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After draggingthe dead animal off my teeth, Emily takessend on that text in the first place, but it’s i in the chair, getting ht shade of teal, I ask her, “Do you think it’s strange my parents haven’t called to wish me happy birthday yet?”

They always call first thing in theterribly out of key while oing toa birthday text either, but was afraid it sounded too pathetic

“Em?” I say when she doesn’t respond The entire ti, she’s been on her phone She has es to pull her shit together after a night of drinking when I feel like a child’s beaten doll dragged through the mud

“Oh, sorry” She takes one last look at the screen before she puts the phone in her pocket “It’s not even noon yet I’m sure they’re still in bed … Maybe your dad took your mom over to pound town, if you knohat Iin the chair Ourin a language I’m not familiar with

I leanto cal stomach “Thanks for that visual I just puked in my mouth”

After over smoothies and Emily is back on her phone I’hting the urge to rip that phone out of her hand I’ sound as she speed-types Seriously, hasn’t she heard of Swype? I don’t knohy she even bothers taking nore me

She says she wants to go out to lunch too, but at this point I’o Plus, my stomach is still a witch’s cauldron about to spew forth some black hell if I’m not careful

How is it that every time I drink heavily and feel like shit the next day, I’ain by the ti to feel like I signed up for college just to not learn lessons

“Look, Eon lady I feel starting to rage up inside of o to lunch some other time”

“Are you sure?” She sounds somewhat relieved, which only pisses me off more

“Yeah, I’m sure”

“Can I drop you off at your parent’s house? Your apartuy—”

“Fine, I don’t care”

There’s always “this guy” with Emily

We head toward my parents’ house It’s ht bedroorew up, they automatically think I’m some trust fund baby A latchkey kid with a bottomless platinum card But that’s not how it is Yes,from them Hell, I don’t even own a car because I can’t afford the insurance and gas bill My dad had to work for everything he has and he expects sI own I’ve had to bust ers to the bone Even if I wanted soive it freely

We go through the open gate, up the long driveway There are clusters of cars parked off to the side Emily parks in front

“Who are all these people?” Eets out of her Saab and follows me as I make my way to the front door

“I don’t know Maybesome kind of brunch for her friends”

That must be why she was too busy to call me on my birthday, I think bitterly

As we approach the front door, I hearfrom around back by the pool My parent’s never use the pool They spent a fortune on the da, but they aren’t exactly outdoors people It’s an Oly that’s make to look like rock There’s a waterfall, natural slide, and a large cave for those ant to lounge around in the water without getting a sunburn, or if they just want a little privacy