One Step Closer

Seven Minutes in Hell

*Brooklyn*

Oh. My. Lanta. No. Nonononono. This is not happening. Why God? Why? I cannot believe I am getting stuck in a closet for seven minutes with a drunk Eli. Oh goodness.

"Hey Brookie." Eli's voice was deep and groggy. He leaned toward me and planted me against the wall.

I pushed him off of me, "Hey Eli, and it's Brooklyn by the way, but you're probably too drunk to remember that."

"I was just testing out a nickname, Bea." He tried to lean on a coat and almost fell, "That was you're nickname wasn't it? Bea. Didn't Chris like to call you that?"

I gritted my teeth,"Shut up, Eli."

"Why, babe?" He took a step towards me, "Does it bring up bad memories?"

"Actually, yeah." I looked down, avoiding his glazed eye gaze, "Eli, why are you drinking?"

"I saw you earlier, Brooklyn. With Zach. I don't like him." I winced at the smell of his breath, "I hurt you once, I don't want you getting hurt again." He stroked my hair.

"You don't know Zach."

"I know him. He's bad, bad...bad." he droned on.

"You don't know him. And we aren't together. Just, just get over me already, alright!"

"Brooklyn, I still want you." He wrapped his arms around me.

"I don't... I don't want you." I tried to push him off of me.

"Shhh." He leaned in close to me, "Just one last kiss."

"Eli, no." I tried to push him off, I tried to lean back, wishing the wall could absorb me into it. But then he kissed me, and it took me back. I guess I should have yelled for someone to come in and get him off of me. But maybe I didn't want anyone to take him off of me. Maybe I didn't want to scream and cause a big scene, I don't know. I wrapped my arms around his neck. I could feel his hand going up my leg and I moaned a little. He just kept kissing me.

"Eli, stop." I remembered how much I didn't want him to do this to me. How much I wanted Zach, to move on, to start fresh.
I pushed him off of me, finally. My phone went off, it had been seven minutes, and I rubbed my forehead.

"Oh goodness." I said quietly to myself, as I opened up the door.

"Hey you okay?" Amena said as I walked over to her and Naomi.

"Yeah, I um, just need to get some air." I ran up the stairs and to the second floor. I opened up one of the doors, only to walk in on two people making out on the bed. I closed the door and ran into the bathroom. I sat on the floor and could feel burning tears running down my face.

I can't believe I let Eli kiss me. Did I still like him?

There was a knock on the door.

"Um someone's in here!" My voice cracked.

"It's us, Bea." Naomi said.

I got up and unlocked the door, "Come in."

"Oh Bea, what happened in there?" Amena embraced me in a hug.

"Do I need to beat up, Eli for you?" Naomi rubbed my back.

"No, it's my fault." I whispered, "I let him."

"Let him do what?" Naomi asked, worried.

"He kissed me, well, we made out, and he... His hand... Went up my leg.....and we kissed and-" I stammered, "And I'm such a horrible person."

"No you're not, Bea. You're not." Amena patted the top of my head, "You aren't claimed by anyone. You aren't cheating, you're not dating anyone. It was a game, it's just expected that you make out with whoever you get in that closet with."

"But, I was never like that! I shouldn't have gone in there, I shouldn't have. I'm a whore. First I made out with Zach and then I made out with Eli-"

"You made out with Eli?" I looked up and saw Zach standing in the doorway.

"I'm so sorry, Zach." I couldn't look at him.

"What are you sorry for? That you had a little fun? I don't care, Brooklyn. We haven't even gone out yet. You don't have to be sorry for anything. Eli didn't hurt you did he?"

I was shocked at how calm he was being, "No. Not really."

Zach came and gave me a hug, "I'm happy you're okay. Don't feel sorry, please." He wiped a tear off my cheek.

"You said we haven't dated yet," I smiled, "Which means you want to date?"

"Of course." He chuckled, "How bout we ditch this thing and go to Franko's?"

"Sounds great." I paused and turned to my friends, "If that's alright with y'all."

"Go 'head girl! We'll be fine!" Naomi said.

"Alrighty then." I took Zach's hand, "To Franko's we go."