Crash and Burn

11. Well Then

I woke up the next morning with a throbbing head and a throat that felt like a desert. I looked at my bedside table and saw that there was a glass of water and two painkillers. Almost dizzy with relief, I took the painkillers, downed the water and flopped back in bed, falling into a light slumber.

BEEP. BEEP. BEEP.

I groaned and turned to look at my alarm. 10:00. Sighing, I decided to get ready for school before actually deciding if I was going. Deciding later would only make me run late if I were to really go. I threw my legs off my bed, rubbing at both my eyes trying to get the still dull headache to fuck off. I got up blindly, walking the direction I thought I knew, only to trip over something. "Motherfucker," I muttered as I regained my footing. Looking back, there laid a sleeping Demi curled up into a ball with no pillow and no covers. I frowned, trying to remember when, how and why Demi would end up on my room floor. Shaking my head at myself, I bent down and tried waking Demi. "Dems, wake up." She stirred and her eyes fluttered open. "Alex, hey. How are you feeling?" I smiled gently at her and brushed back a hair that fell on her face. "I'm fine. Just skipping classes today because I need to catch up on last night. I'm going for a swim then I'm making breakfast. Why don't you crash in my bed a little longer?" Demi paused and looked at me, clearly hesitating to leave me alone but nodded anyway. I helped her up into my bed and tucked her in before grabbing my swim gear and going for my swim.

I went back in at 10:30 and saw that Mel and Demi was still asleep, so I sent a quick email to my professors and went for my shower. By the time I was out, it was 11:00 and Demi was seated up as I left my en suite. "Hey, I was just about to make breakfast." She nodded and got out of bed. "Let me freshen up and I'll help." I nodded and make my way downstairs, pulling out whatever I needed. "What's for breakfast?" I looked over and saw Mel, in a seemingly much better state than I was, walking into the kitchen looking ready for the day. "Did you call in sick?" I gave Mel an expectant look and she rolled her eyes. "Yes, I texted a friend and she relayed the message to my homeroom teacher that I was sick. What's for breakfast? My stomach needs good ass food." I rolled my eyes and turned back around to look at the fridge, deciding between the limited things that we had. "Since it's already 11 and by the time I'm done cooking, it'll put us at the time for brunch, a chicken salad wrap with cut up fruits on the side." I looked over at Mel for approval and saw that she was practically salivating. "Great, I'll help."

We looked over to Demi that was making her way into the kitchen. "Uh huh, no you won't. Nice try but our parents are out of town and we wouldn't know how to explain a burnt down kitchen to them without sounding ridiculous." I looked over at Mel in confusion after Demi blushed a deep shade of red and looked sheepish. "She can't cook to save her life." Mel shrugged and hopped off the counter. "I'll help instead."

Cooking consisted of Mel getting in my way and Demi trying to weasel in to help, only to be faced with nos by Mel and I. "Fine, I'll wait to be served." Demi pouted and lifted herself on the counter as Mel cut the tomatoes. "No, fuck Mel. Cut them right side up and not sideways." I hip bumped Mel over as I took over cutting the tomatoes and guided her over to watch the tortilla wraps on the stove. I heard a light giggle to our left and saw Demi trying to stifle a laugh. I smiled at her, feeling my heart warm and continued cooking.

After what felt like forever, we finished cooking the very simple meal and were all seated at the dining table, each with a plate in front of us. "So Demi, how did you end up here last night?" Demi paused mid chew and looked at Mel before looking at me. Mel shrugged and went back to eating her wrap. "You called me and ordered a pizza. I figured you were drunk and I didn't have Melissa's number so I got the pizza you ordered and drove down here to make sure that the both of you were fine." My eyes widened and my embarrassment put my mind into a state of being unable to form a coherent apology. I started choking on the mango that I was midway chewing and was sure I turned a deep shade of red. Due to both embarrassment and the lack of breath. I fucking wish I could turn into an ostrich right about now. "Are you okay?" Demi was by my side almost immediately, patting my back and handing me my glass of orange juice. I nodded, recovering from the choking and sheepishly looked at Demi. "I'm so sorry about that. You really didn't have to come over. I didn't mean to call you. I didn't say anything embarrassing, did I?" Mel burst out laughing and that left a mild panic in me. I was known to be a forward drunk in the most embarrassing ways possible. "You gave Demi a 20 and told her to keep the change. I came down when I heard the doorbell to see you practically stuffing the bill into her shirt because she wouldn't take it. When she came in, you threatened to call the cops because you thought that she was a pizza delivery girl that wanted you to 'pay in other ways'. I even have it recorded on my phone and I had to convince you that she was a friend from school that happened to work at Joe's. Hold on, let me pull it up." I groaned in embarrassment as I watched the video of my indeed pulling out my phone, holding it the wrong side up and dialling 911 on my passcode screen. When the video was over, I buried my face in my hands. "Well then, I officially feel like an ass."