Finding Me

Saltines

I wake up with severe dry mouth, my eyes burn when I open them. I turn over and face Dylan who's softly snoring. I notice a glass of water at the opening of the fort, and reach for it. I chug it all, and stand to refill it, my legs wobbly. I head to the kitchen, my eyes half closed due to the immense amount of sunlight filtering through the windows. I walk to the fridge to check if they have filtered water, and I see a huge Brita filter. I refill the glass, and start rummaging through the cupboards for some crackers. I find some saltines, and start munching on them.
"I see you located the saltines" Dylan speaks, scaring the shit out of me. I jump, holding the container of crackers.
"Jesus, a little warning" I say, as a throbbing starts in my head at the fast movement.
"Sorry" he grumbles grabbing the glass from the counter and chugging it, immediately refilling it, just to chug it again.
"Thirsty?" I ask shoving a cracker in my mouth, it sticks to the roof of my mouth.
"Very, now quit hogging all the crackers and pass me some" he says holding his hand out, I give him 6 crackers.
"You like saltines, no one likes saltines" I say, he gives me a weird look.
"First you like them, second they are in my cupboard" he reckons
"Yeah I just thought I was weird, and I also thought they were your dad's or something" I explain grabbing another one.
"No my dad hates them, plus he's almost never here so all the food is usually stocked for me" he reveals.
"Makes sense" I respond, and we head back to the fort.
"I can't believe we made this, being as drunk as we were also" I say staring at the ceiling of the fort, the twinkling lights hanging a couple inches from my face.
"I know, good idea with the lights" he affirms. We stay like that for a while passing the saltines between us.
"Thanks" I murmur, he turns his head to face me.
"For?" He asks genuinely.
"Last night, for everything really. I'm glad I met you" I say, my cheeks burning from the statement.
"I'm glad I met you to, you changed me" he says, and now I stare at him confused.
"I'm serious, I was never so open about my anxiety before, so thanks for that" he asserts.
"Well no problem, I am pretty awesome" I joke making him laugh snort.
"You laugh snort!" I exclaim
"Don't mention it please" he says embarrassed
"You let me believe I was the only one who laugh snorted" I state, he laughs again.
"It didn't come up organically" he states shrugging.
"You're unbelievable" I respond, and we both start laughing. The echoing of his door bell stops us both. I follow him to the door, standing a couple feet behind him.
"I still can't believe how big your house is" Kalani quips as he opens the door. She smiles at us, and steps inside.
"Hey what are you doing here?" I ask as she moves inside the house.
"Just wanted to see how you were after last night, and... Jesus you guys made this, it's so cool" she states once her eyes land on the fort.
"Yeah and we were drunk" Dylan retorts, her smile
Widens.
"Can I go inside?" She asks, a gleam in her eyes.
"Of course" I state as we all pile inside.
"Wow, nice work guys. This is probably the coolest fort I've seen and I've been in a lot of forts" she claims.
"Anyway, how are you" she cuts herself off
"I'm okay, kinda groggy" I say, she gives me a weird look
"Groggy from what?" She asks.
"Oh, just the drinking" I explain leaning against the wall of the fort that is also the couch.
"Are you angry?" she asks, I shake my head
"Sad?" She continues I shake my head again.
"So you're fine" she states.
"Yeah, I mean I'm upset at Kai still, but I'm not jealous or angry or insecure" I tell her, she nods slowly as if she doesn't believe me.
"So then you and Kai are okay or..?" she asks.
"No, I mean I don't know, but... it's hard to explain I'm just okay" I try to make her understand she still looks confused, but nods.
"Okay, that's good I guess. He was up most of the night watching those infomercials that run from 12-5" she explains I nod.
"Yeah we probably need to talk again" I state feeling guilt seep into my body at the fun night I had.
"So how was really drunk Violet I don't think I've seen it?" She asks, making us both laugh.
"Fun" Dylan says, making me smile.
"So basically like normal Violet?" Kalani says making me push her.
"That's very sweet guys" I tell them whipping my hair dramatically, they laugh.
"So how about some food from the diner?" She asks and my stomach growls.
"That's a hell ya" I say crawling out of the fort, they follow. Dylan drives us down to the diner, my excitement rising the closer we get. We sit in a booth by the windows.
"What can I get you?" I hear from above me as I stare at the menu.
"The usual for me Mani" Kalani says, I put down the menu.
"Same" I say, he smiles down at me, and then looks at Dylan.
"I don't know what that is but sure I'll get it to" he says, and we pass him the menus. Kalani starts talking about some cute guy she met last night when she went to the grocery store for some chocolate, when I see Kai walk in. His eyes are squinted and he looks like he hadn't slept. His hair is messy, and he's wearing the same clothes as last night.
"Vi" Kalani says waving her hand in front of me, I quickly turn to her.
"Sorry" I say my words slow, she turns toward the door and that's when Kai spots us, his eyes widen, and he freezes.
"He's working today" Kalani says, and I nod. He looks between us and the door that leads to the kitchen, his eyes stick on me. He walks toward us now, his eyes focused.
"Hey" he says his voice small
"Hey" I reply
"I'm sorry Vi, can we please talk?" He asks. He's bent down now eye level with me.
"Yeah we can talk, after work" I say, he nods a small
Smile on his face.
"I'll text you after work" he says just before he gets up, and walks back to the door. Kalani just smiles and we don't bring up Kai the entire time, but I do stare at the back door.