Yes. She left a towel for me.I didn’t want to have to ask her for a towel since I wasn’t sure if she was still sleeping.
Once inside, I positioned myself directly under the shower head for a few minutes. I’d hoped the steamy water would help with my headache, but it didn’t. The only thing that helped relieve the stinging in my frontal lobe was when I put in my cold contact lenses. They had been sitting overnight in the pocket of my bag not far from the vent on the floor, being blasted with cool air.
“Hey. Want a coffee?” Rhonda pointed to the pot on her counter as I entered the kitchen.
“I’m good. Thank you though. What happened last night?” I asked, embarrassed.
“Oh nothing. You were being cute. Kate and I shouldn’t have forced you to drink. You’re still only a teenager.” She laughed.
“Are you sure I was okay? Did I embarrass myself? Or anyone else?” I wanted to know. I needed to know. I didn’t want to be out in public and run into someone who was at the party and not know I had done something wrong. Or worse, I didn’t want to one day stumble upon embarrassing photos of me.
“Étienne, chill. You were fine. You even helped Kate and me clean everything before passing out.” She shook her head, rolling her eyes.
Yeah, that sounds like me.
“Why don’t we go out for breakfast.” She stood up from the stool beside the kitchen peninsula.
“I don’t think I can eat anything. I’ve got this pinching in the pit of my stomach. It wasn’t there when I woke up.” I massaged my abdomen.
“All right then. I’ll get ready and take you home. But remember for next time, you need to drink a bunch of water before going to bed. It really helps the next morning.”
Will there be a next time?
“Thank you.” I smiled.
I probably should have taken Rhonda’s offer for breakfast. When she dropped me off at home everyone was there in the kitchen, including Laura and my grandma. They were all waiting as I entered the house. My mom asked how my night was. I didn’t give her much detail but explained that everyone loved the hummus and pita sandwiches I made. Laura asked if I had any alcohol to drink, winking as she plunged her hand into her purse. Probably looking for a cigarette. I told them I did but had very little, a truth my grandma was not pleased with.
“You mean to tell me you let him stay the night at an older woman’s house? And he hadalcohol?” She sneered at my mom.
She side-eyed my grandma. “Mom. We’ve talked about this.”
Talked about what?I examined the two of them. What had they been talking about? Me?
It was me who went, though. And I knew my grandma wouldn’t be mad at me. In her mind when a minor did something bad or stupid, it was the parents’ fault for not anticipating and stepping in before the trouble arose. It was amusing when she would heckle my mom, though. Maybe that’s what they talked about—my grandma reprimanding her in front of her children.
My family could have grilled me for hours, asking what I did that night and what exactly I had to drink. But again, I hated the attention.
Laura walked to the side door with her cigarette. My mom’s and grandma’s eyes were still locked in a psychic battle, so I quietly shuffled backward onto the sitting room carpet and then turned toward my bedroom.
“Who touched my room?” I yelled, holding on to the doorframe as I swung around and addressed everyone still in the kitchen. My bed had been unmade.
“It was Niall,” Callum admitted.
Apparently, my mom thought it would be fine if Niall used my room since I wasn’t home. The twins shared a room, whereas Riley and I had our own rooms. I threw down my stuff and began pacing. Not only was my bed messed up, now I had to change all of the bedding. Who knows what kind of dirt a ten-year-old boy brings in from outside?
“Étienne, calm down. He’s your brother,” my mom said, entering my room after I slammed the door.
“Ma. What are you doing? I’m taking my clothes off. I need to take a shower.” I’d already taken one at Rhonda’s, but I wanted to take another. I never feel as clean as I’d like until I’m in my own home.
“Hold on a second, Étienne. I haven’t had the chance to talk to you.” She closed the bedroom door.
Umm. What now?
What would she want to talk about? I didn’t think I’d done anything wrong. She was fine with me staying at Rhonda’s. I didn’t get into any trouble. Frankie was sitting in his bed when I walked in, so he was fine. Did I miss something?
“When I left for work on Friday morning I saw another pair of shoes at the back door.” She stared right through me. “Your feet aren’t that size.”
Panic consumed my thoughts as I tried my hardest to keep a straight face.You have to be kidding me. This is not happening right now.How would I explain this to her? I was not ready for this. I’d never had anyone stay over for the night before, except Dana. And in that case my mom made me sleep in the basement bedroom so Dana could have my bed.