All characters are at least 18 years old.
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I woke up shortly before noon. It was no surprise that I'd slept for so long, seeing as I had a lot of catching up to do in that regard. I looked over at Brie's bed, which was empty, then at the stains on the floor. They were a stark reminder of what we'd done last night. We'd crossed a line. I buried my face in my hands, reprimanding myself for losing my resolve so soon after deciding to end... whatever this was between us. Now we were in deeper, and it had to stop.
My thoughts were interrupted by a piercing scream, and I flew out of bed still in my boxers. I found Brie in the kitchen, staring warily at a strange man holding a mug at the sink. He looked college age, had good hair and was slightly bigger in stature than me, but he didn't seem to be in a threatening stance. Regardless, I pulled Brie behind me, who was still in a t-shirt and pajama bottoms herself.
"What the fuck are you doing in my house?" I roared.
"Helen brought me back here," he answered. "I didn't know she had... Wait, are you her kids?" At that moment, mom opened her door and stuck her head out.
"What's all this yelling?" she griped.
Before I could get a word out, the guy interjected, "Helen, you've got kids?"
"Is that going to be a problem?" she snapped, suddenly indignant. The stranger thought about it for a moment, then shrugged and took a sip of coffee from his mug.
"Mom." Brie sounded about at her wits' end.
"Oh. Kids, this is Colton." Colton gave us a casual wave before turning his attention back to his coffee. "I'm sorry, but... could you give the two of us the house for the day?"
It took me a moment to realize she was talking to me and Brie. To her credit, she at least had the decency to look embarrassed about it. Still, I couldn't believe my ears. Mom was kicking us out first thing in the morning so she could get laid. And judging by the fact that Colton was shirtless, it wasn't their first round either. I felt sick as I looked back at Colton, who gave me a look that conveyed his awkwardness yet was not the least bit apologetic. Swallowing hard, I pulled Brie back to our room with me to get changed. What she said last night was making a lot of sense, mom could and would do whatever she wanted, and it was none of our business. If she was going to cut loose this weekend, I wasn't about to torture myself by sticking around.
"The fucking nerve..." I hissed once Brie and I were alone again. She still seemed a bit shell shocked herself, taking small steps to her bed before sitting down.
"I was just gonna get a towel to clean up your..." She trailed off, eyes dropping to look at the off-white spots on the floor. I cleared my throat and averted my gaze, looking instead at the contents of my closet.
"Let's just get the hell outta here," I managed. Distraught over what was happening, I got dressed quickly, the thought of peeping at her doing the same not even crossing my mind. Once she was adequately clothed, I snatched up her effects for her, tugging her out of our room before she even had time to apply makeup. By then, Colton was gone from the kitchen, and we could hear laughter from mom's room. I whipped two granola bars out of the box and led Brie outside.
"I don't even have lipstick on," she said glumly, and I handed Brie her purse for her to dig through. She applied a soft pink before sighing and looking out into the street aimlessly. "What are we supposed to do all day? All my friends are busy, and you don't even have any friends."
"The fact that you can still take jabs at me must mean that you're not too traumatized by what's going on," I quipped, and she gave me a wan smile. She pulled out her phone and dialed, waiting while it rang.
"Lex? Are you doing anything today? No, it's just, I had to get out of the house, y'know?" She paused again before glancing at me and blushing. "What? No, what are you even thinking? Just, can you come and pick me up? Great, thanks Lex. You're the best." She hung up, then turned to me. "But seriously, do you have anything to do today?"
"I actually need to head in to the store today, so I guess it all works out," I replied with weak optimism. "You girls going shopping?" Lexi came from a well-to-do family, and her parents were the absent type, leaving her with an abundance of both money and time. She kept few friends, but the close friends she did have, namely Brie, benefited from her generosity. I expected that after Brie told her what had happened with mom, Lexi would take her on a shopping spree to take her mind off it, and pay for everything. Was there such a thing as a sugar... sister?
"Yeah. I'll see you toni--?" Brie stopped short, realizing the possibility that mom wouldn't be done by dinner, or even breakfast tomorrow.
"I'll call you after work," I suggested. "We'll figure things out from there, alright?" She nodded her assent, and we waited on the curb for Lexi to show up. She arrived in a white Mercedes-Benz, a sports model. Back before dad had pulled his funny business, our and Lexi's families had been from similar social standings, so I knew my way around the basics of nice cars. Now I had a bus pass. I had to push my anger down with a goddamn coffee tamper as I saw the two girls off before beginning the walk to work.
Saturday was a busier day, as teenagers came in to browse games and middle-aged men asked for specifications on flatscreens. I was glad to hear Brie's voice over the phone when I walked out of the store.
"Hey, I'm done," I informed her. "Have you thought about what we're gonna do tonight?"
"Um..." Her awkward hesitation made me realize how what I said could be construed, and I almost hung up and rolled into a corner in shame. "Yeah, Lex says we can stay with her tonight. She's buying dinner too."
"Yes! I could kiss her."
"Please don't."
"Anyway, where are we eating? I'll just meet you at the restaurant."
"We're coming to pick you up. Lex is refusing to bring us to a chain restaurant, and says she knows a place."
Shortly after, Lexi pulled up next to me. Brie was sitting in the back for ease of me getting in the two-door car, and I slid into the passenger seat.
"Hey, Stef," Lexi said. She still had that flirty lilt in her voice, and she seemed to do a once over as I climbed in. "Rough day, huh?"
I laughed. "Guess Brie told you already." She giggled and pulled off, the car rolling smoothly down the road. "Hey, thanks for your hospitality, Lexi."
