it was daytime, sunlight was trickling through the gaps of the curtains. There was a blanket covering her but she felt cold. Sitting up, she put her hand over her forehead as she felt a wave of nausea hit her.
Jumping up she ran to the bathroom and vomited into the toilet, retching until she felt weak and collapsed onto her knee's, her arms wrapped around the bowl, her head pounding.

She heard Alan's footsteps coming towards her down the hallway. He handed her a glass of water and lay a gentle hand on her back.

'Oh dear...' there was amusement in his voice 'Someone should have avoided the red wine, I think...'

'Oh god...' Beth groaned 'I'm sorry....'

'Don't be silly... we've all been there. I called Kate and told her you are ill. She said just come back when you are better. And I spoke to your Mum, she was ringing your mobile. You forgot to call her last night...she was frantic actually but she knows you're here now'.

'Oh shit, poor Mum....' Beth sipped slowly at her water and tried to stand up, her legs shaking beneath her. Alan wrapped an arm around her and helped her back to the couch. Beth sat with her head in her hands.

'What time is it, anyway?' she mumbled through her fingers.

'Erm...its half past ten...' Alan lifted the blanket around Beth's shoulders and she curled up into it, pulling it over her head to stop the light.

'I'm dying....'she moaned.

'Ha.... I don't think anyone has died from a hangover. Maybe you will be the first!' Alan chuckled.

'Not funny!' Beth exclaimed and kicked at him from under the blanket.

'I have a cure...if you are interested?' Alan asked, laughter slowly surfacing around the edges of his voice as he tried to keep a straight face.

'Anything.... oh god....' Beth pulled the blanket down and looked him over the top of it, her eyes challenging him to laugh again.

Forcing his face into seriousness, he patted Beth's feet through the blanket.

'Wait there, I wont be long' He smiled as she moved the blanket back over her head.

Alan ran a bath for Beth, adding some old bubble bath he found in the cabinet. Once the bath was ready, he sat on the edge for a moment, gathering his thoughts.

They had talked until 6 a.m. when Beth finally fell asleep.

Alan had stayed awake, his mind playing over and over the images that had appeared there as Beth told him what happened on the night they met.

As she slept, he cried. And he realised he loved her.

Walking back into the lounge he found Beth laying with the blanket under her chin, staring into the unlit fire.

'How are you doing?' He asked her.

'I feel like shit, since you're asking...' she smiled ruefully. 'What about you?'

'Yeh, I'm OK...but then I didn't mix my alcohol like a certain someone....'he grinned at her.

Beth sat up again and looked at him, her eyes serious.'You know thats not what I'm getting at. Honestly......' she rolled her eyes at him.

'Come with me...'he held his hand out to her ' have a bath, I will make some tea, then we can talk some more, if you want to?'

Grabbing his hand and pulling herself to her feet, Beth hugged him to her 'Thanks Alan...' she murmured into his shirt.

He stroked her hair 'For what? I didn't do anything....'

'You did, you listened... you have been such a good friend. Thank you'.

'No problem' he looked down at her, grinned and sniffed the air comically 'but you seriously need to take a bath....' he leaped deftly out of her reach as she moved to punch him, then tottered unsteadily into the bathroom and closed the door.