Page 26 of GAF Factor

I tapped him on the shoulder because I couldn’t reach his chest. “How are things with you,” I whispered.

He slowly turned, his eyes almost glowing in the darkness. “Remove your hand from my arm.”

I did as he asked, scoffing at his brisk tone. “Scoffing. Now, there’s another one.”

“What?”

“Scoffing.” I scoffed again for effect. “It’s a good one, you know? Really relays your emotions.”

“I can relay my emotions without making a single sound.” He turned to face me. “What am I feeling right now?”

I stared at the hard lines of his face and really concentrated. “Dude, I’m getting nothing from you.”

Sighing, he faced forward.

“See!” I pointed at him. “Right there. You’re exasperated!”

“Wow. I never thought you would be so good at this.”

I glanced over at his bored expression. “You know what we need?”

He sighed again. “No, but I’m sure you’re going to tell me.”

“A guy’s trip.”

He laughed at that. “Sure.”

“No, I’m serious. It would be good for us.”

“You know what else would be good for us?”

I frowned, thinking it over. “Nope.”

“Getting you sober.”

“That doesn’t sound fun at all.”

“Well, maybe you’ll feel differently in the morning when you’re puking up your guts.”

I giggled at his words. “Puking up my guts. Did you ever wonder where that phrase came from?”

“Not at all.”

“Like…did someone’s guts actually come up? Were intestines all over the place? And did that person choke on them? I would pay money to see that.”

He sighed again.

“What’s wrong, Big Red? What’s got you down?” I reached over and gripped his shoulder, squeezing it tight. My good friend was looking a little tense. And then he slowly turned and looked at me.

“Just wondering how much longer before I can shoot you.”

I stumbled into the kitchen,barely making it onto the stool before my head thunked onto the table. “It’s too bright.”

“Zoe, open the blinds.”

I cried out as sunlight burst into the room, blinding me and making me want to puke. “Why? Why would you do that?”

Red’s deep laughter only further irritated my headache. “Because I wanted to see if I could make you puke up your guts. Or was it your intestines?”

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