Things End, Deal With It

nineteen

"Hey, I have a question," I say to Nash.

"Ask away," he replies, our arms still wrapped around each other.

"Where did you go this morning? I woke up, and you weren't there."

"I-"

"Before you answer that," Cameron interrupts. "I have a question of my own." Both of us look at him and wait. "Did you guys always have private sleepovers without me or did those just start?" He smirks at us from behind his cup.

"You're a little shit, Cam." I unlatch from Nash just to hit Cameron in the arm then go back to stand beside him again.

"It was just one night." I lightly bump my shoulder to his, so I hope Cam doesn't see.

"Uh huh." Cameron finishes off his drink then starts to make another one. He puts vodka and something else from the fridge in it, and mixes it together.

"Give me a drink of that." I nod towards his drink.

"What? No! Cheyenne, you're fifteen." He moves it closer to himself in a defensive way.

"Oh, c'mon, Cam. It's just one little sip."

"No," he forces, sternly.

"Okay, fine." Nash laughs at the two of us and pulls me in for another hug.

"I like you," he whispers.

"I like you more."

"Not possible."

*

After the party and after everyone went home, I help Marisol clean up the house. Nash took Cam home because he was drunk, and Marisol made Taylor go upstairs.

"This was a crazy party." I try to start a conversation because Marisol has been oddly quite.

"Yeah."

"What's wrong?" I ask, picking up a few cups from the coffee table and tossing them into the trash can we brought in.

"I just didn't think Taylor would get this drunk, that's all."

"He did get quite drunk." I look over at her, and she nods. "Cam got drunk too, and I'll probably have to deal with his hangover tomorrow."

"Maybe we can text each other with tips." I laugh, and Marisol joins in.

You are my one, and only
You can wrap your fingers round my thumb
and hold me tight

Marisol runs to pick up her ringing phone.

"Hello? Okay. I'll be up in a minute. Mhm, okay." Then she hangs up. "Taylor needs me upstairs. I'll be right back." She walks upstairs, and I finish cleaning up the living room. I move on to cleaning the kitchen, and even when I'm finished, Marisol still isn't back. As I decide to just wait and see if she comes down in the next five minutes, I sit down on the couch. I soon realize we didn't look through the couch cushions and chairs. I get up and strip off the cushions from the couch. There's nothing there. So I continue looking through all the furniture. I find nothing, and Marisol is still not back, so I just plop myself down on the couch to watch some TV.

Five minutes later, I get tired of sitting on my butt and decide to go upstairs to see what's going on. They could be having sex for all I know, so I kind of don't wanna walk in on that..

I step infront of Taylor's closed room door. I knock a couple of times before Taylor slurs a 'come in'. I twist the knob and swing the door open. I look into the room from the doorway and spot Taylor on the bed, and Marisol on the floor wiping down the carpet.

"Mari-"

"Taylor threw up, and it's not coming out of the carpet." She gives me a sideways glance. "I didn't come get you because you were already helping me downstairs, and this," she moves her hands over the carpet,"Is disgusting." Taylor giggles from the bed, and I fight a smile.

"It is pretty disgusting, as I can tell. It smells horrid in here." I just now get a whiff of puke and lemon. What is she cleaning with? "I don't really wanna clean that, but I can keep you company." I shrug and make my way into the room. I open a window on the far side of the room just to let some fresh air in. Hoepfully the smell will go away soon. I think I might puke.

*

Marisol finally makes the stain partially go away. She says she'll make Taylor buy a new carpet,  and everything will be better.

"Well, I'm gonna go. I'll have Nash come pick me up," I tell Marisol and give her a quick hug.

"I can run you home."

"No, it's fine. I just wanna take a walk, that's all." She nods.

"Okay, okay. Well, be safe, and text me when you get home." I smile and give her a thumbs. "Love you."

"Love you," I repeat back before walking out the door and closing it behind me. "Shit," I mumble, staring at my bare feet. I open the door again and step inside.

"Cheyenne?" Marisol calls.

"Yeah, sorry. I forgot my shoes." I laugh and head to the laundry room to get them. When I get in there, my shoes aren't there, but another pair are. I try them on, but they don't fit. They're a couple sizes too small. I groan and throw the shoes out. "Marisol," I screech, and she comes running down the stairs.

"What?" she questions, trying to catch her breath.

"Someone stole my shoes." I frown. "And left these." I pick up the small stilettos and show them to her.

"Oh, those are cute." She takes them from me and tries them on. "They fit!" She exclaims, and I lower my eyes at her. "Shame about your shoes though." She tries to sound sentimental.

"It's whatever, I guess. But why would someone steal my shoes if their feet are that small?"

"I don't know, but can I keep these?" Marisol points at her feet.

"I mean I guess. I'm not going to wear them."

"Awesome." She slips them off her feet and picks them up.

"Well, I'm gonna go now. I'll text you when I get home."

"Okay, bye, again. Love you."

"Love you." I walk past her and out the door. I take my phone from my bra and text Nash to come get me. I walk on the side walk, wandering into the street a bit. My phone rings, and I answer, listening to Nash's voice flood through my phone.

"Cheyenne, Cam puked in the car, and I don't wanna clean it up. He also puked when we got home which is gross, and I also don't wanna clean up that either. So after I come get you, will you clean it up?"

"You know I have a weak stomach. Hell no, I'm not cleanin' that up."

"Fine, fine. I'll clean it." I hear a car door slam. "I'm on my way. Are you still at Taylor's?"

"No, I'm just walking around. You'll see me though."

"Okay. I love you." Then he hangs up. That's the first time he's told me he loves me since we confessed our feelings for each other.

| picture of cheyenne's dress on the side |