Obsession

10

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"Rhian!"

I gulped.

"I know what you're about to say, and there's a completely logical explanation," I began. He didn't look impressed, and that made me even more nervous. "You see I-".

"I don't want to hear it," he said cutting me off.

"But we do," Tyrone said from behind me, a hint of mischief in his voice.

"You guys are just everywhere, huh?"

"Yeah, and you're nowhere to be found when we you're needed," Jason cut in, appearing out of thin air as usual.

"Listen I can explain, but not here."

The grounds keeper, who had allowed the boys to interrupt our conversation and having heard what I had just said, rolled his eyes, an act that looked unnatural on his face as the only expression we were used to seeing on him was one of either tiredness or annoyance.

"Looks like he's in a bad mood," Tyrone whispered to me underneath his breath.

"I'm always in a bad mood, except for Sundays."

"Why, if you don't mind me asking?"

"I do mind, but if you must know, I play golf on Sundays, and I'm quite good at it," he said, his face beginning to light up as he continued. Unfortunately for him, we did not have the time, or rather we were not willing to spend time, listening to him talk about golf. With a flimsy excuse as per usual, we maneuvered our way out. I thought I was finally safe from the probing and questioning, but the guys apparently hadn't forgotten about what I did to them.

The second we were out of earshot, the questions began pouring in, and honestly, my memory of the events that led up to Monique finding me on the street were so blurred I did not know what to tell them. What I knew would only raise questions I did not have answers to myself, so I resorted the very foundation I had built this friendship on over the years: lies.

"Here's the whole story," I began, "feel free to ask any questions when I'm done. The thing is, I was out partying on Friday night. I met this chick and one thing led to another and I woke up on Saturday morning in her bed with a hangover. When I realized what time it was, it was too late to come help you guys. " I looked into their faces, hoping they had believed me. I had no such luck.

"You lost me at party," Tyrone confessed.

"Me too. You wouldn't be caught dead at a party for any reason, and even if you were, didn't you tell us you didn't drink for spiritual reasons? How'd you get hung over?"

I did tell them I didn't drink, and it was true, just not for the reasons I had given them. I knew what it was like to be addicted to alcohol, to have no control over yourself when you're intoxicated, and I wanted no part in that. In fact, I feared it. I did not want my pleasure to be the source of anyone's suffering, ever.

"Lastly, there's about as much chance of you getting laid as there is for the next person who passes by us to win the lottery," Jason finished.

"Hey guys, I won the lottery."

"Well there's that. In your face, Jason. In your face," I sneered.

"Wait, did you really win the lottery?" Tyrone asked Taylor. I thought about their names for a second, and realized if I wrote them together, it would be TyTay. The thought had me laughing hysterically, and my friends, as was to be expected, looked confused for a second. Then they looked worried. When I finally regained control of myself, I contemplated telling them my brilliant deduction, but decided against it. Instead, I asked Taylor whether she had actually won the the lottery.