Suicide Blonde cont.

viii

Three days later my mother, her sister, my cousin and I all had brunch plans at a fairly expensive restaurant in the north side.

Rosie was three years my senior, constantly in the spotlight between the four of us. For some odd reason, when we were children, a large competition was going on between us for that same spotlight. I had clearly given up years ago, but she seemed to enjoy rubbing her accomplishments in my face.

I spent the morning of the brunch waking up in Harry's bed where I had passed out, high, the night before. I had no way of transportation to the restaurant and we were supposed to be meeting in less than twenty minutes by the time I woke up.

It was my first time in Harry's home the night before. His mother was out all night, he had told me, so we decided to crash there after another a small get together with Louis and Liam.

His room was as comfortable as I imagined; an old blanket covering the both of us, myself still clothed in my jeans from the night before and a sweater he had lent me.

"Hey, do you need a ride to the brunch place?" Harry asked as he woke up, sunlight streaming into his room through the blinds.

"Yeah," I told him, throwing on my pair of black boots. "We're going to have to leave, like, right now, though," I said.

He got out of the bed, rubbing his eyes as he pulled a beanie over his head and grabbed his car keys on his dresser. I snatched my bag and we walked out of the door.

"If you don't mind me asking, Harry, is Skylar aware that you have a girl sleeping in your bed?" I asked him on our way to the restaurant. Harry's jaw clenched, his response following a hesitation.

"She doesn't, no. I thought we were keeping our friendship under wraps?" he asked. I nodded my head and assured him, "yeah, we are. I guess it's best untold. It's not like we're even into each other like that, you know? I could be a guy and it'd be just the same. I was just wondering."

We made small talk on the rest of our way there. Once we pulled up to the entrance I could already see my mother, aunt, and cousin sitting at a table discussing something. I got out of Harry's beat up car and shut the door behind me. He honked his horn, my family's attention going towards the two of us as we waved goodbye to one another.

I took a seat between my mother and aunt, sitting across from my cousin as French toast and omelettes were served to us.

"So, Rosie has the biggest announcement for you two," Aunt Carolyn said as the three of them sipped their Mimosas. I already knew what was to come.

"Fredrick and I are engaged as of last week!" Rosie announced, a large smile casting over her face. A bit of jealous pang throughout me due to the fact that she was set up to live a luxurious and rich lifestyle after much of my other family. Her fiancé had just begun his journey for a PhD, which was being paid by his own parents who were both successful doctors.

Her ring was currently getting fitted, she told us, but she didn't fail to show us photos of the expensive, gaudy thing.

I spent the entire brunch plastering on my best fake smile. My mother was clearly dissatisfied with my ragged appearance, but I successfully blocked her comments out.

Our ride home was silent and followed by us residing to our sides of the house.

"Vee, what do ya want?" Zayn said on the other line of our call that I had started with him the second I reached my bedroom. I fell on my back onto my bed, letting out a long sigh. "I've really got a dilemma, Zayn," I told him.

"Well, Harry and I have slept together, not sexually but actually in the same bed, all peaceful, two times. One a few nights ago in my bed and last night in his," I said. Zayn hesitated with a response for a moment. "What's the fuckin' problem with that? Sounds like you two are actually getting somewhere," he said. I could tell a smile had appeared on his face as he said the words.