I shrugged, trying too hard to be nonchalant. “Just someone who needed a place to crash.”
She smirked, “Someone who needed to crash… in your bed?”
“It’s not like that.”
Squeeks snorted into her coffee, “You keep telling yourself that.”
I glared at her, “It’s not what it looks like.”
“M-hm,” she said, leaning her weight into the wall like she was settling in for a good tease. “You brought a girl home. Screech brought a girl home. Can’t have been that good, I didn’t hear anything.”
My expression shifted, unimpressed with her outburst. “It’s not like that!” I repeated, scrubbing a hand over my face, muffling my words.
“She’s just… You know what, forget it.”
Squeeks raised an eyebrow, “She knows you don’t let anyone stay over, right? Let alone in your actual bed.”
I looked down at the floor. “She was soaked through; we’d been out in the rain. That’s all. I wasn’t about to leave her like that.”
She made a mock gasp, “Oh, chivalry isn’t dead after all.” I sighed, leaning against the opposite wall, cigarette now between my fingers, unlit.
“Can you just … not.”
Squeeks studied me for a moment, the humour in her expression shifting. Not gone but softened. “Yeah, alright.”
I brushed past her and walked into the living room, dragging the tired weight of the night behind me. The sofa was still a mess of blankets from where Squeeks had crashed, though she’dclearly done her usual tidy job. Cups stacked, ashtray emptied, my mess tucked neatly into corners like it hadn’t ever exploded across the place just last night.
I slumped into the far end of the couch, tossing the cigarette onto the coffee table. I let my head drop into my hands, palms digging into my eyes. I could still feel the warmth of her, clinging to my skin, even though she was two rooms away behind a closed door.
Squeeks flopped down beside me a second later, the cushions bouncing under the weight. She pulled her legs up and turned to face me, eyes already full of amusement.
Great, here we go. She wasn’t done with me yet. “Sooo…” she said, stretching the word out like it was made of elastic. “Is she still asleep, or are you trying to hide her from me?”
I let out a low groan, resting my head back against the sofa. “You’re a pain in the ass.”
“It’s a gift,” she beamed, then nudged me with her elbow. “Come on. Who is she? Don’t think I’ve ever seen you bring someone back. She cute? Even in her half-drowned state?”
I side-eyed her, “She’s just someone from Juvie. You wouldn’t know her.”
“That right?” She leaned forward, eyes glinting. “Because from where I’m sitting, you two look more than just Juvie buddies.” I stopped myself, jaw tightening. I sighed, rubbing the back of my neck.
“It’s complicated.”
“Ooh,” Squeeks leaned in dramatically, grinning widely. “Complicated.”
I gave her a look that should’ve ended the conversation, but Squeeks was never one for reading the room when it came to a good opportunity to stir.
“So… is this gonna be a regular thing now? You two playing house? Should I start knocking before I barge in? Maybe send atext first? I’m not down for walking in on my bro balls deep in some girl.” My eyes widened at her, a flash of amusement at her choice in wording. She definitely learned that one from me. I sat forward, resting my elbows on my knees again.
“Don’t you have school or something?” I asked, calm but pointed. She raised an eyebrow, clearly catching the tone.
“Wow. Subtle,” she smirked. “You kicking me out already?”
“Just thought you might have better things to do than hang around making shit jokes.”
Squeeks sipped the last of her drink and stood up, grabbing her coat off the back of the chair. “Lucky for you, I actually do.” Slipping her arms into the sleeves. “But I'm meeting Mum first. Can’t be arsed to sit through Mr fuckwits history class.”
I stayed quiet, raising a brow towards her— a clear judgment of her decisions.
