I'll Follow (Lesbian) (GirlxGirl)

A Different Kind of Hangover

LATER THAT NIGHT, I drove Presley and I home so that we wouldn't have to worry about sleeping at Angie's. Too much shit has happened to sedated girls at parties on the news for me to feel comfortable letting us drift off in that big, comfortable bed. I'm pretty sure it was tempurpedic.

Instead, I hoisted Presley into my car, up the stairs and into my bed, where she threw up twice on my blanket. A rancid smell wafts past my nose and I jerk my eyes open.

The smell, mixed with my impending hangover immediately attacks my brain. Having exerted so much energy getting Presley home safe, it appears that I left the pukey blanket on the bed. I shudder, carefully plucking it off of Presley. She rolls over, and I creep out of the room. I'm rinsing the blanket off in the bathtub when Aaron walks into the bathroom, hair a disheveled mess that Presley would call 'sexy'.

"Rough night?" He asks, nodding towards the soaking wet blanket that I have cradled in my arms.

I think back and am struck with the pleasant memory of Presley's soft, pink lips dancing against mine, I smile. I glance up at Aaron and freeze.

Shit.

Fuck.

His lopsided grin is naiive and unknowing- he is not aware of what I allowed to occur between Presley and I last night. I feel shame wash over me and let the corners of my lips turn down.

"Yeah, rough," I repeat, returning to my work, scrubbing at the becrusted blanket. I grimace.

Aaron, being the good brother he is, kneels down beside me.

"Is everything okay? Did something happen at Angie's? You look horrified," his brown eyes bore into mine. So trusting.

I am the worst sister ever. I force a laugh.

"Nope," the word gets tangled in my throat and I repeat it, "Nope! Just got a hefty whiff of this vomit," I try to reflect Aaron's easy smile but it turns into a sort of grimace.

"Okay," he says, standing. "Get that lab write up to me whenever you finish it- it's due Tuesday," his loving brother voice is replaced with his cool tone and he wanders off into the hallway.

I sigh, turning off the water and dragging the blanket downstairs and into the laundry room. Hopefully my mom won't question why I have a sopping wet blanket sitting in there. Regardless, it's better than alcohol-laden vomit, she tends to be able to tell.

I pad back up to my room and sit on the edge of my bed, watching Presley's chest rise and fall with the rhythm of sleep. It seems to flow easily with the sound of the birds chirping just outside the window.

I'm so stupid.

Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.

Never kiss your best friend; that's the golden rule. So what do I do? Fucking kiss my best friend.

Presley let's out a loud sigh and her chestnut hair falls over her peaceful expression. She looks beautiful, natural even. I stop myself. I look away. I tap my feet.

Everything could be over from the second she wakes up. I take a peek at her lips. Two perfect rose crescent slivers, perfect for-

Perfect.

Stop.

I wonder if I should kiss her right now, one more time before she calls me a dyke and never speaks to me again?

Ew, that's creepy.

Admittedly, if there wasn't something fundamentally wrong with kissing someone while their unconscious, I might do it.

I pinch my wrist.

No, I wouldn't.

Stop.

Presley stirs, and I immediately busy myself with my hands, picking at my thumbnail. She sits up.

Why isn't she saying anything?

I slowly turn around and meet her gaze.

"Good morning," I say, but it comes out more like a question. She glances away.

"Morning," she mumbles, rubbing her eyes.

I bite my lip, disgusted with my thoughts.

"I, uh, I think I'm going to go home," she says, climbing out from under the covers and gathering her stuff. She never once looks me in the eyes.

She seems hollow.

"Um, okay? Are you sure? You could stay if you wanted, really it's no problem," I try, nervously biting at my nail. She smiles awkwardly, hovering at the door with her hand resting on the knob.

She had to remember the kiss. How it felt, how it just felt right.

"Naw, I have homework," she says quietly. "See you later," she gives a backwards wave and rushes out the door, not even stopping to say goodbye to Aaron. I simply stare down the hall and listen until the front door shuts.