What Goes Around Comes Back Around

Chapter Twenty Three

Christmas was fast approaching, only a couple days away now, and this year I had been a little behind on Christmas shopping. Well.. More like I'd only had presents for one person out of the many I had to get. I had Nathan's too, but I didn't think we'd be exchanging anything anymore. That brought me back to the party just last week, where I let all my control go as gave in to the tension that has been between us ever since I could remember. I felt a bit disappointed that I didn't get to come as well, but quickly shook that thought away. I didn't want that anymore, it had only been a one time mistake. It was also a mistake that I'd have to tell Merlinda today, seeing that I couldn't ignore it like I had been all week since she was coming last minute shopping with me today. Why did I have to get her present early?

I arrived at the mall a little later then we had planned, knowing Merlinda was already inside and waiting, I bundled up before dashing through the warm doors. Even if the mall was chaotic during the holidays, I always liked to come even if all my gifts had already been bought. While everyone was stressed, they also seemed cheerful, which could only be brought out by the holiday season. It was one of my favorite times of the year.

I walked to the food court, scanning the area for a white puffy hat that she always liked to wear when it was cold. I found it at one of the back tables, bobbing along to the songs playing through her headphones and her hands wrapped around a Starbucks cup, an extra one sitting on the table. Our addiction was honestly a little scary.

She took her headphones out when she saw me approaching, standing up and handing my the warm red cup. "Is this-"

"Your beloved salted caramel mocha? Yes yes it is," she said smugly, proud of herself for getting the right drink.

"Bit too cocky for this early.." I mumbled but she heard anyway, laughing and leading us to the many stores we were visiting today.

*

It was after I had gotten most of my shopping done and we were in one of the last doors when she brought it up. And all these hours I had hoped she forgot.

"This shirt is so pretty isn't it! I saw this girl wearing it at Tiffany's party and I've been looking for it everywhere!" She chattered excitedly, rummaging through the rack for her size. Since I was looking at her, I physically saw the lightbulb go off in her head. She turned quickly, quick enough to give herself whiplash, and had an evil little smile on her face. She didn't know exactly what happened, but she had known it was something that embarrassed me and that it concerned Nathan. "So... You gonna tell me what happened at the party now?" She asked, one perfect eyebrow raised.

I hesitated, still not wanting to tell her. "Ya know if you would have been just a teeny bit sober you would know," I scolded her, avoiding giving an answer.

She gave me a blank expression. "You better give me a straight answer before I find Nathan and get it out of him."

My eyes widened and I have her my best glare. Her expression didn't change, so I sighed and started the events of that night. "Okay, so just let me explain and then you can't say whatever you want." I waited for her nod of confirmation. "I was just trying to have a good time at first. So I drank a bit and started dancing but then I saw Nathan with Tiffany practically superglued to his front." I rolled my eyes, remembering how she was so desperately trying to get with him. "And next thing I know she's dragging him up the stairs, and I was drunk enough to follow them. Now, like I said she was plastered to his front downstairs, so surprise surprise when I found them in a guest bedroom with her perched in his lap." I saw Merlinda's poorly concealed look of disgust, she knew how Tiffany was just as much as I did, so I just nodded along to her unspoken thoughts. "I got really mad which made me call her the towns slut and she left after we exchanged the word bitch a few times..." I trailed off, hearing Merlinda's quiet yet shocked chuckles. "Nathan just sat there the whole time and he was still so flustered so I maybe climbed into his lap and ya know.." It was actually quite different to be so embarrassed and shy about it now when I was nothing like it that night. It must have been the alcohol rushing through my veins. "Long story short, he came in his pants, told me he was still in love with me, and I panicked and ran," I rushed out, as if she wouldn't catch it if I said it fast enough.