California and You

Chapter Six

Once I stopped the car in the dorm's front parking lot, I texted Claire and the guys, like I promised Callie I would.

Now I'm carrying her bridal style up the stairs.

I'm glad I'm more sober than drunk, I think. And she's light even with the alcohol's added weight.

I get us all the way to the door without causing any accidental disasters. I have to balance Callie on one knee so I can use one hand to open the door. God, I hope it's unlocked, I think while reaching over her.

What the fuck? "You've got to be kidding me," I say aloud at seeing a blue basketball sock on the handle. "Taylor, I am going to KILL you if you don't open this door right now!" I shout through the steel.

I begin pounding on the door, all the while trying to not drop Callie.

"Taylor I swear to god!" I fumble with the keys in my pocket. "Shit," I say as I hear them hit the floor with a clink.

The door flies open and in its wake is Grayson?

"Here, take her." I place Callie in his arms and bend down to retrieve my keys.

"Which is her room?" Grayson asks me as I step through the door to see not only him but also Jack, Danielle, and Claire all staring back at me from the living room.

Claire looks at Callie in Grayson's arms first and then back at me. "What happened?"

I ignore her question. "End of the hall," I flick my head to the left. "Here I've got her." I take Callie back from him.

Claire gets up from the couch and follows me down the hall.

"Take me to the bathroom," Callie grumbles as I enter her room.

I turn around and bring her to the bathroom, side stepping the strawberry blonde.

"Please don't throw up on me..." I think aloud.

"I don't puke." It looks as though she tries to smile but her face forms more of a grimace.

I stand on the white aluminum floor not quite knowing what she wants me to do.

"Just lay me...here I've got it." She struggles to stand up. I keep one hand on her back and the other she takes with one of hers for balance.

She gives up doing it safely and slowly, and just flops herself on the floor in front of the toilet and lays down.

"Do you want a pillow or a blanket?" I ask, not quite sure if she's still coherent.

She looks dead.

"I'll get it." Claire exits the small bathroom.

"Can you shut the lights off, please?" Callie surprises me again by talking.

I concede and reach over to flick the switch down.

Claire comes back with a gray blanket, a white pillow, and a ratchet looking stuffed horse about half the size of her body.

I sit on the edge of the tub while Claire goes to lift Callie's head up; but Callie props it up herself and Claire tucks the pillow under that way.

Callie does allow Claire to drape the blanket over her though. And when Claire hands her the stuffed horse, Callie takes it as though it gives her life and squishes it to herself.

"I thought you said she could handle herself," I break the silence in the room after a few minutes of not making a move.

I'm watching Callie, thinking she must really be asleep now. Her breathing has slowed the way it did in the car, and her face has softened somehow. I never noticed until now how hard her face looks all the time. Her blonde curls are thrown across the pillow and floor; her head turned to one side.