Sober

Ch. 15

(POV: Nick)

He ran away.

I don't think I've ever seen him like that before.

Deja and I plop down on the couch, utterly confused, as we stare at the black TV screen. Guess I know what it feels like to be her, with Kyler leaving her behind and junk. Though, I understood. It was similar to me running off to the bathroom, trying to get a hold of my emotions.

Deja leans on her hand and exhales. Honestly, I'm surprised that neither of them started crying because just from the outside, that seemed heated.

"Um, are you alright?" I reach out to touch her arm, but she glares at my hand, and I recoil.

"I... I don't know. Thanks for asking, though."

"O-Oh, sure. No problem."

She looks at me. "You know what he's hiding, right?"

I hesitate and then nod. "He...didn't go out of his way to tell me, though. I just asked...and he answered, only because I think he felt bad for what had happened earlier and didn't want me to be upset."

Deja sighs. "I see."

We sit in silence for a while until I turn on the TV out of discomfort. Though Deja then turns to me again, and I catch where she's staring.

"So uh, how'd you get those?" She asks and points to my neck. "And...the others," She mutters under her breath and glances at my torso.

Dear God, I was hoping we were done with this whole mess, or at least until Kyler comes back. I'd rather just sit in silence at this point, but no.

"You get freaky with some girl at the party or something?"

I chuckle, "Um, no." I glance at the television. "It's...they're from Kyler."

She raises her eyebrows. "But you said he didn't take advantage—"

"He didn't! We..." I groan. "We were just, sorta fooling around...this morning."

I swear I caught her soul leaving her body.

"You were what?! Why?!"

I pull my knees to my chest while also trying to adjust my shirt, just in case too many more of them are visible. I'd yet to look down at myself or walk past a mirror, but I'm sure there were several more—not just because Kyler treated me like his favorite food, but because of how easily I bruised.

Kyler could merely poke me and leave the spot discolored at this point.

"U-Um! I don't feel comfortable talking about this!" I exclaim, sweating.

"Nick!"

Now I want to run to the bathroom, but I'd feel bad if Kyler and I both abandoned her on the same day.

"Don't get mad, okay? I was the one who asked for it anyway!" I shout, which only makes things worse.

"Huh? Why?!"

I pull on my hair, my face on my knees as I refuse to look up.

"Why do you think?! I like him!"

I glance over, and Deja looks shocked and confused but is also sort of smiling.

"You have a crush on Kyler?!"

"Yes!" I shout again.

"Then why'd you tell me no at the bar?!"

"Aargh! I don't know, okay?! I was embarrassed!"

Then Deja stops. Oh no. She's putting the pieces together—I swear I can see her making all the connections in her head.