Sleep Walking

Chapter 5

Time stood still. What had I done? I slept with Jason and agreed to be his girlfriend. Why would i do something like that? To get my dad off my mind, I guess. My phone buzzes on my bedside table. Ugh. The hangover, I dont want to get up.

I roll over to discover a note next to my phone. Dear Dixie, I took you home this morning, didn't want you to get in trouble with your dad. XOXO, Smokey.

I smiled and checked my phone. I sit up and let my legs dangle off the side of the bed. I check my texts and see: 5 NEW MESSAGES MEG

1: Dixie!! Are you okay?!?!?! I saw you at the party last night but you didn't talk to me! Is something wrong????

2. Answer the phone Dixie! Are you okay? Did something happen?

3. We haven't see each other all spring break! Wtf is going on???

4. Dixie, im calling your dad!

5. Nvm im coming over. c u in 10

I heard a banging on the door. I expected to be Meg, so i said come in. Nope. My dad storms in and hits my upside the head. He wreaked of alcohol. I dropped my phone to the cracked wooden floor.

"Little bitch! You snuck out!! How dare you?? That Jason boy, ill kill him!" He slurred his words together.

"Daddy! Stop! I-"

"You disobeyed me! Thats what you did!"

"Im sorry-"

Meg pounded on the door. "Justin! Leave Dixie alone! Let me in!"

I stand up and try to walk over to the door to let Meg in, but my dad hit me again. I fall to the ground. I see my phone. A crack begins in the left top corner and leads diagonally to the bottom right corner. The corners are shattered. There is a crack that comes off of the long one that crosses the screen, shaped like a heart.

I hear Meg screaming at my dad, "You abusive bastard! Your gonna kill her one day! Or maybe she'll leave like her mom! Is that what you want? Get out of my way!" she storms in and smacks him across the face. "Leave. Her. Alone."

He takes a deep breath, looks at me, and walks out.

"Ugh! The nerve!!!" Meg screams. "Who the he'll does he think he is?" She helps me up. "Are you ok?"

I look down. "No" I fall back onto the bed. "This hangover!"

"The hangover? Your dad just beat the living daylights out of you, and your bothered by the hangover? THE FUCKING HANGOVER?"

"Meg, calm down. Screaming wont fix anything."

"How?? How are you so chill about this? How hard did he hit your head?"

"Meg, I dont care if he beats me. I really don't. What bothers me, is... Is..."

She sits down on the bed, beside me.

"He won't let me see Jason..."

"What?! Omg..."

"What?"

"Aaahhhhhh!" She stands up. "This is SO Romeo and Juliet!!!"

Did I mention Meg is a Shakespear enthusiast?

"Uh. No."

"Uh. Yes!! Like 'Romeo and Juliet: Country Style' I can already see it!"

"No! What planet are you living on?!"

"The planet where you and Jason star in a love story movie!"

"I'm leaving now." I stand up.

"No! No, no, no, no. We are having a girls day! Movies, candy, and pajamas all day!"

I stare at her blankly.

"Ill go get the stuff!" Meg runs out of the room.

I sit back down and have a sudden urge to call Jason. I pick up the phone and call him.

"Hello?"

"Hey, Smokey."

"Sunshine! How are you?" He sounded happy.

"The. Hangover."

"Oh haha! It'll pass. So..."

"Yes"

"What?"

"Yes, ill be your girlfriend."

"Wait, seriously??" He was on cloud 9.

"No, I'm joking..."

"Oh..."

"Just kidding! I would love to be your girlfrie-"

Meg bursts in "So I got sourpatch kids, jolly ranchers, truffles... Oh, am I interuppting something?"

"Uh... No." I say. "On second Meg." I turn back to the phone. "Ill call you later Jason."

"Oooo someone's got a boooyfriend!"

"Actually yes!"

"I was gone for 5 minutes Dixie!!" She drops the bags of candy and movies and struts over to the bed. "I want all the details." And with that she sits down.

I tell her everything. EVERYTHING. All about last night, and what happened just now, and the note he left. I fill her in.

"EEEK you NEED a ship name!"

"A what name?"

"A ship name? Like your names mixed together!"

"Oh I hate those. Please don't Meg." I roll my eyes.

"How about Dason or...Jasie. Or...Dixon? Or... Jaxie! Jaxie!!"

"Ugh stop Meg!"

"You guys can make little Jaxie's together!"

"You are so childish!"

"No! I just love good relationships!"

"What movies did you get?" I HAD to change the subject.

"Edge of Seventeen, Expelled, and Mean Girls!"

Girls Day is a go! That sounds so terrible, but with the hangover I've got, I don't even care.