Petrichor

Ryan

           I guess I should be happy he didn't remember what happened. But I couldn't help but be a bit disappointed. Maybe he'd remember after a while, I just need to give it some time.

Wait, what am I thinking. I slap myself gently, as if I could physically push the thoughts away. This was a good thing, it'd saved me a whole lot of awkwardness. And we can still be really good friends. Or at least I hoped so, he had left pretty abruptly when I tried speaking to him again after school yesterday.

I had woken up at 6am and not been able to get back to sleep, so I walk downstairs to get a cup of water. My mom is already awake, making breakfast.

"You're up early on a Saturday," she observes. "Is the world ending and no one told me?"

"Morning mom," I say, kissing her on the cheek, "And no, I just couldn't sleep."

She turns off the stove and dishes the eggs onto two plates, then hands one to me. "Why don't you tell me all about it honey, I'm a great listener."

She was, but this wasn't really something I wanted to talk about with her. So I brush it off. "It's nothing really, there's nothing to talk about."

"Mhm...," she considered. "You know, I haven't seen Mikhail in a while. Did something happen between you two?"

She was also really perceptive apparently.

"What, no. We've just had stuff going on. Different stuff."

I hope I sounded nonchalant enough, or else she'd push the question further. Since my siblings were barely home anymore she had to get her fix of drama from somewhere.

"I'm not buying it." she states plainly.

Damn it. She was like a shark, but instead of blood she could smell drama a mile away. But there wasn't any drama. He's just a friend I accidentally kissed when I was drunk. Happened to the best of us. Time for an abrupt subject change.

"About the eviction notice, I have a lot of free time. I could still get a job."

She seems taken off guard, good. "Wha- Ry, I thought I told you to forget about that. I'm taking an extra shift now, we're totally fine."

"Okay, if you say so," I concede, I reach up into the cupboard to get the box of cereal. "Can you pass me a bowl, please?"

She grabs one and hands it over, "Don't think I didn't see what you did there. Fine you win, I'll drop it. For now."

"I have no idea what you're talking about," I laugh. I get the milk out of the fridge. "Anyway, are you going anywhere today?"

She pulls up a chair and sits down. "I've got work in the afternoon, these extra shifts don't take themselves."