Spin the Bottle

Chapter 6

Not even thirty minutes after Peter drops me off back at home, there is a knock on my door.

Clarity stands in the doorway. Her eyes are swollen from crying.

I grab her hand and drag her into the house. I know exactly what's wrong and exactly how to fix it.

Clarity sits at the kitchen table as I start throwing things into the blender.

In about two or three minutes, I set down a cup in front of her.

She smiles slightly. "A triple chocolate milkshake."

I smile back. "I always have the ingredients."

Clarity takes a big gulp and sighs. "I dont now what to do, Zurey."

"About what?"

Clarity frowns. "Everything has been off lately. Alex seems to be acting cold to me. He always wants to be with Peter. The truth is...I don't know what to think of Peter. It's not that I don't like him, it's just that..."

"You don't want to get attached to him?" I ask.

She nods. "He treats me like I'm his little sister. I appreciate that, but I don't need anymore people to look after me like that. Especially not him. He's got enough to worry about."

I'm silent for a bit.

Clarity finishes off her milkshake. She smiles. "Thanks, Zurey." She stands. "I'll see you tomorrow at school, okay?"

I nod, then walk her to the door.
<><><>
It's almost midnight. My parents are with my brother for the rest of the week, so yet again I am home alone.

My phone starts ringing. I don't recognize the number. "Hello?" I ask.

"Hey, Zurey," Peter's voice slurs. "I'm gonna stop by your house. I'm kinda tired..."

"How did you get my number?"

"I dunno. I found it."

My eyes widen in realization. "Wait a minute, are you driving?"

"Yeah," Peter replies. "What's the problem?"

"How far are you from my house?!" I ask frantically.

"Hmmm...like ten minutes maybe?"

"Pull over. I'm coming to get you." I hang up, throw my jacket on, and slip on my shoes. I run until I see Peter's truck. "What were you thinking?!" I exclaim, throwing open the door. "You could have been arrested, or worse!"

Peter slumps over in his seat. "Whatever..."

I sigh in frustration. "Ugh! You're so..." I push him over to the passenger's seat, then climb into the driver's seat. Driving home isn't very difficult.

Peter is on the verge of passing out when I pull into my driveway.

"Can you please just get out?" I ask.

"But I want you to carry me!" Peter whines.

I attempt to stifle my laughter.

Peter hold his arms out, as if wanting a hug.

I pull—or drag for that matter—him out of the truck and into my house. "You need to lay down," I mutter. I try to put Peter on the couch, but he grips my waist.

"No," he snaps. "I want to stay with you."

I heave a heavy sigh. "Fine." I sit down.

Peter curls up in my arms like a sleeping baby.

It is extremely uncomfortable. "Peter," I whisper.

"That's my name," he says.

I smile a bit. "Can you please move? You're too heavy for me."

Peter scoffs. "I'm not heavy!"

"Peter..."

"I'm not fat, Zurey!" Peter exclaims. Before I can realize what he's doing, he takes off his shirt. "See?" he asks.

My breath hitches in my throat. I can feel that my face is bright red.

"Zurey," Peter slurs. "Pay attention!" He laughs, snorting a few times. "I'm not heavy, I just have a lot of big muscles. Look. I'll show you." He flexes his biceps.

At this point, my arms are about to fall off. What just happened makes me blush even more.

Peter snuggles up against me. "You're warm," he murmurs.

"Peter," I plead. "I need you to move. You're too big for me to hold like this."

Peter frowns. "But...Okay." He shifts the position he's in so that his arms are still wrapped around me, but he's sitting on the couch too.

I sigh in relief, though I wish he'd let go of me completely.

Peter's bare chest is pressed up against me. Every time he moves his biceps flex.

I'm silently going insane.

Peter is silent for a while. Suddenly, he hugs me tighter.

"You okay?" I ask, stroking his hair.

"Zurey," he murmurs. "I..." And just like that, he's out like a light.
<><><>
I wake up to the sound of someone emptying their stomach into the toilet.

Peter comes back into the living room a few minutes later.

I pretend to still be asleep.

Peter smirks, walking over to the couch I'm on. He lays on top of me. "I know you're awake," he whispers in my ear.

"Peter," I whine. "You're heavy!"

He laughs. "Was I that bad last night?" he asks in a low voice.

I ignore his question. "What time is it?"

"Five thirty something," Peter replies. "But that doesn't matter. I want you to answer my question."

I sigh. "You wouldn't get off me."

Peter smirks. "Sounds like something I'd do."

I groan. "Can you get off of me now?"

"No," Peter says. "I think I'll stay here."

"I have to start getting ready for school soon."

"Let's skip today. I'm sure one day of absence won't kill your grades."

I attempt to push Peter off of me, but he grabs my waist.

"We're going to spend the day together," he decides.

"Peter," I say flatly, "I can practically hear the headache you have right now."

Peter rolls his eyes.

"Where were you last night?" I ask.

"A party. Do you have a problem with that?"

I sigh. "You better not be wasting my time today."

Peter smiles. "Why ever would I do that?"