Fatal Flaws

"Sorry about last night. I was drunk and out of it. I didn't mean to come straight home and crash on you," Skylar apologizes. She continues talking, stripping her old t-shirt off and replacing it with a black sweatshirt. This is the first time we've spoken since the party last night. There wasn't much conversation on the ride home. Everyone was snuggled up with their partners. Well, besides me, the oddball out. The third wheel with both sets of my friends.

"It's cool. Don't worry about it. It was an exhausting day for everyone. I danced a lot and walked around. Besides, I was pretty tipsy myself. Those pink drinks were a tad bit strong," I say, reassuring her. My mind goes back to last night in the bathroom with Hayden. I don't know what it is about him, but he's right. I can't get enough of him. Despite knowing we need to stop. This whole situation is toxic to not only me but everyone involved. Not wanting to get caught reminiscing, I retrieve a giant stack of binders. Studying will help get my mind on something other than Hayden. At least I hope. I need to catch up on my notes. My grades are excellent but lately, I haven't been too enthused about schoolwork. That needs to change. My education needs to be my priority. Not my secret sex life.

"Rhonda or Roxie, whatever her name is, told me Hayden got into a fight with some jock last night. Then he just fled. Did you see what happened?" She asks, coming over, and climbing in bed with me. She sits Indian style with her legs crossed, her body leaned against the footboard.

"Yeah, I saw it. I'm kind of the one who pried him off the other guy," I mumble. My cheeks burn, turning bright red. I hope she doesn't read too much into this incident. I avoid making eye contact with her, looking down, and pretending to read my notes.

"Wow, that's surprising. He rarely listens to anyone. Especially when he's in one of his blind rages. But I'm glad you were there to stop it. He has so much trouble controlling his anger sometimes. I feel stupid for believing him. I thought he was doing better," she sobs. A single tear rolls down her cheek landing between us on my stack of folders. I can't help feeling guilty. I keep lying to her about everything. Yes, I was the one that stopped the fight, but I was also the whole reason it got started. My stomach churns. I'm feeling even worse now. Especially considering she thinks he's messing up again. I can't help but feel responsible for his drinking last night. If I hadn't been hanging on that dude the way I was, they would've never got into it. I should tell her the truth. She's going to find out anyway, eventually.

People always do. I learned that lesson the hard way with Johnny. We tried to hide our relationship from the start. It didn't work. Once one person found out, it was like a line of dominos crashing down, one after another. I remember my mom used to tell me a little, saying, "Whatever you do in the dark always has a way of coming into the light". It was stupid to me at first. I didn't understand it or what she meant by it. But the more I screwed up in life and tried to hide it, the more I realized what she'd meant by it.

"Umm actually....." I'm cut off by someone knocking firmly on the door.

"Come in," Skylar yells to whoever is on the other side of the door. It's probably someone for her. I don't have friends here, so I know it's not for me. Ignoring whoever it is I pick up my notebook, flipping through the pages.

"Well, hey there, stranger. It's been a minute, ain't it gorgeous?" a deep familiar male voice makes me stop dead in my tracks. I hesitate before looking up. There's no way he could be here. Could he?

"Zane, oh my God! What are you doing here" The words sound strange coming out of my mouth, looking up to match the voice with a face. It is him. My notes scatter to the floor as I jump up running towards him. I throw my hands around his neck, knocking him backward slightly off balance. I inhale a deep breath. He smells so good, so familiar, like home.