Drunk or Sober

She's Running Away

MONDAY 2/10

I felt weird getting ready for school.

The rest of my weekend consisted of replays in my head of my time spent with Harleigh, the party, Ramona, Lennox, Nate.

Not because they were bad moments, but because I liked them- I actually liked them a lot.

Part of me was hoping that we could all do something together again, maybe without Harleigh so disoriented.

I saw the Queens at church Sunday but Harleigh didn't say hi; I don't think she saw me though.

Nate said bye to Lennox after he left though.

Anyway, it's not like I was expecting something out of our little fling. It was one night spent together. We never even had sex, and she was definitely too out of it to even remember who she was and wasn't kissing.

This was just a one time thing, and I had almost completely came to full term with it.

When lunch came around, I went to the library like I always did and finished assignments that were due at the end of the week.

Despite not being allowed to eat in the library, I always smuggled a granola bar or some chips to keep me going through the day. I'm not one for big lunches anyways.

I was busy doing a dumb Scarlett Letter assignment when Harleigh pulled out a seat and sat next to me.

"Let's get together after school."

"Today?"

Dumb question.

"Yes today, silly, my house."

"Oh, okay!"

"Great." She smiled and pulled out her tattered copy of the book. "Mind if we do it together? She said it could be a partner project."

"She said that?"

"Yeah, haha, you're the last person I expected to not pay attention in her class, Wes!" She laughed more and looked over my shoulder for what I had written.

For the rest of lunch, we sat there brainstorming theories behind Hester's adultery.

"Maybe her husband was abusive."

"Or maybe she's running from something. Trying to get away, keep her kind off things..." She dazed off.

"Harleigh?"

"I don't even know what I'm saying, sorry." She laughed nervously.

"No, Har, that's good. That's really good! We could use that."

"Really?" She blushed.

"Yeah."

---------------------------------------------

I stood in front of Harleigh's door for the third time in less than a week.

Nate answered it and let me in.

"I'm guessing Harleigh really likes you. Harleigh! You're boyfriend's here." He shouted from the bottom of the stairs and laughed.

"Well, I wouldn't say... that."

"Wesleeeeeeeey!" Her blonde hair was tied up in a ponytail and she was wearing a fuzzy black robe paired with slippers.

I wasn't sure if she was drunk or just happy to see me. I was hoping she sobered up to actually get to know me.

"You're just in time! Come up here."

She ran halfway down the stairs before grabbing both my hands and heading up again.

We reached the top and the first thing I noticed were the collection of family portraits and baby pictures placed on the wall.

"Those pictures are so cute, Harleigh." I stood there admiring them for a minute.

I turned to face Harleigh and she pushed me up against the wall, my back hitting the frames, knocking some over in the process. Some toppled over next to me.

"Harleigh what are you-"

"Shhh." She put her fingers over my lips. "Calm down. You're so tense."

She pushed herself onto me and bit her lip. "Come on."

She squeezed my hand and I followed her pretty much aimlessly.

She brought me into a bedroom that could possibly be the size of my living room.

"This is my parents' bedroom."

"We're going to do this in your parents' bed?"

"What? No! Unless you're into that..."

"I'd rather not." I laughed and she opened the door.

"Close your eyes."

"Where are we going? A closet?" I laughed harder.

"Shhh."

She stopped me.

"Okay, open your eyes."

Her voice echoed through the mystery room.

I opened my eyes to reveal an all white bathroom with a giant jacuzzi placed in the center, candles outlining it. There was only one window in the entire room; right on the ceiling. The walls were mirrors.

Harleigh was standing in front of me, her robe standing at her feet.

She walked over to the jacuzzi and pressed a button. It started to fill.

////real question: how the fuck do jacuzzis get water in them!!!?////