"Wow. Like the suit, Carter. You'd think you could at least try to dress up." Mel and Trina stand next to the table, two guys I don't know with them. She's all princessed-out, even wearing a tiara. What did I ever see in this girl?
"Since I didn't come with you, I don't see why you care what I'm wearing."
Kira's hand tightens on my arm. "Plus, he looks gorgeous. You know, he has the kind of hair a girl loves running her hands through." There's all sorts of innuendo in Kira's voice that makes me want to cheer for my girl.
"Whatever. Excuse us while we actually go have fun at the dance. My date actually wants to dance with me."
I open my mouth to say something, not caring that Mel is now walking away from me because she's not the one I want to talk to. "Shit. I'm ruining this, aren't I?"
We've sat through all the slow songs. All the fast songs while everyone around us is free to have fun. "I'm sorry," I turn to her and say, hoping she understands where it comes from. "I want to dance with you. Have fun with you."
Before she replies, a slow song comes on. "Then dance with me, Carter Shaw." She stands up and holds out her hand. I grab it, leading her to a corner of the gym before pulling her close. So close that she couldn't get closer without being a part of me. Inside me. Me inside her. Together.
Her hand plays in my hair. My hands rub up and down her back. And it feels good to be this close to her. So good that I'm pretty sure she feels the evidence of it against her stomach, but she doesn't say anything so I don't care. And I know this is supposed to be our night, but I need to be honest with her, too. Need her to understand why I've spent the whole night sitting at the table. "Travis is drunk," I mumble into her hair. My hands don't stop moving, exploring and neither do hers. I feel her chest rise and fall against mine until our breaths are synchronized, like it's a play on the court that we've practiced a million times.
"I wondered. I smelled it on Patrice too."
"He's been partying a lot." I didn't think much about it until tonight. I let it go. He told me about his parents and I just let it go, without trying to do anything.
"It's not your fault." Her words counter my thoughts, trying to battle my demons into making me believe her, but I don't. It might not be my fault he's started drinking more, but it's my fault for not trying to stop him.
"Okay."
Kira leans far enough away from me that we're face to face. "I'm serious, Carter."
Instead of replying, I kiss her, needing to feel that closeness. Needing to feel like everything is normal. Seeing Travis makes me think about Mom and Grandpa until they're all I can think about.
I part her lips with my tongue, and she lets me, kissing me back just as fiercely. It goes on and on and on. Maybe till the end of time, or at least until I feel like I could explode from it, but I keep going because this isn't such a bad way to blow up.
"Carter!" Someone grabs onto my arm, pulling me away from Kira. It's Patrice. Her eyes are wide with worry. "I need your help. Travis is sick. He's in the bathroom. I think he's throwing."
Automatically, I take off for the bathroom. The door slams against the wall as I storm in. Travis is laying in one of the stalls, puke all over his suit and his head in the toilet.
Suddenly, he's not Travis anymore. I see Mom. Hear Mom. "Sowwy, Carter."
I shake the thoughts from my head, making my way to Travis. "Hey... You okay?" And finally! We have a winner for the stupidest thing Carter has said tonight!
"Peachy," Travis says before he starts up-chucking again. I want to puke, too. I hate the smell. The sound. It's worse than nails on a chalkboard. Worse than anything.
"We gotta get you out of here before someone sees you," I tell him. "I'll be right back." Nausea battles my insides, but I push it aside, before opening the bathroom door. Kira and Patrice are waiting outside.
"Some people tried to come in. I told them it's broken. We need to figure something out." Kira touches my arm. And now I know. I know what she is. She's more than awesome. She's the girl I love, because that little touch, it somehow helps.
"Here." I hand her my keys. "Can you pull my truck around back?" I point down the hall. "Then bring my gym bag in for me?"
She grabs the keys with no question and starts for the door. "Don't let anyone in here." Patrice nods at me and then I'm gone, heading to the stall to check on Travis again. He's throwing up again, splashes of vomit hitting the inside of the toilet. I fight the urge to throw up myself. I don't have time. Right now, I have to make sure no one catches him. I can't let Travis loose basketball or get kicked out of school.
Pulling some tissue off the roll, he wipes his mouth, still kneeling by the toilet. We're quiet for a couple minutes. Kira should be back any second. I am about to go check when Travis speaks.
"Dude. I am so fucked up," he says. It's then I notice the flask on the floor.
Hold it together, Shaw. "Are you done? Kira's getting you clothes. You can change and we'll sneak you out." There's no emotion in my voice even though I feel like it's spilling out of me from everywhere.
He nods his head. At the same time, the bathroom door creaks and I freeze.
"Carter? It's me." I relax at the sound of Kira's voice. Man, she was fast. I run back over to her and grab the bag, my eyes catching hers, trying to tell her thank you. I'm pretty sure the small smile she gives me is telling me it's okay.
Back in the bathroom, I'm stuffing Travis's disgusting clothes into my bag as he's putting on my basketball shorts and a t-shirt. It takes him a couple minutes, stumbling around before he gets them on. The whole time I'm seeing Mom. Remembering my feet getting tangled in hers as I carried her up the stairs.
"Come on." My voice is tight, as tight as my body as I help him to the door.
"Carter, let me help him." Kira reaches for him when we get out the door. "It will look weird if someone sees the two of you together."
My stomach drops to my feet, but I know she's right. My teeth grind together as she puts her arm around Travis's waist, holding him close. His arm goes around her neck, the way mine would, the only difference is I'd let her lean on me instead of the other way around.
Patrice is looking around, nervous. Her eyes scanning the halls. They're as red as his are. I have to bite my tongue not to yell at her. How could she let him get this fucking drunk? But is it really her fault? I should have seen it. Talked to him. I know the signs. What to look for. Besides, she's been drinking, too.
My whole body is stiff as we walk down the hall, away from the dance. Kira is holding Travis. Travis is holding Kira. She shouldn't have to do this. Shouldn't have to carry my drunk friend into the parking lot.
It's as though there's no music. All I hear is my heart and our footsteps. We have to make it out of here. Have to.
A group of girls walk out of the bathroom. Their laughter stops when they see us. Their eyes are on Kira and Travis then me. They know we're together, everyone does, so they have to be wondering why my girl is walking with her arms around my best friend.
Please, don't say anything. Please don't say anything. They keep watching us, my heart hammering like crazy. When we pass them I keep going, just needing to get him outside and out of here.