Fifteen | ✓

thirteen

"How much did you have to drink?" She struggled to stabilize both him and herself, desperately failing as he stumbled into a nearby wall.

Despite the fact that he had just crashed head-first into hard plaster, Christopher giggled giddily, flailing his arms. "Why is the room spinning?"

"So I'm guessing you had a lot." Catherine shook her head in pity before sitting on her haunches so that they could be in eye-level. As his head lolled to the side she quickly put forth her hand to balance it. Instantaneously, she felt his warm cheek lean into her palm. "You're so stupid," she breathed, brushing the strands of his hair away from his eyes. "How could you let yourself get so intoxicated?"

"You intoxicate me," his words slurred and his finger reached forward to tap her nose lightly. He gave a wink.

"Even shit-faced you still manage to be the biggest flirt ever."

She'd just returned from drama practice, elated because for once in a very long time she was able to land a good role in an oncoming prestigious play. Not the main character or any lead role or anything like that, but a role all the same.  Naturally, Christopher was the first person to pop in her mind to share the good news with, and she made a detour towards his apartment for this purpose. It had been drizzling lightly, but the sun was still brightly glowing, as if the heavens had not yet decided on whether to send down rain or shine.

What she hadn't expected was for him to be one foot stuck in La La Land and have his head missing up in the clouds.

"You smell nice." He grinned, bundling a handful of her curly hair and sniffing fervently. "Like coconuts. Do you sleep in the jungle?"

She rolled her eyes, attempting to lift him again. "No, I just use coconut shampoo."

As if sensing her struggle, he made an effort to stand himself. "Look I have sailor's legs!" He laughed as he watched his limbs wobble against gravity. "Now watch me whip, watch me nae... Yeah I think I forgot the lyrics..."

"Shut up," Catherine berated him, making a beeline towards his bedroom. "You've embarrassed yourself enough as it is."

"You're pretty," continued Christopher, ignoring her. "Are you my girlfriend?"

"Shut up," she repeated, and in spite of herself, her cheeks reddened.

"If I was your boyfriend, I'll never let ya go," he suddenly started to belt out Justin Bieber lyrics, and she swore her eardrum almost combusted, "I SWEAR I'LL BE A GENTLEMAN... I forgot the words again."

With a final shove, he plummeted towards his bed, the sound of his sighing mattress filling the room. "You need to sleep," Catherine was saying as she pressed her palm against his cold forehead. "Are you thirsty? Should I get some water?"

His own hand ghosted hers over his head, and he set it aside, along the edge of the bedsheets. "It's okay," his voice was a low mumble, "I'm okay."

She was silent for a moment, before breaking the quietude once more. "Why did you drink so much? I didn't know you drank." Her gaze wandered; she sighted two smothered cigarettes on his dresser.

His eyes fluttered close and she saw his Adam's apple bob as he swallowed. "I need to forget."

"Forget what?"