Till all the stars go blue [Chaennie]

Chapter 6

Jennie sat on her air mattress. The room was spinning slightly, clockwise. No, counterclockwise. She hoped that she wouldn't pay too dearly for her fun this evening. In fact, she reached down and rummaged through her pouch and found a bottle of aspirin. She tapped two into her hand and swilled them down with a healthy amount of water. Maybe it would ward off any ill physical effects from the alcohol.

Unfortunately, she didn't know any remedy that would alleviate any other effects that might result from her behavior. She flopped back onto her mattress with a groan. Her stomach clenched unpleasantly and she hoped that wasn't a warning of things come.

At first she had been thrilled that Rosie was being so social, especially after the horrible afternoon she'd had. Initially the alcohol seemed like a great idea, just the thing to get her to relax and open up. Unfortunately, Jennie didn't calculate that she, herself was such a lightweight. Instead of Rosie letting her guard down, it was Jennie that abandoned all semblance of sanity as she practically threw herself at Rosie. As usual, Rosie was forced to step right back into role of babysitter yet again.

Stupid, stupid, stupid. Jennie groaned and clapped both hands over her face. She always did this, rushed headlong into everything. She just wanted everything too much. There was no moderation in her life – she went from bored indifference straight to obsession. There was no middle ground. She desperately needed middle ground.

Rosie, now Rosie, she thought wryly, she was totally middle ground. Fixed, firm, safe. Closed off. Distant. Unavailable. Beautiful, funny, charming, gallant, middle ground.

Rosie grunted and frowned. She struggled to wakefulness. Had she even been asleep yet?

"What?" she mumbled as she realized Jennie was sitting next to her, shaking her shoulder.

"Rosie, will you come sleep with me?" she asked.

Rosie's eyes fluttered open and she groaned. and this was completely unexpected.

"What? God, no. Why?" she muttered, rolling onto her back. "Just go to sleep, Jennie."

"I can't sleep," Jennie said pitifully.

Rosie grunted and winced. She had fallen asleep on her hand and now it throbbed wildly. She didn't wake up well under the best of circumstances and was struggling to keep her temper in check, especially if this was just a bid for attention.

"You're mad." Jennie sighed dejectedly and started to move away. Rosie grabbed her wrist and held it.

"Hold it. Why can't you sleep?" Rosie asked sullenly. She wasn't interested in having this conversation. She was too tired for playing games, even with Jennie.

"I don't feel well...and I'm scared." Jennie whimpered. Rosie could hear the tears working their way to the surface.

Damn it.

"What kind of not feel well?" Rosie asked groggily, softening her tone. This no longer felt like Jennie's attention-seeking for its own sake.

"I don't know," Jennie whined, stifling back a sob.

Fuck it to hell.

"Jennie," Rosie said sternly, trying to ward off a pending meltdown. "I'm not angry. I just want you to tell me the truth. Are you scared because you're sick or are you just mostly scared?"

"Um, stomach hurts and I think I might be sick, " Jennie fretted anxiously. "But maybe I'm mostly scared."

This was not happening.

Rosie closed her eyes in resignation, then she rolled back on her side, flipped back her blanket back and reached for Jennie.

"Come on," she said gently.