09-12-2018, 11:24 AM
Cayli
She helped Natalie up, guided her awkwardly to the bed. Pressed a bottle of water in her hand and watched her drink it. She looked about ready to pass out but still clawed doggedly to consciousness, like the offence of sleep threatened to drag her down into a deeper pit of hell than she already dwelt. Cay lingered, uncertain. Natalie sat upright, her legs tucked under her chin. Eyes unfocused. She didn't want to think Jay did this. Natalie had been upset before; it had to be something else. A something else Jay made worse, sure, but not something he had caused. She tried very hard not to look at that hole in the wall.
"You know you need to lay down to sleep."
"Won't your parents worry where you are?"
"Dad is "busy" and mom is watching TV. I have this if they need me." She waved her wallet. Shifted her weight. Then her face furrowed and determination pinned a badge of responsibility on her chest. She plonked herself down on the mattress like Natalie had done for her only hours before. "When Zadie Johnson got drunk after her pa died she cried and cried. And she was sick a lot. We didn't just leave her. You won't tell Jay about that though, right? Or mom and dad. It was a while ago anyway. But they'd kill me if they knew where I got the liquor." Not that Jay noticed at the time. One more empty bottle amongst a mountain hidden in his room. Like no one was supposed to notice, but god he was a terrible liar. "You saved my life. I know we're not like, friends or anything. But I can do this for you."
"I have bad dreams. I'd really rather--" She slurred heavily now, though her eyes still narrowed into something of a frown. Cay only shrugged and flopped out on the bed beside her. Plumped the pillow under her head and kicked her legs out, ankles crossed. The glow of the wallet lit her face as she began typing. Surprising friends with an epic return from the grave would have to wait. She sighed.
"Even snoring you're better company than my other options right now."
She helped Natalie up, guided her awkwardly to the bed. Pressed a bottle of water in her hand and watched her drink it. She looked about ready to pass out but still clawed doggedly to consciousness, like the offence of sleep threatened to drag her down into a deeper pit of hell than she already dwelt. Cay lingered, uncertain. Natalie sat upright, her legs tucked under her chin. Eyes unfocused. She didn't want to think Jay did this. Natalie had been upset before; it had to be something else. A something else Jay made worse, sure, but not something he had caused. She tried very hard not to look at that hole in the wall.
"You know you need to lay down to sleep."
"Won't your parents worry where you are?"
"Dad is "busy" and mom is watching TV. I have this if they need me." She waved her wallet. Shifted her weight. Then her face furrowed and determination pinned a badge of responsibility on her chest. She plonked herself down on the mattress like Natalie had done for her only hours before. "When Zadie Johnson got drunk after her pa died she cried and cried. And she was sick a lot. We didn't just leave her. You won't tell Jay about that though, right? Or mom and dad. It was a while ago anyway. But they'd kill me if they knew where I got the liquor." Not that Jay noticed at the time. One more empty bottle amongst a mountain hidden in his room. Like no one was supposed to notice, but god he was a terrible liar. "You saved my life. I know we're not like, friends or anything. But I can do this for you."
"I have bad dreams. I'd really rather--" She slurred heavily now, though her eyes still narrowed into something of a frown. Cay only shrugged and flopped out on the bed beside her. Plumped the pillow under her head and kicked her legs out, ankles crossed. The glow of the wallet lit her face as she began typing. Surprising friends with an epic return from the grave would have to wait. She sighed.
"Even snoring you're better company than my other options right now."