Closer To The Truth

“Come on, Roxie, I need some junk food in my life!” Alaska groaned, staring at the package of cookies on the shelf.

I laughed and rolled my eyes. “We already have Lucky Charms, chocolate chip granola bars, and a cake mix, ‘Laska; do you really want cookies?”

She pouted and crossed her arms over her chest, making me laugh more. “You know, you’re really turning into mom.”

“Just for that, no cookies!” I stated before turning our cart into the next aisle.

She laughed behind me and I picked up a bag of rice, knowing we would need it for the meals I had planned out for the week.

“What else is left on the list?” Alaska asked, gazing into the full cart.

“Uh, just a carton of eggs and a milk.”

She nodded her head and we began making our way to the back of the grocery store. I began eyeing a pack of meat that was on sale when I felt our cart crash into something, and when I glanced up, I couldn’t help but to smile.

“Way to crash into your boyfriend, Rox,” John laughed.

I blushed. “Sorry, Gare. I wasn’t paying attention.”

He smiled. “It’s fine. It was a good crash,” he joked before walking towards me, placing a peck on my lips.

Alaska and John began fake gagging, and I found myself laughing. “Y’all are just like children, I swear.”

“Oh, shut up,” Alaska laughed before turning to John.

I wanted to listen in on their conversation, but Garrett began talking. “Do you have any plans for tonight?”

“Uh … not that I can think of. Why?”

“John and I are throwing a party, and I wanted to invite you.”

I smiled. “I’d love to go, and I’m pretty sure Alaska will want to go too.”

“Perfect,” he grinned.

“Hey, Romeo, we’ve got a few other places to run to so we can start getting ready for tonight. Are you done macking?” John asked, earning him a slap from my sister.

Garrett rolled his eyes and chuckled. “I’ll see you at eight, babe?”

I nodded my head, blushing at his choice of words. “Definitely.”

He gave me one last peck before him and John walked off. Alaska squealed and clapped her hands together.

“He called you babe!” she exclaimed.

I couldn’t help but to squeal myself. “I know! It sounds so good coming from his lips.”

She laughed. “We need to hurry and get out of here so we can start getting ready for tonight.”

“What time is it?”

“Uh, almost six-thirty,” she told me, glancing at her phone.

I nodded my head. “Let’s get a move on.”

Once we were done at the store, Alaska drove like a madwoman back to the apartment and we rushed to put all of the groceries away. I walked to my bedroom, as my sister went to hers, and began searching for something to wear. I wanted to look cute for Garrett, but I also wanted to be comfortable and not look as if I were trying too hard to impress him.

I settled on sliding into a pair of jean shorts and a white tank top. I threw on a black sweater over the top and clasped a silver hummingbird necklace around my neck. After putting on my makeup, I went to check on Alaska, who was busy curling her hair.

“Whoa, baby. Should I change?” I asked, looking at her grey and black dress and my outfit.

She laughed and shook her head. “No. You have a boyfriend, therefore you’re set. I, on the other hand, am still trying to get one.”

I laughed and rolled my eyes. “You could be with John,” I sang

She smirked and shrugged her shoulders. “We’ll see.”

“Mhm. Just remember, no sex!” She gave me a look and I wagged my index finger at her. “At least not right away, okay?”

She smiled and rolled her eyes at me. “Not right away. Got it.”

I took a seat on her bed and laid back, drumming my fingers on my stomach. “So … how’s work been?”

She laughed and sprayed her hair. “Good, I guess. Nothing to really complain about. How’s work at the restaurant?”

“Same. I just can’t wait to really start my career, though.”

“Tell me about it,” she sighed.

Once she was done, we both exited her room and grabbed our purses. My phone buzzed in my pocket and I quickly slid it out.

“Garrett said we can head over if we’re ready,” I read out loud.

Alaska clapped her hands together. “I’m ready for a beer!”

I laughed and we made our way out of the apartment and walked a few doors down. She knocked and I quickly ran my fingers through my hair, my nerves already beginning to act up. The door opened and Garrett’s smiling face greeted us.

“That was fast,” he chuckled.

I smiled. “We were both already ready when you texted me.”

He nodded his head and opened the door wider, allowing us to step inside. Alaska immediately went to the kitchen, and as I went to follow her, Garrett stopped me by grabbing a hold of my waist and placed a kiss on my cheek.

“You look beautiful,” he stated.

I felt my cheeks warming; Garrett had a way of making me feel as if I were sixteen all over again. “Thank you. You look handsome yourself,” I said, commenting on his black skinny jeans and red and black flannel shirt.

“I try,” he joked. He grabbed my hand and led me into the kitchen, where bowls of chips and pretzels and other snacks were laid out on the counter.

“It’s nice to see you again, Roxie,” Jared smiled, tipping his beer at me.

“It’s nice to see you again, too,” I grinned.

“Here’s a Bud Light,” my sister said, holding the brown bottle out to me.

“You know me so well,” I laughed, taking it.

“I knew I heard your voice,” John smirked as he walked into the kitchen.

Alaska laughed and rolled her eyes. “Hi to you, too,” she said before taking a sip of her beer.

“Pre party shots?” Kennedy asked, walking into the room with a bottle of tequila in his hand.

“Bring it on,” John chimed, pulling out shot glasses from a cabinet.

Kennedy filled the glasses with liquor and handed each of us one. We lifted our hands in the air, mumbling our own cheers, and we all knocked the tequila back.

“I’ve got the music ready,” Pat yelled from the living room before an upbeat song began filling the air.

Soon after, knocks began coming on the door and it wasn’t long before the apartment was filled with partygoers. Garrett stayed by side, holding onto my hand, as he engaged in a conversation with a boy who I had never met before. Alaska had disappeared from my sight, wandering into the living room. I downed the rest of my beer before tugging slightly on Garrett’s hand.

“What’s up?” he asked, looking at me.

“I’m gonna get another beer. Want anything?”

He shook his head. “I’m fine. Hurry back,” he smiled before giving me a peck on the lips.

I grinned like an idiot as I walked away, going to the fridge. I grabbed another Bud Light and twisted off the cap, throwing it into the trashcan. When I turned around, I ran into John.

“Sorry,” I smiled apologetically.

He chuckled and held his hands up. “No harm done.”

“Have you seen my sister?”

“Uh, she’s out there dancing,” he stated, pointing his index finger towards the living room.

I nodded my head. “Can I ask you a question?”

“Shoot,” he smiled.

“What are you intentions with her? I mean, you’re not just messing with her head are you? Because if you are, I can promise you that you’ll have hell to pay, John. I may not look like a fighter, but believe me, I’ll fight to the death for my sister,” I told him, narrowing my eyes.

He looked confused for a moment, before looking me straight in the eyes. “I – uh – I honestly don’t know. I like her, I really do, but she’s … she’s so difficult. She can outwit me and make me feel like an idiot,” he laughed. “But I can promise you, if she ever gives me a chance, I wouldn’t do anything to hurt her. You have my word on that.”

I smiled and nodded my head, just as Alaska walked into the room. “That’s good to know. Keep what I said in mind,” I stated before walking off. “Give the boy a chance,” I whispered to her before making my way back to Garrett.

“I thought you left me,” he joked.

I laughed. “I wouldn’t do that.”

As the night wore on, I found myself becoming drunk, and I began to lean on Garrett’s shoulder for support. He laughed, amused at my inebriated state. He wrapped his arms around me, and I felt butterflies fluttering around in my stomach. His breath was warm on my cheek, and he smelled of cologne, making me want to be closer to him.

“You smell good,” I mumbled, my eyes closed.

He chuckled. “You smell like vanilla.”

I grinned. “’S my shampoo.”

“Mmm,” he hummed, nuzzling his face near my neck.

“Garrett,” I whispered.

“Yeah, baby?” he answered, his lips tickling my skin.

“Kiss me.”

He stopped and looked me in the eyes, his blue ones much more clearer than my glazed ones. “Kiss you, huh?” I nodded my head eagerly and he smiled before pressing his soft lips to mines. I wasted no time in wrapping my arms around his neck as his wounded around my waist. His tongue traced my bottom lip and I opened my mouth, allowing our tongues to dance together.

Garrett’s kisses were soft, but passionate, and I wanted more. I pressed my body closer to his and moaned into the kiss as I felt our chests meet. His hands tangled in my hair as mines traced circles at the base of his neck.

“My room?” he whispered, breaking away from the kiss.

I nodded my head and he pulled us through the bodies until we were outside his bedroom door. He opened the door and once we were inside, he shut it and I sat down on his bed. It was dark, and I could only slightly see his figure moving.

“Garrett, come here,” I whined, knowing how drunk I sounded but not caring.

His laughed echoed throughout the room and before I could say anything else, his lips were back on mines and I was falling onto the bed. He hovered over me and I gripped at the hem of his shirt, collecting the fabric in my hands. His lips left mines and I breathed for air as he began sucking and kissing my neck. I ran my fingers through his hair and let another moan escape my mouth as he hit my spot.

His hands began lifting my black sweater up and I sat up, letting him bring it over my head. He tossed it onto the floor and brought his lips back to my neck. Our hips collided together and I closed my eyes, my breathing becoming delayed.

“Garrett,” I sighed happily, and before I knew it, his body was off of mine and sitting beside me. I looked at him, giving him a confused look that he probably couldn’t see in the dark.

“We shouldn’t be doing this, Roxie. I mean … you’re drunk, and I don’t want our first time together to be like this,” he explained.

I rolled my eyes and sat up, crossing my arms over my chest. “I’m not that drunk, Garrett. I know what I’m doing.”

He sighed and grabbed my hands. “Let’s just lay here together, okay? We’ll talk in the morning.”

“Yeah, whatever,” I mumbled, laying back on the bed.

He laid beside me and wrapped his arms around me before placing a kiss on my forehead. I closed my eyes, still agitated and frustrated, but the alcohol flowing through my body made me sleepier than ever. I gave a yawn before falling asleep.