Things over the last two months have been awkward and quiet between Nancy and I. After what happened on our birthday night, she stormed out to go back home and didn't leave her room all weekend. When our parents asked me what was going on I shrugged and didn't give anything up, and luckily neither did she. When we drove to school she refused to talk or even look at me, drawing her knees up to her chest and looked straight ahead the whole ride. I felt guilty but I still wanted her, or at the very least wanted things to go back to normal. I knew the chance or either was nil.
After a month or so we finally said more than just a few words to each other when she told me she had her period and we didn't need to worry about... you know...
That's when I finally had to let it all out. "Nancy, what happened, happened and nothing can change that!"
"I know but it shouldn't have happened at all, Robbie!"
"Are you going to ignore me for the rest of our lives? Act like I never existed?" I felt a stab in my chest.
"Maybe it's best if we're not alone together anymore, but I can pretend to be normal... at least until we go off to college. It'll be a lot bigger than high school and we'll hardly ever see each other on campus."
"Fine! We'll pretend until you can find a way to escape from my life!" My pain turned to anger.
"Robbie..." tears welled in her eyes and she put her hand on my shoulder. I shrugged it off and stormed out of the house.
Things were civil from there on out when we were in the company of anyone else. She caught rides with Becky to and from school and stayed away or in her room until our parents got home. At dinner one night we were all gathered around the table when my father spoke up.
"Aunt Carrie, Uncle Craig, and your cousins are going to be here during your graduation. Your Aunt and Uncle are taking the guest room, but your cousins are sharing Robbie's room and sleeping in the basement."
"Okay, dad," I sighed.
"It'll just be for a couple days," my mom smiled
My cousins were ok, but they were quite a few years younger than us and could be a handful. I got along with Uncle Craig and Aunt Carrie well enough, so I guess I could suck it up for a couple of days.
I was excited for graduation, but at the same time I saw it as the beginning of the end of Nancy and my sibling relationship. I was going on a road trip with my best friend Jason and a couple other buddies, and Nancy was going to Mexico and a few other places with her friends before we went away to college. I was predicting that graduation night would be the last full day we would ever spend together for a long time.
The day came when our extended family arrived along some family friends. My cousin Dave took up residence in my room and Darrell and Tony set up cots in the basement. My parents brought home a graduation cake and tons of food. The parents began drinking; my cousins fought over the game console and played in the pool, while my sister and I hung out with the grownups. It wasn't long before my Uncle Craig grabbed a piece of real estate next to me and leaned in close.
"Where's your drink, kiddo?" He asked while he winked and showed me a bottle of Jim Beam he snuck over.
I smiled and slid my drink over to him and he added some flavor to it. I looked over and saw my sister watching us with a smirk.
"Did you give Nans some too?" I whispered.
"It's only fair," he replied
I smiled as he went to put the bottle back. We ate, drank, and drank some more. Most of the adults were plastered by 10'o clock or so and began to filter out. I was pretty tipsy and I could tell Nancy was as well, but the adults had no idea, being three sheets to the wind themselves. My dad had to carry my mom to bed and Uncle Craig began puking in the bushes, which signaled the end of the party. My Aunt Carrie put the food away, and Nancy and I took the garbage out. After we were done Nancy went to the den to watch TV and I decided to go to bed. I stopped by the den debating on going in and talking to her, but thought better of it. When I got to my room I noticed Dave sleeping in my bed. I didn't mind much but when I went to wake him I realized there was crumbs and soda spilled all over my bed, at least I hoped it was soda.
I wasn't going to sleep on a cot, so I took out an extra blanket and decided to go to the den after all. My parents didn't like people sleeping on their nice furniture, but I'm sure they wouldn't mind this time.
"Hey," I said as I plopped down on the couch.
"Hey."
After about five minutes of silent TV watching Nancy broke the silence.
"Why aren't you sleeping in your room?"
"Dave is in it and he either spilled or pissed in it," I replied.
"Really?" Nancy tried unsuccessfully to hold back a laugh.
"Yeah," I chuckled back.
Silence again.
"Are you sure Mom and Dad will be ok with you on their expensive furniture?" She asked.
"I'll find out in the morning."
"Well... do you want my room? I'm not tired in the least," she stated.
"Are you sure?" I asked in surprise.
"Yeah, but leave the blanket."
Now that she mentioned it I wasn't tired anymore either.
"I'm going to get a drink. Want one?" I asked.
"Um, what kind?" She asked with a smirk.
"The kind with liquor." I grinned.
"Ok but let's take it outside. It's nice and cool out there."
