Tipsy

Fifteen

Chapter Fifteen

Hallie

Shadows moved beneath the door to the hallway. I wrapped my arms tighter around my knees, holding my breath as the light flickered around them until they'd passed. With an exhale, I loosened my grip and peered at the cell phone by my side. It was morning. Early enough that the room wasn't bright enough to dress for the day but lit enough where I could start packing for home. There wasn't much sleep to be had here—there never was. Sometimes the Xanax helped, but usually, it didn't.

It used to be easier. I could drag TJ or Sloan home with me, or I could find a reason to leave to return home to her. Who would have thought that Mikah would be my saving grace last night? We played his stupid game for a few hours before I got so tired of losing, I literally fell asleep.

I near jumped from my skin when the door opened. My back was only turned for a few seconds to ruffle through my bag for my car keys. Jillian's head peeked through, and with it came an undeniable sense of relief.

Her hair had changed from black to a vibrant red, and the lip piercing was new. "Jodi made waffles with jam," she said with about as much enthusiasm as I could muster myself.

Pulling on a sweatshirt, I knew a family breakfast was the last thing on my to-do list for the day. I'd been here for all of Thanksgiving, and now it was time to go home. My head shook no, and the bag was swung over my shoulder without a single care that I was still wearing sweats.

"I've got some shopping I need to get done today. Thought I'd get an early start."

Jillian nodded, but didn't leave the doorway. Instead, she peered over her shoulder and stepped one foot into the room. I paused. This was new. What we had just said together was the extent of our conversations. Jillian was more of a fewer words, the better kind of girl. She held the loop on her lip between two fingers and shifted her weight to the other foot. Well, at least we now had something in common, because this was awkward for the both of us.

"Girls!" Rick called out, stirring us both from the conversation we weren't having. "Breakfast."

Jillian looked over her shoulder and back at me. "You have dried drool on your chin, Hal."

My hand touched the flaky patch of drool as Jillian turned to leave, but my gut instinct told me to stop her. I caught her elbow, causing her to turn back to me. Eye contact was now over as she stared only at the blue shag carpet of my childhood bedroom.

"Is something wrong?" I asked, unsure if I wanted an answer.

"No."

I bit the inside of my cheek. Why did being a teenager feel like being forever ago? We had no shared bond other than this house, and this house was the last thing I wanted to discuss—if that was even what was on her mind. Jodi and Rick could be a lot. Especially if you felt like you didn't fit in here. And to be honest, Jillian didn't.

"You can text me; you know? Anytime you want. If something was wrong."

Her eyes rolled. "I'm fine. You just look homeless. You can tell Jodi you're not staying for waffles." She waved me off as she left.

My teeth released my cheek again with a sigh. I was thinking too much into it. I needed out of here and to get my head back into a better space. Clearly, that meant I needed to start with a trip back to the apartment for a shower and some different clothes. As attractive as the drool was, she was right. I looked horrible.

***

Unlocking the door to the apartment, I was surprised when the key didn't need to turn. I cursed Mikah under my breath as I swung the door open, recalling his promise of locking up. To my surprise, the man himself stood in the kitchen with what looked like some sort of mad chemist's equipment all over the stove and counters.