As The World Turns

Chapter 5

''I'm...'' Taylor didn't get the rest of her sentence out as she descended into a hiccuping fit, which caused Jodie to sigh as she pulled out of the clubs carpark.

It had taken Jodie over five minutes to get Taylor out of the club and into her car. It turns out that Taylor hadn't only been drinking with one of her 'clients,' but appeared to have taken something else. Something that Jodie didn't quite know just yet. Thankfully, Taylor had stopped the excessive vomiting that had occurred earlier. Instead, she was hiccuping and looking very much out of reality.

''Do you know what you took?'' Jodie didn't really expect a straight answer or even one at all, but Taylor appeared to have heard and understood what had just been said to her.

''I don't know, but it was like food,'' Jodie creased her forehead, wondering how Taylor couldn't even realise what a pill was even in her drunken state.

''You mean it was a pill?''

''Yeah and it had a...hic... thingy on it,'' Jodie pulled up in front of their house and turned in her seat to face her housemate.

''I'm just gonna go ahead and say you took ecstasy,'' Taylor didn't appear to be listening, seemingly interested in looking at her sequined covered little clutch back, ''Taylor?''

''Huh.''

''Ok let's get you inside,'' Jodie muttered, giving up on having a coherent conversation with her friend. Instead, she jumped out of the car, running around to the other side to make sure Taylor got out safely and didn't end up as a splat on the driveway.

''Terry is gonna kill me,'' Taylor slurred as she lent up against the back door of the car while Jodie swung the door she'd come out of shut, before then locking the car.

''No he's not come on,'' Jodie reassured her letting, the blonde wrap her arm around her to keep her upright.

''He is. I'm getting fired in the morning. I did it in front  of shush,'' Taylor giggled with her finger pressed against her own lips, before then placing it over Jodie's as she whispered the next word, ''Eminem.''

''No you didn't,'' Jodie pointed out, removing Taylor's finger so she could usher her into the house; worried that Taylor's loudness could wake up and annoy the neighbours.

Unfortunately, the noise was the least of Jodie's worries as the second Taylor had got inside, successfully shutting and locking it behind her, the blonde let out a squeal.

''Oooh there's a Kitty cat,'' Jodie watched wide-eyed as Taylor attempted to pick Blink up. Blink, with good reason, started running circles around her before bounding as quickly as he could up the stairs. Jodie knew she'd find him curled up in the centre of her bed when she reached her room later.

''That's just Blink remember my cat, whose very shy and hates loud noises,'' Jodie exclaimed trying to calm Taylor down as her eyes started watering due to the fact she had just been rejected by a cat. ''Now why don't we get you to bed,'' Taylor nodded, letting Jodie take her by the hand and lead her upstairs into her room.

''Thank...'' A hiccup cut her off, ''you for taking care of me Jo,'' Taylor slurred as Jodie gently pulled the girl over to her bed, getting her to sit down on the edge.

''Don't thank me,'' she replied, ''now you good from here?'' Taylor nodded, allowing Jodie to leave.

''Meow.''

''Yes, I'm coming  Blink, give me as second,'' Jodie grumbled as the black furball stood with two legs either side of her bedroom doors threshold, patiently waiting for his owner to join him.

Jodie couldn't help but smile as he allowed her to pick him up. He purred in recognition as she let him rub his head against her cheek, while she scratched him behind his left ear; his favourite spot. Giggling, Jodie carried him into the bedroom, kicking the door shut behind her. Despite the fact she knew he'd want to leave at around 5:00 am the next morning; usually, it wouldn't worry her because of her early shifts at the diner, but Saturday and Sundays were different. So tomorrow she'd end up letting him out and then going back to sleep for a few more hours.

''Time for bed don't you think,'' Blink purred again in response as she placed him gently down at the end of her bed. He immediately curled into himself, his tail waving slightly as he got comfortable.

However, his peace was soon disturbed when the phone Jodie had placed near him suddenly buzzed. The noise made his fur stand up on end and he even hissed slightly at the unknown sound.

''Hey, it's ok,'' Jodie pulled herself up onto the bed, stroking him to calm him down. It didn't take long before Blink resumed his curled up position, seemingly unbovvered.

Once she was sure he had calmed down Jodie then turned her attention to her phone. Frowning, she noticed the front screen showed her a notification for a dating site she hadn't used for a couple of years now. The little box of text told her that someone had tried to contact her, but it didn't say who or what their message was. She now felt conflicted on one hand she'd promised her father she'd at least staring dating again, but on the other, she didn't want to end up dating an absolute asshole.

I thumb hovered above the notification before she finally decided to bite the bullet and open it. The person who had sent the message was not the person she had originally expected. Although she wasn't sure who's she'd expected it to be.

Marshal Mathers: Hey 😋

She found herself shaking her head in disbelief. There was no way that he had found her due to the small conversation they had had tonight. Jodie had a feeling that perhaps he'd come across her profile and Denaun had pointed out where she worked. She wasn't sure if she should be flattered or slightly creeped out that Marshall had sought her out at her work before contacting her, through the app. Despite all the thoughts swirling around her head; some telling her not to reply, to others delving too deeply into the future. Jodie tapped on the reply button and messaged him back.

Jodie Kingly: Hi😆

+++

''Yo dude what are you grinning about?'' Denaun asked as he pulled up in his car to drop Marshall off at his house.

''Nothing man,'' Marshall shook his head and left the car, he was too interested in his phone to even utter thanks or goodbye to Denaun. Denaun didn't exactly mind as he had a fair idea as to why his friend was so fascinated in his phone all of a sudden. The little smirk on his face said it all.

The smirk grew as Marshall continued to tap away at the little keyboard, coming up with a reply, hoping to spark a conversation with the bespectacled bartender. He figured he'd keep it low key and decided to ask a question that was appropriate to her.

Marshall Mathers: So is your friend ok?

He then waited eagerly for a response.