Digital Magic
an excerpt

Saturday morning starts far too early and far too bright. At least I'm in my own bed. I open one eye to look at my alarm clock. Oh, look, it's the afternoon, shortly past one. I should get out of bed. I really, really should.

I roll on to my side. A drummer starts using my temples as his bass drum. A moan escapes my lips. Its echo comes from below. With an effort, I roll over to see why my bedroom was replaced by a canyon. The floor is still there, though a wave of dizziness through me has me wondering why the ceiling has carpeting. Doesn't explain why Sarah is curled up half-dressed. I'm fairly sure that I wouldn't have slept through an orgy in my room. To be sure, I look down to see what I'm wearing; I don't trust my body's feedback right now. My shirt and jeans are still on though somewhat wrinkled.

I swing my legs out of bed, letting my feet dangle above the rug. The drummer doesn't punish me any further for that, so I try to sit up. There, almost up. That leaves the actual standing up left. Piece of cake. Other than a scratchy throat, I feel better already. The real problem is going to be finding a place to put my feet. Sarah's underwear-clad body is in my way and I don't want to risk waking her up. Some people wake up without too much problem. Others can be down right nasty about it. I don't know which Sarah is.

Sarah groans again. Her eyelids flutter open. "What," she starts, her voice a dry rasp. She lifts her head and clears her throat. "What time . . .?" is all she manages to say.

"Just past one," I tell her.

Her head falls back on the floor. For a moment, it looks like she's gone back to sleep. "Where am I?"

"My room." My brain's still fuzzy.

"Good." Sarah lifts her head up again. "Who are you again?"

"Jackie." Comprehension finally winds through my foggy mind. "Jackie Hart. Trish's roomie."

Sarah blinks several times before she can get her eyes open completely. "Right, the party last night. It was only last night, right?"

"Today's Saturday." That's my hope, at least. I don't think we could have kept the party going for longer than one night.

"Good." Sarah rolls on to her back. "One last thing – where are my clothes?"