Carry on Wayward Son - Kansas
☀︎
Stan and I were walking home, Eddie wrapped around our shoulders.
"We can't take him home like this. His mom will flip!"
"Do you want him to spend the night at your place or something?" Stan snapped.
I rolled my eyes, "no. I was implying that you should take him to your house. We aren't a thing. And I've only really been his friend for what, two days? I can't take him home!"
Stan nodded sarcastically, "that's a load of bullshit," he muttered.
"You're a load of bullshit," I snapped at him. I didn't understand why he was so insistent on me admitting I liked Eddie. I didn't, so why would I admit to it? Stan's smart ass personality was starting to get on my nerves.
I breathed out slowly, calming myself down.
"I'm sorry I snapped," I muttered to him.
Stan shook his head, "you don't need to apologize for anything. I pushed it."
We were now standing in front of Stan's house. I had never been here before. It was a fairly large house, even though Stan didn't have any siblings. It was just him and his parents.
I sighed and turned to him, carefully removing myself from under Eddie's arm.
All this time Eddie had just been staring off into space. It was strange to have him around without him talking much. But people don't act themselves when they're drunk, so it wasn't a shock to me.
I turned to Stan, "I should get going."
Stan nodded once, "are you sure you don't want me to walk you home? It's late, Brandy."
"I'll be fine Stan. I go walking at night more than you'd think," I said with a smirk.
Stan looked down, "good. I'm glad you can walk yourself home. If I were to walk myself home after walking you to your house, I'd start thinking about things and..." his sentence trailed off at the end. Like he was trying to say something but couldn't quite get it out.
This friend group and their bullshit memories. One day, I'd force them to tell me all about them. Today wasn't that day.
It hadn't even occurred to me how much I had separated from the friends I used to have over the past year until now. I spent most of my time with Beverly. Sure, I definitely had other friends, but she was my best. And now I seemed to be spending all of my time with these people.
I shuttered at the thought of my old friend group. Beverly came just in time to rescue me. I was glad those people out of my life. I was glad I pushed away from them when I did.
I looked back up at Stan, "okay. I'm fine. I promise. Good night."
Stan smiled at me, "be safe."
I smiled back, "okay Dad."
"Bye Eddie," I whispered into Eddie's ear. He made eye contact with me for the first time since Stan joined us.
"Sleep tight B. Don't let the bed bugs bite."
I laughed slightly and turned around to walk back home in the dead of night.
☀︎
I entered my house to hear Freddie had arrived home early. He usually got in much later than me, but not tonight, apparently. Freddie had a lawn chair propped up in our front hallway right in front of the door, waiting for me to get home.
