Page 88 of Dirty Roulette
“I never said he’s just a game.” I argue.
“She’s trash. I told you that’s all she’ll ever be.” Brody grabs her shoulder and pulls her back. I hate how he’s twisting my flaws and spitting them out like I’m the joke.
My heart beats in my fingertips. “Shut the hell up. You are the worst kind of human.”
“Yeah, she definitely needs a drink.” He licks his lips, grabs the cup from Charlie’s hand, and takes a sip. “Girl, just ask, and I’ll get you a Xanax.”
“You’re both annoying!” Charlie snaps with arms folded. “I came here to listen to music, let’s go back downstairs. I don’t want to miss the opening song.”
“Wait wait wait... before we go,” Brody holds out the red cup and it’s inches from my face. “You should try it, Payt.” I push my palm into it and knock the drink to the floor. It splashes to our feet. No ice, nothing but a sticky lukewarm concoction.
Charlie’s mouth gapes open. It splattered all over her shoes. “Jesus, what’s gotten into you?”
Brody leans down and grabs the cup from the floor.
It’s just sugar.
His words whisper into my ears. I take a large mouthful of tequila.
“Charlie, can I talk to you for a second?”
“What does the tequila wanna say?”
“Alone?” I ask again, watching Brody lean down, snatching the empty cup. He crushes it and tosses it into the overflowing trash can behind him. Something inside me tells me he wishes that cup was me.
“Whatever you’re going to say, spit it out already.”
“Here.” Brody grabs another red cup from the counter. The ice swishes back and forth. White residual sinks and disappears... and I think I might be sick.
“I’ll be downstairs.” He taps her on the shoulder and walks through the crowd and blends into the mesh of people.
“What’s your problem?” Charlie asks. I stare at the red cup with Satan’s blood in it. “Are you gonna say anything?” She’s sloppy and wobbles back and forth. I reach for the cup, but she turns away sharply and starts to chug again.
“Forget it!” I throw up peace signs holding onto the cup of tequila.
“Oh my god! I’m not about to deal with your self-pity tonight.” Charlie bats her lashes. She leans against the round table and crossesher arms. “I dunno why I even thought we could still be friends.” She chugs the Smirnoff like its water.
“I think I might be in love with your brother, and I’m terrified to even talk to you. All you do is judge me, and tell me how ugly and stupid I look. That’s not what a friend does.”
“I’mthe terrible friend?” She scoffs in surprise. “I’ve always told you the truth even if you didn’t like to hear it. I was the one combing your damn hair, and making you wear decent clothes. I’m not your mother, but I’ve been one to you since we were little. I doubt you love Sebastian, you walked out on him and told him you want nothing to do with him. I’m so sick of chicks messing with him.”
“I’m not going to apologize for landing on him.”
“Then don’t, but you lied and purposely hid it from me.” Charlie laughs and stares at the ice in her cup. “I trusted you, and you went off and hurt me, and you hurt my brother.” It sinks in. She wants to be as far away as possible. “Don’t sit here and tell me you love him. Your actions speak differently.”
“I thought I was doing him a favor,” I say and stare at the tile floor littered with dried, sticky stains.
“A favor?” She coughs up a laugh.
“I’m not good for him, and I thought you would hate me if I told you the truth!” I argue.
“Wow, after all we’ve been through.” Charlie laughs under her breath and looks away from me. She’s mixed with alcohol and confusion. “What hurts is that you had the nerve to think you needed to lie to me, and I knew the entire time something was up with you two. I asked over and over and gave you opportunity after opportunity to tell me! Guess what?You lied!”
“So, are you saying you wouldn’t have cared?” I furrow my eyebrows.
“I dunno...” Charlie’s free hand digs into her long, curly hair. “I never wanted Brittni to one day be my sister, but you... that was different. But you screwed that up the moment you decided to keep it from me.” She sips her drink and looks down at the staircase leading to the colorful lights and loud music.
“Give me another chance!”
