runaway

EIGHTEEN | BOOZY SLUSHIES

EIGHTEEN | BOOZY SLUSHIES

The sun had already laid to rest for the night, only street lights igniting through the open windows of her apartment. Music floods the apartment in a calming display of affection for the young woman dancing around the petite apartment. The air condition chills her bare legs, though Jett does not bother to care. Her hips sway, and her torso twirls as her feet shuffle across the hardwood floor. She is so lost in herself she almost does not notice the sharp knock on her door until its second rhythmic reiteration.

"It's open!" she calls over the song playing, never stopping her movements.

The door opens slowly to reveal the likes of a fearful girl. She steps inside with a look of pure trepidation, closing the door behind her gently as though terrified to cause any sort of disturbance to the young woman.

"Hey," the girl says timidly.

"Christine!" Jett cheers, only slowing her movements. "What's new, honeydew?"

The girl takes a deep breath, preparing herself for the worst, before proceeding deeper into the apartment.

"Look, J," Christine says. "I just wanted to say I'm sorry. It was out of my control, but I should've done better or figured something else out or..."

"Chris," Jett cuts her off, finally ceasing her dancing to walk towards her. "It's okay. Don't worry about it. It's all straighten out now anyhow."

Christine looks at her in shock, still fearful. "Wait, so you're not mad at me?"

The young woman laughs. "No, I'm not mad."

Immediately, the girl breathes a sigh of relief. "Okay, good," she says before lifting up the drink carrier she was holding. "But I brought a peace treaty just in case."

"Don't tell me those are boozy slushies," Jett says, the smile on her lips growing tenfold.

"What else would they be?" Christine's fear melts away, her bright, youthful smile replacing it.

"You know the way to my heart." Jett grabs one of the cups and takes a sip, the rose and sorbet concoction hitting her tongue with a hum of satisfaction.

"Really? Didn't know you had one," Christine says, taking a sip of her cup and walking towards the couch.

"Oh shut up, you little shit." Jett laughs, plopping down beside the girl on the couch. It was a dinky old thing, stained and slashed by whomever loved it last. Surely, it had seen some things, but then again, so had she.

"I'm being serious!" the girl says. "You act all big and bad all the time. But, I see right through you. I know you're all soft and gooey inside."

"I am not!"

"Mhmm. Whatever you say, big sis."

"Step," Jett immediately corrects. "Step-sis."

Christine sighs. "You're never gonna let that go, are you?"

"Nope." She takes another sip of her slushy, a much longer one than the one before, one she immediately regrets. "Shit!" she exclaims. "Brain freeze."

The girl laughs, cackles almost, and proclaims, "That's what you get!"

"Shut up," Jett says, pressing her thumb to the roof of her mouth in attempt to soothe the freeze.

"For real, though," Christine says. "Would it kill you to just one time admit I'm your sister?"

Jett sighs, takes another sip of her slushy, and contemplates. She sits in silence for a moment before finally saying, "Yeah, it just might."

Christine rolls her eyes, picking up the pillow beside her and launching it at the young woman.