Buzzed Hearts

95: a diner discussion

THEY SIT ACROSS FROM each other in silence. Their lack of talk wasn't because of anything more than a hangover—on the account of one party.

    Camila sips her orange juice through a white-and-red paper straw and groans. Even drinking hurts for her. It doesn't help that they were sitting next to the window; apparently, the diner two blocks from her place is quite busy on Sundays.

    On the other hand, Laurent enjoys his double stack of pancakes and a side of scrambled eggs. It puts Camila in an even worse mood seeing his eagerness to start the day—she doesn't say anything but simultaneously feels warm seeing him eat so heartily. It hasn't even been more than three weeks since they last saw each other but the morning was a welcome surprise.

    After they had left the party last night, Camila had, in her drunken state, asked him to spend it in her room. She didn't remember it until she woke up to find Laurent sleeping on the floor next to her bed. He had nabbed the thick fleece blanket she often used when studying to cover himself and used one of her stuffed toys as a pillow. She didn't remember until she got up to use the bathroom in the early morning and almost stepped on his face. She admits, he looked positively angelic while asleep but then she remembers his foul attitude the night before.

    "You're not going to touch your food?" he asks.

    For herself, Camila faces an intimidating açai bowl. "I don't really feel like it right now...maybe I'll ask for a to-go box."

    "Aw, Mila. It's not going to be good later."

    She crosses her arms. "When did you get here? Last night?"

    He hums in affirmation. "I pushed my flight a bit early because I got in a fight with my dad but it's alright. My stuff is getting here next week though so I'll have to infringe on dear Jeremy's kindness."

    You could stay with me, Camila almost wants to say but knows that her dorm room is no place for the both of them. And on another note, it would be embarrassing bringing Laurent there. Camila has the suspicion he would bring too much attention.

    "Also," she starts, "why did you just suddenly show up yesterday? You didn't even text or anything before you came."

    "I did." He points to her phone, which is merely decorative at this point as neither party remembered to charge their phones last night. "As I said before, your friend got a hold of me and said you were drunk so you should be getting home. Also said you were talking to some guy."

    "So?"

    "I didn't know you knew Oliver," he says. "Anyway, I had an invite just as much as you did so it's not like I did anything wrong."

    Camila decides to pick up her spoon and attempt to shovel some of her breakfast into her mouth in order to occupy it. She peeks at Laurent and feels relieved that he doesn't seem cross at the inconvenience her friend and her might have caused him. If they did, he didn't let on any of his grievances. "Thank you," she says, more to her bowl than to him.

    "Anytime, Mila. You want dessert after this? I feel hungry today."

     She almost wants to return the spoonful she just delivered to her mouth back into the bowl at the mention.