A Drop in the Ocean

Chapter 33

"I'm awake!" I cried, bolting upright in my bed.  Luke and Cal both stopped what they were doing and looked at me.  I immediately realized that sitting up that quickly was a mistake as I felt a very strong throbbing in my forehead.  "Dammit!  Every time!" I cried, laying back on the bed.  "Calum, there's some Excedrin in my bag.  Front top pocket.  Luke, can you get me a small cup of water, please?" I asked.  My eyes were shut tight, but I could hear them shuffling around.  I then felt my hand opening, and a cup of water being set in it.  My other had was filled with two Excedrin tablets.  I slowly sat up and popped the pills in my mouth, eager for the drugs to kick in.  I slowly opened my eyes, coming face-to-face with two laughing teenage boys.

"You look like shit!" Cal laughed.  I rolled my eyes, earning even more laughter.

"I feel like shit, so it's only fitting," I told them, slowly swinging my legs over the edge of the bed.

"What happened last night?" Luke asked me, obviously checking to see if I remembered.  

"We went to The Albert Pub, I drank a lot of whiskey, and then Cal carried me back here before I passed out on your shoulder.  Did I miss anything?" I replied sarcastically.  He turned away, satisfied with my answer.

"Oh, Brian called late last night.  After you passed out," Cal told me.  Luke spun back around.

"Yes, he did," Luke added.  

"Really?  What did he say?" I asked.  Brian and I hadn't spoken for a little while, and I was eager to know what he would've said.

"He is dating a girl named Katy.  He wanted you to meet her when we get to New York," Luke told me.

"You answered my phone?" I asked, confused.  He nodded.  "Thanks," I replied.  He just shrugged and continued doing whatever.

"So, how are you?" Cal asked, sitting next to me on the bed.  

"I'm hungover, but other than that, I'm pretty good," I told him.  Luke went into the bathroom and shut the door.

"He knows," Cal said, turning quickly.

"What?" I asked.  

"He knows everything.  About how you remember.  All of that," he clarified.

"What the fuck, Cal?  You can't keep your trap shut!" I cried.  He shushed me.

"It wasn't me.  It was Brian.  I promise.  Brian asked if you two were okay or something after the kiss.  And Luke was really persistent," he continued.  I sighed.

"Well, nothing we can do about it except not bring it up.  Ever.  We will forget about all of the shit that has happened.  Deal?" I said.  He nodded.  Luke came out of the bathroom with his hair styled to the side like usual.  He went over to his bag and grabbed a beanie.  "Well, kids, let me hop in the shower so I don't smell like a bar, and then I'm going to get dressed.  We can do whatever we want.  Okay?" I said.  Cal stood and both nodded.  I skipped over to the bathroom and turned on the shower.  Quickly stripping down, I washed out my hair and my body, finally getting the alcoholic smell off my body.

I walked out of the bathroom in my towel, not really caring about Luke and Cal.  They were camped out on the bed, watching TV, but they both turned when I stepped out of the bathroom.  Staring with wide eyes, their gazes followed me while I walked to the dresser.  Whenever I stay longer than three nights, I unpack my things.  I looked over at them.

"What?" I asked, confused.

"Nothing," Luke answered, shaking his head.  However, their gazes still held mine.  

"Hey, if you guys are going to walk around naked with no consideration for anyone else, then I can walk out of the bathroom in my towel," I told them, turning back to the dresser and picking out my clothes for the day.  I trekked back to the bathroom and quickly got dressed before heading back out to the room where Luke and Cal were still laying in their same positions.  I ran towards the bed and jumped on top of their backs, earning groans and whines.  I laughed before I was pushed off the bed.  It hurt, but I was faking my pain.  I grabbed my back and winced.

"Oh my goodness, Jordan.  I'm sorry," I heard Luke babble.  He got up from the bed and came over to me.  Bending down, he tried to help me.  I grabbed his leg out from under him, and he fell on his butt, obviously hurting his tailbone.  I clapped my hands and laughed.  

"Yes!  I have won at life!" I cried, jumping to my feet.  I stuck my hand out to help Luke up.  He grabbed my hand, but ended up pulling me down on top of him.  I heard Cal laughing in the back, but Luke and I's faces were very close.  My body was sprawled out on top of his.   

"Hi there," Luke whispered.

"Hi," I replied.  Just then, I heard the door handle shake as the hotel room door opened to reveal Liz, Adeline, Mikey, and Ash.  They looked down at the scene in front of them:  Cal laughing incessantly, and me sprawled out all over the top of Luke.  Adeline's face fell into a frown, and I instantly jumped up.

"Adeline, this is not what it looks like," Luke said quickly.  She turned and walked from the room.

"Adeline!" I cried, running after her.  I saw her walking towards the elevator.  "Adeline!  Wait!  Let me explain!" I shouted, bounding down the hallway.  She pushed the button for the elevator.  It opened, but I grabbed her arm before she could get on.  "Adeline.  Wait, seriously.  That wasn't what it looked like," I told her.  She scowled at me.

"Fine then.  Explain what happened," she said, her words sharp.

"Luke and Cal were watching television, and I jumped on top of them on the bed as a joke.  Then they rolled me off the bed, but I faked an injury so I could get one of them back.  It happened to be Luke, and I grabbed his ankle to pull him to the ground.  He fell on his back, and when I offered to help him up, he tried pulling me back down, but I ended up landing on top of him.  I'm sorry," I told her, quickly blurting out the story.

"You guys weren't doing anything sketchy?" she asked, needing clarification.

"Nope, just normal freaky chaos.  Which is too much.  There is too much chaos," I told her, chuckling.

"Okay, I just hope nothing happens again," she said, walking with me back to the room.

"I promise.  I wouldn't want to break you two up.  I think you are great together.  You really make him happy," I told her.  She laughed.

"Thanks.  I really appreciate it," she said.

"Yeah.  I'm so happy for you," I muttered, feeling the sadness in my heart beginning to consume who I really was yet again.