That's Where You Take Me

The next morning Median woke up with the worst of hangovers and she wasn’t in her apartment. She sat up slowly and noticed that wherever she was she wasn’t the only one that had passed out the night before. Then she remembered and rolled her eyes. Great so she couldn’t even leave. What she needed to do was find Lacey so that they could. She had to go shopping for clothes for that night. She started at seven. She picked her way over bodies and was careful not to kick anyone. She made it to the kitchen with no problem. She started checking the rooms on that floor, and couldn’t find her friend. She went downstairs and didn’t see her down there either. She walked over to the room the TV was in when she realized that it was on. It was Brian, sitting watching something stupid to pass the time.

“Hey have you seen Lacey?”

“She walked to Johnny’s last night with him.”

“Damn”

“Why?”

“She’s my ride and I need to get home…”

“I’d say I could help with that but Zack took the keys.”

“All the keys?”

“Yeah, so unless you live with in walking distance…”

“Shit, Long Beach really isn’t walking distance.”

“No, not really, and Zack probably has the keys in his room.”

“And you can’t go find them why?”

“I’m still not sober, and my house is walking distance from here.” Brian said looking at her for the first time since she had walked in.

“Great, thanks.” and she walked out of the room and back up the stairs. Brian looked after her. He had continued drinking long after the others had because the girl he wanted was surrounded by Lacey, Rowan, and Rowan’s friend Frankee almost all night. He had been entirely pissed off about that and it didn’t help the guys had decided that she was off limits to him as well. He turned the Television off and decided he’d go ahead and walk home. Zack may have his keys but he had a neighbor that held a key for him. One that he trusted and knew wouldn’t fuck him over.

When Zack walked downstairs two hours later after waking up with Gena passed out beside him fully clothed he rolled his eyes. It seemed like that happened a lot lately. She was always complaining when Zack wouldn’t touch her, but it was times like this that made him not want to at all. He glanced around at the bodies lying on his floor and couches and grabbed a bowl that was on top of the fridge. He sat it on the table and figured when they woke up they would find their own keys. He noticed the girl from last night Median sitting on his back porch with a glass of orange juice in hand. He smiled at that. He was actually kind of surprised she was awake, as much as she had drank last night.

“You need a ride back to Long Beach Median?” He asked walking out on the porch. She turned and looked up at him.

“I figured I would wait on Lacey.”

“She’s gonna be occupied just about all day, I know that’s more information than you wanted to hear, but their always like this when he gets home from being gone.”

“She talks about him enough, so it doesn’t surprise me.”

“She talks about him all the time huh?”

“Yeah, it’s sickenly cute, but you can tell she’s in love. Specially when she looks at him.” Median said.

“Yeah, she got lucky, c’mon, I’ll take you back to Long Beach.”

“Thanks.”

“No problem. Gena’s passed out anyway.”

“She drank a lot.”

“So did you, you’re awake.”

“I can hold my own when I drink.”

“Obviously.” And she stood and he took the glass from her after she finished it and put it in the sink. He grabbed his keys off a hook and she followed him to his car.

Ten minutes later that were on the highway headed to Long Beach and she had her head back against the seat trying to get her headache under control. He was wondering now that she had one of them alone if she was going to comment about who they were. She had obviously known them by sight by at least their stage names because he had seen recognition in her eyes. But she hadn’t said anything last night and she wasn’t now. When they got to long beach she told him how to get to her place and he followed her directions barely. He took a few short cuts.

“Damn, are you trying to confuse me? I’ve only lived out here for like two weeks.”

“Sorry, bad habit taking shortcuts when I’m somewhere I know my way around.”

“Thanks, I’ll remember that next time I get stranded somewhere and you’re the only person I can think of to come get me.”

“You’re funny you know that.”

“No, I didn’t.”

“Well we’re here. See ya around Median.”

“Bye, thanks for the ride Zack, tell Lacey I’ll stop by the diner tomorrow before I go to work.”

“Sure thing, but can’t you call her?”

“I don’t have my phone turned on yet, and still in the process of getting my stuff organized and can’t find my cell phone.”

“Ahh, I’ll let her know, she has to come back to my place to get her car.”

“Okay.” And he waited until she was in the double doors of the entrance of the building before pulling out and leaving. Lacey had found a really good person to be friends with, which is why he had a feeling that she had asked to bring her to the party. Now all he had to do was go home and find out how much damage control there was to do about the Val situation.

Median smiled as she unlocked her front door and walked inside. She glanced around and smiled suddenly. She was glad she had moved. Last night she had met some really nice people. She had really liked Leana, Rowan, and Frankee, and the guys had been really nice to her too. Although she did feel for Matt a whole lot because of what he was going through. She glanced toward her stereo and didn’t turn it on like she normally would and sat about finding her cell phone and charger so she could get it charged and then get new number for it. She wanted to keep it but she needed a California number. She was digging through boxes when she found it. It was under a bunch of stuff her mom had sent her that she really didn’t need. She was plugging it in when there was a knock at her door. She hadn’t even changed yet, even though she probably should’ve. She could smell the alcohol on her clothes. She looked through the little peep hole to see who it was and closed her eyes and opened the door leaving the chain lock in place.

“What in the hell are you doing here?”

“Come on sweetie, I’m your mother, don’t make me stand in the hall, I want to see your new place.”

“Mom, please tell me you just got here like two seconds ago…”

“Actually yes I did, I was thankful I saw you’re truck, you’re brother’s direction’s were sketchy at that.”

“Mom, I was getting ready to leave, I need to go buy an outfit for work…” She said lying knowing that her mom would insist on staying for a while to talk.

“Well let me in for just a minute sweetie.” Looking down at her clothes she sighed and closed the door, undoing the chain lock. She sighed before she opened the door. She stood behind it not letting her mom see her outfit until she closed the door. “OH sweetie, are you sleeping in your clothes again?”

“Yeah ma, why are you here?”

“I thought I would come stay with you for a few days.”

“Dammit, should’ve waited for Lacey in Huntington…” Median muttered under her breath.

“And you haven’t been answering your phone so surprise, and who’s Lacey?”

“A friend, mom you can’t stay here, there’s no room for you. There’s barely room for me.”

“Median is that anyway to treat your mother?”

“YES, now please leave mom.”

“You smell horrible.”

“I went to a party last night, spilled some beer.” It wasn’t beer and her mother wouldn’t know the difference anyway.

“You just got home didn’t you…?”

“Mom, seriously I have to go to the store… can you please leave?”

“I want an answer, did you just get here.”

“MOM, I am 22 years old and can take care of myself, I’m not perfect, but I can figure life out on my own. Now I’m not asking, I’m telling you to leave.”