Never Letting Go

chapter eleven

CHAPTER ELEVEN

BAILEY

*

Luna, Jon, Katelynn, Levi and Ashton climb into Luna's car and drive off. The gay lovers looked like they might have bad hangovers. There was no sign of Logan or Blaire and their company.

I decide to go look for my best friend. That girl had too much to drink and it was not the best idea to leave her alone. Phoenix drank double every time someone had to take my spot. I refused to drink anything.

I find her sitting at the bar talking with a person who looked familiar.

"Who are you talking to Phoenix?"

She smiles at me. "This is Wryn. We have bird names, Bailey!" she said, sounding excited.

She begins to make bird noises. The familiar random person—Wryn—and I start to laugh at her. He holds out a hand to me. "I'm Wryn."

I shake his hand and grin. "Bailey."

"Yeah, I know. You're in a couple of my classes."

Phoenix tries to stand up but almost falls. She giggles.

"Okay, Nix—you've had enough for today. Let's get you home."

"I'll see you at school." Wryn smiles.

Phoenix waves to him. "Bye bird boy!"

"Bye bird girl!" he replies.

Once outside, I pull out her phone to find a text from Blaire and Logan.

BLAIRE: hey phoenix! sleeping over at sarah's. don't forget to leave some food out for that weird cat that hangs around.

LOGAN: Hey, I took the car. I'm going to stay at 'Kota's tonight. See you tomorrow.

I sigh. Phoenix forgot her keys at home, which meant she would be locked out. I rode in the car with them. I'm going to have to carry her to my house.

"Ready to go?"

I turn to see her staring up at the sky singing 'Twinkle Twinkle, Little Star'. I make her climb onto my back before running home. "Is Phoenix okay?" my Mom asks when she sees us. I nod, "Locked out and had a too much to drink." I explain.

After making sure that we were both okay, and that Phoenix was comfortable—she heads to her room.

I turn to the TV on to Pokémon and lean against the couch. I was kind of forced to sit on the floor.

After watching for about 20 minutes, I suddenly feel a hand playing with my hair. I turn my head and see Phoenix yawn.

"You have nice hair," she whispers.

I grin. "We should get you drunk more if you're going to give out compliments."

"Lava you,"

"Yeah, yeah—lava you too. Now let's get some sleep, yeah?"

Phoenix nods solemnly, closing her eyes. I smile, going back to watching Pokémon.

BLAIRE

Sarah jumps onto her bed and pats the spot next to her. I feel my cheeks heat up. "I can't do that, I'll just sleep on the floor."

She points to the spot next to her again. "Get over here and lay with me."

I crack a smile and do as she says. As soon as my head hits the pillow, my eyes begin to close. "You tired?" Sarah asks.

I reply with a small nod and a yawn.

"Well, night Blaire."

Then I drift into a dreamless sleep.

LUNA

"Can we get back to what we were doing?" Jon asks.

I get up and start spinning again. "I'm getting dizzy, Jon."

"You look tired, Luna. Let's get to bed." Jon smiles at me. He stops me and picks me up in his arms. "Are you going to stay with me?" I ask.

He smiles, nodding.

ASHTON

Levi smiles at me drunkenly. "C'mon, let's go to bed. We're leaving tomorrow." I smile at him.

"Mhm...." He mumbles, leaning on me. "G'night turkey. Love you."

It came out more like, 'Loooove you,'

"Love you too, Levi."

*

PHOENIX

I awake with a pounding headache. "Ugh..."I groan, rolling over onto the pillow. My eyes flutter open and I nearly pass out.

This wasn't my room... is this—Bailey!

I sit up and immediately regret it. I feel as if I've been hit over the head with an iron skillet.

The door opens and I see Bailey smirking with a plate of yummy looking stack of pancakes. "Well good morning, Sleeping Beauty." He said, smiling.

"Those for me?"

Bailey nods. "Mhm. I also brought an Advil. Feels like a hammer in your head?"

I nod slightly. "Thanks. Wait...how do you know?"

"I'm psychic. Also I'm your best friend."

ASHTON

I get out of the shower and peek into the bedroom. Levi's still sleeping. I smile. I slip into clothes and start making breakfast.

*

I hear a pitter-patter of feet on tile and I turn to find Levi, of course. "Aw, you made me breakfast?" he said, his voice still husky with sleep.

"Y-yes sir," I reply, eyeing his hair—that really was his bed-head but resembled more of an 'I just fucked my boyfriend' look.

He takes a waffle from a plate and bites into it.

"Really Ashton?"

I blush. "What?"

"Toaster waffles? Really?" Levi said, smiling.

"I couldn't find the mix? Plus I don't do well with instructions." I said. My mind flashes back to the snicker doodles.

"True." He said, shrugging.

"Hey!" I said, smiling at him, pulling Levi close. I press my lips to his. Levi smiles on my lips.

The waffles could wait.

PARKER

I look up to the ceiling of my new apartment. I glance at my phone. I haven't talked to Blaire in a while. I hope she's doing okay.

I didn't know if I could do this. Us. With me here, in New York and her in Seattle.

I felt us drifting away.

I wasn't so sure. I shake my head. We'll be togethersoon. Right?���;@W�