I spent both holidays alone, watching old movies on TV and eating frozen meals.
I take the bag of food to the living room so I can curl up and snack on the cold fries in front of the TV. My appetite is minimal anyway, my stomach rippling with nerves.
I’ve avoided it long enough—it’s time to reach out to Kel and the others.
Kel is first. I shoot him a text and nervously wait a response. When a few minutes go by and he doesn’t answer, I let out a deep breath and contemplate calling him.
He’s not exactly a phone person; he’s like most typical college guys and hates when people call him. Would he think I’m being a bother if I did? Wouldn’t it be even more annoying if I texted then called when he didn’t answer?
Guys don’t like it when girls are clingy.
Any courage I had fades away. I opt for Shay instead, pressing her name in my contact list. She answers in the middle of a conversation with somebody else.
“—don’t even mess around like that!” she laughs as she answers. Then she remembers she’s now on the phone and adds, “What’s up?”
I hesitate half a second. “Hey, you busy?”
“Busy being bothered by Matt’s annoying self. You know how it goes. I’m about to toss this pillow at his head if he doesn’t stop.”
“Oh… um… sounds like you guys are having a good time.”
“If that’s what you call it. He’s irking my last nerve,” she says, though she sounds on the verge of another laugh. “Anyway, good to hear you survived this morning. You sounded upset.”
“I… I was. I woke up in Kel’s room.”
“You told me. What’s the matter? Don’t tell me you fumbled last night.”
“Shay, I don’trememberlast night. That’s why I’m calling you—what the hell happened? How did I even end up at Kel’s place?”
She sighs, suddenly the humor gone from her tone. “Didn’t I already tell you Yvette and I left to get food? You wanted to stay with Kel and them.”
“I… I did?”
“Lana, you know how you get when you’re drinking. Stubborn as fuck. Nobody can talk you out of what you want to do. My feet were hurting, and Yvette was hungry, so we went and hit up that pizza spot down the block from the club. You said you’d be alright.”
“But I woke up with some bruise?—”
“Listen, I’ve got to go. Matt refuses to be ignored. He’s started pulling off my socks. Girl, he’s a mess! Talk to you later,” she says quickly. “And hey… try texting Kel. Ask him what went down last night.”
I barely get another word in before she’s hung up, ending the call. The click of the line going dead hums in my ear as I lower my phone and check for any new messages.
Maybe Kel’s finally—nope.
Still nothing.
Shay made it sound like I insisted on going back to Kel’s house. Does that mean we were really vibing last night? Were things going like I’d always hoped they would?
It’s not exactly a secret that I’ve had a little bit of a crush on Kel since the school year started. But I’ve always been shy around guys and usually lose my nerve as soon as I get the opportunity to speak to one I like.
Kel’s always been cool. He’s always seemed to sense I like him and has sometimes flirted with me (even Shay and Yvette agree he has).
Maybe we were really hitting it off last night, so I decided to take things to the next level…
It’s the only thing that soothes the anxious questions and unknowns inside my head. I let myself believe it as I dig into the bag from Beef & Bunz and eat a couple more fries.
On Monday I’ll ask Kel to his face, and we can clear everything up.
Knowing me, Shay’s right. Iama stubborn drunk. I probably fell a dozen times last night in the heels I had on.
