I can’t even remember the last time I said no to a girl offering to get down on her knees for me, or do other unholy things with absolutely no desire for me to return the favour.
Claire is the ultimate fun-sponge.
“I really feel like someone should go check on Claire. She’s been hiding in her room the entire night and she won't answer my texts.” August says, showing me his phone. I can see all the messages he’s sent her asking if she’s okay, but there’s no response.
You thinking of joining us?
There’s free boozeeee
C’mon it’s actually really fun
You okay?
Claireeeeeeee
“I tried going upstairs earlier and she didn’t answer, she probably just wants to be left alone” Davis chimes in.
The chick sucking on his neck finally comes up for air, “You live with a girl?”
“Shhh darling, it’s fine” Davis coos before shoving his tongue down her throat.
I guess I’ve gotten so used to Claire sticking her nose in places it doesn’t belong, that I just assumed she would be down here somewhere. Although, it does feel weird that I haven’t seen her, she’s normally so social with us.
Just then, I hear the front door bang open. Steph comes marching in with this angry little look on her face and stops right in front of us.
“You guys fucking suck” she seethes. “Like really fucking suck.”
Miller chokes on his drink, spitting it all over the floor in front of him, “what the hell did I do?” We all look at him, why is he only including himself in that sentence?
He shrugs in response, “I’m the good one, but it makes sense that you guys would be the ones to fuck up. You’re all dipshits.”
Fair.
Steph rolls her eyes, “Claire is upstairs, all alone, and you’re all down here partying it up?”
“Hey, we tried to talk to-” August starts to say.
“Let me tell you a secret about her” Steph interrupts, “you can’t just ask her if she’s okay, she’ll lie right through her teeth. You have to show your face and show her that you actually care and want to hear what she has to say.”
“Why is that our duty though? Pretty girl chose to stay upstairs” I say, annoyed that we’re getting reamed out because Claire isn't in the mood to party.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen someone as angry as Steph when the words leave my mouth. She’s so small but damn can that girl scare the shit out of anyone she wants.
“You’re so thick headed St. James. She’s been upstairs upset for hours, and she didn’t say it but I could tell that she wished she was invited tonight. It actually would have helped, she could have used this to blow off steam after her bitch of a mother went off on her earlier.” She’s breathing harder now, taking slow steps towards me as she speaks until she’s an inch away from my face. “Her relationship with her parents is strained, they don’t really get along. She doesn’t like to talk about it but just know that it’s slowly killing her.”
I know the feeling.
Steph storms off, up the stairs to check on Claire while the rest of us sit down here feeling slightly guilty. She isn’t my best friend in this whole world, but we should be making more of an effort to include her… even if that does kill me to say.
The last thing I want is a mopey Claire walking around the house and bringing the mood down for everyone.
“Anyone else feel like their balls were just chopped off?” Blair mutters.
* * *
It’s been an hour since Steph went upstairs, and for a while there I thought that maybe she would bring Claire down with her, but I haven’t seen either of them.
Blair looks at me, “maybe you should go up there and ask them to come join us.”
