Out Loud

Eleven

-Eli-

My head was positively throbbing when I woke up the next morning. I don't remember drinking, so it couldn't be a hangover, maybe it's just from all the music blasting at full volume in every corner of the house.

I sat up in bed and had a flashback of sorts to last night. I remember standing on the back patio with Elle and hundreds of other people, then giant bursts of color started flashing in the sky above us followed by loud booms. I looked up at the display and then back at the house, and I saw some people standing on the balcony above us. I remember seeing the Jenkins twins up there with Miranda...and Grayson? They all seemed blurry to me, but I knew it was them. I remembered the feeling of jealousy that started to rise up within me, but that was stupid of me. I should've known I would never really be involved with their group.

I got out of bed and walked down the hall to the living room. Elle was still asleep on my couch, she insisted on staying here for the night and I was too tired to argue with her. She looked up at me at rolled her eyes as she left out a little snort.

"Put some pants on! Jesus!" she giggled.

"Sorry, I'm used to being alone," I replied with a chuckle, "how was sleeping on my couch?" "Better then going home smelling like vodka," she said as she sat up, "my parents would totally kill me."

"Did you steal my sweatpants?" I said as I walked into the kitchen.

"Yeah sorry, I would never even attempt sleeping in that dress," Elle replied as she joined me in the kitchen with a blanket draped around her like a cloak.

"Just make sure you give them back," I said, "what sounds good for breakfast?"

"You putting some damn pants on," Elle giggled, "put your dick away man!"

"After that?" I laughed.

"I'm really craving a salad right now."

I chuckled as I went back to my room in search of pants. Elliot and I were such good friends I never minded being naked around her, I couldn't count the times we've walked in on each other in the nude. It was honestly normal at this point in our relationship.

I returned a few moments later and saw that Elliot had already broken into my fridge. She made herself a salad, like a weirdo, and I started cutting up some potatoes. Nobody, not even Elliot, understands my deep love for potatoes, I swear, I love them more than life itself. Someone might actually die if they try taking my potatoes from me. I threw them into a pan and started seasoning them along with some olive oil. Becoming a cook was one of the things I had to do when I moved off on my own, can't have mom's home cooked meals when you live on your own. Or if she's dead.

"Are you gonna want some of these?" I asked Elle as I sprinkled salt and pepper into the pan.

"Yes please!" Elle giggled, "I'm gonna go put on some regular clothes."

Elliot kept some of her clothes here for last minute sleepovers like this, it was actually a really good idea on her part.

I threw in a bit of butter with the potatoes and stirred it up together. I wonder what Levi and Lexi are up to? Probably cleaning up the mess people made last night.

-Grayson-

I felt someone's gentle touch nudging me awake. I sighed and slowly sat up to see Levi smiling at me.

"Time to get up baby cakes," he said smoothly, "the girls are already downstairs with Rex." "Why didn't you wake me up sooner?" I signed as my eyes adjusted to my surroundings.

"We didn't want to disturb you," Levi chuckled, "you're cute when you're asleep."

I smiled up at him and stood up from my little makeshift bed. Levi led the way downstairs to where the girls were, the house was totally trashed. There were solo cups and spills everywhere, I guess it's a good thing the Jenkins' were rich. Otherwise they'd never be able to make this place sparkle like new after every party. Miranda and Lexi were laughing in the living room and sipping from mugs, they were probably drinking some of Lexi's fancy tea.

"Well look who's up," Rex said to me as he came over and gave me a hug. It felt like years since I had seen him last.

"Morning," I signed to everyone.

"You got anymore of that?" Levi said to his sister as he pulled two mugs from a cabinet.

"If there isn't I can make more," Miranda said, "it's just tea."

I took a seat next to Miranda on the couch and smiled at Lexi.

"This place is a total disaster," Rex laughed as he opened the fridge, "what time is the cleaning crew coming?"

"They're supposed to be here at noon, but they're going to knock on our door at about 12:24 because they'll be late," Lexi replied, "traffic is going to be awful coming up from Frisco this afternoon. I had a dream about it last night."

Everyone just laughed at that. Lexi found out she was psychic in fourth grade when she had a dream about a strange man in a van trying to sell her and Levi ice cream. That's the story of how she and her brother almost got kidnapped, there's more to it of course but Lexi's never really felt like telling the whole thing.

"I'm assuming that's when we've gotta be out of the house," Levi called from the kitchen. He was digging in some drawers now.

"If you want them to do a thorough job and make it look like there was never a party here in the first place," Lexi giggled, "then yes."

This was always the most stressful part about the Jenkins' parties, making it look like no one even lived here in the first place. If the cleaners didn't do their job right then we all re-cleaned the house ourselves. Levi and Lexi would actually never be allowed to leave the house again if their parents found out they threw a party like this every year.

The four of us sat around for a while drinking our tea with Rex as we watched some TV. I could tell why Lexi decided to break this tea out, it had the strongest smell of any tea I had smelt before. Clever Lexi, always thinking a couple steps ahead. The smell of alcohol and cleaner would definitely be suspicious to their parents. After we had all finished our teas, we all headed upstairs to get ready to go out for breakfast. Or at least Levi and Lexi did, Miranda and I went back to my car to get our overnight bags.

After we all had showered and dressed, we all piled into my car and headed off to breakfast. Levi took my passengers seat and the girls sat in the back.

"What sounds good?" Levi asked as we pulled out of the gates to the Jenkins house.

"iHop," the girls said in unison.

"I agree," I signed with a huge grin on my face.

"Off we go then!" Levi laughed.