The পরবর্তি morning, I couldn't bring my self to get up. It's Friday, I told myself. At least that was something to look অগ্রবর্তী to, I guess. I sat up and yawned. I slid out of bed, and nudged Briar with my foot.

"Wake up," I grumbled. She blinked, groaned, and rolled over. Oh well. She'd get up sooner অথবা later. I went to my closet, picked out my clothes, then went to the bathroom to change. When I came back, Briar was fully awake.

"Can I borrow some clothes?" she asked. I nodded to my closet.

"Go 'head. It might be a little big on you, but I'm sure you'll find something." I went to the রান্নাঘর and, unusually, I made breakfast for myself and Briar. She came out a couple মিনিট later, in a new change of clothes.

We went to school, and since I knew ahead of time my car wasn't working, we weren't late. I went to English class, and took my seat.

"Irina?" I looked up. It was Blake. "So, am I coming over tomorrow?" There's a reason not to look অগ্রবর্তী to the weekend...

"I guess so," I sighed. "You can come over at noon." He nodded and went to his seat. I'm glad the conversation didn't take that long.

I made my way to lunch, অথবা at least to the bench that I sit at while I wait for everyone to go to the cafeteria. I heard laughter.

"That's her?" a voice said. I looked up, not even meaning to. There was a group of people, including Blake. With him was Heidi, Brenda, Gwen, and Mateo. Heidi, Brenda, and Mateo were smling in my direction. Heidi and Brenda giggled, and looked away. Blake looked indifferent. The girl I remembered as Gwen looked at me pitifully. I ducked my head; I wasn't in the mood to be laughed at... অথবা pitied. And if anyone here was to be pitied, it was Gwen. She didn't seem like she wanted to be there. She was too... nice. Ok, well I've never ব্যক্ত a word to her. But a couple months ago, I had taken a fall down the stairs, and she'd helped me pick up my books. And she asked if I was ok. That had to count for something. I know if it was Heidi অথবা Brenda, they would've laughed it off and not even bother.

***

Finally, school was over and the weekend was finally here. I went home, only to find Drew istting on my front porch, waiting for me. I gulped.

"Um, hi," I ব্যক্ত in a quiet voice. He stood up.

"Let's go," he ব্যক্ত gruffly.

"What?" I asked. He grabbed my hand. Most girls would be thrilled for their boyfriends to hold their hands in public, but not me. It only worried me more. It meant I had no choice whether to go অথবা not.

"We're going to Skye's house. The game's on tonight," he said, not even looking at me.

"Ok," I said. Good thing I didn't have to work tonight. We walked a couple blocks, when we came to Skye's house. I've been here before; it never ends well. We let ourselves in. The house was fairly quiet, except for the blaring সঙ্গীত underneath our feet. I bet Skye's parents were gone. Good. Then there'd be alcohol. We went down to the basement, where everyone else was already there. Briar sat in a recliner chair, that was placed off in the corner. She had her knees up to her chest, and her arms were wrapped around her legs. She looked petrified. She loosened up a little bit when she saw me, and smiled. আরো off to the center of the room was Skye, of course, and Drew's other বন্ধু Laken and Blaine. They called Drew over when they saw him. Drew smiled and pushed me away to go যোগদান them. I don't understand why he even brings me along.

I grabbed a বিয়ার off the টেবিল of snacks and beverages, and sat on the arm of Briar's recliner. I offered her some, but she just shook her head. We don't usually talk when we're around the guys. Anything that could make them look at us, অথবা make them remember we're there we tend to avoid.

***

I had way too much to drink tonight.

I realized this when I puked all over the floor. If I had been thinking straight, I would've been terrified, because that definitely got the guys' attention.

"Aw, dude!" Skye complained. Drew apologized, and came over to get me.

"We're going," he said, he went to take my hand, but I pulled away.

"Naw! I dnt wann to!" I slurred. My eyes rolled back in my head, but just for a বিভক্ত করা second. Hopefully I wouldn't have a seizure right now. I took a deep breath.

"I ব্যক্ত we're going," Drew ordered. I protested once again. His face turned slightly red, and he pushed me backwards, and I fell into the snack table. Chips, sodas, and বিয়ার bottles spilled all over me. I gagged. I heard Briar scream my name, but it sounded আরো like an echo. I heard a crack; Skye probably slapped Briar. I opened my mouth to yell at him to leave her alone, but when I did I forgot what I was going to say. Drew reached down and grabbed my hand, and yanked me up so fast my head spun and I almost threw up again. He marched me up the stairs. He didn't stop until we got to the front door. He pushed me in front of him, then spun me around and pushed me up against the door. My head collided with the wall, making me even আরো dizzy.

"Listen here, bitch. Don't আপনি ever talk back to me like that again, got it?" he seethed into my ear. I nodded limply. He let me go, and then pulled me out the door. I stumbled behind him. Ugh, it was such a long way home...

At one point, I fell to my knees and began vomiting uncontrollably. Drew kicked me, and I fell over onto my side. He groaned in disgust.

"Go প্রথমপাতা on your own, slut," he said, then left me there, still throwing up. I finally stopped after ten minutes, and then went home. I had to use trees and mailboxes for support, so it took a lot longer than it would have if I was sober. But I'm not complaining; I'm glad I even went in the right direction of my house.

When I got home, I spent a couple আরো hours in the bathroom, leaning on the toilet. Then, once I felt a little better, I went to my room and fell asleep. Maybe I'd sleep right through tomorrow and wouldn't have to do that stupid interview with Blake.

***

When I woke up, I felt absolutely terrible. I could still taste the vomit in my mouth, and that made me feel even worse. I sat up, and gagged for a moment, then went to the bathroom to brush my teeth. I looked at myself in the mirror. My skin looked slightly sickish, and my eyes were bloodshot. It hurt to look in the mirror; I was extremely sensitive to light now. I squinted my eyes, then went to my room and grabbed my sunglasses. There; that's better. I got dressed, and sat down for a small breakfast when there was a knock on the door.

That must be Blake.

I sighed and went to get the door. He looked kind of... worried, I guess. He furrowed his eyebrows when he saw me. Geez, I didn't look that bad, did I?

"Uh, আপনি ok?" he asked. I stepped aside to let him in.

"Yeah, I'm fine," I ব্যক্ত in a kind of irritated tone. He came in, and stared at me. Doesn't he know it's impolite to stare?

"What's with the sunglasses?" he wondered.

"Does it matter? Can we just get this over?" I asked. He nodded. We went to the kitchen. He sat in a chair while I sat on the counter. I finished up interviewing Blake. I learned that he never really wanted to be a football player, but his dad made him. And he wants to be a carpenter when he graduates. He doesn't plan on going to college, but he probably will because of his parents. I learned a lot আরো things about him as well. I was beginning to think that he wasn't so bad after all. He was actually really funny. I found myself laughing at almost all his jokes.

Then it was my turn.

"Tell me about your family," Blake smiled. I clamped my mouth shut and but my tongue.

"Uh... It's just my Dad and I." He seemed to sense my change of mood and frowned. There was an awkward silence. I turned my gaze to the floor.

"Do আপনি want to tell me about it..?" he asked cautiously. I looked back up at him.

"I'd rather not right now," I ব্যক্ত quietly. He nodded and went on to the পরবর্তি question. I told him about how my dad's engaged, and that I don't care for her at all. He's never really home, so I'm on my own much of the time. I've always wanted to do horseback riding, but my dad thought it was dangerous. I'm scared of heights; and I hate rude people. We went on and on, some of the প্রশ্ন we asked each other weren't even on the তালিকা of প্রশ্ন to answer.

I didn't mind talking to Blake now. In fact, it was a lot of fun. Before, I'd told myself I would only give direct answers; don't add anything he didn't need to know. But I didn't. I told him a lot আরো than I had expected to.

But I still kept some secrets.