Page 18 of Something Good
Hesitantly, I opened my eyes, taking in my surroundings. There wasn’t a curtain hanging from the room’s lone window, which allowed the sun to shine brightly into the room. Another twin bed was pushed against the wall across from me, crammed into the small space. I was pretty sure it was close enough that if I reached out, I’d be able to touch it. Above the bed, a warped board mounted on L-brackets was filled with books.Harry Potterwas mixed in withPercy Jackson,Maze Runner, Lord of the Rings,andThe Hunger Games,along with quite a few other titles I didn’t recognize.
I’d only been in this room a handful of times as a child, but I recognized it immediately as Sammy and Jimmy’s. Very little had changed. The walls, bare of photographs and posters, were the same bland beige color everyone used in the early 2000s.Jimmy’s bedcovers were still navy blue. The only addition was the bookshelf, though the books had either come from a used bookstore or Jimmy had read them numerous times. They were clearly well-used.
That meant I must be in Sammy’s bed, it was Sammy’s hand on my hip, and his foot shoved between mine. I didn’t know what to do with that information. My bladder was pretty insistent that I should get up, but a deeper part of me wanted to sink more fully into his hold. To know what it felt like to press my back to his front and be held close by him.
A vibration near my hip startled me, and I realized I’d slept with my phone in my pocket. I raised my arm to look at my smartwatch, but it was dead. Since my phone was in the pocket of the side I was lying on, I wasn’t going to be able to get it out without jostling Sammy. It buzzed again. And again. Texts were coming in rapid-fire. Was it my mom? Did she know where I was? I’d told her I was staying at Jason’s, but had she somehow figured out what I’d been up to last night?
I figured putting it off was only going to make it worse, and I had to pee anyway, so as gingerly as I could, I slid out of Sammy’s hold and sat up. My head pounded in protest, but Sammy only rolled over to face the wall, thankfully still asleep.
I stood carefully and pulled my phone out of my pocket, noting the time as I swiped open the lock screen to view my messages. Good god, it was early. Six-thirty a.m.
Jason
Dude where are you?
U ok?
Fucking answer man
I crossed the room quietly, opening the door and turning into the next one to use the bathroom.
I’m fine
I set the phone down on the counter while I pissed. My phone buzzed two more times while I finished and washed my hands.
He was supposed to send proof of life
Where the fuck are you?
Proof of life?
Fucking finally
Sammy said he’d send a pic as proof of life but he never did
I wrinkled my forehead, trying to think back to last night to figure out what events had led to me spending the night here, but so much of it was hazy. It was like watching a movie someone else had shot with a smudged lens.
I snapped a selfie and sent it, unbothered by the fact my hair was a mess and I had dark circles under my eyes. I couldn’t bring myself to care about any of that with the way my head was pounding.
You talked to Sammy?
He told me you were drunk and he was taking you home
I told him I’d do it but he insisted
What’s the deal with you and him?
I let out a breath and swiped my hand down my face. Shit. I couldn’t explain this over text. I didn’t know if I wanted to explain it at all.
I’ll explain later
I’m fine tho. You can stop worrying.
A thought occurred to me.
What are you doing up so early anyway?
Couldn’t sleep
