Tread

June 8

Bow chicka wow wow, Em mouths as I make my way to the dining table our group has taken over. It's 7:30 in the morning and I'm beyond exhausted. Every muscle hurts, I can barely keep my eyes open, and the five minute shower I took did nothing for my bed head. Look up the definition of ridden hard and put away wet and you will see my picture.

"So not funny," I say as I set my tray down and all but inhale my breakfast. Lilianna, one of the program directors, interrupts the morning conversation to announce we leave in ten minutes and I eat faster.

"It's not going to run away," Kate says, smile turning to a grimace as she lays her head on the table and moans.

"Drank too much?"

She nods. "Pretty sure my liver went to find a new owner."

"Dude, that—"

"Don't even think you're getting out of telling us what happened yesterday Ms. I'm Not Coming Home," Em interrupts with a fork. "50 euros or no?"

I hold out my hand and she laughs loudly, drawing everyone's attention. "Calm down before Lilianna and Omar come over here."

She takes it from a ten to a five. "So how was it?"

Zora chimes in, "The first time is always the worst. Nick lasted about ten seconds."

I choke. "Only ten?"

"How long did Leo last?"

"More than ten."

"Details," Em hisses.

"He was—it was—" I try to find the right words, but they all pale in comparison. "Do you remember your favorite book?"

She frowns. "Yeah..."

"The first page hooks you, and the story is full of twists and turns, like every new page inspires a new emotions. For part of the story you have no clue what's going on and then it clicks and it works and it's fantastic. And the ending is perfect and satisfying and you read it again and it's even better than the first time. You learn new things and everything starts to make sense and you get new ideas and—God, no matter how many times you read, it's always a little different, and really good, and when it ends it's satisfying as fuck."

The table's silent, mouths open, eyes wide. Em lifts her head, "Only you would compare reading to sex. Freakin' saiposexuals."

I finish off my blood sausage. "But am I wrong?"

"Considering two of us are virgins the answer is yes, you're wrong," Kate says the words at the table. "And I think you're making some of that up."

"I am not."

"Are too."

"Children," Zora interrupts, patting her mouth with a paper napkin.

I shoot a glance at Em who returns the look over the rim of her coffee cup. Zora has two modes when sober: know it all bitch and pining waif.

"So," I say slowly, trying to avoid land mines that will set off a Zora tangent. "What are we doing again today? Going to Trinity or something?"

"Didn't you read the schedule?" Zora quips.

Ignoring her, I turn to Em and raise a brow. She's the peacekeeper of the group because both Kate and I are extroverts. Even if we don't say something is pissing us off, it shows up on our faces clear as day.

"Yup. Trinity." Cocking her head to the side, she asks, "Want to do drinks in Temple Bar afterwards?"

"No. That place is too expensive. And I'm with Kate, I don't think my liver can take another drink."