Page 60 of Hello Kitten

“I’m seeing someone I met on Tinder,” I answer with a shrug. “Sorry, but it just isn’t ...” The words slip my mind, and I laugh. “I forgot what I was saying. Have fun!”

I take my drink and rejoin Beth. We dance and she bounces with me as we yell the lyrics to a song we like. I sigh. “I wish they had a pool. I’d love to swim right now. Are you hot? I’msohot!”

She stops dancing and stares at me. “How many drinks have you had?”

“I don’t know! Isn’t that fun? I’m going to be hung over tomorrow and I don’t even care!” I yell, then almost drink from my cup, but she grabs my hand. I stare at her. “What?”

“Test it first, dummy,” she says, a worried glint filling her gaze.

“You worry too much,” I huff as I slip two fingers into the glass. I take a sip anyway, feeling invincible and powerful. Just as I swallow, my nails change color. I drop the cup.

Beth stares at me. “Shit.”

“It’s fine. It was just a mouthful,” I dismiss, determined to keep having fun while it’s easy, while it’s right. I don’t even remember why I don’t want to think, but I don’t. I just want to enjoy it. “Come on, it’s fine! Don’t you have to drink the whole thing?” I ask.

“How many drinks have you had,” she demands, almost yelling over the music.

“I don’t need a mom right now, I need a friend! I just want to have fun, forget!” I insist.

“Forget what?”

“Everything but right now! Come on! This is our song,” I boost.

“How about you sit down instead, babe. Just a little sit, some water, and then we’ll keep dancing and go get food and spend all night watching movies and pampering ourselves? Doesn’t that sound good?”

I don’t like how she’s looking at me. Like I’m fragile and wrong. I’m not! I haven’t felt this good in a while and I want to keep feeling it.

“So, let’s sit down and I’ll find Danielle, okay?” Beth says as she slowly nods.

I shake my head and slip away from her, stumbling on my feet as I head outside. I’m just drunk, that’s all. It’s fine. I’ve poured almost all my own drinks, haven’t I? Beth follows me as I sit in a lawn chair outside. She calls Danielle and then the world starts fading in and out, like there’s black pulsing around my vision. I swallow. “I’m dizzy.”

“Okay, we’re going to take you home ... hey ... Em? Em!”

“Shit, I’ll call—”

Nothing goes black, like what people say. I’m in and out, catching snippets of conversation. I realize I’m in a car and groan, reaching for the door. Then I’m vomiting and someone is holding my hair.

“The necklace is new,” Danielle says.

“I believe it’s from hertinderguy,” Beth says with a tone.

Then cold against my face. I moan as I try to pull myself somewhere warm. I’m so cold. I slur out the word, then I’m drenched in steaming water. I gasp and squirm. Beth watches me with obvious worry. “Should we call the police?”

“No, she’ll be fine. We’ll just report it to the Dean,” Danielle agrees.

“Sleep?” I ask.

“Not yet, babe. Not yet. Why the hell does your phone keep ringing!” Beth demands.

“Ignore ... Oooh, sick,” I groan.

I roll over and keep puking until I’m dry heaving. And somewhere between it all, I fall asleep until the morning sun burns my eyes.

My head’s pounding, my throat hurts, my stomach feels raw. Every muscle in my body feels wrong. I find Advil and Gatorade by my bed and turn to thank Beth, only to find Danielle in her bed. I roll and Beth grabs me. “Don’t stand.”

“I’m sorry,” I whisper.

“Someonedruggedyou, Emily,” she says, forcing her eyes open. “I know drunk you. You puke twice, then drink water, eat, and you’re back to fun. This was because of them.”

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