Because of You

Chapter 2: Hungover

I woke to the sound of a voice yelling down the stairs. "Saylor, wake up, I need you."

"Fine." Saylor grumbled in response as she got out of bed and went up the stairs without saying a word to me. I was unsure of what I was supposed to do. My head ached even more than before and my stomach was still unsure of itself. I sat up and took in Saylor's room. She had drawings taped to her walls, along with a few band posters. On top of her dresser was a TV, an old Nintendo64 and a PlayStation4. She continued to fill the requirements of my dream girl. Next to her bed was a giant poster for the Denver Broncos. She liked football too. What more could I ask for?

I tensed as I heard footsteps coming down the stairs. But it was only Saylor who entered the room. She threw me a piece of toast, "Good afternoon Drunk-boy." She stood in front of a mirror on the wall as she brushed through her brown locks.

"I'm no longer drunk. You can call me Noah."

"How are you feeling?" She asked as she went into her closet and took out a pair of black pants and crew neck sweatshirt.

"Like shit." I said truthfully.

"That's why you don't drink to get wasted. You drink to have fun and be smart about it. You'll learn." She said as she left the room again. I stood up stretching my arms as I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror.

"I look like shit." I said as I rubbed my eyes and ran my finger through my hair.

"Not shit, more like mystery Mondays in the cafeteria." I jumped not expecting her to be there. Saylor smirked like she didn't expect the things she says to be funny.

"So like shit?" It basically was the same thing.

"Basically." She laughed. As she grabbed a black beanie off her dresser and placed it over her head.

"Are you ready to go home?" She asked.

"I suppose." I said as I stood up.

"Well, you have to exit through the window but I'll meet you at my car." She left me alone in her room again and I took that as my cue to shove the toast in my mouth and slide out the basement window.

I slid into the passenger side of the car as she backed out of her driveway and she headed down the street. "Do you know where you're going?" I asked.

"Hickory Way, right?" She said without taking her eyes off the road.

"Yeah." I said quietly. I felt like she knew so much about me but I knew almost nothing about her.

"Hunter and Haley know your brothers, right? It's the same reason you recognized my house, I just know you live there."

"Yeah, Haley dated Jacob too. The Twins are legendary. They threw the best parties, were Prom King and Queen. But you know that's pretty awkward considering and they-"

"Stop. I get it, Drunk-boy. My cousins are popular and perfect."

"Sorry." I said quietly, not knowing the subject was so touchy. The rest of the drive was pretty silent. I tried reading Saylor's face but she was hard to read. "So, uh, you kept asking where my friends were last night, but where were yours?"

"Dancing, drinking, I don't know. I'm not their babysitters. I come separate and I leave separate. I don't like babysitting so I don't depend on anyone and no one depends on me."

"Oh." I was slightly offended. Did that mean she was mad she had to babysit me last night? "Sorry, I was a damper on your night."

"I didn't mean that towards you, Drunk-boy. You were a first time drunk and your friends didn't give you any tips. You didn't know better. My friends do this every weekend, they know better. Get it?"