It doesn't take long for Simon to start getting drunk. He may argue it, but he is 100% a lightweight. Lucien can hold his own for the longest and I may not be drunk but I feel the effects of it starting to slowly kick in as the game of Monopoly carries on.
"Ha, my property pay up", Simon says, hand stretched out to Lucien.
"That's Cyrene's hotel Simon", he sighs as he looks at his best friend.
"No way, look I have the card", he says, holding up a card that does not match the street name. I can't help but giggle at Simon's drunk antics.
"Simon, why don't we carry on tomorrow I don't think you have reading capabilities right now", Lucien says.
"I will not lose another game of Monopoly", he says, dead serious.
"Just give him the money", I mumble to Lucien realising that dealing with drunk Simon may not be worth the win of the game.
"I don't need your pity Cyrene", Simon says overhearing what I told Lucien.
"Fine, then it is my property, so Lucien, pay up", I say stretching out my hand and claiming the bills.
"You're both cheating", Simon says as he lays across the sofa.
"How did you know?", Lucien says smiling.
"You always get what you want Lucien, that's how I know", Simon says but suddenly the comment doesn't seem to be about the game anymore. I turn to look at Lucien to find his face set in stone.
"What's going on?", I ask to no one in particular. I receive no reply.
"It's your turn", Lucien says handing me the dice. The temperature in the room feels like its suddenly plummeted, with Lucien looking to me but Simon looking at Lucien.
I take the dice and roll it. I land on Simon's property and give him the correct rent.
"Nice", Simon says.
"Let's play something else", I say not knowing what is going on or if the alcohol is affecting my perception.
"What would you like to play love?", Lucien asks.
"What else have you got?", I ask as Lucien goes over to his draw of games.
"Calling it quits?" Simon asks, now sprawled across the sofa.
"Yes, Simon, you win", I say smiling at him hoping to ease whatever tension is in the room.
"Yes!" he shouts, fist pumping the air. I laugh as I shake my head at him.
"Oh no", Simon mumbles, as me and Lucien turn to him covering his hand over his mouth.
"Bathroom now", Lucien says as he goes over to Simon getting him up the sofa and over to the bathroom. A minute later I hear Simon bringing my cheese board back up. Lucien shuts the bathroom door with Simon still inside.
"He might be a while", he says as he rubs his face and comes over to sit next to me. I snuggle into him, my head on his chest as he plays with my hair, both of us trying to pretend as if Simon isn't hurling his guts out.
"What's going on?", I ask.
"Nothing" he says too quickly.
I lean up and turn to face Lucien.
"Something is going on between you two but I don't understand what", I say quietly.
"I think you're a bit drunk too", Lucien says and it makes my blood boil.
"Lucien don't play fucking dumb with me", I say standing my ground.
"Hey, hey, it's ok, we're good there's nothing going on. Simon sometimes just has a tendency to talk too much when he's drunk, you know this", he says, trying to pull me back in but I don't budge.
"Lucien, I'm being serious is there something going on? I know you two are close and I get everything isn't my business but when I feel like I'm caught in the middle of it, it very much feels like it's my business", I say looking at him dead in the eye.
He sighs. "When Simon is drunk, he tends to bring up conversations of the past. I just don't want those conversations to come back up so I try to get Simon to change the topic of conversation", he says.
"What topics?", I ask.
"Girls. Uni. You at uni", Simon says. We didn't hear him leave the bathroom.
"What?", I say looking between both of them.
Simon is acting as if I'm not here either. As if realising what he let slip.
"What do you mean?", I ask Simon but turn to Lucien. He doesn't reply to me, instead turns to Simon and gives him a look.
"Simon?", I ask again.
"Lucien. Shit I'm sorry", Simon says leaning against the doorframe for support looking as though he's about to throw up again.
"What the fuck is going on?", I turn back to Lucien and he looks pissed. My voice is shaking now and I don't know why.
Lucien finally breaks his stare from Simon and sighs rubbing his face between his hands and turns to me.
"Let's talk about it in the morning, its nothing", he says trying to pull me back into a hug but I move back. The move takes him by surprise.
"Lucien."
"Cyrene, please it is nothing."
"If it is nothing why is nobody telling me what Simon meant?" I say, my eyes watering up from the thought of not knowing. From the idea that they've been whispering about me. I know they must have discussed me of course, but it hurts knowing that Simon would bring it up in front of me.
"Lucien just get it out", Simon says.
"You stay fucking out of Simon", Lucien snaps.
"Don't shout at him", I protest, backing Simon as he clearly agrees that there is something I need to know.
"For fuck's sake", Lucien mumbles under his breath and gets up off the sofa and starts pacing.
"I'm going home."
"What?" Lucien says.
"I said I am going home", I say as I get into my wheelchair.
"You're not going anywhere", he protests.
"Fuck off, who says I'm not. Both of you sort out whatever problem you have and whatever secret you're keeping I'm not staying here", I say going to get my jacket.
"Lucien just tell her. Cyrene, I'm sorry, it's not some big secret but I thought you should know", Simon explains coming up to me as he sobers up from the heat of the moment.
I look to him and then Lucien. Jacket in hand, waiting for an explanation.
"Please, come and sit on the sofa with me", Lucien says softly, clearly declaring defeat.
"I'm fine where I am", not sure if I can be close to him and stay mad right now. Wanting to make sure I still have the ability to leave when I want without having to stress about moving.
I watch as Lucien sits on the corner of the sofa closets to where I am, Simon still by my side.
"I knew" he starts, and I watch him as my heart starts racing and ringing at the least expected sentence, he says next
"I knew you before the accident."
YOU ARE READING
The 18th Floor
RomanceLooking for a job isn't easy, especially when 26-year-old Cyrene is in a wheelchair. Graduating from uni late and trying to enter the industry, Cyrene is finding out how hard life can be, not to mention how unaccommodating some employers have been u...
