The Drunkard's Daughter

Matthew

It was always so strange, to look out my window and see a girl walking at the rising of dawn. She always had the same backpack and a raggedy coat on. Her blonde hair swaying as she walked. I never saw her face, seeing her only from behind---from my window. She would turn a corner and I wouldn't see her again until the following morning.

"Dude just go follow her."

My best friend David would say whenever I brought it up.

"No, I dont want to be a stalker! Like, 'hey you pass by my window every morning, what's your name?' How inviting is that?"

So I would just watch and wait, hoping one day to see her face.

---

The bell rang, the glorious sound of the end of math class. I grabbed my books, stuffing them in my backpack. I felt the slap of a hand on my back, and I turned to see Greg smiling wide.

"Dude, I think I have the perfect ratio of pancake, to syrup, to butter."

Greg wasn't the brightest human on earth, he could get distracted really easily. Like thinking about pancakes in math class. Even though he's kind of a dolt, he still surpasses me in all of our classes together.

I laughed at his remark.

"I guess we need to have a pancake day to be sure."

"That would be awesome!"

Greg said, slapping me on the back again. We walked out of the classroom, heading to our lockers. We had lunch next, giving me a mental break. I unloaded my bag, turning to talk to Greg when a familiar back pack caught my eye.

A raggedy coat covered her shoulders, her blonde hair swaying in a hypnotizing way.

"That's her."

I whispered. I walked closer to her, pushing my way through people. I reached out to grab her, when I felt a pull behind me.

"Babe, where are you going?"

My girlfriend, Gabriella, said.

"Hmm?"

I said, watching as the blonde girl turn the corner. I saw her blink, deep brown eyes meeting mine.

"Babe?"

I turned, facing Gabriella.

"Are you okay?"

She asked, her eyes darting to the corner where she stood. I smiled.

"Yeah of course."

Gabriella perked up, hooking her arm around mine.

"Good, then let's go eat."

---

I slipped into the bathroom to wash my hands before my next class, having gotten something sticky on them. The second I walked through the door I wanted to leave. You could hear moaning and gasps through one of the stalls, and a pair of pants on the floor.

Gross.

I thought, knowing how rarely these bathrooms get cleaned.

"Oh David!"

Said a familiar voice.

"C'mon Gabriella, you can do it."

EXCUSE ME?!

I banged on the stall door, angry to find my best friend and soon to be ex-girlfriend hooking up in the school bathroom.

"Hey man, can we have some privacy?"

David said, a small giggle coming from Gabriella.

"Get out here so I can beat you for having sex with my girlfriend. NOW."

I heard the pause, the hitch in Gabriella's breath, and the shuffle to be put together. I backed away from the stall, letting the door open.

"Its not wh-"

I swung a closed fist and hit David in the face. Gabriella screamed.

"We're done. I never want to see any of you again."

With that, I stormed out of the bathroom.