I caught myself obsessing about his new family. I thought maybe I could get into Erin’s computer and see who they were. I had to stop myself from attempting it several times during my shift.
Because Erin was right. Thewhoreally didn’t matter. He had gotten out. Someone had wanted him. They had given him a home when I couldn’t.
I had to be okay with that.
I felt heavy when I left the animal shelter later that night. I was supposed to go by Dania’s to hang out but I wasn’t feeling up to it. I wanted to go home and curl into a ball and sleep until I could wake up and feel semi-normal again.
As if reading my mind, my phone chirped in my pocket and I pulled it out to see a text from Dania. We had maintained a tentative truce since our argument. It wasn’t the first time I had resented how she expected me to apologize for her behavior. But it was the first time I couldn’t let it go.
I had always been able to tell myself that Dania was family. I could repeat the same facts over and over to make myself feel better. She had helped me when no one else had. She was there for me when I needed her after being sent to juvie. She had my back, always. Blah, blah, blah.
But now those words felt hollow and fake. And I was beginning to see the massive holes in our friendship.
I opened the text and saw a picture of Dania holding a bottle of vodka and Shane licking the side of her neck. The text read,Get over here bitch!
I thought about texting her back and giving an excuse but I knew that would never fly and I didn’t have the energy for another round of fend off Dania’s crazy.
I wrapped myself up in my I don’t give a shit shield and made my way to Dania’s apartment. I knocked on the door and tried not to sigh as I heard the sounds of laughter and loud music on the other side.
It was only seven o’clock and it seemed Dania had a party in full swing. I heard a door open down the hallway and an older woman poked her head out.
“You a friend of hers?” she asked, pointing to Dania’s door.
I thought about denying our relationship.
No ma’am, I’m just selling Bibles.
“Yeah,” I said, already knowing what she was going to say.
“Then you tell her to turn her damn music down. I’m sick and tired of banging on the wall,” the elderly lady wagged her finger and glared at me as though I were the one being a public menace.
“Sure thing,” I said just as she slammed her door closed. I rolled my eyes. It was no wonder Dania was being evicted. She most certainly didn’t understand what it meant to be a respectful neighbor.
Hell, she didn’t know what it meant to be a respectfulanything.
The door swung open showing a scantily clothed Reggie. Her short brown hair was sticking out on all sides of her head and from the glassy focus of her eyes, I knew she was on something.
“Ellie…” she slurred, pulling me inside. I took in the usual crowd of people. Some weren’t nearly as inebriated as Reggie, but it was clear that they had been at it for a while.
“Here!” Reggie shoved a shot glass in my hand. Normally I would down it without a second thought. But I wasn’t in the mood to party. I was feeling edgy and I didn’t think alcohol would help with the situation.
Reggie stumbled off and soon I was absorbed into the party.
It was soon pretty apparent that these get-togethers weren’t nearly as fun while sober. Danielle Davis, a girl who had graduated a year ahead of me was throwing up off the balcony. Shane was playing sexual predator with a girl who looked like she was barely out of high school.
I hadn’t seen Dania yet, not that I was making a huge effort to find her.
I deposited the still full shot glass on the coffee table and headed into the kitchen, hoping I’d find my best friend. Instead I was met by a group of tweaked out jackassess snorting crushed up pills off the phone book.
How many times had I seen this and it had never fazed me? Often I had joined in. Now, I curled my lip and retreated into the living room, disgusted.
I was surrounded by people I couldn’t stand.
I headed toward Dania’s bathroom. I wanted a few minutes to myself. I needed to think of an excuse to leave. Something that I wouldn’t get crap for later.
But I opened the door to find Dania fucking Stu on top of the toilet. Her pregnant belly bulged outward while Stu groped her tits.
“Shit, I’m sorry,” I said holding my hand up so I could shield my eyes. I’d need to bleach my brain later.
