Bother Me

Chapter 15: 19 Years of Bailey

Bailey went charging up the stairs and burst through the bedroom door, yelling, "Hey, Natalie! Guess who's a year older today-"

She blinked at the bed and looked around the room. "Oh," she said. "I guess she's downstairs.." She ran back down and scanned the living room. "Really? Where is that butt?" she said, peeking in the kitchen to see if she was there at all.

She headed to the dining room. "Ugh, are you serious? Where the heck is she?!" she yelled to yet another empty room. Finally she gave up and decided to head back to the bedroom and look at all the birthday messages from her friends on social media.

She opened up the door and saw Natalie making the bed. "Oh, hey Bailey," she said.

"Natalie, where have you been?" Bailey yelled in her face.

"I just came back from the bathroom."

"Oh.. Well, whatever." Bailey stood in front of Natalie, blocking her way out from beside the bed.

Natalie turned and just stared at her. "Uh, what's up?" she asked.

"Don't you have something to say to me?" Bailey asked, crossing her arms.

"Like what, sorry?"

Bailey sighed. "You should be," she muttered.

"Wait, why? What did I do?"

"Natalie, what day is it today?"

Natalie stared at the bed, not making eye contact. "Natalie?!" Bailey insisted.

"I'm sorry I can't remember right off the top of my head, I drew a blank," Natalie stuttered.

"December 14th," Bailey answered for her.

Natalie's eyes grew wide, and she shouted, "Oh that's right! The big art sale just started today!"

"What? No that's not what-"

"I've got to get there for open, or else they're going to be crazy busy!" Natalie said, shoving Bailey out of the way.

"Wha! Natalie!" she yelled, falling onto the bed. "That's not what I was- ugh." She got up and chased Natalie down the stairs.

Bailey caught up to Natalie and grabbed her arm at the bottom of the stairs. "Natalie, that's not what I was talking about!"

"Look, Bailey, I'd love to chat, but there's so many things I've been needing, and such little time," Natalie said, breaking free of Bailey's grip. She slid her sneakers on, grabbed her purse and ran out the door.

"B-but Natalie!" Bailey screamed. Natalie shut the door, and Bailey watched her run to the car out the door window. She sighed and walked back upstairs slowly to go on her phone.

After about half an hour, Bailey was on the phone with her other best friend, Alessia since it was her birthday.

"I don't understand," she told Alessia, "It's my 19th birthday, and Natalie just ran out of the house like a crazy person. She didn't even say 'Happy Birthday' to me! Sometimes, I feel like I'm just a piece of crap."

"Well, you know if you ever want to come over and live with me for a while, you know, just to get away from Natalie, you're always welcome," Alessia said on the other line.

Bailey exhaled. "Thanks, Alessia. Sometimes I think you're a better friend than Natalie."

"Aren't I?"

"Well, I mean Natalie's the one who offered to live with me for a while until we get married or have better plans," Bailey said, playing with the string on her hoodie.