The Save Game

Chapter 2

Allison could feel the sunshine on her face, but her eyes still felt heavy. She stretched, hoping that the movement would help her wake up. When she started to remember the night before, her eyes flew open.

She didn't recognize anything around her. There was a dresser directly across from her. She rolled over to her back and stared at the ceiling, trying to get the courage to sit up and figure out what she had done.

She turned her head to the left, and confirmed she was alone in the bed. She pulled the sheets up to her chin and sat up.

This wasn't her bedroom. It wasn't her familiar surroundings.

She held her breath for a second, listening for anything that would confirm or deny what had happened last night.

She remembered being on the rooftop, and Sal pulling her inside. She remembered drinking and talking until late in the night. But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't remember getting in this bed.

Allison let the sheet fall to her lap and looked down at the clothes she was wearing. She didn't recognize the t-shirt with the faces of four men plastered across it.

"You're such a whore, Allison." She said aloud to herself. Even though she couldn't remember, it was obvious that she'd had drunken, sloppy sex with someone she'd just met. "No wonder my parents hate me."

She swung her legs over the side of the bed and stood. The hem of the t-shirt fell to the middle of her thighs. At least she was somewhat decent.

Her clothes were thrown across a chair in the corner of the room. She quickly grabbed her jeans and pulled them on. Because the shirt was comfortable, she didn't bother to change in to the one she'd worn the night before. She'd leave it there. Didn't guys like to collect momentos from their one night stands? Well Sal could have her shirt. She wouldn't be able to look at it anymore without thinking of last night anyway.

She opened the door that led to the hallway and stuck her head out. There didn't seem to be anyone else in the apartment.

Allison crept down the hall, hoping she could escape without the humiliation of facing her host.

At the front door, she found a note taped by the lock.

Allison,

Got a call from the hospital this morning. Sorry I had to rush out. Stay.

Sal

"No way." Allison tore the note from it's place on the wall and shoved it in her pocket. She wasn't about to stick around.

She opened the door, locking the bottom lock after her and pulled it closed. She wondered if she'd ever know what happened between her and Sal last night.

She wished she was the kind to just let it go, but she wasn't. Not knowing would eat her alive and possible lead her back to the rooftop.

As Allison patted at each of her pockets trying to find her cell phone, she ran into a man walking toward her.

"I'm sorry." She pushed her long hair out of her face and then looked at him.

"That's my face." He pointed toward her shirt and grinned. "You must be Sal's friend." He held out his hand to her. When she hesitated to take it, he said, "I'm James, but people call me Murr."

Allison shook his hand before looking down at the shirt she was wearing. Even upside down she couldn't deny that James' face was right there across her right boob.

"Sal asked me to come by and pick up a few things to bring to him. He told me you would still be sleeping." Murr winked. "After last night, I'm surprised you're up walking around before noon."