Page 109 of Scrimmage

He scratches his head. “I actually don’t think I’m qualified to answer that question.”

“Barbie has movies?” I ask him.

“Get out. Get. Out!” Ashland points to the door.

Penny crosses her arms. “Fucking shameful. Anyways, welcome.”

There’s a small table with two chairs, a bar stool at the kitchen counter, and that’s it. Snacks and junk food cover every single surface. The first time I was here I wasn’t really trying to get a good look around. I was focused on Ashland and trying get a read on Cole. The last time, I was putting the laundry on the counter and trying get away before I did something stupid.

Alexi haphazardly looks around, taking a seat at the table. “Got enough food?”

“What the fuck is Cuntsgiving if there isn’t food?” Ashland rolls her eyes.

Penny takes the seat across from him. I don’t know where to go, so I sit at the kitchen counter. Ashland heads down the hallway, and a door slams behind her. Alexi and I glance at each other, a million questions passing between us.

“I’m so sorry. I forgot you were coming over. We’ve been drinking,” Penny sing-songs. “Well, we were drinking last night, and then we kept drinking.”

Alexi bursts out laughing. “What happened to Cuntsgiving?”

Penny is in a fit of laughter. “Oh, it’s in full swing. I didn’t realize you were bringing Koda with you.” Something about the comment is pointed. Ashland didn’t tell her I was invited.

“Oh, shit. Was I not supposed to?” Alexi asks with worry. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s fine. She would have kicked you both out if it bothered her. She’s just really overwhelmed right now.” I narrow my eyes and watch Penny fidget as she speaks. The doorbell rings. “Shit, that’s pizza.”

She starts to stand up, but Alexi pushes her back down. “I’ve got it.”

I clear my throat and cross my arms, leaning back against the counter. “I was invited.”

“What? Yeah, I know Lex invited you. It’s fine.” She gives me a worried smile.

“Nah. Ashland invited me herself.”

Penny tilts her head, analyzing me. “She did?”

“Yeah.” I tap the counter. “Just didn’t tell me what the fuck this was.”

Penny lowers her voice and turns serious. “Ashland didn’t even invite Cole.”

That’s fucking interesting. I don’t know what to think about it. “Good. He gets on my fucking nerves. So what is Cuntsgiving anyways?”

“Uh, well.” She looks nervous. “It’s complicated. There’s a cake.” She winces as if it causes her pain to say that. “I really didn’t think Alexi would come.”

“Why not?” He grins, rounding the corner.

“I figured you had a football thing or something.”

“It’s a bye week.” He tries to figure out where he could possibly put the pizza.

“Yeah. Yeah, I’m glad. Thank you, guys. Seriously. Um, but, maybe don’t make any comments on the cake or sing,” she lowers her voice to a whisper, “happy birthday.”

This is Ashland’s fucking birthday. What the fuck? It’s pretty on brand for her to call the damn thing Cuntsgiving. Ashland is exactly the kind of person who would be pissed if anyone said happy birthday, but I feel so unprepared. I should have brought a gift or something, but then I think she might hate that, too. There's a crash from the room Ashland disappeared into.

“Now is your time to leave. You’re about to get schooled in Nutcracker Barbie and Swan Lake. If you watch one, you gotta watch both. This is about to get messy as fuck.” Penny giggles with her hand over her mouth and eyes wide with amusement.

Leave? I’m not fucking leaving. Ashland emerges in a storm with a VHS clutched in her hand. She doesn’t address us, just heads over the TV and sits on the floor to start fucking with something. I realize she’s messing with a VHS player.

“They still make those?” Alexi asks incredulously.

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