It probably qualifies as a white lie, because it’s partially true. My insides are a mess.
I can’t stop thinking about Adam, and I really don’t want to.
I run to the row of sinks in the community bathroom and splash my face with cold water. As I’m patting my face dry with a paper towel, a couple of my hall-mates greet me with a “hey” before I’m all alone.
Swishing a handful of water through my mouth, I stare into the cracked mirror, taking a hard look at myself. What am I doing with Levi? My mom’s voice enters my head, ready to lecture on what I’ve done wrong this time. You wanted this thing with Levi.
You’re the one who approached him that night.
I spit the mouthful of water at the mirror. “Get your shit together,” I tell my reflection, wrinkling my nose.
As I approach my room, a bout of high laughter seeps out. I walk in to find Kelly standing across from Levi, wearing the same low cut blouse and leggings from the night before. She looks ten times better than I do, her dark brown hair strategically pulled back into a sloppy bun, her makeup perfectly applied on her sharp cheek bones and pouty lips. It’s rather infuriating how she doesn’t look even the slightest bit hung over when I know she was doing jello shots half the night. And who knows where she slept.
This is my best friend.
We met the first day of Spanish class freshman year. When our professor said we were only allowed to speak to each other in Spanish, Kelly turned to me and asked if I wanted to drink tequila in the bathroom. It was supposed to be a joke, but I totally got her humor. She turned out to be borderline genius, and became my tutor for nearly any class I struggled in.
We became inseparable almost immediately. She was always around, driving my assigned invert of a roommate insane. Kelly may, at times, be a bit wild, and I can’t always count on her to be there—like when she disappears from parties—but she was there to pick up the pieces after the depression nearly crippled me, when none of my
“friends” from high school stepped up. She spent countless hours at my side when I didn’t want to talk, brought me food when I didn’t care if I ate. It would’ve been easy to completely give up on everything if she hadn’t been there.
Her big brown eyes flash wide when I clear my throat. “Jewels, holy shit! What happened to you?”
I scoff. “I held up a bakery downtown. Didn’t you see it in the news?” When Kelly puts on her pouty face, I sigh. “I don’t know for sure. I hardly drank anything last night.
Maybe that seafood sub I had for lunch was bad,” I say, not wanting her to think I’m contagious. Because unless she’s seeing someone who she’s thinking of breaking it off with, she won’t.
“You’re puking sick?” Levi asks, backing away like I just told him I have the Ebola virus. “I have to man the shop by myself this week.”
“You know, I’m not really sure. I guess it could be the stomach flu.” For an added dramatic effect, I even touch my forehead. “I do feel a bit flushed. There’s something really nasty going around campus. Kids are dropping like flies.”
“Why didn’t you say something earlier?” It’s almost comical how fast Levi skitters to the door. “Babe, I want to hang out, but I can’t afford to close the shop for even a day.
You know how it is.”
“Don’t worry, I totally understand.”
After a quick glance he’s out the door, no goodbye or kisses. He wouldn’t want to risk the chance of catching my disease.
“Bye,” Kelly sings after the closed door. “I take it he spent the night?”
I reel on her, reminding myself that literally strangling someone is considered assault. “Where in the hell did you go last night? We looked all over for you!”
In typical Kelly style, she rolls her eyes, snorting. “Would you relax? I lost my phone right after I sent you that last text. I couldn’t find you so I went over to Krista Slaytor’s place for an after-party, figuring you’d end up there. I passed out on her floor. And you said we. Are you saying Levi did come here last night, or do you have a little friend in your pocket?”
“Damn it, Kel!” I yell in her face. “One of these times you’re going to hook up with the wrong guy and end up behind some dumpster! If for some idiotic reason I ever agree to hit a party with you again, I’m not letting you out of my sight! You’re like a freaking toddler!”
“Alright, alright!” she concedes, dropping her shoulders. “I’m sorry. Now, will you tell me what just happened between you and loverboy? I don’t believe that you were actually throwing up. I’ve only ever seen you do that when hung over, and I know you weren’t that drunk last night.”