Smash!

•T W E N T Y E I G H T•

Riley's POV

Waking up with a jolt, I suck in a desperate gasp of air like I'm dying. I'm spread eagle on my back, my body covered in a cold boozy sweat. Something barks loudly in my ear, each bark feeling like a hammer ramming against my skull.

"Shoo." I wave the puppy away, only to be bitten. It'd hurt if his teeth weren't the equivalent of baby teeth.

"You have too much damn spunk for such a little body." I groan, petting his furry head till his jaw unclamps from my hand. My stomach painfully knots up, bile burns as it threatens to come up, my mouth waters as my jaw cramps up. Slowed down with a pounding headache, I sluggishly make a break for the bathroom, bumping into the door in my haste. Landing in a messy heap in front of the toilet, I barely have my neck bent as I puke up all the bottles of booze I forced down last night. Perhaps there's some left over liquor from Nate's party in there too. Though, I can't really think straight with my head in a toilet.

After emptying my stomach, I wobbly get on my feet, and brush my teeth twice for good measure. I shield my eyes from the too bright light, peering through my fingers to find Jamie cooking the in the kitchen. With her back to me, she expertly works the chopping board with the sleeves of her beige sweater rolled up her freckled elbows. The puppy sits by her feet, eating out of a bowl labeled Killer.

"It's good to have something to drink after throwing up." She says over her shoulder, catching me watching her. Following her instruction, I slowly fill up a big glass of water, not able to help brushing against her in the cramped kitchen.

"You're speaking to me?" I cautiously ask, looking at her over the rim of my glass.

"I'm not seven, so yes. There's a difference between having nothing to say, and blatantly ignoring." She answers. "And it's Thanksgiving." Her voice softens.

"Oh, um, happy thanksgiving..." I mumble, taking a big gulp of water.

"And I don't hate you." She adds, finally facing me. Her voice isn't full of malice nor spite, her green eyes aren't shooting a dirty look, and instead of a harsh look, her freckled face is calm. My headache lessons a bit, my heart soars, every good emotion I've ever felt doubles.

She doesn't hate me.

Relief swells, then vanishes. Last night was pointless if she doesn't. Hate me, Jamie. She should. She needs to. You don't pine or cry or try for people you hate. Instead, the hatred powers you to get away from it as fast you can. You don't miss things you hate. Every thing makes sense when you hate people.

"I have feelings for you, Riley." An ugly feeling in me instantly fills me up.

"Jamie-"

"You're in love with someone else." She continues with a nod. "That's it. You're in love with some very lucky girl. I have to respect that, because you're not obligated to love anyone back if they have feelings for you. Just like if another guy said he loved me, I don't have to love him back. So, I ask that you respect my feelings. They're established, they're real, and I'm going to deal with them, because that's just life." Her speech is strong with clarity, and comfort.

"I can still live here?" I inquire. If she hated me she'd kick me out last night.

"It's your home too, Riley. You pay rent. You live here." There's still is not a trace of loathing radiating off her. "But I'm taking my room back. Boundaries would be best from now on. The living room can be your room. I just ask that you keep it clean, and you fix the hole you made in the wall." It wasn't a demand, but it was firm and steady.

"Hole?" What hole? Fuck, I broke the damn wall? Now I have to fix the wall, and the lock.

"More importantly, no more one night stands. I don't bring in random guys, same goes for you. Please respect my eyes and ears." She adds in a joke, and offers a grin.