Chad
I had awoken at around two to find I had fallen asleep, as had Sonny. She hadn't looked too comfortable on the floor, so I had moved her too the couch, covering her with a fleece blanket, and slept in my own bed. Now it was morning (as in sunrise, not that the clouds allowed for much sun) and I decided to go about my morningly routine, forgetting about the friend sleeping soundlessly on my sofa.
"Chad?" she yawned groggily, sitting up and stretching her arms.
"Oh. Morning, Sonny." I poured myself a glass of orange juice. "O.J?"
"Got any milk?"
I rolled my eyes. Well, of course. She had probably woken up to fresh milk from her pet cow Bessie every day back in Wisconsin. "It's skim."
"I'll just have water." I turned around to get a glass from the cupboard. "Oh, don't bother, I'll get it myself." She combed her fingers through her hair as she walked to join me in the kitchen, helping herself to a glass of tap.
"There's filtered in the fridge."
"Tap water tastes just fine," She sat down at the bar and sipped her water, occasionally rubbing her eyes or combing through her limp curls. "Wow, I was here all night! When did I fall asleep?"
"I dunno. I think I did first. The DVD player was on when I woke up this morning." I caught myself staring at her hair. Even though it wasn't brushed, it looked nice. Kind of like my hair, in a way; no matter what you do to it, it fails to look bad.
She almost choked on her water just then. "Oh my gosh! Christmas is like…nine days away! I still need a gift for Tawni!"
"Oh," I replied, uninterested. She glared at me. Did she really think that scared me? "Naw, I still don't get the gift thing." She rolled her eyes.
"You're impossible." Now she was picking up her sweater and scarf, slipping on her Converse. "It's been fun, Chad. I enjoyed last night." She blushed as she realized how that could have been taken. "The movie, I mean. It was really good. Well, I'll see you later!"
"Bye, Sonny!" I called as she slunk out the door. I wasn't worried; she'd be back.
I mean, not like I had worried the other times she had left. I just was equally not worried now.
It seemed like three minutes after Sonny had left when Vivi knocked frantically and yelled through the door. "CHAIN! OPEN UP! CHAIN!"
Stupid nickname. "Alright! Chill!" No sooner had I opened the door than her arms were around me. Then she let go and practically flew to the other side of the room, jumping up and down excitedly. "Okay, spill! What are you so thrilled about this morning?"
"Sally figured out a way for Jack, Bonnie Bones, Bonnie Bloodlust, Gabe and I to follow Silverstein on tour! Like, in different countries and everything!" She squealed.
"And…why are you telling me this?"
She leaned forward and placed her hands on my shoulders. "'Cause I want you to come, too, silly!"
I considered this. Following a band I didn't even know, on tour, across the country and more, with some girl and her friends I had met less than a week ago? "How long would…you know…it take?"
"The tour is like a year and a half…but we might turn around after like 8 months. You never know, right?" She stood up straight now, fiddling with a strand of her hair. "Wha'd'ya think? Coming?"
"A year and a half?" I tried not to shout. "Vivi, wow…um, I don't think I can do that. For one thing, I kinda have a show to do." She looked like she was about to kick herself. "And…you know, I like you and everything, but…I mean, why don't you just get Crystal to come?"
"I…guess I could do that…but I kinda wanted to go with you." She shifted her weight to her heels and bit her lip, twirling a strand of pink hair in her fingers.
Oh, gosh. "Oh, Vivi, I'm so sorry. I'm not interested. In going. I mean, I'm interested but…I'm not too familiar with the band and everything…" I used my eyes to portray the rest of what I was trying to convey.
It was hard watching her smile fade. "Oh. Well…Merry Christmas, I guess. Call me whenev." And with that, she left. And I felt something new. Guilt, maybe? Heard about it…read about it…never actually felt it. Until now.
More guy friends. That was a goal.