The banging grew louder, coinciding with the painful pulsing in my head, as I slowly became conscious. Groggily I got up from the sofa, limped over to the door, and opened it. "Holy hell, what happened to you?" a shocked voice asked. I squinted harder, realizing the voice belonged to my old college roommate, Zandra. A vague recollection of having something planned with her entered my mind, but the pain in my head prevented me from thinking much further. I turned and made my way unsteadily back to the sofa. "Vanessa?" her voice was now concerned. "Vanessa- what happened to you?" "Everything." I sat down heavily, and put my sore ankle up on the table. I pulled my robe together as best I could, as I could feel her staring at me. She stood in front of me, hands on her hips. The smell of her perfume made me sick in my stomach, and I swallowed hard. "You look like shit. Where's the tie for your robe? Did you drop it?" she looked down around her on the floor. "She took it." I said quietly, still trying to believe it myself. I had let her take the sash. I had let her...take everything. There was no going back, now. "She?" "Madlax. The girl...the girl I had sex with last night." "What...what..." Zandra backed up, reached for the chair behind her, and sat down with a thud. "What did you just say?" "Against that wall." I nodded my head slightly, as it hurt to turn it. I watched as her mouth dropped open. It was hard to tell which was bigger, her eyes or her mouth. "You- you're not lying, are you? Oh shit, Vanessa! How could you?" "It just happened." I put a hand over my eyes, trying to squeeze the pain from my head. "What do you mean it just happened? Where did you meet this girl?" That was easy to answer, but so ludicrous that I couldn't help but start to laugh quietly, still holding my head. "On the street." I didn't have to look, her gasp told me everything. She jumped up out of the chair. "You had sex with some girl you met on the street and you think it's funny? Vanessa Anne Renee, what has come over you? Have you any idea what this sounds like?" she was pacing now, and suddenly leaned over the coffee table, grabbing the empty wine bottle. "You were drunk weren't you? I mean, you're hungover now- you were drunk, weren't you?" she waved the bottle at me. "Pretty drunk. I drank that whole bottle." I admitted with a groan, wishing my head could fall off. "That's it then. You were drunk, and she took advantage of you being such a nice person. There. It won't happen again." she slammed the bottle down with authority. "I feel awful." I really did, my head was one pulsing point of pain. "Well you should- really now, I've known you for six years and you've never done anything so crazy! Now go get in the shower and I'll make you something for that hangover. God, I hope she didn't have some sort of horrible disease!" she called out, making her way toward the kitchen. With a huge groan, I got up and made my way to the bathroom. ---------- "Slut puppy." Zandra sat on the edge of the bed, watching me grimace as I dressed. "Zandra- it's not like that." "You're right. It's lesbian slut puppy." "Zandra!" "But you did, didn't you? Have a one-night stand with some street person?" "She's not some street person. She's living here with me." I pulled my pants over my air cast with a final tug. "Oh my god." Zandra whispered at this revelation. Then her eyes widened as she looked down at the bed. "Oh my God!" she cried out, jumping up and frantically brushing herself off. "Zandra- I- we-" I didn't know how to explain anything. I watched her put her hands over her ears and violently shake her head. "No! I don't want to hear any more. Last weekend you were a normal person and this weekend I don't know who you are!" "Neither do I, really." I muttered, putting on my shoes. She dropped her hands and looked at me with pleading eyes. "Please Vanessa, I can't hear any more of this- let's just go shopping like we're supposed to do, okay?" I smiled and nodded, but her smile back was strained. I sighed. What the hell was I doing? She was right- a week ago, I was normal. And now.... "Madlax." I whispered as I went to get my purse. "What have you done to my life?"
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