Confessions

Chapter Twenty-Three

     I wasn't remotely worried what my mom would say when I didn't return home until morning. Henry and I had eventually fallen asleep in the truck, cuddled together under the stars. We awoke around noon, each with minor hangovers. All that remained of the six pack were the empty bottles and the cardboard casing. What I was worried about was the many text messages and missed calls from Cayla.
     "I have to go." I said nervously as I scrolled through each text.
     "What...why?" Henry asked.
     "Cayla." I answered simply.
     "Oh..." I could tell he was feeling guilty. Henry returned the empty bottles to the bush, so that his dad wouldn't find his pickup littered with beer bottles, and hopped in the front.
     "Drop me off a block away from home, will you?" I asked before adding, "just in case..." Henry nodded. In a short while we had arrived close to home. I got out of the car and said goodbye before I began walking to Cayla's.

    "What took you so long!?" She screamed on my entering her room. Cayla's face was blotchy and tear stained. Guilt immediately consumed me.   
     "I'm sorry... what happened?" I rushed over to her bed and sad next to her, throwing an arm around her shoulder in comfort.
     "Henry and I were supposed to go on a date last night. He stood me up." Bye guilt I had felt tripled. "And it was our one month anniversary..."
     "I'm so sorry..."
     "It's not like ur was your fault."
     "I-I know... Just sorry that I couldn't be here sooner..." I didn't think it was possible to feel so guilty at once...
     I spent the rest of the afternoon comforting Cayla, also known as watching sappy romantic movies and eating chocolate. Lots of chocolate.
     The movie we had been watching ended and we sat in silence as the credits rolled in.
     "What's wrong Sar?" Cayla asked, genuinely concerned.
     "What... Noth-"
     "Bullshit." She interrupted. I sighed.
     "My parents are getting a divorce." Cayla gasped, turning to me with a pitiful expression.
     "What happened?"
     "My dad cheated..."
     "That's terrible..."
     "Yup... terrible..." I agreed, thinking of just how terrible it was...

     "Is that you hun?" My Mom asked as I entered the house. Her hangover had obviously succeeded mine by far.
     "Yes." I answered quietly.
     "Okay... well I'm gonna go out... bye..." she said, heading for the door.
     "No your not mom. Your not driving." I said, concerned.
     "Relax, Tiffany's picking me up." I knew this was a lie however, seeing as she grabbed her keys on the way outside. And she was gone.
     This interaction only reminded me how hungover I was, and I decided to take a nap. I laid down on the couch, and fell asleep the moment my eyelids dropped.
     I was awoken hours later by the ding of my cellphone. I felt groggy, but refreshed nonetheless. Glancing at my screen, o saw a text from Henry.

     Can I come over?

     I replied 'sure' and laid back down. I was granted another minutes rest before a knock sounded through the house.
     "S'open!" I semi shouted, and sure enough, Henry came in and sat on the floor, leaning against the couch I was lying on.
     "D'you feel like shit too?" He asked, his voice sounding equally distressed.
     "I did, until you showed up." I smiled, planting a short kiss on his lips. "Who am I kidding, I feel like crap..." he chuckled. I sat up on the couch and invited him to sit next to me. He obliged. Henry be a small smirk when he looked up at me.
     "What?" I demanded playfully.
     "You still have the nose brace on."
     "Oh." I laughed, I had forgotten that was there. Henry leaned in and kissed me, I returned her favor. I loved him, even after what happened last summer.
     A wave of memories exploded in my head. Coming and going in the form of pictures and voices.

     "Come on... it'll be fine..." A slightly younger Henry urged.
     "Fine..." I agreed with a small attempt at a smile...
     We arrived at the large country home just before dark.
     Henry and I walked around the party together, getting drinks and making conversation.
     I returned to the bathroom, to find Henry wasn't in the kitchen where he said he'd wait.
     I rushed around the crowded house, searching for my boyfriend.
     I looked for him in the back yard. A group of guys pulled me to the area where the keg was set up... The crowd cheered as I hung upside down, drinking the liquid in the keg.
     I grabbed drink after drink, chatting with random strangers.
     A girl I had never met before pulled me over to where her bad her friends sat. We laughed and joked for hours.
     Someone passed me a large, roughly wrapped joint. I inhaled.
     I downed more drinks.
     I rushed to the bathroom, and vomited all over the floor... everything went black...
     I awoke in a small hospital room, staring up at Henry, my mother, and my father.

     I pulled away from Henry as the rush of memories subsided.
     "What's wrong?" He asked.
     "You should go." I mumbled, not looking him in the eye.
     "But-"
     "Go!" I interrupted. Henry stood and rested a hand on my shoulder, I swatted it away. He had a concerned look in his face, but left nonetheless...
    
         How did I let this happen again?