"Emma," a petite blonde beckoned. "Could you get us our keys and phones so we can go?"
"Sure," I answered. I took out the bag that we'd hidden in the back of the hall closet and started laying out the Ziploc bags labeled with each person's name. They took their possessions and left. Most of the girls and a few of the guys were gone by the time Sara dragged her feet down the stairs, looking like she was still in need of a few more hours of sleep.
"Whatcha doin'?" she asked, stretching her arms with her hair twisted in a pile on the top of her head.
I tied up a trash bag filled with cups, bottles, and stale chips and set it next to another full bag. She looked around. The kitchen was beginning to resemble itself again since I'd already peeled back a layer of party leftovers.
"Thanks for picking up." She sat down on a stool, rubbing her palms over her eyes. "The cleaners are coming around noon, so we don't have to go crazy."
"How are you feeling?" I sat down next to her.
She propped her head up on her hand and yawned wide. "Tired. You?"
"Tired," I concurred. "Almost everyone's gone. I think there are a few guys sleeping on lawn chairs by the pool, a few more on the couches. Mandy, Casey and Jill are upstairs in the rec room."
"Alone?" she stressed.
"Kyle may be up there too, but Jill was luggage last night, so I don't think you have anything to worry about."
She groaned, "I hope not," then collapsed her head into her arms, "I think my head is going to fall off."
I smiled. "Are you going to tell me what happened between you and Jared last night?"
"No," she answered, her voice muffled from within her arms.
"What?" I shot back. "You want me to tell you everything."
"But you don't," she retorted, lifting her head up. "Honestly, we just passed out."
"And now what?" I pushed.
The tiredness shed from her eyes with the emergence of a smile. She lifted her shoulders in a knowing shrug. I knew exactly what that meant.
"Looks like you'll be putting some miles on your car, huh?"
"Yup," she beamed.
"So, just like that?" I asked curiously. "He shows up at your party, and that's all he needed to do?"
"Not exactly," she confessed guiltily.
I waited for her to continue.
"He wanted to keep seeing me after New Year's." I raised my eyebrows at this revelation. "I just couldn't see it working out. But he called and emailed a couple of times trying to convince me. Then he stopped, and that's pretty much when I became a stupid girl. So when he showed up last night … " She paused and grinned, "I knew I couldn't say no again. You're right. I have to at least try."
"Good morning," Evan said from behind us. "Wow, we have some work to do before we leave, huh? Sara, what time's your flight?"
"Three," she answered, sliding off the stool to begin tearing the hearts off of the wall. She was heading to Florida for February break, and Evan had skiing plans in Tahoe with the California guys―leaving me alone in Weslyn. They had both invited me to go, but I felt I should spend the week with my mother, since that was the point of moving in with her in the first place.
"Do you want a ride? My flight's at three-fifty." He came up behind me to wrap his arms around my shoulders, kissing me on the top of my head.
"That'd be great," she agreed. "Except, my parents aren't coming back until Sunday."
"I thought you were too?" I questioned.
"Umm … no," she answered with a smirk.
"I'll pick you up on Friday," Jared's voice answered before he came into view on the stairs. Of course. It all made sense now.
"Perfect," Sara replied, color returning to her face and her hangover miraculously disappearing.
Jared and Evan woke the rest of the guys. A few helped put the pool furniture back in place, but the other pale, grumbling faces took their possessions and dragged themselves out the door.
The girls slunk down the steps once Sara turned on the music. If she was up then everyone else had to be too. Aspirin and sodas were passed around as we tackled the repercussions of throwing a party. I stepped in something wet on the carpet in the family room in my bare feet, and every inch of me shuddered. I wouldn't even let myself think about what it might be.
When the cleaning ladies showed up, the house was stripped of the anti-V-day décor, but the aftereffects still lingered in the air, which was apparent when they scrunched their noses upon entering. Sara left them a huge tip before we headed out for breakfast.
"I still owe you a Valentine's Day," Evan stated in the car, after I'd stuffed my face with way too many blueberry pancakes.