chapter 14

Upon entering my house, I see a horrific sight: Kaylynn is on the couch, eating popcorn and watching old rom-coms. Kaylynn! Usually, Kaylynn is the one to lead all our activities. She's energetic and loud, not lazy and sluggish.

"What is going on in here?", I ask.

"I am obviously enjoying some old rom-coms", she points at our DVD collection. We usually use Netflix for entertainment, but sometimes it's good to go back to the classics of the early 2000s.

"I should have never left", I shake my head. "You're miserable without me", I chuckle. It's true, though.

"Nah, I wanted you to have fun", she smiles. "I mean I hoped you would be gone for an hour... or maybe 90 minutes", she pauses.

"Right", I chuckle, "It's been like 3 hours, holy shit", I exclaim. I feel horrible. I left Kaylynn on her own for hours--without even a call. Meanwhile, Tiana couldn't give two fucks--I should call her to make sure she's okay. "I'm literally the worst friend", I run up to her. Hugging my blanket-covered, slipper-wearing (mine btw) bestie I say, "I'm so sorry".

She meets my embrace, "You're not the worst, I-".

"Hmm?", my head is snuggled in the blanket.

"No-Nothing", she replies.

"Let's watch some movies then", I boom.

"And do each other's nails?", she adds.

"See, the fun in doing nails comes from the creativity behind it", I start, "I can't be creative because you always pick black... and then you paint my nails black", I chuckle. "You see where the problem arises?", I ask, looking down.

"Bu-But I like black", she pouts. I can't win.

"Fine!", I throw my hands up in defeat, "Black it is. I just need to change first". She nods.

I start to take off my party clothes when I realize I'm still wearing Shawn's flannel. Tiana was right: it's not the most flattering garment, but it kinda looks good on me?

This yellow 2 piece is the most uncomfortable thing I've ever worn. I only wore it so Tiana could stop saying I'm ignorant to party etiquette... whatever that means. She's ignorant to friend etiquette. Maybe I can give it to GoodWill?

I slip on some comfy pajamas and tie my braids up.

As I head back downstairs, Kaylynn shouts, "Ooh, let's watch 13 Going On 30!".

I rush up to her, "Shh!", I press my index finger to my lips. "I promised my mom that we wouldn't be too loud!", I whisper-yell.

She mouths, "I'm sorry".

"Okay", I place my hand down, "Put the DVD in, and I'll", I glance at the empty popcorn bowl, "get us some more snacks".

I walk over to the kitchen, and suddenly the front door slams open.

"Woo! Where's the music?!", someone screams. What the hell is not understood in "we need to be quiet"??

I turn around sharply and Tiana's stumbling through the doorway. She's so drunk, Kaylynn has to rush over and help her to the couch. She really could never be her own designated driver.

However, it looks like tonight she was. Her car is parked in front of the house, and her keys are hanging from her index finger. How reckless could she be?

"Did you drive here?", I ask, horrified that I may already know the answer.

"No, I drove her", another voice adds. What is going on? Does an open door mean an open invitation to anyone's home?

I look up from my inebriated friend to see a familiar bitchy face: Brittany Murphy.

5'8 and dressed from head to toe in designer, she struts in like she owns the place--typical. Her wavy brown locks sway in the night breeze, and she makes us all look like peasants.

"I live a few blocks from here, so I can just walk the rest of the way", she explains, "My ride left me", she shrugs.

Haha

"Uhh, thanks for dropping her off safely", I say.

"Yep", she shrugs. "I'm gonna go now". Bye, hoe.

That senior bitch set her sights on Tiana in the middle of freshman year. Ever since then, she's been this high-nosed, prissy person. Not the friend we all knew. She and her stuck-up friends took Tiana and molded her into what she is now. At least she was decent enough to deliver Tiana back alive. I don't understand why she got so wasted, anyway.

After the door slams shut, I turn to Tiana to give her a disapproving look, but her eyes are closed. "Hey, wake up", I lightly smack her cheek.

"Arghhg", she mumbles.

"Why did you get so drunk?", I ask. Maybe I shouldn't have left her alone. Shawn was right; I am too nice. She's always leaving me alone, and now I feel bad for leaving her.

"Tha-That Shawn guy", she starts. I begin to panic; what did he do?

"Yeah, what about him?", I ask, very much concerned.

"He rejected me!", she cries. He did? I smile to myself. I thought he said he did "upstairs stuff" with her... maybe he was trying to make me jealous of her? I'm not. She emphasizes "me" as if it's so shocking that he wouldn't want to screw her. Obviously some people aren't impressed by her prissy attitude--especially not Shawn. She wants someone to hold on an emotional/mental leash and follow her around... whom she would occasionally call her "boyfriend". The fact that Shawn, Mr. Fling, rejected her is kinda surprising, though. She's gorgeous on the outside.

Trying to contain my smile, I add, "It just wasn't meant to be", I stroke her hair, "He's not really into being the boyfriend".

She looks up with disgust, "And you think he wouldn't want to be my  boyfriend?". No.

"I-I mean", I stutter, "He doesn't want to be anyone's boyfriend", I shrug.

"I'm not just anyone", she cries. Trust me, he sees you as less than that. "And how do you know what he wants? Why were you dancing with him anyway?", she asks. Shit, she sounds suspicious.

"I've kinda known Shawn for a while", I wave her off--I mean since I found out he's part of a counterrevolution faction. "We sometimes talk about things like that", I trail off.

"So are we gonna watch movies or not", Kaylynn waves the remote. Nice save.

Kaylynn, Tiana, and I cuddle up and watch old movies for a few hours before we all fall into a deep sleep.

February 2017

Lacey's POV:

It's so awkward. I'm staring at him, he's staring at m--

"Thanks for bringing Terra back home safe", he forms a straight smile, "Goodnight". Then, he slams the door in my face. Well, it was more of a gentle push, but it felt like a slam.

The person who saved me, who I'd been thinking about for the last few days, he acted like he didn't even know me.

Was that night so meaningless to him?--A night that I would never forget?

Whatever

He doesn't have to remember me; I'm gonna change the world.