Imaginary Boyfriend

Chapter 27:

Chapter 27

             "Kat!"

             I could hear someone calling my name. It sounded off and distant, like they were calling down a tunnel. My eyes were glued shut and everything hurt. My face was wet... no, everything was wet. My hair,  my clothes, my body. 

             A rancid smell wafted into my nostrils and I scrunched my face up in disgust. 

             "Kat," the voice said again, this time a lot closer. It was frantic and sounded familiar...

             My eyes snapped open. I was trembling. No... someone was shaking me. My world was blurry and I had to blink multiple times for Sam's face to come into focus. 

             "What..." I trailed off, rubbing my eyes.

             Sam leaned forward, planting a gentle kiss on my forehead. His lips lingered there. "Don't ever do that again, okay?"

             I opened my mouth to speak, but the words kept getting caught in my throat. I looked up at Sam, trying to convey my confusion through my expression. He seemed to understand.

             "You ran off," he explained. "You were drunk. I ran after you and you threw up. I tried to take you home but you wouldn't listen and then you took off again. Except you tripped and banged your head on the pavement. And then you passed out."

             Extending my arm, I wrinkled my nose. The contents of my vomit remained on my dress and all over my body. I wasn't wet after all.

             Sam let out a low chuckle and wrapped his arms around me. He smelled of strawberries. A goofy smile crept onto my face and I closed my eyes, relaxing my body and melting into him. We stayed like that for a while. He was the first to pull away.

             "Listen, I'm sorry about tonight," he said sincerely. "I was stupid and... what?"

             My eyes stayed locked on his lips. He misunderstood my stare and bent down, presumably to kiss me, but turned my head away. Tears slid down my cheeks and I staggered onto my feet. My voice was still failing me so I couldn't answer him when he asked what was wrong.

             I just shook my head and whirled around. I felt the pressure of his fingers curling around my arm to halt me, but only vaguely. I don't know if I managed to break away or if he released me but after a couple of seconds, I was running again. Running anywhere, away from him.

             The world was beginning to spin, and I knew I was still drunk. But I wasn't about to stop now, not with the adrenaline pumping through my veins and spurring me on. Shops flashed by me, their lights momentarily blinding me before they were out of my line of vision. My face was wet again, but this time because of the tears.

             His lips.

             I was too exhausted to be angry. By the time I stopped and collapsed to the ground, I was choking and gasping for air. 

             Breathe, Katrina. Breathe.

             The cold air hit my face, its teeth sinking into my teeth and kissing the back of my neck. I brought my knees up to my chest and hugged them, trying to keep warm. Since when did it become so cold? I must've looked a wreck, huddled in a street corner at night time, sobbing. 

             But what did I care, when my boyfriend had been kissing another girl?

             Not just another girl either. She was his ex and my friend.