Change My Ways

I wake up the next morning in an unknown place. I jolt upright on the bed, and look around me. I don’t recognize the room. I look across the room, there’s a mirror on the closet door. I get out of bed, and walk over to it. The girl staring back at me looks terrible. She feels terrible, too. My head is pounding. My stomach suddenly does a flip, and I look around, trying to find something, before I throw up all over the floor. I spot a trash can next to the nightstand by the bed, and rush over to it. I land on my knees in front of it, spilling my guts into it. When I’m done, I get up, and sit back down on the bed, holding my stomach. A note on the nightstand catches my eye. I pick it up, and read through it.

Elody,
I thought I’d try to let you sleep as long as possible to help you recover from last night. I’ll be downstairs, when you get up, so please come down when you’re ready.I’ll reserve some breakfast for you, if your stomach can handle it. I laid a change of clothes on the chair next to the closet for you. The door next to the closet leads to a bathroom. Feel free to help yourself to anything in the medicine cabinet that you think may help you feel better.
Your new friend,
Val

After reading the note, I realize that I’m at Matt’s house still. After Zach left last night, I remember crying to Valerie, but after that, I’m drawing blanks. My stomach turns again, and I’m forced to lean back over the trash can, throwing up whatever is left in my stomach. When I’m done, I get up off the bed, and go into the bathroom, rummaging through the medicine cabinet. I find a bottle of Tylenol, and quickly down to pills, with some water from the sink. I look at myself in the mirror, again. My makeup is smeared on my face, and my eyes are red, from crying, I’m sure.

I walk over to the shower, and start up the water. I hold my hand under the stream of water, until it’s steaming hot. I strip off the clothes Valerie let me borrow last night, and toss them in the corner. I open the door, and get in the shower, closing the door behind me. I stand under the water, for what seems like hours, before moving. I quickly wash myself, and get out, not wanting to waste too much water. I grab a towel from the rack next to the shower, and wrap it around myself. After drying myself off, and throwing my hair up, I throw on the clothes that Valerie left me on the chair. I look at myself in the mirror once again, before heading downstairs.

“Hey, Elody! How are you feeling?” Valerie greets me with a hug, as I walk into the living room.

“Could be better.” I say, spotting Matt and Brian sitting on the couch, playing video games.

“Morning, sleepy head!” Matt says, from across the room. Brian takes his attention off of the game, to look over at me. He looks sad. I bet he’s probably hung over from last night, as well, he was already pretty gone when I arrived with Zach.

“Morning?” I say, questionably.

“It’s 11:30, that’s still considered morning, the last I checked.” He laughs, turning his attention back to the TV.

“Do you want something to eat?” Valerie asks me, walking into the kitchen.

“I don’t know about that. I’m afraid I might just throw it all back up.” I say, following her.

“I figured as much. But, if you decide you want anything, don’t be shy, you can help yourself.”

“Thanks, Valerie. I really appreciate it. Thanks for letting me stay here last night, even though I can’t really remember much, after Zach leaving. I also appreciate the second change of clothes.”

“Oh, hon, you can call me Val.” She smiles. “It’s no problem at all, really. I don’t mind helping out a friend in need. As for what happened last night, after Zach left… you cried quite a bit, but after you were all cried out, for the time being, you started drinking pretty heavily…”

“Oh, gosh. I’m sorry…”

“Don’t be. I know what it’s like to be heartbroken, and I understand that alcohol helps mask the pain, until it wears off, that is. I tried to get you to stop, after about the sixth drink, but you weren’t having any of that, so I prepared a bedroom for you, because there was no way I was going to let you suffer alone the next morning. I figured you’d want someone to talk to.”

“I can’t thank you enough for that, Val. Even though we just met yesterday, you’re already a better friend than half of the people I’ve known my whole life.” We both take a seat at the island.

“Well, something about you just makes me feel like I can trust you. If that makes any sense.” She laughs.

“Yes. Of course. I thought the same thing about Brian, when I first met him… and Zach…”

“Zach is an ass for acting the way he did last night. He’ll regret it soon, and then he’ll come running back, I’m sure.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“Gena cheated on him four different times, the first three of those times, he went back to her. All she had to do was snap her fingers, it seemed, and they were back together. She treated him like shit, but he still took her back, I have no problem believing that he will come back to you, especially since you’ve really done nothing to him. Brian is the one to blame, he came on to you, and that’s something that he should have to be sorry for, not you. Don’t worry, sweetie, Zach will come around, I know it.” She says, and I fake a smile, not sure if I really believe he will ever come around, after what happened, although Valerie is right, it wasn’t my fault what happened with Brian, I did nothing to Zach. “Don’t think too much into it, Elody. Have faith.” She smiles at me.

“Elody?” I hear Brian’s voice behind me. He’s standing in the entryway to the kitchen.

“Yeah?”

“Can I talk to you, please?” I look back at Val, and she nods her head.

“Sure.” I say, getting up, and following him outside. He closes the door behind us.

“I’m really sorry for what happened last night. I was drunk, but that’s no excuse for my actions. I shouldn’t have come onto you. I know you like Zach, and I know how much he likes you. I don’t want this to be a competition between me and him, anymore, trying to win your love. I want us all to be friends, if you can forgive me…”

“I can forgive you, and I will. I know you still like me, Brian, but you have to respect my decisions.”

“I understand that, now. I really am sorry. I also want to apologize for that night at that bar. I said some really hurtful things, that I didn’t mean, and I would take them all back, if I could.”

“I understand. We all make mistakes, Brian, and I forgive you.” I smile.

“So does this mean we can try to be friends again?”

“I’d like that.”

“Great.” He pulls me into a hug. “I’ve got some more apologizing to do, now, so I’ll see you around.”

“See you later, Brian.” I say, as he disappears through the back door, into the house. I take a minute to stay outside, and enjoy the fresh air, before going returning inside, myself.

Notes