Ruined

9

I pop my gum in my mouth as Max drives us to her home from Ryan's house. We did a pretty good job cleaning up, even after Asher sped off in his black Mustang GT. I guess he was was borrowing the old truck he drove the other day from someone else. I meant to ask Gemma about it, but she was too preoccupied with Ryan.
Sam called Gemma while we were finishing up and said he needed her to pick up some groceries because their mom was going to be working late. So we said our goodbyes, and thank yous, and left.
My head is pounding still, and I'm having trouble with keeping my puke down.
"So, you have one crazy cuddle buddy Ella," Max smirks and looks at me with amusement in her chocolate eyes.
"Shut up. Just shut up." I think in my mind. Now is not the time. I've never felt this terrible in my life.
"It happened Ella, you can't change that, and you know you're going to get shit about it from me anyways," she laughs lightly as she makes a turn. I'm annoyed by her right now. Maybe a little mad. Definitely embarrassed. Why didn't she get me off of him? Why would she leave me on him? Why did she even let me go in the same room as that dope, especially drunk? He could have went hulk on me or something.
"Are you just going to ignore me now?" she stifles a giggle.
I cross my arms and stare out the window. Silent Treatment commenced. Max turns on the radio, engulfing us in music and drowning out the silence. I frown to myself, thinking of the picture that they took of us. Asher usually looks so tense, and mad at the world, at least the few times I've seen him. In the picture, he was relaxed. He didn't have a frown. And his eyebrows weren't furrowed with anger. It makes me wonder why he's like that. So vile, and venomous. My internal conversation is interrupted when Max cuts the engine off in her driveway. We step out of the car, grabbing our things, and head up the driveway to go through the garage door. She uses her key to unlock the door and we go inside. Max opens the fridge, grabbing two waters and hands me one. I take it gratefully as she grabs a bottle of painkiller off the top of the fridge and hands me one out of the bottle, then takes her own.
"Alright," she puts the pill in her mouth, then gulps water as I do the same,"let's go get your stuff together."
We trudge upstairs to her room, I groan quietly every time my body makes a move up. Every step makes my head hurt a little more. We finally make it to her door, decorated with M's, crafted out of every print of scrapbook paper you can think of. She whips her door open, and pulls me inside. She then proceeds to push me into her vanity chair making my head puns a wee bit more.
"What are you doing?" I ask irritably.
"Giving you a makeover," She taps her chin, studying me.
"A makeover? Right now?" I am so tired right now, I don't think I can handle a makeover, much less Max any longer in this state that I'm in.
"Yes, a makeover. It's your senior year. You don't have a boyfriend. You could be totally hot if you'd try, and you need to try because you need a date," she explains.
"A date Max? Why would I need a date?" I roll my eyes and then wince as my head pounds from the movement of my eyes.
"Because, maybe a certain someone asked me to go on a date tomorrow after school, and he said we could make it a double date. So, you need to find a date by tomorrow night," she explains, as if it's simple for me to just sweep up a guy, and go on a date. Wait, who asked her out?
"Who asked-" she cuts me off.
"Gabe!" She squeals.
"Agghhh," I groan. She covers her mouth then mumbles "oops".
"When did he ask you?" I ask after my head stops throbbing.
"Um, last night. We were outside talking before he left, and he just came out and asked me," she's beaming.
"Awe, that's sweet. And I'm just supposed to find a guy before tomorrow night... to go on a date?" I pause,"And just how am I supposed to do that?"
"For the love of God El, you're pretty. You'll find a way," she laughs gingerly.
"Oh crap!" I exclaim, instantly regretting it, but then explaining hurriedly,"Speaking of God, I have to get home! I have church at 11 o'clock!"
I scramble out of the chair and gather my things.
"El, it's only 9 o'clock," she says.
"I have to go home get a shower, shave my legs, do my makeup, fix my hair, and get a dress thrown on. Now come on!" We hurry outside and jump in the car.
•••
I slide into in the shower, throwing soap on a rag and scrubbing my body, then I shave. I pour shampoo into my hand and quickly message it into my hair. After I rinse off and get out, I throw on a lavender purple sundress with short sleeves and a length that goes to my knees. I go back into the bathroom and look at my hair in dismay. I still have to do my makeup, and checking my phone , I realize I only have 10 minutes to get finished and get in the vehicle with my dad.
As if on cue, dad calls from downstairs.
"10 minutes Quinn!"
I decide to do my makeup. I dab some foundation on, then apply mascara. I have time to put some mousse and gel in my wet hair and scrunch it. When I get done, I'm satisfied with the waves in my hair, but wish I would've had more time to dry it and curl it. I grab my phone and slip on some tan wedges. Oh crap. I forgot to brush my teeth. I grab my toothbrush and squeeze a blob of toothpaste on it and brush vigorously until I'm done.
"Let's go!" Dad yells from downstairs.
"I'm coming!" I say as I come out of my room and descend down the stairs quickly.
He opens the door and I hurry out past him and off the porch to the car.
My head has stopped hurting since the shower, and for that, I am thankful.
Dad backs up and we start our Sunday trip to church.
"So, how was your night?" Dad asks.
"Uh, good I guess. Just a regular sleepover, as always," I say averting my attention to the screen of my phone to find I have a text message.

From Max:
Don't worry about finding a date, Gabe said he has a friend that he could bring.

"Really? Is that all it was? A regular sleepover?" Dad asks.

To Max:
Ooh k? And who is his friend?

From Max:
Don't worry about that. I'm sure he'll be fine. It's not like you have to be by yourself with him, whoever he is. Just let it happen. Be spontaneous for once in your boring life. Lol

"Yeah, a regular sleepover," I say, curious as to why he's acting suspicious.

To Max:
Fine, but if I get uncomfortable, I'm leaving.

From Max:
Fine.

"I know you went to a party Quinn. Why didn't you tell me? You know I don't like those sorts of things," he explains eyeing me to watch my reaction.
"I'm sorry dad, but I've never went to one, and I wanted to try it. We were safe. We stayed the night there at Ryan's house. I didn't do anything wrong," I tell him, my mind flickers to the moment I woke up this morning with Max and Gemma giggling over me and Asher. I probably went too far last night.
"Well, ask me next time you want to go somewhere. I can't guarantee I'll say yes, but I'd like to know where you're going from now on," he frowns looking ahead.

"Dad, I know you've already lost mom, I promise you're not ever going to lose me. You couldn't lose me even if you wanted to," I say, "But I understand, I'll ask next time. If there is a next time."

He simply nods and sprouts a small smile, that wrinkles his eyes up the slightest bit.

///

Church was the same as always, nothing too extravagant, but something weird did happen that doesn't have to do with church at all. My phone got a silent notification from an unknown number.

From Unknown: Hey, I have your dress. I'll bring it by your house later.

I couldn't reply to it because number one, I was in church, and number two, I wasn't supposed to have my phone in the first place so I waited until now to open it. I flop onto my bed and begin to type.

From Me: I'm sorry, but who is this?

I roll over onto my side, looking out of my balcony doors. My phone whistles.

From Unknown: Asher. Gemma had to go to work so she can't bring it to you.

I put his name in my phone and groan. I really don't want to see him after what happened this morning, but I might as well get it over with.

From Me: When are you bringing it by? And do you know where I live?

From Asher: Gemma gave me your address. I'm like 2 miles from your house right now, so be outside waiting.

Geez. Why does he have to be so demanding.

From Me: K.

I crawl out of my bed, throw my phone on the bed, and start to walk downstairs. My dad isn't home because he got called into work. The house is quiet and empty. The silence is making me anxious so I move a little faster down the stairs. I guess I miss a stair or something because before I know it, I'm falling down the stairs. And my ankle and arm are shooting pain through my body. I cry out in pain, hot tears run down my cheeks, and all I can think about is how much my arm and ankle hurt. I try to stand up to get to the house phone, but I end up on the floor again, laying on my back, crying. I hear a pounding at the door.

"Ana! I told you to be waiting outside!" I hear Asher's voice yell.

"The door is unlocked! Help me, please!" I watch the door fly open, and a mad Asher comes through it. "Asher," I say, "o-over here." He searches for me for a moment before he sees me lying on the floor, in a mess of tears. His eyes widen, and he rushes to me, kneeling beside me.

"What the hell happened?" he asks trying to decide if he should try to move me or not.

"I w-was coming d-down the-" I zoned out before I could say anything else. I feel arms slip under me and pick me up, my head rolling onto a supporting shoulder. I feel the rhythm of a pounding heartbeat. I'm put into a seat and buckled in. That's all I remember before waking up in a hospital bed.